BMCC Joins National Study to Examine Evidence-Based Teaching Practices and Student Outcomes

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) is partnering with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), the leader in student success and equity through quality instruction, on a new national study made possible through a $1.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. BMCC is the only CUNY college participating in this study. The study begins in early 2022 with preliminary findings expected in early 2023.

BMCC’s faculty will join more than 1,500 educators nationwide in a study to examine the relationship between evidence-based teaching practices, faculty mindset and student outcomes. In addition, up to 90 BMCC faculty will have the opportunity to earn ACUE’s nationally recognized credential in effective teaching practices. Collectively, this will benefit more than 80,000 students nationwide.

BMCC joins 10 other institutions, all committed to providing a quality education for all their students and to reducing barriers in gateway courses that perpetuate inequitable outcomes for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Pell-eligible students.

“As the Borough of Manhattan College strategic plan indicates, we are committed to student success, and effective teaching, student engagement, and innovative pedagogy contribute to our mission,” said Erwin Wong, BMCC Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “We are grateful to participate in the ACUE/Gates research program, for it supports our mission and has proven to be a tremendous benefit to our institution, to our faculty, and most importantly, to our students.”

“To date, our 18 studies have established an incontrovertible link between the evidence-based teaching of ACUE-credentialed faculty and improved grades, higher completion rates, and closed equity gaps by race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status,” said Meghan Snow, ACUE’s Chief Data Officer. “With this new study, we can investigate these relationships in gateway courses—which are so consequential in a student’s academic career.”

Participating institutions also include:

• California State University, Northridge
• Georgia Southern University
• University of Hawai’i at Manoa
• University of Houston
• Ivy Tech Community College
• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
• Ohio Association of Community Colleges, including Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cuyahoga Community College, and Lorain County Community College

“Last summer, when the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation asked to learn more about ACUE’s impact, we took them on a deep dive,” said Scott Durand, ACUE’s Chief Executive Officer. “It was our honor to share compelling findings that ACUE-credentialed faculty close equity gaps and measurably improve student outcomes. This major national study we are thrilled to announce today was granted on that basis, to further explore the transformative impact faculty can have on student success when equipped with evidence-based teaching practices and digital tools.”

For more information about the study, please contact Thomas Harbison, Acting Director, BMCC E-Learning Center.