Exploring NSF Funding
Opportunities in DUE
Tim Fossum
Division of Undergraduate Education
tfossum@nsf.gov
Vermont EPSCoR NSF Research Day
May 6, 2008
1
The NSF Structure
2
NSF Programs
in the
Division of Undergraduate
Education
Federal Cyber Service:
Scholarship for Service (SFS)
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Co-sponsored by NSF and the Department
of Homeland Security
Goal: protect the nation’s critical computer
infrastructure, systems, and networks
Objective: Increase supply of Information
Assurance (IA) professionals in Federal
Service
Search NSF website for SFS
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SFS Institution Requirements
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Center of Academic Excellence in
Information Assurance Education
(CAEIAE): see
http://www.nsa.gov/ia/academia/caeiae.cfm
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Can partner with a CAEIAE
institution
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SFS Tracks
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Two tracks:
 Capacity Building
 Scholarship
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SFS awards (FY2008)
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Typical award sizes:
 Scholarship: $400K/year for four
years (5 new awards, often as
continuing grants)
 Capacity building: $100K/year for
two years (plus another $100K/year
if in collaboration with a MSI) (10
new awards)
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SFS awards
Since FY2001:
 29 SFS scholarship track grants
 953 students received scholarships
 FY2008 budget: $11.6M
 FY2009 request: $15M
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Advanced Technological
Education (ATE)
Goal: Educate technicians for the
high-tech fields that drive our
nation’s economy
 Sample activities:
 Curriculum development
 Faculty professional development
 Building career pathways
 Search NSF website for ATE
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ATE Institution Requirements
Focus is on two-year colleges
 All proposals are expected to include
one or more two-year colleges in
leadership roles
 A consortium of institutions may also
apply
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ATE Tracks
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Projects
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Program improvement
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Professional development for
educators
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Curriculum and educational
materials development
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Teacher preparation
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Small grants to new awardees
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ATE Tracks
ATE Centers
 National Centers of Excellence
 Regional Centers of Excellence
 Resource Centers
 Targeted research on technician
education
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ATE awards (FY2008)
Typical award sizes:
 Projects: $200K/year for 3 years
(45 new awards)
 Small Grants: $75K/year for 2
years (15 new awards)
 National Centers: $1.2M/year for 4
years (2 new awards)
 FY2008 budget: $46M
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Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics
Talent Expansion Program
(STEP)
Goal: increase the number of
students receiving associate or
baccalaureate degrees in STEM
 Search NSF website for STEP
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STEP Tracks
Type 1: Implement strategies that
will increase the number of students
obtaining STEM degrees. (If you have
already had a Type 1 award, see the
solicitation)
 Type 2: Conduct research on factors
affecting associate or baccalaureate
degree attainment in STEM
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STEP Type 1
Possible project activities:
 Focus directly on student learning
 Incorporate current technology
 Develop interdisciplinary
approaches
 Offer bridge programs
 Increases in a particular field must
not be at the expense of other fields!
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STEP Type 2
Goal: contribute to the knowledge
base of scholarly research in science
education relating to factors
affecting associate or baccalaureate
degree attainment in STEM
 Project outcomes should be useful to
educators
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STEP awards (FY2008)
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Maximum award sizes
 Type 1 (typically continuing grants, 15-20
awards anticipated)
 $100K/year for 5 years for students < 5000
 $200K/year for 5 years for 5000<= students
< 15000
 $400K/year for 5 years for 15000<=
students
 Type 2: $500K/year for 3 years (2 awards
anticipated)
 FY 2008 budget: $26M
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Course, Curriculum, and
Laboratory Improvement
(CCLI)
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CCLI seeks to improve the quality of STEM
education for all students by targeting
activities affecting learning environments,
course content, curricula, and educational
practices
Supports projects at all levels of
undergraduate education
Supports activities in the classroom,
laboratory, and field settings
Search the NSF website for CCLI
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CCLI Goals and Objectives:
A New Emphasis
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Provide a framework for projects to maximize
their effectiveness in improving undergraduate
STEM education
Increase the emphasis on projects that build on
prior work and contribute to the knowledge
base of STEM education research and practice
Contribute to building a community of scholars
who work in related areas of education
Explicitly identify a set of measurable
outcomes that will be used in the project
management and evaluation
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CCLI: Organized Cycle of
Innovation into 5 Components
Creating New
Learning Materials
and Teaching
Strategies
Conducting Research
on Undergraduate
STEM Education
Assessing Student
Achievement
Developing Faculty
Expertise
Implementing
Educational
Innovations
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CCLI: 3 Phases
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Phase 1 – Exploratory Projects
Involve exploratory, initial investigation or
adaptation in one of the component areas.
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Phase 2 – Expansion Projects
Build on smaller scale but proven innovations,
refine and test innovations on diverse users
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Phase 3 – Comprehensive Projects
Several diverse institutions, evaluation or
assessment activities–deep & broad, combine
proven results and mature innovations from
several component areas, sustainability, national
dissemination, etc.
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CCLI awards (FY2008)
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Typical award sizes
 Phase 1: $75K/year for 2 years
(80 new awards)
 Phase 2: $170K/year for 3 years
(25 new awards)
 Phase 3: $500K/year for 4 years
(3 new awards)
Co-funding allows for more awards
FY 2008 budget: $34M
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Scholarships in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (S-STEM)
Awards grants to institutions to
provide scholarships to academically
talented, but financial needy,
students
 Students can be pursuing associate,
baccalaureate, or graduate degrees
 Funded by the H-1B visa program
 Search the NSF website for S-STEM
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S-STEM
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Eligible disciplines: biology, physical and
mathematical sciences, computer and
information sciences, geosciences, and
engineering
Technology programs in these disciplines
are also supported
Individual student scholarships may be for
up to $10K/yr, based on need
One proposal per school or college
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S-STEM projects
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Has a faculty member in a STEM
discipline as the PI
Involves cohorts of students
Provides student support structures
Includes optional enhancements such as
research opportunities, tutoring,
internships, etc.
Enrolls scholarship students full time
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S-STEM (FY 2008)
Typical awards sizes:
 $150K/year for 4 years
(110 new awards)
 FY2008 budget: $60M
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Thanks!
For further information about a
particular program, contact the
cognizant Program Officer.
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