New Faculty Development Program to Enhance Institutional Research Capacity

Idaho State University has announced the launch of ASSERT (Aligning Stakeholders and Structures to Enable Research Transformation), a new faculty development program designed to increase institutional research capacity. This initiative aims to cultivate a community of scholars by supporting faculty as they work to overcome structural, cultural, and personal barriers to conducting transformative research.

The program is a collaborative effort between Academic Affairs and the Office for Research. Funded by the NSF-EPSCoR ICREWS grant, ASSERT represents a strategic investment in the long term research vitality of Idaho State University. The initiative advances the objectives of the state EPSCoR program by supporting faculty development and encouraging regional alignment through coordinated efforts with Boise State University and the University of Idaho.

The inaugural cohort includes faculty members from across the university who are eager to expand the scope and impact of their work. Don Hastings, an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and a member of the new cohort, emphasized the importance of having a dedicated space for professional growth.

“I am most looking forward to being part of the ISU professional community, which cares deeply about impactful work,” said Hastings. “The opportunity to access mentors, workshops, and peers who can both challenge and support my thinking will be incredibly grounding and encouraging as I begin this next phase of my research journey.”

A key component of ASSERT is its focus on cross-disciplinary collaboration. The program encourages faculty to step outside their specific fields to understand how other disciplines approach problem solving. This exchange of ideas is intended to lead to stronger methods and more nuanced research questions. Erika Coles, an Associate Professor of School Psychology, looks forward to the new connections she can find in the cohort. 

“I place great value on collaborative, interdisciplinary research,” said Coles. “I am a fairly new faculty member at ISU after having worked for many years at another institution where I worked hard to foster productive and meaningful research relationships. I was very interested in building those professional relationships at ISU and the ASSERT program seemed like a wonderful opportunity to facilitate that process.”

Facilitating collaboration among faculty members from across the university creates a synergy of different research methods and identities. Matt Levay, a Professor of English in the cohort, seconds this sentiment.

“The wonderful thing about research is that it can take you in entirely unexpected directions. I hope that my colleagues in the ASSERT program point me to some of them.”

Throughout the Spring 2026 semester, the cohort will engage in weekly workshops and collaborative projects designed to foster a reflective environment where big, innovative research ideas can thrive. Ultimately, the program is designed to support Idaho State University researchers in their career development and collaborative efforts across the institution.