NSF Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP)
WHAT: Limited Submission Proposal for the National Science Foundation Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) Program
WHO: Texas A&M University faculty, including TAES, TEES and TTI personnel.
WHY: Type 1 awards are for a maximum of $2.0 million dollars for a five-year period.
WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of July 14, 2008.
HOW: Faculty should submit an internal proposal via email for review by the internal selection committee.
THE FINE PRINT:
The funding agency below has limited the number of solicitations to one Type 1 proposal per institution. If the number of faculty wishing to submit a proposal exceeds the number allowed by the agency, we will conduct an internal selection process. Below are due dates for the program, including the due date for the internal proposal for review by the internal selection committee, the date for announcement of the internal selection, the due date for the letter of intent and the due date for submission of the proposal to the agency.
AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF)
AGENCY PROGRAM TITLE: NSF 08-569 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP)
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The NSF Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) Program seeks to increase the number of students (U. S. citizens or permanent residents) receiving associate or baccalaureate degrees in established or emerging fields within science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The goal of the project must be to increase the total graduation numbers of such students at the institution(s), and all STEP proposals must include specific numerical targets for these increases. The emphasis in the proposal should be on the adaptation and implementation of best practices as opposed to the introduction of novel and untried efforts.
Approaches in the STEP program may include the following: programs that intend to increase the number of students persisting in STEM courses and majors by focusing directly on the quality of student learning; programs that expand the capacity of institutions of higher education to incorporate current advances in science and technology into the undergraduate learning environment; programs including interdisciplinary approaches to undergraduate STEM education; bridge programs that enable students at community colleges to matriculate directly into baccalaureate STEM programs, including those bridge programs targeted at traditionally underrepresented groups in such disciplines; programs among collaborating academic institutions designed to increase the number of pathways available for achieving a degree in STEM, or to improve the articulation among programs at the institutions; mentoring programs, that involve faculty or peer student mentoring; programs that focus on increasing enrollments in STEM undergraduate majors through the incorporation of strategies targeted at traditionally underrepresented students (low-income, ethnic and racial minorities, women and persons with disabilities); programs that facilitate student exposure to potential careers, including cooperative programs with industry or government that place students in internships as early as the summer following their first year of study, provide part-time employment in industry during the school year, or provide opportunities for undergraduates to participate in industry or government sponsored research; programs to encourage undergraduate research, particularly in the early undergraduate years, on- or off-campus; programs that assist institutions of higher education in states that participate in the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to broaden the STEM student base or increase retention in these fields; programs that provide financial incentives to students entering and persisting in the study of STEM; or other approaches to achieving program goals.
The outcomes expected of funded Type 1 STEP projects include all of the following: significant progress toward achieving specific numerical increases n students obtaining STEM degrees at institutions offering baccalaureate or associate degrees, as well as community colleges; a description of activities that have been institutionalized as a result of the project; a description of the expectations for continued efforts following the end of the grant period; an evaluation, using benchmarks defined in the proposal, that informs the institution and others of the progress and findings of the grant project; and effective dissemination of project processes and results to the broader community. In addition, all Type 1A grants will be reviewed during their third year to determine whether satisfactory progress has been made, with continued funding contingent on the result of the third-year review.
More information can be found here.
AGENCIES ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT: Type 1 STEP proposals are invited from academic institutions in the United States and its territories, from consortia thereof, or from nonprofit organizations that have established consortia among such academic institutions. The academic institutions must offer either associate degrees or baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics (STEM). Associate degree-granting institutions with a demonstrated record of articulation to STEM baccalaureate programs need not necessarily grant associate degrees in STEM fields in order to be eligible for this program.
Projects may involve a single institution, collaboration with business and industrial partners, or collaboration among several institutions. For example, projects may include collaborative efforts that improve the transition of students among the collaborating institutions, such as transfer between two-and four-year institutions. An institution is allowed to submit only one Type 1 proposal, or to be part of only one consortium submitting a Type 1 proposal.
AWARD INFORMATION: Type 1 awards are for a maximum of $2.0 million dollars for a five-year period.
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS COSTS: Indirect Costs (F&A) Limitations: NONE.
COST SHARING: NONE.
Internal Selection Procedures and Deadlines
July 11, 2008: Deadline for an email of intent, including the name of the PI, co-PIs, title of internal proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project. Send email of intent.
July 14, 2008: Deadline to obtain approval from your department head and dean to submit an internal proposal to the Office of Sponsored Projects for review by the internal selection committee. The internal proposal should include:
(1) An executive summary, up to three pages, based on the proposal description as outlined in the NSF announcement;
(2) Project and Management Plans;
(3) Summary budget.
The form for completing the internal proposal is here.
*Once your internal proposal has been received with all of the necessary signatures, you will receive an email indicating it will be reviewed by the internal selection committee. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please call 5-1812.*
This completed form should be submitted electronically for review by the internal selection committee.
Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program here.
Selection of a proposal will be based on National Science Foundation guidelines. Meeting the needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account.
During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments. They may also request additional information from PIs.
July 25, 2008: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.
August 19, 2008: NSF deadline for optional, but recommended, letter of intent.
September 30, 2008: NSF deadline (due by 5 p.m. proposer’s local time).
