AHA to address urgent problem of students dropping history after taking an introductory course

The American Historical Association (AHA) has received a $1.65 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to lead “History Gateways,” an evaluation and substantial revision of introductory college-level history courses to better serve students from all backgrounds and align more effectively with the future needs of a complex society. 

Introductory history courses, like those in chemistry, math, English, biology, and psychology, unfortunately are directly linked with a significant proportion of attrition among “first generation” college students. According to recent research faculty development can be more effective than remedial courses as a pathway to student success. The AHA, in collaboration with education researchers and faculty professional development specialists at the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education (Gardner Institute), will work with history faculty to rethink what it means to be “introduced” to history at the post-secondary level, and to implement necessary curricular change.

Drawing on the successful AHA’s Tuning project and the Gardner Institute’s successful Gateways to Completion (G2C) program this initiative will work closely with eleven 2-year and 4-year institutions in Chicago, Houston, and New York. History Gateways will launch in January of 2019 and will continue until December of 2022.