Psychology Professor Awarded Department of Defense Grant

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a $750,000 grant to a research team led by University of Arkansas psychology professor Tim Cavell. The goal of the project (“About M-C & Me”: A Digital Tool to Support Military-Connected Students Moving to a New School District) is to foster better school transitions for military-connected students in the elementary and middle school grades.

Tim Cavell

Over 90% of military-connected students attend civilian schools and their families move three times more often than civilian families. Most teachers are not familiar with military culture or military family life.

The research team will create and test an engaging, animated web-based tool that will interview military-connected students and families moving to a new school district. Information from the interview will be used to populate an e-dossier that parents share with teachers in the receiving school district. This e-dossier will contain information specific to the military-connected student and family, as well as general information about military culture and military family life. In this way, teachers will receive just-in-time training that equips them to be allies to M-C students and to support newly arriving military-connected students and families. 

Cavell is a professor of psychological science in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. His collaborators include researchers at Boston University and New York University. The research team will partner with North Thurston Public Schools located in Lacey, Washington, about 20 miles from Joint U.S. Army/AF Base Lewis-McChord.