NSF for Community Colleges
Rose State College
Linnea Fletcher Ph.D.
Austin Community College
Department Chair, Biotechnology
Former Program Officer NSF
Division of Undergraduate Education
2008-2010
Caution
Most of the information presented in this talk represents the
opinions of this individual and is not an official NSF position.



Started in research
Ended up in a community college
Started a Biotechnology Program
Wrote an Advanced Technological Education Grant
(ATE) to start a high school Biotech program and
also became part of Bio-Link (www.bio-link.org)
 Participated on Review Panels and on several other
grants originating from DUE
Invited to interview for a Program Officer position in
DUE
 One of three community college people in DUE

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Arlington, Virginia
(Ballston Metro Stop
DIVISION OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION (DUE)
Austin Community College Has Matured and Grown Over the Years
“Service
area
Is now the
size
of New
Jersey”
www.austincc.edu



Administrators
Faculty
Other




Do you want to make a difference for students,
colleagues, your school, the community, and the
larger COMMUNITY?
Do you like to interact with colleagues who like to
learn, teach and make a difference?
Would you like to learn about some of the best
efforts in STEM education?
Community Colleges Are Making a Difference and
CAN MAKE EVEN A BIGGER DIFFERENCE!
Two-Year College Snapshot *
Demographics:
Average age: 29
First-generation: 39%
single parent: 17%
Community College students constitute the following percentage of
undergraduates:
All undergraduates: 46%
Black: 46%
Native American: 55%
Hispanic: 55%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 46%
First-time freshmen: 41%
*National profile of community colleges: Trends and statistics (4th ed.), 2005
The Role of Community Colleges in the
Education of Recent Science and Engineering
Graduates
* 44% of all S & E 1999 and 2000 graduates with a bachelor’s or master’s
degree attended a community college (more than 50% of the bachelors and
35% of the masters)
* 51% of Hispanic bachelor’s and masters graduates and 18% of the Hispanic
Ph.D.s attended a community college
* 62% of female graduates and 51% of male graduates who had children
attended a community college
* 42% of the graduates who had a GPA between 3.75 and 4.00 attended a
community college

Lack of time


Many faculty take overload assignments
Lack of support and resources



For two year faculty, not part of the tenure process
nor necessarily financially rewarded
No sponsored research office (SRO)
No grant writers
 There are community colleges who have turned down
multimillion center grants!




•
•
•
Become Familiar with NSF, particularly the
programs in the Division of Undergraduate
Education (DUE)
Contact Principal Investigators (PI) of Funded
Proposals (especially ones that mentor potential
PIs )
Attend Workshops Sponsored by NSF funded
awards
Find Out about Mentor Programs (e.g.
MentorLinks)
Volunteer to Review Proposals(time commitment= 1 week before;
2 days in Arlington)
Sign up for email notifications
“EHR’s Mission is to promote the development of a diverse
and well-prepared workforce of scientists, engineers,
mathematicians, educators, and technicians
and a well informed citizenry who have access to the ideas and
tools of science and engineering.”
NSF Budget
Education and Human Resources (EHR):
FY 2009 (Actual)
FY 2010 (Estimate)
FY 2011 (Requested)
$845 Million
$873 Million
$892 Million
Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE):
FY 2009 (Actual)
FY 2010 (Estimate)
FY 2011 (Requested)
$283 Million
$292 Million
$290 Million
*Note: Extra $75-100 Million from H-1B visa fees employers pay to obtain a
visa for a foreign high-tech worker to fund the S-STEM program.
Selected Programs in DUE
FY2009
(Actual)
ATE
TUES/CCLI
STEP
S-STEM
NOYCE
MSP
FY2010
(Estimate)
$52
$64
$66
$63
$29
$30
$75-100 /year from H1B visa fee
$115
$55
$86
$58
FY2011
(Requested)
$64
$61
$30
$55
$58
*(in Million)
NSF support for two-year college projects (FY 2006-2008)
FY2006
FY2007
FY2008
Program
Award # ($)
Award # ($)
Award # ($)
ATE
128 (44M)
119 (50M)
151 (50M)
CCLI
5 (0.6M)
9 (1.5M)
19 (2.0M)
S-STEM
34 (17.8M)
25 (19M)
35 (16M)
STEP
4 (2.8M)
7 (5M)
4 (2.1M)
MSP
-
-
2 (0.58M)
Noyce
1 (0.24M)
0 (0)
1 (0.24M)
Total DUE
172 (66M)
160 (75M)
212 (71M)
Total NSF
218 (82M)
212 (91M)
278(101M)
Merit Review Process



Developed by Program Officers
Reviewed at Several Levels
THE Most Important Advice for Writing NSF
Proposals:

READ the SOLICITATION Carefully!
 Internalize the information


Follow the directions given in the solicitation and
the GPG
Get someone who knows NSF but not your proposal
to read the final draft!!!
Transforming Undergraduate Education in
Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (TUES)
Originally the Program was named Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory
Improvement (CCLI)
Program Solicitation
NSF 10-544
TUES was originally CCLI
CCLI Supports efforts that
- Bring advances in STEM disciplinary knowledge into curriculum
- Create or adapt learning materials and teaching strategies
- Develop faculty expertise
- Promote widespread implementation of educational innovations
- Prepare future K-12 teachers
- Enhance our understanding of how students learn STEM topics
- Enhance our understanding how faculty adopt instructional approaches
- Build capacity for assessment and evaluation
- Further the work of the program itself
The solicitation changed: TUES vs. CCLI
• Title changed to emphasize the special interest in projects that have the
potential to transform undergraduate STEM education
* Review criteria modified to emphasize the desire for projects that
- Propose materials, processes, or models that have the potential to
-Enhance student learning and
-Be adapted easily by other sites
- Involve a significant effort to facilitate adaptation at other sites
TUES Suggested Questions for Intellectual Merit
Will the project
-Produce one or more of the following:
1) Exemplary materials, processes, or models that enhance student
learning and can be adopted by other sites
2) Important findings related to student learning?
- Build on existing knowledge about STEM education?
- Have explicit and appropriate expected measurable outcomes integrated
into an evaluation plan?
- Include an evaluation effort that is likely to produce useful information?
- Institutionalize the approach at the investigator's college or
university as appropriate for the Type
NOTE: Oversized type indicates changes from CCLI solicitation
TUES Suggested Questions for Broader Impacts
Will the project
- Involve a significant effort to facilitate adaptation at other
sites?
- Contribute to the understanding of STEM education?
- Help build and diversify the STEM education community?
- Have a broad impact on STEM education in an area of recognized need
or opportunity?
- Have the potential to contribute to a paradigm shift in
undergraduate STEM education?
NOTE: Oversized type indicates changes from CCLI solicitation
Catalyst for Change; Paradigm Shift; Broader Impact
Advanced
Technological
Education
(ATE)
PROGRAM SOLICITATION NSF 10-539
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
ATE
ATE is in its 17th year of funding community colleges, having started
with the Science and Advanced Technology Act of 1992 (SATA).
Preliminary Proposals
Formal Proposals
April
October
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
ATE Tracks
*Projects
- Program improvement
- Professional development for educators
- Curriculum and educational materials development
-Teacher preparation for the ultimate purpose of providing more
and better STEM technicians
- Small grants to new awardees
Meeting in San Diego Feb 2011
STEM Teacher Preparation SESSION
Small grants
- Focus on community colleges that have little or no previous ATE grant
experience
-Designed to stimulate implementation, adaptation, and innovation in
technological education
-Try to fund 50% of these proposals
-$200,000 for two years
ATE Tracks
• ATE Centers
- National Centers of Excellence
- Regional Centers of Excellence
- Resource Centers
* Targeted research on technician education
Biotechnology Center Grant of Excellence
Discipline Specific Resource
Search for ATE Center Grants at AACC
Look for the community
college session!
Some of the Center Grants Provide
Resources THAT are not Discipline Specific
Typical ATE award sizes
- Project Grants: Up to $300K/year for 3 years (45)
- Small Grants: Up to $200K (15)
- National Centers: $5M for 4 years (2)
- Regional Centers: $3M for 3 years (3)
- Planning Grants for Centers: $70K
- Resource Centers: $1.6M for 4 years (4)
- Targeted Research: Up to $300K for 4 years (5-8)
ATE Professional Development Opportunities
- Go to www.TeachingTechnicians.org
- Now over 100 professional development opportunities
30
6
WASHINGTON
3
5
MONTANA
NORTH DAKOTA
MAINE
18
2 7
MINNESOTA
25
19
2
OREGON
VT.
IDAHO
WISCONSIN
4
2
WYOMING
47
16
SOUTH DAKOTA
7
16
IOWA
ILLINOIS
15
COLORADO
99
INDIANA
KANSAS
OHIO
2
6
3
42
8
28
2
UTAH
W.V.
18
MISSOURI
KENTUCKY
CALIFORNIA
7
ARIZONA
OKLAHOMA
16
53
VIRGINIA
18
TENNESSEE
4
22
ARKANSAS
S.C.
NEW MEXICO
TEXAS
22
NORTH CAROLINA
18
21
12
15
MISS.
ALABAMA
9
GEORGIA
3
LOUISIANA
32
3
FLA.
ALASKA
9
HAWAII
MA.
NEW YORK
PENNSYLVANIA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
62
MICHIGAN
23
3
N.H.
3
PUERTO RICO
1 R.I.
16 N.J.
2 DEL.
26 MD.
20 D.C.
1
National Center
Regional Center
Resource Center
AK
HI
FY
09
FY
08
FY
07
FY
06
FY
05
FY
04
FY
03
FY
02
FY
01
FY
00
FY
99
FY
98
FY
97
FY
96
FY
95
FY
94
Millions of Dollars
ATE Program Budget
$55
$51 M
$50
$45
$40
$35
$30
$25
$20
$15
$10
$5
$0
Foci of ATE Awards
FY
FY
FY
96-06
2007
2008
Biotechnology
47
5
8
Chemical Technology/Pulp & Paper/Environmental
58
3
1
Multidisciplinary/Institution Reform
43
4
2
Electronics/Microelectronics/Nanotech/Mechatronics/Lasers
23
7
8
Other Engineering Technology
75
7
10
Geospatial (GIS/GPS/Surveying)
28
3
4
Manufacturing
92
4
5
Math/Physics/Computational Science/Core
40
1
1
Computer/Information Systems/Cybersecurity/Telecommunications
139
8
8
Marine/Agriculture/Aquaculture/Natural Resources/Viticulture
20
2
2
Teacher Preparation
34
1
4
Multimedia
7
1
4
Energy Technology
6
3
9
Research/Evaluation
5
2
2
Recruitment/Retention
7
3
1
614
54
69
Totals
A Good Resource Meeting for ATE
Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics Talent Expansion Program
(STEP)
PROGRAM SOLICITATION NSF 08-569
STEP
Goal
To increase the number of students (U.S. citizens or permanent
residents) RECEIVING associate or baccalaureate degrees in
established or emerging fields within science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM)
Must establish baseline data and be able to track students
STEP Tracks
Type 1: Implement strategies that will increase the number of students
obtaining STEM degrees
Type 2: Conduct research on factors affecting associate or
baccalaureate degree attainment in STEM
STEP - Type 1
*Possible project activities:
- Focus directly on student learning
- Incorporate current technology
- Develop interdisciplinary approaches
- Offer bridge programs
Note: Increases in a particular field must not be at the expense of other
fields!
Scholarships in Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics
(S-STEM)
Program Solicitation NSF 09-567
S-STEM
Goal
Provides institutions funds to provide scholarships to academically
talented, but financial needy, FULL-TIME students. Students can be
pursuing associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees.
S-STEM
* Eligible disciplines extended to include biology, physical and mathematical
sciences, computer and information sciences, geosciences, and engineering
* Maximum scholarships $10,000 (based on financial need)
* Grant size: up to $600,000
* One proposal per constituent school or college
* About $50-$70 million available
S-STEM
* Special Program Features
- 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 students full time.
Robert Noyce
Teacher Scholarship Program
PROGRAM SOLICITATION NSF NSF 10-514
Noyce Program
* Initiated by Act of Congress in 2002
* Reauthorized in 2007 (America COMPETES Act)
- To encourage talented mathematics, science, and engineering
undergraduates to pursue teaching careers
- To encourage STEM professionals to become teachers
- To prepare Master Teachers
Noyce Program
*Track 1: Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships
Phase 1 - Institutions not previously funded under Noyce or for
different department/focus from previous award
Phase 2 - For previous Noyce awardees to continue longitudinal
evaluation, and can also fund additional cohorts
Noyce Program
*Track 1: Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships
Phase 1
-STEM summer internships including early field experiences for freshmen
and sophomores
-STEM undergraduate majors: up to 3 years of scholarship support
(junior year through 5th year credentialing program)
-STEM professionals: 1 year stipend for credentialing program
Noyce Program
*Track 1: Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships
Phase 1
- Each year of support = 2 year teaching commitment in high need school
district
- At least $10K/year for scholarship or stipend, but capped at the cost of
attendance
- STEM professionals: 1 year stipend for credentialing program
Noyce Program
*Track 1: Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships
Phase 1
-
Max institutional award: $1.2M over 5 years
-
No indirect costs allowed
-
At least 80% of octal budget must be for direct participant support
-
Collaboration between 4-year institutions and 2-year institutions may
request additional $250K in total budget
Noyce Program
*Track 1: Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships
Phase 2
-Expands and extends evaluation/research initiated under previous award
-Supports additional cohorts of previous cohorts
-Max institutional award: $750K over 5 years
Noyce Program
Projects include
- STEM faculty collaborating with Education faculty
- Strong partnership with school district
- Recruitment and selection strategies
- Exemplary teacher preparation programs leading to certification
(or professional development program for Master Teaching Fellows)
- Support for new teachers
- Mechanism for monitoring recipients
- Institutional support
- Evaluation
Information about funded proposals
-Go to the DUE Home website on NSF
-Find the Program of interest to you
-Go to the bottom of that page and click on “Abstracts of Recent Awards
Made Through This Program”
- Write to the PI requesting a copy of her/his proposal.
*An example follows for the Noyce Program
Information about funded proposals
Linnea Fletcher
linneaf@austincc.edu
OR
Contact Program Officers at NSF