National Science Foundation: Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (TUES)

Transforming Undergraduate Education in STEM (TUES)

Seeks to improve the quality of STEM education for undergraduate students

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 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 & ScopeType 1*: up to $200k; 2-3 years

A pilot study to begin understanding how various factors affect how students learn particular content or skills (*This is good for new PIs)

Type 2: up to $600k; 2-4 yearsA study involving several diverse institutions to build

on smaller scale proven ideasType 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: variesTypically for small focused workshops; can be

submitted any time after discussing with program officer

TUES Submission Dates

◦Application deadlines: May 27, 2011 - Type 1 proposals January 13, 2012 - Type 2 & 3

proposals and TUES Central Resource Project proposals

May 29, 2012 - Type 1 proposals January 14, 2012 - Type 2 & 3

proposals and TUES Central Resource Project proposals

TUES Success Rates

Money is distributed to each discipline; currently, engineering gets the most and that is about 50% (applies to Type 1)

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 FactsApplication completed in NSF FastlanePI will need registration in NSF Fastlane

◦Contact GO Office to set up Fastlane accountIf submitting 5/27, earliest start date Dec.Budget Total- $200k for Type 1 proposalsProject duration- 2-3 yearsProject Description section limit: 15

pagesCost-share is not required

NSF Fielded Searches

Be sure to complete the NSF Organization field by selecting “DUE: Division of Undergraduate Education” to isolate pertinent abstracts in results.

You can also refine search to specific field of application or put a keyword into the term search field.

Go to the NSF Fielded Search website to query abstracts for awarded institutions and projects.

NSF Fielded Search: Sample Search

Project Components

Creating Learning Materials and Strategies

Implementing New Instructional Strategies

Developing Faculty Expertise

Assessing and Evaluating Student Achievement

Conducting Research on Undergraduate STEM Education

Creating New Learning Materials and Strategies

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

Usually Type 1 projectsMust 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 ExpertiseMethods 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 broad-based assessments of student understanding ◦ Must span multiple institutions and be of

general interestProjects using established instruments

and strategies and/or likely to have only a local impact are discouraged.

Conducting Research on Undergraduate STEM Education

Develop new models about how students learn

Synthesize previous results and theories

Practical focus◦ Testable new ideas ◦ Impact on STEM educational practices

May be combined with other components

Important Features of Successful TUES Projects

Quality, Relevance, and Impact

Student Focus

Use of and Contribution to Knowledge about STEM Education

STEM Education Community-Building

Sustainability

Expected Measurable Outcomes

Project Evaluation

NSF Merit Review Criteria

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

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

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 OfficeThe 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 ResourcesProgram Announcement

Application Guide

Program Director Contact Information

What has been funded?

Additional Resources & Tips

Open Discussion/Questions?

Grants Office Contact Information

F-218

P.O. Box 195

Pomona, NJ 08240

Phone: (609) 652-4844

Fax: (609) 626-3467

grants@stockton.edu 

www.stockton.edu/grantsoffice