ANDREWS INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
I – Name
Andrews International Center for Educational Research (hereafter known as the Center) shall be housed in the School of Education under the office of the Dean of the School of Education.
II – Mission
The mission of the Center shall be to facilitate, generate, disseminate, and apply research on education that fulfill the educational mission of the School of Education and the international educational commitments of Andrews University.
III – Purposes
- Develop international collaborations for educational research.
- Create data-driven knowledge base to inform international educational development within SDA schools as well as in developing educational systems.
- Disseminate research findings (through CIRCL, translations, conferences, etc.).
- Identify and acquire funding to support this research, dissemination and real-world application process.
- Provide research, assessment, and evaluation services locally, nationally, and internationally.
- Support faculty and student research development
- Network with other agencies around the world to promote these purposes.
IV – Rationale
Andrews University is a doctoral research university with significant international commitments and a strong identity as research university. The School of Education serves the international community of Adventist educators who work in and outside the global Adventist educational system. The Center is dedicated to serving Andrews University commitment to international educational issues and to graduate level research by Adventist educational researchers who work inside and outside the Church to improve educational practice throughout the world.
V - Functions
To accomplish its purpose, the Center shall pursue three main functions:
Research
- Identify and conduct research in critical areas related to international education.
- Promote rigorous scholarly discussion and analysis of emerging educational issues facing Adventist educators and their constituencies.
- Provide peer-reviewed analysis and critique of Adventist related educational issues.
- Sponsor grants on educational research by Center affiliated researchers.
- Provide consultation on research design and analysis to educational researchers and leaders around the world, specifically Adventist educators.
- Conduct synthesis and evaluation studies for Adventist educational systems.
- Collaborate with global educational authorities (ADRA, United Nations, etc.) to research and support international educational development.
- Network with other Adventist colleges and universities, centers and journals around the world to identify, conduct and disseminate on international research (e.g. AIIAS, Center for College Faith, LSU’s John Hancock Center, etc.)
Dissemination
- Facilitate symposiums that disseminate international educational research, specifically work by researchers that address issues vital to Adventist global educational systems.
- Publish symposiums, research briefs and monographs, and research-in-progress related to international educational issues.
- Create online communication and technological tools to facilitate communication among researchers dedicated to international educational research.
- Develop a database of experts and consultants on Adventist educational research issues.
Application
Facilitate the application of research to Adventist educational systems through:
- researched-based curriculum development projects.
- on-site consultation for Adventist school leaders and systems.
- development of educational materials, learning technologies, etc.
Support the development of Adventist educators use of research in practice
Facilitate the integration of research into the strategic planning of emerging and developing educational systems around the world
VI – Organization
Section 1 – The Center
The Center shall be a research, dissemination and development entity within the School of Education, Andrews University. The Center staff reports to the Dean of the School of Education. The Center will be funded by grants, association feeds, evaluation fees, donations, workshop fees, graduate assistantship funds and publications. It will be advised by an Advisory Board composed of university educational researchers and Adventist educational leaders.
Section 2 – Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee shall have at least 9 members and shall be chaired by the Dean of the School of Education. Members of the Center Advisory Board shall include:
- Dean of the School of Education (Chair)
- The Center Director (Vice-chair)
- The Center Coordinator or Office Manager
- A representative from the General Conference of SDA Office of Education
- A representative from interested Division Offices of Education
- A SDA practicing school principal
- A faculty researcher from Andrews University School of Education
- An Adventist researcher appointed by the Dean of the School of Education external to Andrews University who has a track record of research and publication on international education
The Advisory Committee meets face to face at least once a year to set Center agendas, guide personnel decisions, hear reports of Center work and plan Center strategy. They then meet as needed electronically to facilitate research opportunities and guide Center response to pressing Adventist education needs. The Committee will use Roberts Rules of Order to guide decision making processes. Major Advisory Committee decisions must be approved by Andrews University administration and Board of Trustees.
Executive Committee
- Executive Director
- Administrative Coordinator
- Executive Committee Secretary (
- Chair of Research Group (selected by chairs of research group)
- Research Coordinator
- AU Faculty
- International Doctoral Granting University Representative
- AU Graduate Student
Section 3 – Center Staff
The Center shall be composed of a Director, a Coordinator or Office manager, research fellows and research associates.
The Director shall report to and carry out the decisions of the Advisory Committee. The Director shall organize and orchestrate the completion of the Center’s evaluation and research work, dissemination work, and application facilitation. The Director shall guide in the funding of the Center and oversee employment issues of the Center.
The Director shall be an associate or full professor in the School of Education at Andrews University. This person shall have a research agenda related to education, preferably to international Adventist Education, and be supportive of Andrews University international commitments and its doctoral research identity. The Director should be effective in collaborative research, and have participated closely in the dissemination of research findings. The Director shall be a spokesperson for the Center and should possess excellent communication skills. The Director will receive some release time as determined at the discretion of the Dean.
The Coordinator or office manager shall report to the Director, manage the daily operations of the Center and assist the Director in the work of the Center. This person will manage the daily tasks of graduate assistants, keep track of financial aspects of the Center, and maintain contact and communication with the research associates of the Center. Currently, this will be a part-time position which may grow into a full-time status depending on Center funding.
Research associates shall be fulltime faculty in Adventist schools who have done or are doing research related to the mission of the Center and are willing for their work to be associated with and processed through the Center.
Research Fellows will be graduate students hired to do the research, dissemination, and application work of the Center.
VI-Funding
The Center will be funded by grants, association fees, evaluation fees, donations, workshop fees, graduate assistantships and publications.
Andrews University will provide the space, office furniture, some of the computer and electronic equipment, and the telecommunication infrastructure (internet, email services, web hosting, and telephone system) for the Center.
The School of Education will provide some supporting funds to give some release time to the Center Director. They will also provide copy machine services equipment and related office material for the Centers basic work. Additional office resources, software support, and related overhead for large research and dissemination projects will be funded from other fees and grants.
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