Center for Evaluation & Research for STEM Equity

CERSE

The Center for Evaluation & Research for STEM Equity (CERSE) is housed at the University of Washington Department of Sociology.  Our center focuses on conducting high quality program evaluation and research to improve equity and broaden representation in STEM fields, with a focus on higher education.   We help meet the challenges of the emerging workforce: recruitment, retention, and advancement of women and underrepresented minorities.

In 2016, we changed our name from the Center for Workforce Development to better reflect the type of work that we do and why we do it.

Why We Do What We Do

  • We believe that STEM fields should be equitable and accessible to all people, not just people from STEM’s dominant identity groups (who are often white, cis-gender, heterosexual, able-bodied, and/or male identified).
  • Significant changes must be made in order for STEM fields to be accessible, welcoming, and desirable to individuals belonging to excluded identity groups.
  • Our program evaluation and research offer evidence-based insights toward reforming systems and improving policies and practices.
  • We believe that Black lives matter. CERSE is committed to supporting the Black Lives Matter movement through our words and actions, as individuals and collectively as an organization. Read more >>

What We Do & How We Do It

Integration of Research, Evaluation, & Consulting Multiple Methodologies Relationships Critical Lens
We see research and evaluation as complementary. We choose the right methods to fit each individual question, context, and population We establish and foster relationships with the people we work with because we respect the work that they do. We operate with a critical orientation. This means that issues of social justice inform our thinking and acting.

Commitment to Equity

The Center for Evaluation & Research for STEM Equity (CERSE) is committed to prioritizing equity in all aspects of its evaluation, research, and internal governance. We evaluate and research efforts to broaden participation and expand social equity in STEM. Given this focus, we consider it the responsibility of our evaluators to highlight and suggest potential solutions regarding any equity concerns that arise during the course of a project, regardless of whether the issues explicitly relate to the focus of our evaluation. We offer such feedback in the spirit of supporting successful STEM diversity, equity, and inclusion work. We also understand that we all have room to grow and welcome feedback about ways we can improve at CERSE.

Current Highlights

For recent highlights, check out our News section.

 

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