The College of Education is home to several dynamic centers and institutes, each with their own agenda for research and outreach. Over time, these institutions have led to important new understandings about teaching, learning and physical activity, shaping the direction of policy and practice in the field.
The CREATE for STEM Institute—Collaborative Research in Education, Assessment and Teaching Environments for the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—is focused on improving teaching and learning in the STEM disciplines at the K-12 and college levels through innovation, development and research efforts. CREATE is a joint initiative of the College of Education, the College of Natural Science at Michigan State University, the College of Engineering and Lyman Briggs College.
The MSU Center for Services, Training and Research for Independence and Desired Employment is a CEPSE department center focused on supporting underserved individuals with disabilities, their families and community providers by 1) offering resources and training for employment and community independence; 2) training future professionals and service providers through internship and practicum placements; 3) conducting research to improve outcomes and services; 4) engaging with communities to promote knowledge translation from research to practices; and 5) fulfilling the land-grant missions of MSU.
The Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC) is an independent, non-partisan research center that operates as the strategic research partner to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) and local school districts. EPIC conducts original research using a variety of data and methods that include advanced statistical modeling, representative surveys, interviews and case study approaches to produce new insights that decision-makers can use to create and implement policy. EPIC is devoted to research with consequence and the idea that rigorous evidence can be brought to bear on policy decisions for the most critical enduring and emerging education issues in the state. These lessons can be applied throughout the country to improve conditions for the most vulnerable students and advance efforts toward equitable educational opportunities and outcomes.
The Early Learning Institute was started to meet the early intervention needs of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Mid-Michigan and to provide “hands-on” training for service providers across a range of disciplines to implement evidence-based practices with children with ASD and their families. The Institute is a training site for students and trainees at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, and post doctoral) and across many human service fields including applied behavior analysis, child development, psychology, and special education. The Early Learning Institute is part of the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education in the College of Education.
The Institute for the Study of Youth Sports is a Kinesiology department center, which has been a respected leader in coaching education and research on youth sports for 40 years. By disseminating findings on key issues to parents, coaches and sports leaders, ISYS helps maximize the benefits of sport and physical activity participation.
The Center for Higher and Adult Education is an Educational Administration department center that emphasizes the importance of policy and international work in postsecondary education for the 21st century. The center supports academic and cultural exchange at the postsecondary level, hosts forums exploring higher education policy, and assists with research, teaching and outreach related to higher education policy both domestically and across the globe.