National Science Foundation: Transforming
Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (TUES)
Transforming Undergraduate Education in
STEM (TUES)
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Seeks to improve the quality of STEM
education for undergraduate students
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Goals of the program reflect national
concerns about producing skilled STEM
professionals and citizens knowledgeable
about STEM and how it relates to their
lives
What TUES grants support
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Bring advances in STEM disciplinary knowledge
into the 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
Project Types: Scale & Scope
Type 1*: up to $200k; 2-3 years
Ex: A pilot study to begin understanding how various
factors affect how students learn particular content or
skills (*This is a good choice for new PIs)
Type 2: up to $600k; 2-4 years
A study involving several diverse institutions to build on
smaller scale proven ideas
 Type 3: up to $5 million; 3-5 years
 A project that involves a regional or national effort to
disseminate proven materials or pedagogies
TUES Central Resource Projects: varies
Typically for small focused workshops; can be submitted
any time after discussing with program officer
TUES Submission Dates
◦ Application deadlines:
 May 29, 2012 - Type 1 proposals
 January 14, 2013 - Type 2 & 3 proposals
and TUES Central Resource Project proposals
TUES Success Rates
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Money is distributed to each discipline;
currently, engineering gets the most and that
is about 50% (applies to Type 1)
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Success rates in Type 1 proposals is <20%,
but proposals that receive good reviews and
are revised following reviewers and program
officers advice usually have a higher success
rate
TUES Fast Facts
Application completed in NSF Fastlane
 PI will need registration in NSF Fastlane
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◦ Contact GO Office to set up Fastlane account
If submitting 5/29, earliest start date Dec.
 Budget Total- $200k for Type 1 proposals
 Project duration- 2-3 years
 Project Description section limit: 15 pages
 Cost-share is not required
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NSF Fielded Searches
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Go to the NSF Fielded Search website to query abstracts for
awarded institutions and projects.
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Be sure to complete the NSF Organization field by selecting
“DUE: Division of Undergraduate Education” to isolate
pertinent abstracts in results.
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You can also refine search to specific field of application or
put a keyword into the term search field.
NSF Fielded Search: Sample Search
Project Components
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Creating Learning Materials and Strategies
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Implementing New Instructional Strategies
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Developing Faculty Expertise
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Assessing and Evaluating Student Achievement
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Conducting Research on Undergraduate STEM Education
Creating New Learning Materials and
Strategies
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Type 1projects can focus on piloting new educational
materials and instructional methodologies; must be
guided by research on teaching and learning and
relate to advances within discipline.
Type 1projects can focus on outcomes at a single
site, but must include assessment and community
engagement.
Proposals may request funds in any budget category
supported by NSF, including instrumentation.
Implementing New Instructional
Strategies
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Usually Type 1 projects
Must result in locally improved STEM education via
implementation of exemplary materials, laboratory
experiences, or educational practices previously
developed and tested by the STEM community.
TUES-Implementation projects should stand as
models for broader adaptation throughout the
community and must encourage widespread
adoption.
Proposals may request funds in any budget category
supported by NSF, including instrumentation
Developing Faculty Expertise
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Methods that enable faculty to gain expertise (develop
new knowledge and skills needed to revise curricula or
pedagogy)
May range from short-term workshops to sustained
activities
Foster new communities of scientists in undergraduate
education
Cost-effective professional development
◦ Diverse group of faculty
◦ Leading to implementation/adoption
Must include evaluation efforts that describe impact on
faculty, and/or on student learning.
Assessing and Evaluating Student
Achievement
Design and test new assessment and evaluation
tools and processes.
 Apply new and existing tools to conduct broadbased assessments of student understanding
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◦ Must span multiple institutions and be of general
interest
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Projects using established instruments and
strategies and/or likely to have only a local
impact are discouraged.
Conducting Research on Undergraduate
STEM Education
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Develop new models about how students learn
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Synthesize previous results and theories
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Practical focus
◦ Testable new ideas
◦ Impact on STEM educational practices
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May be combined with other components
Important Features of Successful
TUES Projects
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Quality, Relevance, and Impact
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Student Focus
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Use of and Contribution to Knowledge about STEM Education
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STEM Education Community-Building
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Sustainability
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Expected Measurable Outcomes
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Project Evaluation
NSF Merit Review Criteria
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Intellectual Merit
◦ Importance of proposed activity to discipline or across different fields
◦ Proposer’s qualifications and his/her ability to conduct project
◦ Extent of creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts
◦ Well conceived and organization of proposed activity
◦ Sufficient access to resources
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Broader Impacts
◦ Advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training,
and learning
◦ Participation of underrepresented groups
◦ Enhancement of infrastructure for research and education
◦ Broad Dissemination
◦ Benefits to society
How to Really Learn about Programs and
Proposal Application Process
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Become a reviewer for the program and become
part of the proposal review process.
◦ Send an e-mail to the lead or disciplinary program
officer.
◦ Your name will be added to the database of potential
reviewers.
◦ NSF wants to use new reviewers each year, especially
for Type 1 projects.
Resources from the Grants Office
 The GO can provide the following:
◦ Assistance in understanding program
guidelines
◦ Successful proposal samples
◦ Tips/Hints from Program directors
◦ Assistance in preparing application forms
◦ Proposal editing and proposal packaging
◦ Assistance in budget development
◦ Internal review and approval process support
NSF TUES Submission Resources
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Program Announcement
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Application Guide
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Program Director Contact Information
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What has been funded?
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Additional Resources & Tips
Open Discussion/Questions?
Grants Office Contact Information
E-226
101 Vera King Farris Drive
Galloway, NJ 08205
Phone: (609) 652-4844
Fax: (609) 626-3467
grants@stockton.edu
www.stockton.edu/grantsoffice