Transcript Exploring NSF Funding Opportunities

NSF’s
Division of Undergraduate Education:
Funding Opportunities for Community
Colleges and Partnerships
Focus on ATE
iGETT Summer Institute, 2009
Elaine L. Craft, Director
SC ATE Center of Excellence and
President, SCATE Inc.
Florence-Darlington Technical College
Florence, SC
[email protected]
ph. 843-676-8545
1
Purpose of this session
To share information about the NSF
Advanced Technological Education (ATE)
and S-STEM programs from which you
may wish to seek funding
2
Caution
Most of the information presented in
this talk represents the opinions of
the individual program officers who
prepared the material or the
presenter and is not an official NSF
position.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
DIVISION OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION (DUE)
www.nsf.gov
“EHR’s Mission is to promote the development of a diverse
and well-prepared workforce of scientists, engineers,
mathematicians, educators, and technicians
and a well informed citizenry who have access to the ideas
and tools of science and engineering.”
The Role of Community Colleges
in the Education of Recent Science
and Engineering Graduates

44% of all S & E 1999 and 2000 graduates
with a bachelor’s or master’s degree attended
a community college (more than 50% of the
bachelors and 35% of the masters)

51% of Hispanic bachelor’s and masters
graduates and 18% of the Hispanic Ph.D.s
attended a community college
The Role of Community Colleges
in the Education of Recent Science
and Engineering Graduates

62% of female graduates and 51% of male
graduates who had children attended a
community college

42% of the graduates who had a GPA between
3.75 and 4.00 attended a community college
NSF Budget

Education and Human Resources (EHR):
FY 2009 (Requested)
$709 Million

Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE):
FY 2007 (Actual)
$204.96 Million
FY 2008 (Estimate)
$211.05 Million
FY 2009 (Requested)
$219.83 Million
*Note: Extra $75 million from H-1B visa fees
employers pay to obtain a visa for a foreign
high-tech worker to fund the S-STEM program.
NSF Budget

Stimulus Plan 2009 for DUE
- NOYCE Scholarship Program: 60 M
- Math and Science Partnership
(MSP) Program: 25 M
Selected Programs in DUE
ATE
CCLI
STEP
S-STEM
NOYCE
FY2007
FY2008
FY2009
(Actual)
(Estimate)
(Requested)
$50.58
$51.62
$51.62
$37.78
$37.50
$39.21
$28.90
$29.70
$29.70
~ $75 /year from H1B visa fee
$10.30
$10.80 (55) $11.60 (115)
* (in Million)
NSF support for two-year college projects
FY 2006-2008
FY2006
FY2007
FY2008
Program
Award # ($)
Award # ($)
Award # ($)
ATE
128 (44M)
119 (50M)
151 (50M)
CCLI
5 (0.6M)
9 (1.5M)
19 (2.0M)
S-STEM
34 (17.8M)
25 (19M)
35 (16M)
STEP
4 (2.8M)
7 (5M)
4 (2.1M)
MSP
-
-
2 (0.58M)
Noyce
1 (0.24M)
0 (0)
1 (0.24M)
Total DUE
172 (66M)
160 (75M)
212 (71M)
Total NSF
218 (82M)
212 (91M)
278(101M)
Scholarships in Science,
Technology, Engineering,
and
Mathematics
(S-STEM)
15
S-STEM

Goal: Provides institutions funds to
provide scholarships to academically
talented, but financial needy, students.
Students can be pursuing associate,
baccalaureate, or graduate degrees.

Letter of Intent: July ?, 2009
Full Proposal: August ?, 2009
S-STEM
- Eligible disciplines extended to include
biology, physical and mathematical
sciences, computer and information
sciences, geosciences, and engineering
- Maximum scholarships $10,000
(based on financial need)
- Grant size: up to $600,000
- One proposal per constituent school or college
- About $50-$70 million available
17
S-STEM
Special Program Features
Has a faculty member in a STEM discipline
as the PI.
Involves cohorts of students.
Provides student support structures.
Includes optional enhancements such as
research opportunities, tutoring,
internships, etc.
Enrolls students full time.
18
Advanced
Technological
Education
(ATE)
ATE
ATE is in its 16th year of funding
community colleges, having started with
the Science and Advanced Technology Act
of 1992 (SATA).
FY2008
Preliminary Proposals
Formal Proposals
April 23, 2009
Oct. 15, 2009
ATE

Goal: Educate technicians for the hightech fields that drive our nation’s
economy
Before
you call
me or
start
writing
Is this project industry-driven?
Are students interested in working
In this industry?
What needs to be done to meet the
needs of industry and attract students
to the program?
ATE Institution Requirements
Focus is on two-year colleges
 All proposals are expected to include
one or more two-year colleges in
leadership roles
 A consortium of institutions may
also apply

ATE Tracks
3 Tracks

1. Projects including small projects

2. Centers

3. Targeted Educational Research
Projects


www.ateprojectimpact.org
Projects can focus on one or more aspects of:






Program Improvement;
Professional Development for Educators;
Curriculum and Educational Materials Development;
Teacher Preparation
(http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Resources/aaccprogram
s/ate/Documents/teacherprep_stem.pdf)
Research on Technician Education; or
Institution-Level Reform of Technician Education
Program Improvement
Activities might include:






Integrating industry standards and workplace
competencies into the curriculum
Adapting educational materials or courses
developed elsewhere
Adding rigorous STEM content to programs and
courses
Providing professional development to educators
Developing articulation agreements between twoyear colleges and secondary schools or four-year
institutions
Improving recruitment or retention of students
DML
DML
Best Practices for Involving
Industry and Writing a Good ATE
Proposal
Get the PI to write it
 Focus on needs for the workplace
 Get decision makers involved
 Link company research and colleges in
training of technicians
 Provide flexible pathways for students

Small Grants for Institutions New to ATE

Purpose


Simulates implementation, adaptation, and
innovation in all areas supported by ATE.
Available only to community college campuses that have
not an an ATE award within the last 10 years
Broaden the base of participation of
community colleges in ATE.
 Strengthen the role of community colleges in
meeting needs of business and industry



Proposers are encouraged to include resources of ATE
and other NSF awardees and to include those people as
consultants and subawardees.
Limited to $150,000 with a maximum of 10% indirect
Centers

Centers of Excellence – National,
Regional, Resource
 http://www.ATECenters.org
Regional Centers


Former -- Manufacturing Technology or Information
Technology
Regional focus – serves the needs of industry in a
region

Collaboration among colleges and secondary schools

Collaboration with industry in the region


Activities include curriculum adaptation, faculty and
teacher development, establishment of partnerships,
and recruitment and retention strategies, all directed
toward regional workforce needs
Clear, measurable impacts on quantity and quality of
students for the workforce
ATE Resource Centers




Constitute a highly visible source of educational materials,
ideas, contacts, and mentoring in a particular field of
technological education
Led by those who have already made substantial, highquality contributions in an area of technological education.
Serve as clearinghouses for, and broadly distribute, the
exemplary materials, curricula, and pedagogical practices
adapted or designed by previously funded ATE centers
and projects
Provide support and mentoring for institutions that wish to
start or improve educational programs in a particular field
of technology.
ATE Centers of Excellence (36)
1
National Center
Regional Center
Resource Center
AK
HI
ATE awards (FY2008)

Typical award sizes:
Projects: $200K/year for 3 years
(45 new awards)
Small Grants: $75K/year for 2 years
(15 new awards)
National Centers: $1.2M/year for 4 years
(2 new awards)
ATE Professional
Development Opportunities

Go to www.TeachingTechnicians.org

Now over 100 professional development
opportunities
Number of Awards per State in ATE’s 15 Year History
Total number of Awards (865)
30
6
WASHINGTON
3
5
MONTANA
NORTH DAKOTA
MAINE
18
2 7
MINNESOTA
25
19
2
OREGON
VT.
IDAHO
WISCONSIN
4
2
WYOMING
47
16
SOUTH DAKOTA
7
16
IOWA
ILLINOIS
15
COLORADO
99
INDIANA
KANSAS
OHIO
2
6
3
42
8
28
2
UTAH
W.V.
18
MISSOURI
KENTUCKY
CALIFORNIA
7
ARIZONA
OKLAHOMA
16
53
VIRGINIA
18
TENNESSEE
4
22
ARKANSAS
S.C.
NEW MEXICO
TEXAS
22
NORTH CAROLINA
18
21
12
15
MISS.
ALABAMA
9
GEORGIA
3
LOUISIANA
32
3
FLA.
ALASKA
9
HAWAII
MA.
NEW YORK
PENNSYLVANIA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
62
MICHIGAN
23
3
N.H.
3
PUERTO RICO
1 R.I.
16 N.J.
2 DEL.
26 MD.
20 D.C.
FY
09
FY
08
FY
07
FY
06
FY
05
FY
04
FY
03
FY
02
FY
01
FY
00
FY
99
FY
98
FY
97
FY
96
FY
95
FY
94
Millions of Dollars
ATE Program Budget
$55
$51 M
$50
$45
$40
$35
$30
$25
$20
$15
$10
$5
$0
Foci of ATE Awards
FY
FY
FY
96-06
2007
2008
Biotechnology
47
5
8
Chemical Technology/Pulp & Paper/Environmental
58
3
1
Multidisciplinary/Institution Reform
43
4
2
Electronics/Microelectronics/Nanotech/Mechatronics/Lasers
23
7
8
Other Engineering Technology
75
7
10
Geospatial (GIS/GPS/Surveying)
28
3
4
Manufacturing
92
4
5
Math/Physics/Computational Science/Core
40
1
1
Computer/Information Systems/Cybersecurity/Telecommunications
139
8
8
Marine/Agriculture/Aquaculture/Natural Resources/Viticulture
20
2
2
Teacher Preparation
34
1
4
Multimedia
7
1
4
Energy Technology
6
3
9
Research/Evaluation
5
2
2
Recruitment/Retention
7
3
1
Information about
funded proposals
Go to the DUE Home website on NSF
 Find the Program of interest to you
 Go to the bottom of that page and click on
“Abstracts of Recent Awards Made
Through This Program”
 Write to the PI requesting a copy of
her/his proposal.

Information about
funded proposals
How to Write Good Proposals?
NSF Proposal Review
and Decision Process
Mail
Reviews
Investigator/
Institution
Central
Processing
Award
(Via DGA)
Division
Director
Program
Manager
Declination
Withdrawal
Panel
Inappropriate
DML
DML
The Proposal:
Criteria for Evaluation

What is the intellectual merit of
the proposed activity?

What are the broader impacts of
the proposed activity?
Intellectual Merit




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
Addresses a major challenge
Supported by capable faculty and others
Improved student learning
Rationale and vision clearly articulated
Informed by other projects
Effective evaluation and dissemination
Adequate facilities, resources, and
commitment
Institutional and departmental commitment
Broader Impacts






Integrated into the institution’s academic programs
Contributes to knowledge base and useful to other
institutions
Widely used products which can be disseminated
through commercial and other channels
Improved content and pedagogy for faculty and
teachers
Increased participation by women,
underrepresented minorities, and persons with
disabilities
Ensures high quality STEM education for people
pursuing careers in STEM fields or as teachers or
technicians
General tips
• At the DUE Web Site
• http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DUE
• Create a personalized alert service

Get copies of previously funded proposals
 Directly from the PI
 From Leslie Jensen ([email protected])

Contact a program officer (PO) and offer to
review proposals
45
What Makes a Proposal
Competitive?






Original ideas
Succinct, focused project plan
Realistic amount of work
Sufficient detail provided
Cost effective
High impact
What Makes a Proposal
Competitive?





Knowledge and experience of PIs
Contribution to the field
Rationale and evidence of potential
effectiveness
Likelihood the project will be sustained
Solid evaluation plan
Tips for Success
Consult the program solicitation and
NSF Proposal & Award Policies &
Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 09-1)
 Test drive FastLane
 Alert the Sponsored Research Office
 Follow page and font size limits
 Be aware of other projects and
advances in the field

Tips for Success
Cite the literature
 Provide details
 Discuss prior results
 Include evaluation plan with timelines
and benchmarks
 Put yourself in the reviewers’ place
 Consider reviewers’ comments if
resubmitting proposal

Tips for Success
Have someone else read the proposal
 Spell check; grammar check
 Meet deadlines
 Follow NSF requirements for proposals
involving Human Subjects
 Call or email NSF Program Officers

Return Without Review
 Submitted
after deadline
 Fail to separately and explicitly
address intellectual merit and
broader impacts in the Project
Summary
 Fail to follow formatting (e. g. page
limitation, font size, and margin
limits) requirements
Making the Project Better
based on Review Criteria
10 Helpful Hints
(What do you think they are?)
Helpful Hints:
1. Read the Program Announcement
Helpful Hints:
2. Care About the Project
Helpful Hints:
3. Build on What Others Have Done
Helpful Hints:
4. Think Global, Act Local and Global
Helpful Hints:
5. Have Measurable Goals and Objectives
Helpful Hints:
6. Think Teamwork
Helpful Hints:
7. Use Good Management Skills
Helpful Hints:
8. Evaluation Includes Impact and
Effectiveness
Helpful Hints:
9. Spread the Word
Helpful Hints:
10. Pay It Back
Top Ten Ways To Write a
Good Proposal…
That Won’t Get Funded
Flaws
10. Inflate the budget to allow for
negotiations.
Flaws
9. Provide a template letter of commitment
for your (genuine) supporters to use.
(They will!)
Flaws
8. Assume your past accomplishments are
well known.
Flaws
7. Assume a project website is sufficient
for dissemination.
Flaws
6. Assert: “Evaluation will be ongoing and
consist of a variety of methods.”
Flaws
5. Assume the program guidelines have not
changed; or better yet, ignore them!
Flaws
4. Don’t check your speeling, nor you’re
grammer.
Flaws
3. Substitute flowery rhetoric for good
examples.
Flaws
2. Assume page limits and font size
restrictions are not enforced.
Flaws
1. Assume deadlines are not enforced.
WAYS TO PARTICIPATE ON
A GRANT

Grant Holder





Principal Investigator
Member of Project Team
Member of a coalition
Member of an Advisory Board
Test Site
User of Products
 Participant in Workshops and
Symposium
 Reviewer of Proposals

But Most Important!
Have fun!
Thank you!