HSIs: Equitable Transformation in STEM Education (ETSE)

Overview

The National Science Foundation’s Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Program is part of a Foundation-wide effort to accelerate improvements in the quality and effectiveness of undergraduate education in all STEM fields including the learning, social, behavioral, and economic sciences. As its name implies, the HSI program specifically supports initiatives to (1) enhance the quality of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and (2) increase the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of students pursuing associate’s or baccalaureate degrees in STEM at colleges that have been designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).

To accomplish these goals, the IUSE HSI program runs multiple competitions annually. One of these is a competition for the Equitable Transformation in STEM Education (ETSE). Recognizing the diverse nature and context of HSIs, ETSE is designed to support HSIs with varying structures and diverse student populations, including newly designated HSIs, to engage in organizational change efforts to support equitable learning outcomes for all its students. 

The (ETSE) solicitation accepts proposals in four tracks:

1. Departmental/Division Transformation Track (DDTT): This new track focuses on strengthening STEM education through the transformation of academic departments or divisions which are in turn shaped by the personnel, leadership, practices, and disciplinary culture of these distinct and often interconnected units. These projects should provide opportunities for departments and divisions to scrutinize their policies and practices, invest in current and future leaders, and challenge narrow or exclusionary disciplinary norms that can sustainably drive positive student outcomes.
2. Institutional Transformation Track (ITT): 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. These projects seek to:
                1. Support the planning and implementation of institutional research infrastructure                     efforts which results in institution-wide efforts toward broadening participation in                     STEM and 
                 2. Engage students in STEM undergraduate best practices and effectively guide                        students toward careers in STEM and/or graduate programs.
3. Emerging Faculty Research Track (EFRT)*: The EFRT track is a new track that invites proposals from individual investigators at 2- and 4-year PUIs, including community colleges, to engage in STEM research, including undergraduate STEM education or STEM broadening participation research. The specific objectives of EFRT projects should:
                 1.  Enhance faculty opportunities at PUIs and two-year colleges to conduct STEM                       Research, STEM education research and/or Broadening Participation research 
                  2. Improve understanding of factors that advance positive student learning                                 outcomes and effective STEM broadening participation efforts.
4. HSI Program Resource Hubs (HSI Hubs): Hub projects should be designed to promote research and support collaboration within the HSI community, including prospective PIs, to build capacity at HSIs. The HSI-Hubs will support initiatives and activities that address any area(s) of need in the HSI community, identified by the proposer and community, and supported by evidence. These should be designed to effectively serve the HSI STEM communities and increase the participation of the full spectrum of diverse talent to include historically underrepresented individuals/communities in STEM.
   
   The ETSE Competition also accepts planning proposals for Departmental/Division Transformation and Institutional Transformation tracks. Please review PAPPG guidelines on how to submit a planning proposal.

ETSE project funds may not be used for:
•    Student scholarships (please see the S-STEM, SFS, or Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship programs for scholarships for students).
•    Equipment or instrumentation that does not significantly improve instructional capability, please see the Educational Instrumentation Track in the ELSPE solicitation.
•    Teaching aids (e.g., films, slides, projectors, "drill and practice" software).
•    Vehicles, trailers, laboratory furnishings, or general utility items such as office equipment, benches, tables, desks, chairs, storage cases, and routine supplies.
•    Maintenance equipment and maintenance or service contracts.
•    Modification, construction, or furnishing of laboratories or other buildings.
•    Installation of equipment or instrumentation (as distinct from the on-site assembly of multi-component instruments--which is an allowable charge).

*There are additional requirements to be eligible for funding in the Emerging Faculty Research Track (EFRT). The institution must be an eligible Primarily Undergraduate Institution (PUI). Eligible PUIs are accredited colleges and universities (including two-year community colleges) that award Associate's degrees, Bachelor's degrees, and/or Master's degrees in NSF-supported fields, but have awarded 20 or fewer Ph.D./D.Sc. degrees in all NSF-supported fields during the combined previous two academic years.

Who May Serve as PI:
ITT proposals require an upper-level administrator with decision-making authority (i.e. Dean or higher) as PI or co-PI.
For DDTT proposals, the unit head, chair, or equivalent should be a PI or co-PI for the duration of the project.
No restrictions for Hub and EFRT proposals.
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI:
1.    An individual may only serve as a PI or co-PI on one Hub proposal or active Hub project at any time.
2.    For DDTT, ITT and EFRT, an individual may be listed as PI or co-PI on only one proposal. DDTT proposals: Eligible institutions with an active Track 3: Institutional Transformation project (ITP) award from NSF 22-611, NSF 22-545, or NSF 20-599 or an active ITT award from this solicitation must describe how the proposed DDTT project is compatible with the efforts being undertaken by the active award.
3.    ITT proposals: Eligible institutions may submit one proposal and may not have an active Track 3 Institutional Transformation Project (ITP) award from, NSF 22-611, NSF 22-545, or NSF 20-599. Institutions with an active DDTT award from this solicitation must describe how the proposed ITT project is compatible with the departmental/divisional transformation effort being undertaken by the active award.

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.