About CERC
The Center for Enhancing Research Capabilities of Minority Serving Institutions (CERC-MSI) at John Jay College is dedicated to advancing innovation and excelling in criminal justice research. Our mission is to empower MSIs by strengthening research infrastructure, expand scholarly contributions, and foster sustainable institutional growth.
Our Initiatives
The Center operates through three core initiatives:
Provides hands-on training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to foster collaboration and build research capacity focused on justice-related topics.
A cohort-based grant-writing program offering the skills and support needed to develop competitive proposals addressing critical issues in criminal justice.
Enhances research infrastructure at MSIs through strategic planning and tailored interventions, empowering institutions to lead impactful criminal justice research initiatives.
Coming Soon:

The CERC-MSI Speaker Series
Starting February 2026, CERC-MSI will host a series of live workshops and technical sessions focused on building competitive criminal justice research proposals. Tailored for faculty and research administrators at MSIs, this series offers evidence-based strategies for composing persuasive narratives, developing realistic budgets, and responding to federal reviewer feedback. Prepare to transform your research goals into funded projects.
Please see the flyer below for more information on session dates and guest speakers.