University Initiatives

University Initiatives, Office of the Provost, provides enhanced support to faculty for the development of major or high priority funding proposals.

If you would like to request this support, contact Gil Harootunian, PhD, Executive Director, University Initiatives.

email: gharootunian@csufresno.edu

Phone number: 559.278.4850

Highlights of major awards include these:

National Science Foundation

1. National Science Foundation Scholarships in STEM program award to provide scholarships to
   Computer Science majors as well as a suite of academic support services. ($1.5M)
2. National Science Foundation “ADVANCE” program award ($1.25M) to increase the
   representation of women in the CSU engineering professoriate.
3. National Science Foundation Hispanic-Serving Institutions program award, “Catalyzing IDEAs
   for the San Joaquin Valley: Innovative Math and Chemistry Curriculum” (MC2), to bring
   together the three Hispanic-Serving CSU campuses in the Valley to design, deliver, and test
   transformative STEM-specific learning interventions. ($2.5M)
4. National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships program award to create
   a "Leadership Initiative to Produce Master Mathematics Teacher-Leaders" ($1.5M)
5. National Science Foundation’s Scholarships in STEM program award to provide scholarships to
   low-income students with academic promise who are math majors and to design a pre-research
   environment for lower division math courses. ($1M)
6. National Science Foundation Growing Research and Aceess for Nationally Transformative Equity and Diviersity award for "Enhancing  CCC-CSU-UC Collaboration"(statewide initiative to establish systemic pathways among California's silo-ed segments and campuses). POC: Dr. Gil Harootunian

Department of Education

1. Department of Education Postsecondary Student Success Grant Program to implement the Strengthening Advising, Strengthening Results ('START") award. The START program develops and delivers a program of Sustained, Individualized, Proactive, and Personal (SSIPP) advising and then conducts a Randomized Controlled Trial to assess its effectiveness, including cost effectiveness. The findings could improve and to academic outcomes for the nation's postsecondary student's. ($8M)
2. Department of Education Asian American, Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution
   program award to increase the representation of AAPIs in Criminal and Civil Justice careers.
   ($1.25M)
3. Department of Education Hispanic-Serving Institutions (Title V) collaborative award with West Hills Community College
   District to found a Fresno State satellite center, in the inaugural disciplines of Psychology and Criminology.
4. Department of Education, Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions program award to
   democratize access to success for all students in the “STEAM” disciplines (STEM, plus
   Agricultural Sciences and Technology). ($3M)
5. Department of Education Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions program award,
   “Enseñamos en el Valle Central,” to bring together the university and two community colleges to
   prepare teachers who can serve students in bilingual classrooms in the Central Valley. ($3.75M)
6. Department of Education “U.S. History and Civics Academies” program award to implement
   professional development opportunities for Fresno Unified School District teachers and inspiring
   summer experiences for their students. ($1.7M)
7. Department of Education Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans
   program award to found a “Blue Ribbon Online Campus” (see “The Graduate Net”). ($2.9M)
8. Office of Special Education Personnel Preparation in Special Education award for"Project Access" to provide scholarships for 16 students who are diverse in linguistics, culture, age,experience and/or disability to earn their credential and Master's Degree in Special Education ($1.25M). 

United States Department of Agriculutre 

1. Southwest Regional Food Business Center award with CSU FResno as the State of California lead to improve the resilience and competitiveness of small-and medium-sized agricultural operations in a multi-state area (Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah).                                                            

U.S Department of Commerce 

1. Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program to create a "SOFT START: IT-Cybersecurity Workforce                                                                          Education Collaborative" ($2.4M).   

State of California

1. CA Learning Lab “On-Ramp to STEM” award to develop an open source adaptive learning
   technology for entry-level mathematics courses. ($1M)
2. California Energy Commission award to build first major Electric Vehicle Charging Station in
   the San Joaquin Valley. ($397,974)
3. California Health Care Access and Information Social Work Education Capacity Expansion award to increase the capacity of the university's Master's degree in Social Work Education to serve more students ($5.25M).

Other

1. APLU “Transformational Planning Grant” award to create a K-16 pipeline in the region built
   around shared technology initiatives of ten partnering institutions. ($225,000)