NSF 04-602: Tribal Colleges and Universities Program
Program Solicitation
Document Information
Document History
- Posted: July 19, 2004
- Replaces: NSF 03-592
- Replaced by: NSF 08-533
This document has been archived.
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National Science Foundation Directorate for Education & Human Resources |
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
October 18, 2006
for Implentation Proposals only.
April 17, 2006
February, Annually Thereafter
October, Annually Thereafter
Revision Notes
In furtherance of the President's Management Agenda, in Fiscal Year 2006, NSF has identified programs that will offer proposers the option to utilize Grants.gov to prepare and submit proposals, or will require that proposers utilize Grants.gov to prepare and submit proposals. Grants.gov provides a single Government-wide portal for finding and applying for Federal grants online.
In response to this program solicitation, proposers may opt to submit proposals via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system. In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and submission of the proposal, please note the following:
Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations must be submitted via the NSF FastLane system. Chapter II, Section D.3 of the Grant Proposal Guide provides additional information on collaborative proposals.
Summary Of Program Requirements
General Information
Program Title:
Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP)
Synopsis of Program:
This program provides awards to enhance the quality of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instructional and outreach programs at Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaskan Native-serving Institutions and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions. Support is available for the implementation of comprehensive institutional approaches to strengthen STEM teaching and learning in ways that improve access to, retention within, and graduation from STEM programs. Through this program, assistance is provided to eligible institutions in their efforts to bridge the digital divide and prepare students for careers in information technology, science, mathematics and engineering fields. Proposed activities should be the result of a careful analysis of institutional needs, address institutional and NSF goals, and have the potential to result in significant and sustainable improvements in STEM program offerings. Typical project implementation strategies include curriculum enhancement, faculty professional development, undergraduate research and community service, academic enrichment, infusion of technology to enhance STEM instruction, collaborations, and other activities that meet institutional and community needs.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
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Lura Chase, Program Director, 815 N, telephone: (703) 292-8682, fax: (703) 292-9018, email: lchase@nsf.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
- 47.076 --- Education and Human Resources
Award Information
Anticipated Type of Award: Other Grant Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Estimated Number of Awards: 9 - Approximately 6 implementation awards resulting from Full Proposals will be awarded as cooperative agreements annually, and approximately 3 planning grants resulting from Planning Proposals will be awarded annually
Anticipated Funding Amount: $6,000,000 - Approximately $6 million in FY 2007 pending availability of funds
Eligibility Information
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
- Organizations eligible to submit proposals are Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions as defined in Section III of this solicitation.
PI Limit:
The Principal Investigator is expected to be the chief academic officer of the institution, or other senior academic officer responsible for oversight and management of curriculum and instructional policies for the institution.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
Eligible institutions may not receive more than one TCUP Phase I award in any five-year period, although they may participate in other TCUP funding opportunities.
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:
None Specified
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
- Letters of Intent: Not Applicable
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Full proposals submitted via FastLane:
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Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) Guidelines apply
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Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov:
- NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf/) To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package: click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov website, then click on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Application Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity number, (the program solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the Download Package button.
B. Budgetary Information
- Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required by NSF.
- Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable
- Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
C. Due Dates
- Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's
local time):
October 18, 2006
for Implentation Proposals only.
April 17, 2006
February, Annually Thereafter
October, Annually Thereafter
Proposal Review Information Criteria
Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria apply.
Award Administration Information
Award Conditions: Standard NSF award conditions apply
Reporting Requirements: Standard NSF reporting requirements apply
Table Of Contents
- Introduction
- Program Description
- Award Information
- Eligibility Information
- Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
- NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
- Award Administration Information
- Agency Contacts
- Other Information
I. Introduction
Programs managed by the Division of Human Resource Development (HRD), within the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, seek to increase the participation and advancement of underrepresented groups and institutions at every level of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research. In so doing, these programs contribute to attainment of an outcome goal of the NSF Strategic Plan FY 2003-2008: A diverse, competitive and globally-engaged workforce of scientists, engineers, technologists and well-prepared citizens.
The programs of the ethnic diversity continuum provide coordinated and integrated approaches to developing and leveraging individual talents and institutional infrastructures in order to increase substantially the number of underrepresented ethnic minorities well prepared for participation and leadership in the STEM workforce. Managed synergistically, these programs enable seamless student transitions from undergraduate study at the associate and baccalaureate levels to attainment of doctoral degrees, as well as strengthen the research vigor and competitiveness of graduate students and faculty at participating institutions.
Although programs in the Division of Human Resource Development focus primarily on underrepresented communities, all NSF programs encourage proposals that incorporate this goal. See the NSF Guide to Programs for descriptions of all NSF funding opportunities.
II. Program Description
The Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) promotes sustainable improvement of undergraduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instructional and outreach programs, with an emphasis on the expansion of course and degree offerings, undergraduate research opportunities, and the use of information technologies at Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaskan Native-serving institutions and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions. Support is available for the implementation of comprehensive institutional approaches to strengthen STEM teaching and learning in ways that improve access to, retention within, and graduation from STEM disciplines. Through this program, assistance is provided to eligible institutions in their efforts to bridge the digital divide and prepare students for careers in information technology, science, mathematics and engineering fields. The National Science Foundation allows flexibility in the design of efforts to improve undergraduate STEM education. Proposed activities should be the result of a careful analysis of institutional needs, address institutional and NSF goals, and have the potential to result in significant and sustainable improvement of STEM programs.
Funding through TCUP is available as (1) Planning or (2) Implementation projects, which are described below. Implementation projects can be of several types, such as Phase I, Collaborative Partnerships, STEM Teachers of Excellence Education Projects, or Phase II. Typical project implementation strategies (described in greater detail below) include course, degree, and curriculum development, reform and improvement; faculty professional development; the integration of active learning pedagogies into the STEM curriculum; community outreach; student support, academic enrichment activities and internships; student recruitment, retention and placement; infusion of technology to enhance STEM instruction; collaborations with four-year institutions, business and industry; strengthening the abilities of technical support personnel; and other activities that meet institutional and community needs. While the primary focus of TCUP is at the associate and baccalaureate degree levels, projects are encouraged to consider components that promote precollege interest in STEM areas, and that address student advancement through the critical transition points during the STEM academic and career pathways: the transition between high school and college; between 2- and 4-year colleges; between undergraduate and graduate studies; and from college to the workplace.
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PLANNING PROJECTS: Institutions that are eligible to submit proposals to the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program may, but are not required to, submit a proposal for a planning grant to help the institution conduct an assessment of its STEM infrastructure and develop an institutional plan to enhance its STEM program. TCUP planning grants typically provide up to $50,000 for up to one year. These awards are non-renewable. Planning grants will be supported to fund institutional self-assessments and the development of action plans to enhance STEM instruction. Proposals should (1) describe the current status of the institution's STEM program, infrastructure, including faculty and facilities capacity, and relevant student information, such as enrollment and academic success (graduation, matriculation, employment); and, (2) describe the activities to be supported through the planning grant, including surveys, research, consultations, program evaluations, and development of models or strategic plans to improve STEM instruction. Planning grant activities suitable for support include, but are not limited to faculty reassigned time or released time to participate in appropriate project activities; visiting faculty or consultants; computer services; and, professional travel that will contribute to the quality of the planning effort.
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IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS:
PHASE I: TCUP will accept proposals from eligible institutions that have completed the necessary planning activities (with or without NSF support) to develop an appropriate strategy for STEM instructional improvement. Phase I projects will typically be for up to five years, not to exceed $2,500,000, and should actively engage the faculty members that will be responsible for the successful completion of the proposed work.
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS: Recognizing that the colleges and universities that serve indigenous students have historical, philosophical, and thematic links, TCUP will accept proposals for collaborative projects between 2 or more TCUP-eligible institutions. Projects must build upon the current TCUP effort or must include strategies for strengthening the STEM programming in those institutions that do not have a TCUP award. These projects should not be viewed as isolated efforts but should include shared efforts on behalf of curriculum development, faculty development opportunities, and student support and recruitment.
STEM Teachers of Excellence Education Projects (STEEP): In recognition of the need for excellent precollege and community college science, math, technology and engineering teachers and faculty, TCUP will support the development of baccalaureate degree programs in elementary or secondary education. Elementary education projects must have a strong emphasis on standards-based, hands-on, relevant science and math; secondary education projects must contain the equivalent of a minor in one or more of the NSF STEM disciplines or an integrated science curriculum. Eligible activities include faculty support, educational hardware and software, curriculum materials support, stipends for student fellowships, and enhancements of library holdings necessary to support the degree programs. Only those institutions that have received a Phase I award are eligible to propose under STEEP.
PHASE II: For those institutions that have satisfactorily completed the goals and activities originally proposed in Phase I, TCUP will accept proposals for continued support of a logical extension of the original work. Successful proposals must include quantitative evidence of the impact of the original award on student enrollment, academic success, articulation, or employment. Faculty appointments made under Phase I are not eligible for support. Phase II projects will typically be for up to three years, not to exceed $1,500,000.
The following examples illustrate the possible scope of Implementation project activities, as well as some aspects of project design to consider:
CURRICULUM ENHANCEMENT: Course and curriculum development or enhancement are critical to achieve institution-wide improvements in undergraduate STEM education. Proposers may include plans to strengthen and update the STEM curricula through the development, adaptation and implementation of instructional materials, experiences and practices. Supportable activities include, but are not limited to:
FACULTY DEVELOPMENT: A well-trained faculty with continuous learning opportunities remains an integral part of a strong institutional infrastructure and positively impacts the quality of undergraduate education. Faculty development activities suitable for TCUP support include, but are not limited to, the following:
- development and introduction of STEM program or degree offerings;
- restructuring the STEM curricula, courses and laboratories through the incorporation of advances in science and engineering knowledge, research-based teaching and learning techniques and practices, and through the integration of technology into the curricula;
- revision of STEM gate-keeping and bottleneck courses based on appropriate content and performance standards; and
- integration of student research, community service and other active learning pedagogies into the curriculum.
UNDERGRADUATE TRAINING AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCES: Stipends may be provided to students (U.S. citizens and permanent residents, only) at eligible institutions who are engaged in STEM related research or training activities or appropriate community service. Research experiences may be on campus with local investigators or at off-campus sites (e.g., industrial, academic, and governmental research laboratories). Community service may be provided off-campus. Activities suitable for TCUP support include, but are not limited to, the following:
- sabbaticals and exchange programs to enhance research competencies and knowledge of recent technological developments;
- professional development workshops on innovative teaching practices and assessment;
- visiting faculty, including industry practitioners;
- special seminars to enhance disciplinary knowledge;
- faculty reassigned time or released time to participate in appropriate STEM curricular reform and academic enhancement activities;
- opportunities to participate in research and community service in conjunction with student experiences; and
- faculty reassigned time or released time to mentor students.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Implementation projects should establish an external advisory committee, normally chaired by the college or university President or other ranking institutional representative not designated as key personnel. This committee will help guide the implementation and assessment of project activities. The size of the committee is left to the discretion of the proposers. However, there should be adequate representation from partner institutions, industry and the local community. Prospective candidates for the committee should be identified in the Project Description. The project leadership may not serve on the advisory committee.
- development of appropriate partnerships with other academic institutions, industrial laboratories, national laboratories, or NSF-supported research centers to ensure quality student training and research experiences that complement academic studies;
- meaningful internships or cooperative education opportunities related to students' skill development at appropriate off-campus sites;
- student internships at local schools to provide technical training or support; and
- students serving as resources to help the local community meet technology-related goals and objectives based on community needs.
PROJECT STAFF: Project staffing requirements will depend on the design, scope and the discipline focus. General NSF provisions allow salaries of project staff to be requested as direct costs. However, proposals should include plans to sustain project activities after NSF funding has ended, particularly including specific commitments of the institution to sustain salaries of any faculty added through TCUP funding. In addition to the Principal Investigator, who is normally the Chief Academic Officer of the institution, typical project organization consists of a Project Director and a Steering Committee with faculty from the relevant disciplines or programs.
PROJECT LENGTH: Implementation projects will be funded up to five years and should be designed to produce significant and sustainable improvements in undergraduate STEM education. Information bearing on project implementation, faculty participation and student participation and performance will be required on an annual basis. Planning grants will have a duration of up to one year. In support of the total time-frame, both types of proposals must include a detailed management plan and activity timeline covering the entire duration of the project, describing major activities, milestones and the responsibilities of each participating academic program or partner organization.
PROJECT SIZE: Ideally, implementation projects should seek to address an identified institutional STEM priority area. Proposers should clearly state the numbers of faculty and students that will benefit from project activities. The scope of the project should be clearly defined within the context of the institution.
III. Award Information
Estimated program budget, number of awards, and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.
The estimated number of awards is 6 implementation awards and 3 planning grants each year.
Phase I, Collaborative Partnerships, and STEEP awards will be up to $500,000 per year for up to five years. Phase II awards, will be up to $500,000 per year for up to three years. Phase I, Collaborative Partnerships, and Phase II awards will be managed as cooperative agreements. STEEP awards will be managed as grants.
Funds should be budgeted for the principal investigator and project director of an implementation award to attend a two-day grantee meeting in the Washington, DC area each award year. Implementation awards should budget funds for the project leadership to participate in two reverse site visits to NSF during the award period.
Support is also available for planning grants of up to $50,000 for up to one year to fund institutional self assessments and the development of action plans to enhance STEM programming.
IV. Eligibility Information
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
- Organizations eligible to submit proposals are Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions as defined in Section III of this solicitation.
PI Limit:
The Principal Investigator is expected to be the chief academic officer of the institution, or other senior academic officer responsible for oversight and management of curriculum and instructional policies for the institution.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
Eligible institutions may not receive more than one TCUP Phase I award in any five-year period, although they may participate in other TCUP funding opportunities.
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:
None Specified
Additional Eligibility Info:
Organizations eligible to submit proposals are Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaskan Native-serving institutions and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions. Multiple campuses of one university system are normally encouraged to consider collaborative partnership submissions. Executive Order 13021 defines Tribal Colleges and Universities ("tribal colleges") as those institutions cited in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of f1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), and other institution that qualifies for funding under the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Acti of 1978, (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Navajo Community College, authorized in the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978, Public Law 95-471, Title II (25 U.S.C. 640a note). The term "Alaska Native-serving institution" means an institution of higher education that is an eligible institution under section 1058(b) of the Higher Education Act; and at the time of submission, has an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 20 percent Alaskan Native students. The term "Native Hawaiian-serving institution" means an institution of higher education that is an eligible institution under section 1058(b) of the Higher Education Act; and at the time of submission, has an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent Native Hawaiian students.
V. Proposal Preparation And Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Full Proposal Instructions: Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system.
- Full proposals submitted via FastLane: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov. Proposers are reminded to identify this program solicitation number in the program solicitation block on the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National Science Foundation. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.
- Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in response
to this program solicitation via Grants.gov should be prepared and submitted
in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for
the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov. The
complete text of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on
the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: (https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf).
To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package,
click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then click on the Apply
Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Appli
