Institute for Collaborative Research and Evaluation

African-American woman presenting a chart during a business meeting

Established in 2023, VCU’s Institute for Collaborative Research and Evaluation (ICRE):

Designs and leads a wide variety of research and evaluation efforts focused on transforming systems and improving the outcomes of individuals, organizations and communities.
Provides pre- and post-award methodological support for funded projects.
Coordinates professional learning opportunities on research methods with a focus on collaborative and community-engaged approaches.

ICRE was developed as an expansion of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC), a longstanding research-practice partnership between VCU’s School of Education and regional K12 school districts.

Scroll down to the bottom of this page to read and/or download a variety of MERC research briefs.

ICRE builds on MERC’s collaborative research model to support projects beyond the Richmond Region and across sectors including work with non-profits, K12 school districts, state agencies, and institutions of higher education. Topics of current projects include:

Teacher Residency Models
Teacher Induction
Career Pathways and Work-based Learning
Early Childhood
Computer Science
STEM Professional Development Models
Student Mental Health
Equitable Access to Advanced Coursework in K12
Professional Development for Culturally Responsive Teaching

ICRE’s experienced team of researchers and evaluators works with partners and clients to determine information needs and then co-design projects that unlock insights, trends, and queries to inform organizational decision-making. ICRE also provides developmental evaluation and strategic planning to support organizational growth.

Connect with our ICRE Team

Director: Dr. Jesse Senechal
Location: Oliver Hall, VCU School of Education, 1015 W. Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284-2020
Email: senechaljt@vcu.edu

To learn more about our services, please contact Jesse Senechal (senechaljt@vcu.edu) or Paula Ogston-Nobile (ogstonpl@vcu.edu).

Or, complete this form, and we will contact you to get started.

Research to Classroom: Downloadable Briefs on Bullying, Absenteeism, Artificial Intelligence & More

The School of Education’s Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) published a wide range of research briefs on the emerging issues of PK12 education, including several that explore the immediacy of pandemic-related topics.

Each brief provides a review of the literature, coupled with key takeaways and recommendations for policy and practice: