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Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM


Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring  (PAESMEM)


CONTACTS
Name Email Phone Room
PAESMEM  Team PAESMEM@nsf.gov 703-292-8640   


SYNOPSIS

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) is a Presidential award established by the White House in 1995.  The purpose of the award is to recognize U.S. citizens or permanent residents and U.S. organizations that have demonstrated excellence in mentoring individuals from groups that are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce.  Groups that are underrepresented in STEM include women, people with disabilities, underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, as well as individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds and some geographic regions such as urban and rural areas.  The PAESMEM program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). 

Nominations, including self-nominations, are invited for Individual and Organizational PAESMEM awards.  Individuals and organizations in all public and private sectors are eligible including industry, academia, primary and secondary education, military and government, non-profit organizations, and foundations.  Nominations are encouraged from all geographical regions in the U.S., its territories or possessions, particularly jurisdictions designated by Congress under NSF's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

The PAESMEM Award

Each Individual and Organizational PAESMEM awardee will receive a $10,000 award and a commemorative Presidential certificate. Awardees are also invited to participate in an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. which includes meetings with STEM education, research, and policy leaders.  Up to sixteen awards may be made from the nominations received by June 5, 2013.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Eligibility Information

INDIVIDUAL Nominees: An Individual nominee must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident with five or more years of demonstrated exceptional mentoring in STEM.  Individuals in industry, academia, primary and secondary education, military and government, non-profit organizations, and foundations are eligible.  Nominees may be federal government employees except for those identified in the U.S. Code Title 5.  Federal employees should consult their Office of General Counsel to determine eligibility. Former Individual PAESMEM award recipients are not eligible for an additional Individual award.  Please note that prior or current federal funding is not required to be eligible for an Individual award.

ORGANIZATIONAL Nominees: An Organizational nominee must be affiliated with a U.S. corporation, educational institution or agency, military or government agency, non-profit organization, or foundation and have five or more years of demonstrated exceptional mentoring in STEM. Former recipients of the Organizational PAESMEM award may be re-nominated 10 years or more after receiving an award. Please note that prior or current federal funding is not required to be eligible for an Organizational award.

An Individual or Organizational nominee may be nominated only once per competition.  Nominations for different Individual or Organizational awards may be submitted from the same corporation, institution, agency or organization in the same competition. 

Nomination Preparation and Submission Instructions

STEP 1: Prepare Nomination Materials

The INDIVIDUAL Nomination Package should include four sections described below: 

  1. The nominee's mentoring philosophy (include references to any literature and models that were used to develop the mentoring philosophy, if applicable).  (1 to 2 pages)
  2. The nominee's mentoring accomplishments (up to 6 pages).  A description of the activities and strategies employed as a mentor including the number of years of experience and the reason for targeting the chosen population of students, trainees, and/or early career scientists and engineers.  Clearly delineate the achievements of the individual nominee as separate from achievements of his or her corporation, institution, agency or organization.  Suggested components:
    • Explain how the nominee's mentoring activities are above and beyond those expected from others employed in similar positions. 
    • Explain how the mentoring activities were designed and tailored to meet the needs and interests of the mentees. 
    • Describe any innovative mentoring activities developed and implemented by the nominee that could be adopted by others, if applicable.
    • Describe other awards and recognitions received by the nominee, if applicable.
    • Include quantitative information on the impact of the mentoring, such as:
      • The number and demographics of personally mentored students, trainees, and/or early career scientists and engineers.  If including lists of mentees by name do not include demographic information which is protected personally identifiable information.  Provide summary aggregate demographic information on mentees;
      • Outcome information on mentees personally mentored, such as academic achievement, retention, degree attainment, research productivity, career placement, career satisfaction, promotion, attainment of leadership roles, etc.
  3. Between two and five letters of support (at least two letters of support are required).
    • Letters can be from mentees as well as colleagues familiar with the nominee's work.
  4. A two page resume or curriculum vitae for the nominee with current contact information.

The ORGANIZATIONAL Nomination Package should include five sections described below:

  1. A brief description of the organization. (1 page)
  2. The organization's mentoring philosophy (include references to any literature and models that were used to develop the mentoring philosophy, if applicable).  (1 to 2 pages)
  3. The organization's mentoring accomplishments (up to 6 pages).  A description of the organizational activities and strategies employed as well as the number of years of experience and the reason for targeting the chosen population of students, trainees, and/or early career scientists and engineers.  Suggested components:
    • Explain how the mentoring activities were designed and tailored to meet the needs and interests of the mentees. 
    • Describe any innovative mentoring activities developed and implemented by the organization that could be adopted by others, if applicable.
    • Describe the organization's assessment of the mentoring activities.
    • Describe other awards and recognitions received by the organization, if applicable.
    • Include quantitative information on the impact of the mentoring, such as:
    • The number and demographics of mentees impacted by the organization's activities.  If including lists of mentees by name do not include demographic information which is protected personally identifiable information.  Provide summary aggregate demographic information on mentees;
    • Outcome information on mentees such as academic achievement, retention, degree attainment, research productivity, career placement, promotion, attainment of leadership roles, etc.
  4. Between two and five letters of support (at least two letters of support are required).
    • Letters can be from mentees as well as colleagues familiar with the organization's work.
  5. A two page resume or curriculum vitae for the organizational representative(s) with current contact information (one primary representative is required and up to four other organizational representatives can be included).

STEP 2: Submit Nomination Materials

  1. Combine all the prepared nomination materials described above into one Adobe© PDF or Microsoft© Word file.
  2. Download the PAESMEM Certification Form.   Sign the Certification Form and scan to create an electronic copy.
  3. Send an email to Mentor@nsf.gov with the nomination materials and the signed Certification Form attached.  Please include your name, daytime telephone number, and email address in the text of the email.  Do not include other information in the text of the email. Incomplete nomination packages will not be considered for the award. 
  4. Please include the word "NOMINATION" in the subject line of your email to Mentor@nsf.gov.  
  5. If the word "NOMINATION" is in the subject line, you will receive an automatic email indicating that NSF has received your email and attached document(s).  Note that this email reply does NOT confirm that the nomination is complete or readable.  You must ensure that the nomination materials are complete including the signed PAESMEM Certification Form and that the documents are in a format that can be opened and read using standard software before sending your nomination materials.

The nomination materials must be sent by email no later than 6 pm your local time on June 5, 2013. Early submission is encouraged. 

Note that nomination materials cannot be revised once submitted.  If revisions are required please resubmit a new complete package before the deadline.  The nomination package with the latest date and time before the deadline will be considered the final version.

PAESMEM nominations will be reviewed by a panel of mentoring and STEM experts for the overall impact, significance, and quality of the mentoring activities described in the nomination materials. 

Individual Criteria:

  • Impact: Are the impacts and outcomes of the mentoring outstanding?
  • Significance: Are the mentoring accomplishments above and beyond what would be expected for other individuals in similar positions? 
  • Quality: How well has the nominee designed, tailored, and implemented the mentoring activities and strategies for the targeted mentees?

Organizational Criteria:

  • Impact: Are the impacts and outcomes of the mentoring outstanding?
  • Significance: Are the mentoring activities and strategies regarded as exemplars and have potential for wider implementation?
  • Quality: How well has the nominee designed, tailored, and implemented the mentoring activities and strategies for the targeted mentees? and How well has the organization assessed the impacts of the mentoring activities? 

Awardees will be notified by the White House or NSF.  The timing of the awards announcement and ceremony activities is dependent on the White House calendar; therefore the award announcement and ceremony dates are not fixed every year.  The NSF will notify nominees who were not selected for the award as soon as possible after the awardees are notified. 

Please contact PAESMEM@nsf.gov for all questions on the nomination materials content, allowable file formats, and other submission questions.  If you cannot email attachments contact PAESMEM@nsf.gov by May 24, 2013 in order to make alternative arrangements before the nomination deadline.  

DEADLINE: All materials must be submitted to Mentor@nsf.gov by 6 pm your local time on June 5, 2013.  Early submission is encouraged. 

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