NSF ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers (ADVANCE)

WHAT: Limited Submission Proposal for the National Science Foundation ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers (ADVANCE)  

WHO:  Texas A&M University faculty, including TAES, TEES and TTI personnel.

WHY:  Institutional Transformation (IT) awards are for up to five years and approximately $750,000.  Institutional Transformation Planning Grants (IT-Start) awards are for up to two years and $200,000.

WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of September 24, 2007.

HOW:  Faculty should submit an internal proposal via email for review by the internal selection committee.

THE FINE PRINT:

The funding agency below has limited the number of solicitations to one per institution for either the Institutional Transformation (IT) or Institutional Transformation Planning Grants (IT-Start) awards. If the number of faculty wishing to submit a proposal exceeds the number allowed by the agency, we will conduct an internal selection process. Below are due dates for the program, including the due date for the internal proposal for review by the internal selection committee, the date for announcement of the internal selection and the due date for submission to the agency.                                                       

AGENCY:  The National Science Foundation (NSF)

AGENCY PROGRAM TITLE:  NSF 07-582 ADVANCE:  Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers (ADVANCE)

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The goal of the ADVANCE Program is to develop systemic approaches to increase the participation of women in the scientific and engineering workforce through the increased representation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers.  Of the three different awards under this program only one proposal may be submitted for either the Institutional Transformation (IT) or Institutional Transformation Planning Grants (IT-Start) awards.

The Institutional Transformation (IT) Award is designed to catalyze change that will transform academic environments in ways that enhance the participation and advancement of women in science and engineering.  Projects may be directed at review and transformation of multiple departments or schools of science or engineering, or of an entire institution or group of institutions.  Also, projects are encouraged to include all NSF-supported fields in the scope of project plans.

IT proposals must clearly state the conceptual framework for the proposed project, identify relevant research findings and build on existing research and practice.  Further, proposals should demonstrate the connection between the conceptual framework, the issues identified through analysis of institutional data and the proposed plan.  It is strongly recommended that IT proposals include strategies for engaging department chairs or heads in professional development activities that will support their role in enhancing the climate for success in their departments.  The IT leadership team must include appropriate social science expertise. 

It is expected that each project will have a formative evaluation that will inform reviewers of the proposers’ understanding of essential factors for judging accountability, both quantitative (indicators of women’s representation at various academic ranks, in recruitment and promotion pools, numbers of search committee members trained in practices for effective searches) and qualitative (the process of change in organizational culture, experiences of academic climate).

In addition, IT proposals must include a management plan that details how project activities will be organized and implemented.  Also, successful proposals will provide clear evidence of institutional readiness to provide necessary administrative functions in support of the project.  Dissemination of knowledge gained about institutional transformation to organizations and institutions that can implement reforms based on what has been learned is encouraged.

Institutional Transformation Planning Grants (IT-Start) Awards support basic data collection and analysis functions necessary to understand the status of women faculty in academic science and engineering at institutions seeking institutional transformation.  Specific activities may include:  data collection on STEM faculty at the institution, including indicators such as salaries, faculty recruitment and retention, faculty applicant pools, tenure and promotion outcomes; identification of resources to assist with recruitment, such as national pool data by discipline; review of institutional policies and their usage regarding work and life issues, climate surveys and any other tools or indicators that capture the institution’s current environment. 

The full announcement can be found at the web page of the sponsor here.  

AGENCIES ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT:  The ADVANCE Program is open to academic institutions of higher learning in the U. S. that grant degrees.

AWARD INFORMATION:  IT awards are approximately $750,000 for up to five years, while IT-Start awards are for $200,000 up to two years.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS COSTS:    Indirect Costs (F&A):   NONE.

COST SHARING:  NONE

INTERNAL SELECTION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES

September 21, 2007:  Deadline for an email of intent, including the names of the PI and co-PIs, title of internal proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project.  Send email of intent.

September 24, 2007:   Deadline to obtain approval from your department head and college dean and to submit an internal proposal to the Office of Sponsored Projects.  The internal proposal should include: 

An executive summary, up to three pages, based on the proposal description as outlined in the NSF Program Announcement;

Project and Management Plans (including team and members);

Summary budget.

The form for completing the internal proposal is here.   

This completed form should be submitted electronically for review by the internal selection committee.

Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program here.

Selection of internal proposals will be based on National Science Foundation (NSF) guidelines. Meeting the needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account.

During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact

departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments. They may also

request additional information from PI’s.

October 5, 2007:  The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result

of the internal competition.

December 6, 2007:  NSF Deadline:  Full Proposal Deadline (due by 5 p.m. proposer’s local time).