Cause Research Institute (CRI)

Research that reaches the real world.

Are you ready to make a difference in the world?

National University’s Cause Research Institute (CRI) will give you the support and structure you need to generate tangible, real-world solutions from idea to impact. Here, students and faculty have the unique opportunity to put research to work so that it becomes a positive force in our local communities and beyond.

Interested in the Cause Research Institute?

What is your research passion?

So where do you want to take your educational research? Is it improving the understanding of Parkinson’s Disease? Uncovering the mental health links to religion? Metaverse communication through SEL education? So, what is your research passion? Whatever your research passion, within CRI’s modern research hub, students learn to navigate the uncharted territory of academic research in their areas of study — regardless of discipline.

Through CRI, you’ll gain access to best practices and support for research methodologies, administrative resources, student-faculty relationships, and grant submissions. All with the goal of making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

CRI’s multidisciplinary approach encompasses 4 key areas:

Scholarship output and capacity building

  • Doctoral residencies, boot camps
  • Scholarship, publishing, authorship, original works
  • Faculty workshops for research

Technical assistance

  • Assistance requests
  • Curriculum integration with research components

Student research programs

  • Student-faculty matching for research
  • Student research dissemination
  • Student authorship of works
  • Alumni assistance with research

Faculty research management

  • Accreditation reporting
  • Programmatic accreditation needs

External publications

  • Publications and original works including institutional journal
  • Communication activities to stakeholders

Outreach

  • Research conferences and luminary events for research
  • Community and University partner events

Documentation Administration

  • Processing and record keeping of all research-related activities

Compliance

  • Subject matter expert quarterly training
  • Management of conflicts of interest

Research policy, SOP generation

  • IRB functions
  • Conflict of interest committee work

Reporting

  • Activities associated with report and report management

Training

  • Ongoing professional development for pre- and post-award sponsored projects management
  • Ongoing professional development for human research protection program
  • Research training

Advancement of non-traditional and underrepresented students

  • Supporting expanding opportunities to underrepresented populations

Addressing the needs of lifelong learners

  • Partnering with community stakeholders to reimagine solutions to complex challenges

Sharing promising and emerging education best practices

  • Offering insights and knowledge to the higher education community

Grant writing

  • Building out a roster of grant writers
  • Creating processes and templates as system resources
  • Providing student grant writing opportunities

Program evaluation

  • Managing a roster of evaluators
  • Training and capacity building on program evaluation
  • Measuring effectiveness

Subject matter expert consulting

  • Managing a roster of consultants in associated areas
  • Engaging with partner networks
  • Jointly sponsored professional associations
  • Communications and marketing of services