NSF Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP)
To: Chairs, Departments in the Biological, Physical and Social Sciences
From: Heather Daniels, Graduate School
Date: September 19, 2012
Subject: NSF Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) Type 1 Proposals Only
Deadlines:
Notice of intents are due at the Graduate School on Thursday, September 27; Deadline for internal competition is TBD.
Project Description:
Program activities under the STEP Type 1 competition should be efforts aimed at adapting and implementing best practices that will lead to an increase in the number of students (United States citizens or permanent residents) obtaining STEM degrees at institutions with baccalaureate degree programs or completing associate degrees in STEM fields or completing credits toward transfer to a baccalaureate degree program in STEM fields at community colleges. The goal of the project must be to increase the total graduation numbers of such students at the institution(s), and all STEP proposals must include specific numerical targets for these increases. If a project focuses efforts on only a subset of STEM fields, increases in those fields must not be at the expense of degrees granted in other STEM fields. Projects may focus on the retention and/or recruitment of undergraduate students into STEM fields. Outreach efforts are appropriate only if the efforts can be expected to result in additional STEM majors and graduates at the submitting institution(s) within the grant period.
For this fiscal year, NSF especially encourages Type 1A or Type 1B projects that are committed to producing significant improvements in first and second year retention rates in engineering or computer science, under a special track (Graduate 10K+). Support for this track is anticipated to come from a cooperative activity between NSF and members of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness (Jobs Council) aimed at increasing the annual number of new B.S. graduates in engineering and computer science by 10,000
Grant duration is expected to be 5 years, with the final 2 years of funding contingent on determination that satisfactory progress has been made by the awardee during the first 3 years. Proposals can include a budget of up to $2 million total for five years. In addition, consortia for which the lead institution is one that awards baccalaureate degrees may request additional funds if the consortium includes one or more institutions that award only associate degrees, and if the institution(s) that awards associate degrees has a substantive role in the project and will receive significant funding under the request. In such cases the total that may be requested is raised from $2.0 million to $2.5 million.
Eligibility:
The number of proposals UW–Madison may submit is limited to one. UW-Madison can submit a second proposal for the special funding focus on retention in engineering and computer science.
Website:
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11550/nsf11550.htm
This contains additional information on the program and specific application instructions, etc.
Internal Competition Application Instructions:
Notice of intent: Send an email message to gsgrants@grad.wisc.edu with "NSF STEP " by Thursday, September 27, 2012 to inform us of your intention to submit a proposal. Please include the following in your email message:
--PI name(s)
--Title of proposal
--Indicate if proposal is for engineering and computer science special focus
--Short paragraph description
Applications for internal competition: Instructions and deadline for an internal competition will be announced if needed.
For the project selected, the proposal must be submitted using FastLane or Grants.gov. Information about campus procedures for FastLane and Grants.gov is posted on the RSP Web site. The full proposal is due on Monday, December 10, 2012 at 5 pm CST.
If you have any questions about this procedure, please contact Heather Daniels (608) 263-7274 or Petra Schroeder (608) 265-4868 or email gsgrants@grad.wisc.edu