Directorate of Education and Human Resources

Claudia Rankins Program Director, HBCU-UP National Science Foundation July 9, 2009 1

Directorate for Education and Human Resources Office of the Assistant Director (OAD) Division of Graduate Education (DGE) Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) Division of Human Resource Development (HRD) Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) 4

Directorate for Education and Human Resources

The mission of EHR is to achieve excellence in U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at all levels and in all settings (both formal and informal) in order to support the development of a diverse and well-prepared workforce of scientists, technicians, engineers, mathematicians and educators and a well-informed citizenry that have access to the ideas and tools of science and engineering.

Division of Graduate Education (DGE)

  The Graduate Research Fellowship provides three years of support for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees and is intended for students who are in the early stages of their graduate study. IGERT--Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program--has been developed to meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers who will pursue careers in research and education, with the interdisciplinary backgrounds, deep knowledge in chosen disciplines, and technical, professional, and personal skills to become, in their own careers, leaders and creative agents for change.

Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)

 ATE--With an emphasis on two-year colleges, the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy. The program involves partnerships between academic institutions and employers to promote improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels. The ATE program supports curriculum development; professional development of college faculty and secondary school teachers; career pathways to two-year colleges from secondary schools and from two-year colleges to four-year institutions; and other activities. A secondary goal is articulation between two-year and four-year programs for K-12 prospective teachers that focus on technological education. The program also invites proposals focusing on applied research relating to technician education.

Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)

 Informal Science Education (ISE) --The ISE program invests in projects that develop and implement informal learning experiences designed to increase interest, engagement, and understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by individuals of all ages and backgrounds, as well as projects that advance knowledge and practice of informal science education. Projects may target either public audiences or professionals whose work directly affects informal STEM learning. ISE projects are expected to demonstrate strategic impact, innovation, and collaboration.

Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)

 The Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program responds to current concerns and projections about the growing demand for professionals and information technology workers in the U.S. and seeks solutions to help ensure the breadth and depth of the STEM workforce. ITEST supports research studies to address questions about how to find solutions. It also supports the development, implementation, testing, and scale-up of implementation models. A large variety of possible approaches to improving the STEM workforce and to building students’ capacity to participate in it may be implemented and studied. ITEST projects may include students or teachers, kindergarten through high school age, and any area of the STEM workforce.

Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)

 The Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) program supports efforts to create, adapt, and disseminate new learning materials and teaching strategies, develop faculty expertise, implement educational innovations, assess learning and evaluate innovations, and conduct research on STEM teaching and learning. The program supports three types of projects representing three different phases of development, ranging from small, exploratory investigations to large, comprehensive projects.

Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)

 The Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program is a major research and development effort that supports innovative partnerships to improve K-12 student achievement in mathematics and science. MSP projects are expected to raise the achievement levels of all students and significantly reduce achievement gaps in the mathematics and science performance of diverse student populations. In order to improve the mathematics and science achievement of the Nation's students, MSP projects serve as models that have a sufficiently strong evidence/research base to improve the mathematics and science education outcomes for all students.

Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)

 The Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program makes grants to institutions of higher education to support scholarships for academically talented, financially needy students, enabling them to enter the workforce following completion of an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate level degree in science and engineering disciplines.

Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)

 The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers. The program provides funds to institutions of higher education to support scholarships, stipends, and programs for students who commit to teaching in high need K-12 school districts.

Human Resource Development

HRD Goals:  Increase the number of underrepresented students earning quality STEM degrees associate degree through Ph.D.  Increase the number of underrepresented faculty at all types of institutions of higher education  Further our understanding of how to broaden participation in STEM (research on broadening participation)

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Human Resource Development

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ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation & Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering Careers

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Alliances for Broadening Participation in STEM (ABP)

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Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation

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Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP)

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Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) and Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (RISE)

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HBCU - Undergraduate Program (HBCU - UP)

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Research in Disabilities Education (RDE)

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Research on Gender in Science and Engineering (GSE)

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Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) 15

Human Resource Development

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Crosscutting programs: 1) Cooperative Activity with Department of Energy Programs for Education and Human Resource Development 2) Innovation Through Institutional Integration – I-Cubed

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The division homepage is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=HRD 16

HBCU - Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP)

This program provides awards to enhance the quality of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as a means to broaden participation in the Nation's STEM workforce.

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HBCU - Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP)

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Implementation Projects – up to $2.5 M for five years

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Comprehensive projects to improve the quality of STEM programs Targeted Infusion Projects - $75 to $150 K for 1-2 years

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Short term project with a well defined measurable goal Education Research Projects – ~ $150,000 per yr for 3 years

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Education research to inform education programs at HBCUs 18

Research in Disabilities Education

The Research in Disabilities Education (RDE) program seeks to broaden the participation and achievement of people with disabilities in all fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and associated professional careers.

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Research in Disabilities Education

Proposal types:

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Research informing educational practice

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Dissemination of research

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Regional Alliances for persons with disabilities in STEM education 20

Research on Gender in Science and Engineering

The Research on Gender in Science and Engineering program supports efforts to understand and address gender-based differences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce participation through research, the diffusion of research-based innovations, and extension services in education that will lead to a larger and more diverse domestic science and engineering workforce.

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Research on Gender in Science and Engineering

Proposal types:

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Research informing educational practice

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Dissemination of research

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Integration of proven good practices in education 22

Getting Started on Writing a Proposal

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Start early Get acquainted with FASTLANE ( www.FastLane.nsf.org

) Read the “Program Announcement” and follow the guidelines Contact a program officer to discuss your idea Become an NSF reviewer MyNSF allows you to receive updates about NSF programs. Subscribe at www.nsf.gov/mynsf Read and follow the PAPPG which contains the GPG 23

Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide

• Provides guidance for preparation of proposals • Specifies process for deviations, such as individual program announcements • Describes process -- and criteria -- by which proposals will be reviewed • Describes process for withdrawals, returns & declinations • Describes the award process and procedures for requesting continued support • Identifies significant grant administrative highlights

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Award and Review Process

PHASE I – PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION – 90 DAYS 1 - Opportunity Announced.

All funding opportunities are announced on the NSF website. Grants.gov is another source for finding and applying for NSF funding.

2 - Proposal Submitted.

Grants.gov. The Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) is the source for guidance on preparing and submitting a proposal to NSF. The proposing organization submits the proposal to NSF via either the NSF FastLane System or via

3 - Proposal Received.

Proposals are received by the NSF Proposal Processing Unit and are assigned to the appropriate program for acknowledgement and, if they meet NSF requirements, for review.

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Award and Review Process

PHASE II -PROPOSAL REVIEW AND PROCESSING – 6 MONTHS 4 -Reviewers Selected.

Reviewers are selected based on their specific and/or broad knowledge of the science and engineering fields; their broad knowledge of the infrastructure of the science and engineering enterprise, and its educational activities; and to the extent possible, diverse representation within the review group.

5 - Peer Review.

All NSF proposals are reviewed through use of the two NSB-approved merit review criteria: Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts. Some solicitations may have additional review criteria.

6 - Program Officer Recommendation.

or declined for funding. After scientific, technical and programmatic review, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant Division Director whether the proposal should be recommended for an award

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Award and Review Process

7 Division Director Review.

Agreements (DGA). If the decision is made to decline the award, the organization is notified and review information is available in the FastLane System. If the decision is to award, the recommendation is submitted to a Grants & Agreements Officer in the Division of Grants and

PHASE III – AWARD PROCESSING – 30 DAYS 8 - Business Review.

The Grants and Agreements Officer In the Division of Grants and Agreements (DGA) conducts a review of business, financial, and policy implications. Generally, DGA makes awards within 30 days after the program office makes its recommendation.

9 - Award Finalized.

The award itself is comprised of an award notice, budget, proposal, applicable NSF conditions, and any other documents or requirements incorporated by reference into the agreement. Each NSF award notice specifically identifies certain conditions that are applicable to, and become part of, that award.

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Contact Information

Claudia Rankins [email protected]

703-292-8109