Equitable Transformation in STEM Education (ETSE)

Overview

The HSI program is guided by student-centered frameworks that build an intentional and supportive environment for students and reinforce cultural and mindset shifts that support the success of all students at HSIs. Proposals should discuss project designs that are based on data-informed decision-making processes to operationalize an institution’s student-centered approach. This competition is designed to leverage existing institutional strengths for advancing efforts toward student-centered environments. Proposals to ETSE should impact the STEM learning landscape, result in equitable undergraduate STEM degree attainment for all students, and position students for successful transition and retention into the STEM workforce or graduate education.

Institutional Transformation Track (ITT). Proposals to the Institutional Transformation track should articulate a vision for unifying academic equity research, practice, and policy to strengthen an institutional understanding of student learning outcomes from the context of the diverse community it serves. All institution types are encouraged to apply, especially PUIs (including community colleges). Proposals are encouraged to consider moving efforts from enrollment driven strategies to student-centered principles. These projects seek to support the planning and implementation of institutional research infrastructure efforts which results in institutional-wide efforts toward broadening participation in STEM while engaging students in STEM undergraduate best practices to effectively guide students toward careers in STEM and/or graduate programs.

Project Descriptions for successful proposals to the Institutional Transformation Track (ITT) are strongly encouraged to:

• Discuss the proposal’s alignment with the institutional strategic plan to improve the enrollment, retention, and graduation of STEM associates and baccalaureate degrees.
• Discuss how the proposed ITT project will leverage and/or complement existing programs and initiatives to help the institution move towards a more student-centered undergraduate STEM ecosystem.
• Articulate the creation of institution-wide strategies to transform their policies or practices to foster inclusive STEM learning environments that promote equitable student learning and engagement in all STEM disciplines at the proposing HSI.
• Comprise a multidisciplinary team with the expertise and experience needed to implement the proposed project. The PI team may have members from other institutions or non-profit organizations to augment the team's expertise, which should be explained in the project description and management plan.

Award Information: Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

Estimated Number of Awards: 11 to 17

Anticipated Funding Amount: $20,000,000 (The number of new awards is subject to the availability of funds.)

This Program anticipates making:
•    3-6 Departmental/Division Transformation Track (DDTT)
o    Award Size: Up to $1,000,000
o    Award Length: For up to five-year-long projects
•    2-3 Institutional Transformation Track (ITT)
o    Award Size: Up to $3,000,000
o    Award Length: For five-year-long projects
•    5-7 Emerging Faculty Research Tracks (EFRT)
o    Award Size: Up to $200,000
o    Award Length: For up to three-year-long projects
•    1 HSI Program Resource Hubs (Hubs)
o    Award Size: Up to $3,000,000
o    Award Length: For up to five-year-long projects

Due Dates: Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization’s local time):  September 11, 2024 and August 27, 2025 (and the last Wednesday in August, Annually Thereafter)

The NSF website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this website by potential proposers is strongly encouraged.