April 22, 2014

Colleagues:

NSF invites proposals that address effective approaches in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for students at two-year Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), which encourages research on the science of broadening participation and related STEM education areas, is one of two DCLs highlighting funding opportunities focused on students at HSIs in STEM in fiscal year 2014.

NSF encourages the submission of proposals for Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) and Conferences, Symposia, and Workshops that focus on evidence-based practices that have been shown to be particularly effective for students at HSIs, as well as exploratory research that may lead to new models and best practices. Examples of appropriate topics include:

• Understanding factors that will lead to improved retention of students in STEM programs at two-year HSIs
• Understanding barriers and challenges that prevent the transfer of students at two-year HSIs to four-year colleges; understanding factors that promote the transfer of students including articulation agreements
• Improving the quality of STEM undergraduate academic and research experiences at two-year HSIs
• Research on strategies that enhance interest and motivation of students and improve persistence and graduation rates in undergraduate STEM programs at HSIs through innovations in STEM curricula, instructional materials, and research experiences
• Building capacity at HSIs through collaborations with majority institutions that support faculty research, professional development, and mentoring

Submission Deadline

Proposals must be submitted by May 31, 2014.

Funding Level and Award Duration

• EAGER: Up to $300,000 and two years duration
• Conferences, Symposia, and Workshops: Up to $50,000

Participating Directorates and Programs

The following NSF Directorates and Program Offices will accept inquiries and submissions of EAGER proposals and proposals for Conferences, Symposia and Workshops:

BIO:	DBI, DEB, EF,IOS, MCB	Contact the cognizant program officer in the appropriate Biological Sciences Organization & Program. https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=BIO
EHR:	A. James Hicks Tasha Inniss	Program: Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Bridges to the Baccalaureate https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13646&org=HRD&from=home
	Dave Brown	Programs: Advanced Technological Education https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5464&org=DUE&from=home
	John Krupczak Paul Tymann	NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5257&org=DUE&from=home
	Myles Boylan	Improving Undergraduate STEM Education https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504976&org=DUE&from=home
CISE:	Jan Cuny	Contact the CISE program officer listed for information on participating programs. https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=CISE
ENG:	Bevlee Watford	Contact the ENG program officer listed for information on participating programs. https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=ENG
GEO:	Lina Patino	Contact the GEO program officer listed for information on participating programs. https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=GEO
OIA:	Randy Phelps Kathleen McCloud	Program: Major Research Instrumentation https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5260
	Dragana Brzakovic Joan Frye	Program: Science and Technology Centers https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5541
MPS:	AST, CHE, DMR, DMS, PHY	Contact the cognizant program officer in the appropriate Mathematics and Physical Sciences Organization & Program. https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=MPS
SBE:	Sally Dickerson	Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Science https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=BCS
	Linda Layne	Division of Social and Economic Sciences https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=SES

Special Instructions

Please contact the Program Director or Division listed above prior to submission to ensure that the proposed idea is in compliance with the program of interest.

Proposals should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the guidance in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) (NSF 14-1): https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. Specific instructions for EAGER proposals are found in Chapter II.D.2 of the GPG and specific instructions for proposals for Conferences, Symposia, and Workshops are in Chapter II.D.8.

The following resource is designed to help with educational research proposal preparation: Common Guidelines for Education Research and Development (NSF 13-126). This new publication was jointly developed by the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education and describes six types of research studies that can generate evidence about how to increase student learning. The Common Guidelines may be accessed at the following link: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13126/nsf13126.pdf. A set of supporting FAQs is also available: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13127/nsf13127.pdf

Sincerely,
Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Assistant Director
Directorate for Education and Human Resources

Participating Directorates and Offices

Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO)
Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)
Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR)
Directorate for Engineering (ENG)
Directorate for Geological Sciences (GEO)
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)
Directorate for Social, Behavior, and Economic Resources (SBE)
Office of Integrative Activities (OIA)