National Consortium for Diversity Research and Policy (NCDRP)
NCDRP: An Emerging National Initiative
During 2007-2008, planning will begin to explore the possibility of developing a new National Consortium for Diversity Research and Policy (NCDRP). Based at the University of Michigan, the NCDRP would be coordinated by NCID but organized around a unique partnership with the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the Institute for Social Research (ISR) and other national stakeholders. In general, the core activities of the NCDRP would focus on five major goals:
- Develop a national network of university-based partners committed to better bridging rigorous research and pressing policy debates regarding racial/ethnic disparities and related diversity issues at multiple levels (e.g. campus/institutional, local/state, national/international).
- Improve methodological training opportunities for researchers at different stages of development who are committed to increasing the quantity, quality, and policy-relevance of diversity research on racial/ethnic disparities, with a particular emphasis on the following areas:
- Health disparities, including complex risk and protective mechanisms
- Educational disparities, including critical PK-12 and higher education issues
- Political disparities, including participation, citizenship and criminal justice
- Economic disparities, including the growing problem of urban poverty
- Promote broader access to high quality data resources to support researchers committed to policy-relevant research programs that are based on rigorous methodological standards and penetrating analysis of racial/ethnic disparities or related diversity challenges.
- Design a Diversity Research and Policy Forum for systematic exchanges between: (a) university-based researchers conducting policy-relevant studies on racial/ethnic disparities, and (b) leaders engaged in policy advocacy to address racial/ethnic diversity challenges at multiple levels.
- Co-sponsor national and regional workshops to feature exemplary activities that bridge university-based research with multilevel policy advocacy and engagement.
- Support the efforts of postdoctoral scholars sponsored by selected foundations or governmental agencies who are committed to bridging rigorous research and pressing policy debates on racial/ethnic disparities and related diversity issues at multiple levels.