Now entering the final phase of National Science Foundation funding, Emory University and the National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP) announced that Hope College is one of four higher-education institutions accepted into NORDP’s fifth Consultants Program cohort.
Ranked #22 nationally among all undergraduate research programs, Hope College will
benefit significantly as a member of the NORDP cohort through tailored consulting
support, research infrastructure enhancements and grant proposal-development assistance.
The NORDP Consultant Program seeks to accelerate research capacity among research-active
institutions by supporting a more competitive enterprise that fully leverages the
nation's research talent and innovation potential.
As an “emerging research institution” among the NORDP Consultants Program cohort, Hope College will receive up to 600 hours of tailored consultant support over the next two years. This will help Hope advance its research infrastructure to build capacity in the quality and breadth of research administration services, said Heather Lowmiller, director of sponsored research and programs at Hope College. “By being a part of this national cohort, we are shifting from basic research administration to proactive partnership,” said Lowmiller. “We want every Hope faculty member to have knowledgeable, customized support to bring their research vision to life.” Hope will also have access to professional development and national networks.
In a press release announcing the accepted institutions among the next cohort, NORDP stated, “Each has demonstrated a clear commitment to strengthening research activity and connecting scholarship to student learning and societal impact.” This cohort will kick off its two-year engagement starting October 2026. The other institutions among this cohort are:
- Morehouse College — a private, historically Black college in Georgia;
- New York City College of Technology (CUNY City Tech) — a public Hispanic-serving institution in New York;
- California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) — a public Hispanic-serving institution in California.
About the NORDP Consultants Program
In just five years, the NORDP Consultants Program has partnered with 177 institutions
across 44 states and territories, helping them secure more than $100 million in research
funding. Through intensive cohorts, embedded proposal support and partner-initiated
projects, the program is accelerating research capacity nationwide.
These efforts are powered by nearly $11 million in funding from federal and philanthropic partners — including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Justice, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, along with additional sponsors committed to strengthening research capacity at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and emerging-research institutions (ERIs).