NSF Scholarships in STEM program proposal due Dec. 19

WVU Internal Proposal Due: December 19, 2021

Agency Full Proposal Due: February 22, 2022

Synopsis

The S-STEM program provides Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) with funds for scholarships to encourage and enable low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need to enter the workforce or graduate study following completion of associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees in STEM. Recognizing that scholarships alone cannot address low retention and graduation rates in STEM, the program also supports the implementation and testing of existing effective evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities (e.g., evidence-based practices; professional and workforce development activities) featuring: (1) close involvement of STEM faculty, (2) student mentoring, (3) provisions of academic and student support, (4) adaptation of existing high quality evidence-based practices, and (5) recognition of S-STEM Scholars. Successful projects include involvement of the Offices of Financial Aid, Offices of Student Services, Offices of Institutional Research, and business and industry. The program seeks: 1) to increase the number of low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need obtaining degrees in STEM and entering the workforce or graduate programs in STEM; 2) to improve the education of future scientists, engineers, and technicians, with a focus on academically talented low-income students; and 3) to generate knowledge to advance understanding of how factors or evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities affect the success, retention, transfer, academic/career pathways, and graduation in STEM of low-income students.

The STEM disciplines supported by the S-STEM program include: Biological sciences (except medicine and other clinical fields); Physical sciences (including physics, chemistry, astronomy, and materials science); Mathematical sciences; Computer and information sciences; Geosciences; Engineering; and Technology areas associated with the preceding disciplines (for example, biotechnology, chemical technology, engineering technology, information technology, etc.)

The program supports three types of projects. Awards for Track 1 (Institutional Capacity Building) projects may not exceed $750,000. Awards for Track 2 (Design and Development: Single Institution) projects may not exceed $1.5 million. Awards for Track 3 (Design and Development: Multi-Institutional Consortia) projects may not exceed $5.0 million.

WVU is limited to inclusion on 2 proposals per college or school awarding degrees in an eligible STEM field (either as a single institution or as a sub awardee or member of a collaborative research project); thus if you are interested in submitting for this solicitation as a primary, sub awardee or member of a collaboration) you must first submit an short internal proposal Depending on the response the Research Office may request additional information.

Internal Proposal Instructions

Email to: WVU_Internal@mail.wvu.edu with subject line: “NSF: S-STEM” by the above internal due date

To include:

PI(s) and Departmental and University Affiliatins (include any external partners)
The Track which yu are considering and
1-2 Paragraph descriptin of your plans
Yur reviews for any resubmissions based on proposals within the last 2 years and how you will address any deficits/problems identified

Feel free to contact Sheena.Murphy@mail.wvu.edu with questions.