PROVIDENCE COLLEGE PROFESSOR AWARDED THE LARGEST FEDERAL GRANT IN PC HISTORY FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
(Providence, R.I.) – Providence College (PC) announced today that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded Dr. Laura Hauerwas, professor of education, an $11.3 million grant for a project entitled Testing the Impact of Self-Regulation Strategy Development (SRSD). The grant is the largest federal award in PC history to date and will be spread over 5 years.
The project will study the implementation, testing, and refinement of teachers using SRSD to teach the writing process, with enhanced emphasis on developing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) capacities embedded in the approach. Teachers will learn this approach via Practice-Based Professional Learning (PBPL) and onsite embedded support. The goal is to increase access points for writing proficiency, as well as teacher and student agency. The project team will evaluate overall impact on academic and social emotional learning. Writing and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) are fundamental skills used to engage in professional, social, community, academic, and civic activities. “These skills have gained significant importance during the ongoing pandemic. Supporting these is imperative and brings with it the possibility of achieving greater equity for students.” (Schlund, Jaggers, & Schlinger, 2020)
“More than 20 years ago I chose to work in an undergraduate teacher education program — a program committed to preparing outstanding future teachers for inclusive classrooms, and not chase the big grants,” said Dr. Hauerwas. “Along the way, I continued to connect with research scholars and learn with them about evidence-based literacy practices. I applied for a few grants, with little luck. Well, that all changed. I will continue to work with our PC future teachers, but now I will be able to bring my passion for the classroom and SRSD to many teachers around the country. In my mind this is research to practice at its best.”
“The scope of this project and the size of this grant speak to the importance of Dr. Hauerwas’ research,” said Dr. Sean F. Reid, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at PC. “As an educator of educators, Dr. Hauerwas has dedicated her professional career to improving elementary and special education teaching practices. We’re so pleased to see her project receive funding and can’t wait to see the benefits of her research,” Reid added.
The total cost for this project is $13,711,842 with $11,320,342 (79%) funded by the U.S. Department of Education and $2,371,500 (21%) from partner school districts or non-governmental sources.
Founded in 1917, Providence College is the only college or university in the United States administered by the Dominican Friars. The Catholic, liberal arts college has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,100 students and offers degrees in 49 academic majors. Since 1997, Providence College consistently has been ranked among the top five regional universities in the North according to U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges.”
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