Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the Noyce Program 2023
ELIGIBILITY AND SUPPORT
- What STEM majors or degrees are eligible for Noyce scholarship or stipend support?
- Can cost of attendance cover non-scholarship expenses such as licensure exams or internship placement fees?
- Are Noyce scholarships or stipends taxable?
- Can a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient receive concurrent support from a Department of Education Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant?
- What does "one year" of support while earning a master's degree mean for Noyce Scholars and Fellows?
- Should Noyce funds be taken into account before students obtain loans to support their college attendance?
- Who is eligible for scholarship or fellowship support in Track 1 and Track 2?
- Can grant funds be used to support coursework prior to the junior year?
- May Track 1, Track 2, and Track 3 recipients be supported as part-time students?
- Can a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient obtain credit for a teaching service commitment in alternative settings, for example, as a long-term substitute, teaching assistant, or paraprofessional at the K-12 level or as an instructor or teaching assistant at the post-secondary level?
- Under what circumstances can a hardship waiver be granted for a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient, such that the scholarship, stipend, or fellowship is forgiven?
- In the absence of a hardship waiver, as described above, how should scholarship, stipend, or fellowship repayments be returned when the recipient fails to complete the required teaching service commitment?
- In the absence of a hardship waiver, as described above, what is the responsibility of the grantee institution if a Noyce recipient is responsible for repaying a scholarship, stipend, or fellowship and does not repay within a reasonable period after the teaching service commitment grace period expires?
- Can private, Catholic, or charter schools meet the Noyce high-need school district requirement?
- How many schools must be categorized as high-need in a school district for it to serve as an appropriate placement to complete the Noyce teaching service commitment?
- What are the PI team requirements for Noyce Track 1, 2, and 3 projects?
- For which Noyce Track 2 and Track 3 awards will the cost sharing requirement be waived?
- Can the external evaluator for a Noyce project be at the same institution as the project?
- What is an acceptable national assessment for selecting Master Teaching Fellowship recipients?
- For those projects funded under solicitations previous to NSF 23-586, what are examples of allowable cost sharing, including in-kind and cash matching, for Track 2: Teaching Fellowships and Track 3: Master Teaching Fellowships projects?
- Which minority-serving institutions (MSIs) may Noyce projects consider when requesting additional funding for collaboration incentives?
- Can a project request multiple collaboration incentives when partnering with both a two- year college and an MSI?
- Do projects for Track 4 need to use quantitative methods?
- Is it allowable for Track 4 projects to focus on research that does not involve Noyce teachers?
- Would it be appropriate for a Track 4 project to compare two or more high-need schools or districts to study factors contributing to STEM teacher effectiveness and retention?
- Can one member of the PI team satisfy both requirements for at least one individual with expertise and experience in STEM education research and at least one individual with an advanced degree in a STEM discipline?
- How and when should proposals for Research Experiences in STEM Settings (RESS) be submitted?
- Can a request for supplemental funding for research experiences be submitted to an existing Noyce award?
- What are examples of eligible formal or informal STEM settings for research experiences? Are national centers, research laboratories, or NASA sites required settings for research experiences?
- What are acceptable STEM research areas or disciplines for research experiences? Are areas of critical need a requirement?
- How many STEM research experiences will be funded each year?
REPAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP, STIPEND, OR FELLOWSHIP
HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICT
GENERAL INQUIRIES
TRACK 4: NOYCE RESEARCH
RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN STEM SETTINGS
ELIGIBILITY AND SUPPORT
What STEM majors or degrees are eligible for Noyce scholarship or stipend support?
Noyce-eligible STEM majors, degrees, or disciplines are identified based on its Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. The CIP code is used by state agencies, national associations, academic institutions, and government agencies for collecting, reporting, and analyzing instructional program data. Additional details on CIP codes can be found at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode.
STEM majors, degrees, or disciplines that are typically eligible for Noyce cost of attendance support are: biological sciences (CIP code 26), computer sciences (CIP code 11), engineering (CIP code 14), mathematics and statistics (CIP code 27), physical sciences (CIP code 40), or fields related to these disciplines (e.g., biological and physical science CIP code 30.01, data science CIP code 30.70, marine sciences CIP code 30.32, mathematics and computer science CIP code 30.08).
Noyce does not provide cost of attendance support for agriculture (CIP code 01), business (CIP code 52), education (CIP code 13), or health professions (CIP codes 51, 60, and 61), unless these majors are coupled with a Noyce-eligible STEM major in a double major.
Can cost of attendance cover non-scholarship expenses such as licensure exams or internship placement fees?
Licensure exams and internship placement fees are not included in cost of attendance but may be included in the "Participant Costs (Other)" section of a Noyce budget. Cost of attendance should only include the cost of tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and certain other personal expenses for a student enrolled at the institution on at least a half-time basis. For additional guidance on allowances for miscellaneous personal expenses, students with dependents, students enrolled less than half-time, or other specifics, see the full definition of cost of attendance in Section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
Are Noyce scholarships or stipends taxable?
NSF does not consider scholarships or stipends to be income. However, NSF does not interpret tax laws or provide guidance on whether scholarships or stipends are taxable.
Can a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient receive concurrent support from a Department of Education Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant?
A recipient of a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship may receive concurrent support from a TEACH Grant, as long as the recipient meets the appropriate eligibility criteria for both programs, and the total annual support received from both sources does not exceed the recipient's annual cost of attendance.
A student receiving both Noyce and TEACH support is subject to both the Noyce teaching service commitment and the TEACH teaching service commitment in their entirety, although the same period of teaching service that meets the eligibility requirements of both programs may count toward both Noyce and TEACH teaching service commitments simultaneously.
What does "one year" of support while earning a master's degree mean for Noyce Scholars and Fellows?
For Track 1 stipend recipients who are post-baccalaureate STEM degreed individuals, and Track 2 or Track 3 projects, "one year" may include up to 14 months in order to allow for two summers as part of the master's degree program.
Should Noyce funds be taken into account before students obtain loans to support their college attendance?
Noyce Scholars and Fellows may receive up to the Total Cost of Attendance, as defined in the solicitation. Therefore, Institutions are encouraged to provide Noyce Scholarship or Fellowship funding to students eligible for Noyce funding in lieu of or in advance of student loans. Grant funds provided by a Noyce grant must not supplant other Federal or State funds available for the type of activities supported by the grant.
Who is eligible for scholarship or fellowship support in Track 1 and Track 2?
Undergraduates pursuing a STEM baccalaureate degree, not an education degree unless obtaining dual degrees, and post-baccalaureate individuals with STEM degrees are eligible for support. The program especially encourages the recruitment and support of STEM majors and professionals of the highest achievement and ability who might otherwise not have considered a career in K-12 teaching. Thus, individuals who have served as the classroom teacher of record are not eligible for support in Track 1 or Track 2.
Can grant funds be used to support coursework prior to the junior year?
The earliest that scholarships can be provided to a teacher candidate is the junior year. However, if it will be helpful for a STEM major who will also pursue teacher certification to take a few education courses prior to the junior year, the STEM major may receive grant funds to cover tuition for education courses. Such funds would be included in the budget under “F4.Other.” Undergraduate STEM students who receive tuition support prior to the junior year do not accrue any service requirement for this support, nor would this support prior to the junior year be considered if the student had to enter repayment of financial support if the student failed to complete the program, inclusive of the service requirement.
May Track 1, Track 2, and Track 3 recipients be supported as part-time students?
Yes. Scholar and stipend recipients in Track 1, may be supported as part-time students. A part-time student may receive scholarship or stipend support that is prorated according to the student's enrollment status but must not receive scholarship support over more than six years, including summer terms. Full-time and part-time scholarship or stipend recipients must have completed teacher certification or licensure requirements upon completion of the STEM baccalaureate degree or, if applicable, the post-baccalaureate degree."
Yes, for Track 2, Teaching Fellows (TFs) may be enrolled part-time as they complete what constitutes a one-year master’s degree, over more than one year. TFs enrolled part-time may receive prorated cost of attendance support according to the TF's enrollment status but should not receive support over more than two years, including summer terms. Full-time and part-time recipients must have completed certification or licensure requirements upon completion of the master's degree.
Yes, for Track 3, Master Teaching Fellows (MTFs) may be enrolled part-time as they complete what constitutes a one-year master’s degree, over more than one year. MTFs enrolled part-time may receive prorated cost of attendance support according to the MTF's enrollment status but should not receive support over more than two years, including summer terms. Full-time and part-time recipients must have completed certification or licensure requirements upon completion of the master's degree.
Can a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient obtain credit for a teaching service commitment in alternative settings, for example, as a long-term substitute, teaching assistant, or paraprofessional at the K-12 level or as an instructor or teaching assistant at the post-secondary level?
No. The teaching service commitment must be met through service as a licensed/certified classroom teacher of record in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or computer science at the elementary or secondary school level in a high-need school district.
Under what circumstances can a hardship waiver be granted for a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient, such that the scholarship, stipend, or fellowship is forgiven?
The grantee institution may waive repayment of the scholarship, stipend, or fellowship if the recipient has a documented inability to complete the teacher certification/licensure program or teach during the teaching service commitment period due to: (i) conditions that are qualifying reasons for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, (ii) a call or order to active duty status as a member of the armed forces reserves or National Guard, (iii) permanent disability or death, or (iv) circumstances indicated in the grantee's established institutional policy.
In the absence of a hardship waiver, as described above, how should scholarship, stipend, or fellowship repayments be returned when the recipient fails to complete the required teaching service commitment?
The grantee institution should collect repayment funds from the recipient. These funds may not be reused for other purposes and must be returned to NSF by the grantee institution.
- Funds may be returned via https://www.pay.gov
- Funds may be returned via check, payable to:
National Science Foundation ATTN:
NSF Cashier 2415 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22314
In the absence of a hardship waiver, as described above, what is the responsibility of the grantee institution if a Noyce recipient is responsible for repaying a scholarship, stipend, or fellowship and does not repay within a reasonable period after the teaching service commitment grace period expires?
The Noyce recipient, not the grantee institution, is responsible for repayment of a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship when the teaching service commitment is not fulfilled. While the institution is required to (i) collect and return repayments to the US Treasury or NSF; and (ii) appropriately maintain documentation of such efforts in the event of a future audit by NSF, the institution is not responsible for repaying funds owed by Noyce recipients.
Can private, Catholic, or charter schools meet the Noyce high-need school district requirement?
If the school is part of a Local Education Agency (LEA) or religious jurisdiction, such as a diocese, that functions as a LEA, it can satisfy the Noyce high-need requirement as long as the LEA meets the two criteria of the high-need LEA requirement as defined in section 201 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021). A high-need LEA does not have to be a public school system.
How many schools must be categorized as high-need in a school district for it to serve as an appropriate placement to complete the Noyce teaching service commitment?
If at least one school in the school district meets the high-need definition, the entire district is considered high-need for purposes of the Noyce program.
What are the PI team requirements for Noyce Track 1, 2, and 3 projects?
For Track 1, 2, and 3 the PI team requirement is clarified to include at least one faculty member with an advanced STEM degree who is currently housed in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics department and at least one education faculty member from an education department or equivalent at a participating or partnering U.S. institution of higher education.
For which Noyce Track 2 and Track 3 awards will the cost sharing requirement be waived?
The cost sharing requirement for Track 2 and Track 3 is waived for proposals submitted between August 2023 and 2026. As such no voluntary committed cost sharing is allowable for any new Noyce proposal submitted through August 2026. For previous awards that included a cost sharing requirement, awardees are required to meet their cost-sharing commitments, consistent with the solicitation under which the grant was awarded.
Can the external evaluator for a Noyce project be at the same institution as the project?
Yes. However, it must be clear that the external evaluator can provide independent and objective feedback to the project.
What is an acceptable national assessment for selecting Master Teaching Fellowship recipients?
The Noyce program does not specify which nationally recognized assessments should be used for Master Teaching Fellowship recipients. Projects might use a state assessment of content knowledge or a national assessment such as the GRE.
For those projects funded under solicitations previous to NSF 23-586, what are examples of allowable cost sharing, including in-kind and cash matching, for Track 2: Teaching Fellowships and Track 3: Master Teaching Fellowships projects?
The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR § 200.306) prescribes criteria and procedures for the allowability of cash and in-kind contributions. Grantees should be aware that mandatory cost sharing commitments for current awards remain subject to audit. Audit findings involving cost sharing have pertained to: a) failure to keep adequate source documentation for claimed cost sharing; b) unclear valuation of in-kind donated contributions; c) lack of support for cost sharing contributions by sub-recipients; and d) failure to complete annual certifications for awards with mandatory cost sharing requirements. Additional guidance on cost sharing may be obtained at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/caar/costrev.jsp.
Which minority-serving institutions (MSIs) may Noyce projects consider when requesting additional funding for collaboration incentives?
MSIs include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and other institutions that enroll a significant percentage of underrepresented minority students as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. These other institutions include Alaska Native-serving Institutions, Native Hawaiian- Serving Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions, High Hispanic Enrollment Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, and Native American-Serving Non-tribal Institutions. All of these MSIs are eligible for consideration of collaboration incentives. Projects requesting additional funds for collaboration incentives are encouraged to clearly address how the project will purposefully engage, recruit, and support the populations that result in the institution's designation as an MSI.Can a project request multiple collaboration incentives when partnering with both a two- year college and an MSI?
Yes. If a project includes partners from both a two-year college and an MSI, the project can receive both collaboration incentives. A subaward or collaborative submission is not required to receive the collaboration incentive, but there must be well documented commitments of substantive engagement between all partners involved in the collaboration. If an institution is both a two-year college and MSI, only one collaboration incentive may be requested.
Do projects for Track 4 need to use quantitative methods?
There is no requirement that a Track 4 project use quantitative methodology. Track 4 projects may use any appropriate methodology (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed) to address the posed research question(s) focused on both STEM teacher effectiveness and STEM teacher retention in high-need school districts.
Is it allowable for Track 4 projects to focus on research that does not involve Noyce teachers?
Track 4 projects are not required to involve Noyce teachers. However, the research study should focus on both STEM teacher effectiveness and retention in high-need schools or districts. The maximum funding request for a Track 4 proposal that does not involve Noyce teachers is $1,000,000.
Would it be appropriate for a Track 4 project to compare two or more high-need schools or districts to study factors contributing to STEM teacher effectiveness and retention?
This topic area would be appropriate for Track 4 if the proposal has a robust theoretical framing and appropriate methodological design.
Can one member of the PI team satisfy both requirements for at least one individual with expertise and experience in STEM education research and at least one individual with an advanced degree in a STEM discipline?
No. These two requirements must be satisfied by separate individuals.
How and when should proposals for Research Experiences in STEM Settings (RESS) be submitted?
Proposals may be submitted to the Noyce program only after consultation with and consent of a Noyce Program Officer. Proposers should follow the guidance in PAPPG Chapter II for the preparation and submission of full research proposals to NSF. While proposals may be submitted any time, those submitted by the Noyce program's August submission deadline will be prioritized for support in the respective year.
Can a request for supplemental funding for research experiences be submitted to an existing Noyce award?
No. While STEM research experiences may complement the work in an existing award, they are not intended to supplant or supplement ongoing funded work nor support efforts that could be completed within the scope and parameters of an active Noyce award.
What are examples of eligible formal or informal STEM settings for research experiences? Are national centers, research laboratories, or NASA sites required settings for research experiences?
Proposed projects must include STEM research experiences in a formal or informal science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or computer science setting. While allowable, there is not a requirement that the research experience be held at a national center, research laboratory, or NASA site. Other possible research settings may include industry, institutions of higher education, or non-profit organizations. However, K-12 schools do not meet the STEM setting requirement for research experiences.
What are acceptable STEM research areas or disciplines for research experiences? Are areas of critical need a requirement?
Submissions must align with Noyce-eligible STEM major(s). While research experiences are encouraged in disciplinary areas of critical need, including quantum computing and quantum science, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer science, and data analytics, research experiences in other STEM areas are also appropriate.
How many STEM research experiences will be funded each year?
The Noyce program will support as many meritorious proposals in a given year as funding availability will allow.