Opportunity Information: Apply for 12 519
Apply for 12 519
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.076 Education and Human Resources.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 15, 2012 and posted on Dec 9, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 12, 2012 See full solicitation for details. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $14,700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 44 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following HBCU UP Proposals Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that are accredited and offer undergraduate educational programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). ulliBPS Resource Network Proposals No limit the categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation are identified in the a hrefhttp://www.nsf.gov/publications/pubsumm.jspodskeygpgGrant Proposal Guide/a, Chapter I, Section E./li/ul PI LimitulliThe Principal Investigator for a Targeted Infusion Project should be the individual whowill be involved in the implementation of the project activities./liliThe Principal Investigator for a Broadening ParticipationResearch Project should be one of the individuals who will perform the research. Other potential co Principal Investigators include collaborators on the research project. At least one of the Principal Investigators must have experiencein educationor social science research. /liliThe Principal Investigator for a Research Initiation Awardshould be a faculty member in a STEM area at the HBCU. Co Principal Investigators and senior personnel are not permitted./liliThe Principal Investigator and co Principal Investigators for the Implementation Project and ACE Implementation Project proposals should be the key personnel that will be involved in the implementation of the project./liliBPS Resource Network proposals No limit/li/ul
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU UP) is a discretionary grant program designed to strengthen undergraduate STEM education and research capacity at accredited HBCUs that offer STEM degree programs. The central aim is to broaden participation in the US STEM workforce by helping HBCUs make measurable, sometimes dramatic, improvements in student preparation, persistence, achievement, and STEM degree completion, with an emphasis on positioning students to enter STEM graduate programs and/or STEM careers. The program is grounded in the long-standing role HBCUs play in producing African American STEM bachelor’s degrees and in feeding the national pipeline of future STEM PhD recipients, and it responds to the country’s growing demand for STEM talent by focusing resources on strategies that improve outcomes for underrepresented students.
HBCU UP offers several distinct funding tracks, each aligned to a different institutional need and scale of effort. Targeted Infusion Projects (TIP) support short-term, well-defined efforts to upgrade or innovate within undergraduate STEM. These projects can focus on creating or adapting evidence-based teaching approaches, developing new learning experiences, integrating cyberlearning and cyberinfrastructure tools, and modernizing academic infrastructure such as curricula, laboratory equipment, and computational or network capacity for research and instruction. TIP awards can also help institutions enhance existing STEM degrees, launch new programs or concentrations, pursue specialized accreditation or certification, and keep STEM programs aligned with evolving disciplinary advances and workforce requirements. Faculty development, support for implementing educational innovations, and activities connected to preparing future K-12 teachers are encouraged, and projects are expected to be guided by research on teaching and learning rather than informal trial-and-error changes.
For institutions or teams seeking to build knowledge about what drives participation and success, the Broadening Participation Research (BPR) track funds theory-driven research in STEM education focused on understanding and improving the experiences and outcomes of diverse undergraduate populations. These projects are meant to generate new, research-based strategies and models that can be studied, tested, and shared, while also increasing the research capacity of scholars at HBCUs to conduct rigorous work in broadening participation. An important requirement for leadership in this track is that at least one principal investigator has experience in education or social science research, reflecting the program’s emphasis on strong research design and meaningful evidence.
HBCU UP also supports faculty research capacity building through Research Initiation Awards (RIA). RIAs are intended for STEM faculty at HBCUs who need support to launch, rebuild, or redirect a research program, including junior faculty starting out and mid-career faculty returning from administrative roles or other disruptions. The award can support research conducted at the home institution or through collaboration with NSF-funded centers, research-intensive universities, or national laboratories, and it is explicitly intended to involve undergraduates in research experiences. A key eligibility limitation is that faculty who already hold an active federal research award are not eligible for an RIA, and co-PIs or senior personnel are not permitted on this mechanism, underscoring that the award is focused on a single faculty member’s research development.
At the institutional level, Implementation Projects provide support for comprehensive, campus-wide efforts to strengthen STEM education and research and to increase both the number of STEM students and the quality of their preparation. These projects typically involve designing, implementing, studying, and assessing integrated approaches that bring STEM disciplinary advances into the undergraduate experience and reflect established knowledge about how students learn STEM most effectively. Within this category, the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Implementation Projects track is designed for HBCUs that already have a strong foundation and exemplary achievements, often built through prior Implementation Project support. ACE encourages ambitious proposals that are potentially transformative and capable of producing significant advances in undergraduate STEM at the institution.
Beyond these core tracks, the solicitation also notes several additional funding pathways such as support for conferences, symposia, and workshops, as well as NSF mechanisms like EAGER (early-concept exploratory work) and RAPID (time-sensitive rapid response research), plus supplemental funding for existing awards. There is also an option for planning grants to support institutional STEM self-analysis and action planning leading toward a future HBCU UP proposal; these may be submitted as unsolicited proposals. In addition, principal investigators may seek NSF supplemental support for students and faculty accepted into certain US Department of Energy summer research initiatives at national laboratories, including Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI), Faculty Student Teams (FaST), Community College Institutes (CCI), and Pre-Service Teacher (PST) Internships, which are intended to expand access to high-quality research experiences.
A notable special element of this solicitation is a Division of Human Resource Development (HRD) call related to a Broadening Participation in STEM Resource Network (BPS Resource Network). This component invites design proposals to create a network that helps HRD grantees and other NSF stakeholders meet NSF’s strategic performance goal (2011-2016) of preparing and engaging a diverse STEM workforce. Importantly, the scope of BPS Resource Network design proposals is not limited to the HBCU UP program goal, and eligibility is broader (following the general NSF categories of eligible proposers), unlike the HBCU UP institutional tracks that are limited to accredited HBCUs with undergraduate STEM programs.
From a funding perspective, the opportunity (NSF 12-519; CFDA 47.076 Education and Human Resources) anticipated 44 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $14.7 million. Individual awards ranged from a $200,000 floor to a $3,000,000 ceiling, and the solicitation indicated no cost sharing or matching requirement. The posting date was December 9, 2011, with listed closing dates in 2012 (the solicitation references March 12, 2012 and a current closing date of July 12, 2012), and the archive date was January 14, 2016. Principal investigator role expectations vary by track: TIP PIs should be directly involved in implementation; BPR PIs should be active researchers on the project (with required education/social science research experience represented among PIs); RIA PIs must be eligible STEM faculty at the HBCU with no co-PIs allowed; and Implementation/ACE proposals should list as PI and co-PIs the key personnel responsible for carrying out project activities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF HBCU UP (NSF 12-519)
What is the NSF Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU UP)?
HBCU UP is a discretionary National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program designed to strengthen undergraduate STEM education and research capacity at accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that offer STEM degree programs. Its central aim is to broaden participation in the U.S. STEM workforce by helping HBCUs make measurable improvements in student preparation, persistence, achievement, and STEM degree completion, with an emphasis on positioning students to enter STEM graduate programs and/or STEM careers.
Who is the program intended to benefit?
The program is intended to benefit undergraduate STEM students at HBCUs, and it also supports faculty and institutional capacity-building. A major focus is improving outcomes for underrepresented students by strengthening educational practices, research experiences, and STEM pathways tied to graduate education and the workforce.
What types of institutions are eligible for the main HBCU UP tracks?
The institutional tracks described (such as Targeted Infusion Projects and Implementation Projects) are intended for accredited HBCUs that offer undergraduate STEM degree programs.
What is the central goal of HBCU UP in terms of workforce outcomes?
The central goal is to broaden participation in the U.S. STEM workforce by improving undergraduate STEM preparation and success at HBCUs, increasing STEM degree completion, and positioning students for STEM graduate programs and/or STEM careers.
What funding tracks are available under HBCU UP?
The solicitation describes several distinct tracks aligned to different needs and scales of effort, including Targeted Infusion Projects (TIP), Broadening Participation Research (BPR), Research Initiation Awards (RIA), and Implementation Projects (including the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Implementation Projects track). The solicitation also references other NSF mechanisms and pathways such as conference/workshop support, EAGER, RAPID, supplements to existing awards, and planning grants.
What is a Targeted Infusion Project (TIP)?
TIP supports short-term, well-defined efforts to upgrade or innovate within undergraduate STEM. TIP projects may focus on creating or adapting evidence-based teaching approaches, developing new learning experiences, integrating cyberlearning and cyberinfrastructure tools, and modernizing academic infrastructure such as curricula, laboratory equipment, and computational or network capacity for research and instruction.
What kinds of activities can TIP awards support?
Based on the solicitation description, TIP awards can support activities such as: evidence-based teaching innovations; new learning experiences; cyberlearning and cyberinfrastructure integration; modernization of curricula and labs; improvements to computational or network capacity for research and instruction; enhancing existing STEM degrees; launching new programs or concentrations; pursuing specialized accreditation or certification; and ensuring STEM programs stay aligned with disciplinary advances and workforce requirements.
Does TIP encourage faculty development or teacher preparation activities?
Yes. Faculty development and support for implementing educational innovations are encouraged, and activities connected to preparing future K-12 teachers are also encouraged.
Are TIP projects expected to be evidence-based?
Yes. TIP projects are expected to be guided by research on teaching and learning, rather than informal trial-and-error changes.
What is the Broadening Participation Research (BPR) track?
BPR funds theory-driven research in STEM education focused on understanding and improving the experiences and outcomes of diverse undergraduate populations. The purpose is to generate new research-based strategies and models that can be studied, tested, and shared, while increasing the research capacity of scholars at HBCUs to conduct rigorous work in broadening participation.
Is there a specific leadership requirement for BPR projects?
Yes. For leadership in the BPR track, at least one principal investigator is required to have experience in education or social science research, reflecting the emphasis on strong research design and meaningful evidence.
What is a Research Initiation Award (RIA) under HBCU UP?
RIA supports STEM faculty at HBCUs who need help to launch, rebuild, or redirect a research program. It is intended for situations such as junior faculty starting out and mid-career faculty returning from administrative roles or other disruptions, and it is explicitly intended to involve undergraduates in research experiences.
Can RIA-supported research be conducted through collaborations?
Yes. The solicitation indicates RIA research can be conducted at the home institution or through collaboration with NSF-funded centers, research-intensive universities, or national laboratories.
Who is not eligible for an RIA?
A key eligibility limitation is that faculty who already hold an active federal research award are not eligible for an RIA.
Are co-PIs or senior personnel allowed on an RIA proposal?
No. The solicitation states co-PIs or senior personnel are not permitted on the RIA mechanism, underscoring that it is focused on a single faculty member's research development.
What are Implementation Projects?
Implementation Projects provide support for comprehensive, campus-wide efforts to strengthen STEM education and research and to increase both the number of STEM students and the quality of their preparation. These projects typically involve designing, implementing, studying, and assessing integrated approaches that bring STEM disciplinary advances into the undergraduate experience and reflect established knowledge about how students learn STEM most effectively.
What is the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Implementation Projects track?
ACE is a track within Implementation Projects designed for HBCUs that already have a strong foundation and exemplary achievements, often built through prior Implementation Project support. ACE encourages ambitious proposals that are potentially transformative and capable of producing significant advances in undergraduate STEM at the institution.
Are there funding options beyond the core HBCU UP tracks?
Yes. The solicitation notes additional pathways including support for conferences, symposia, and workshops; NSF mechanisms such as EAGER (early-concept exploratory work) and RAPID (time-sensitive rapid response research); supplemental funding for existing awards; and planning grants to support institutional STEM self-analysis and action planning leading toward a future HBCU UP proposal (which may be submitted as unsolicited proposals).
What are planning grants described in this solicitation?
Planning grants are described as support for institutional STEM self-analysis and action planning that can lead toward a future HBCU UP proposal. The solicitation notes these may be submitted as unsolicited proposals.
Does the solicitation mention supplemental support related to U.S. Department of Energy summer research programs?
Yes. It notes that principal investigators may seek NSF supplemental support for students and faculty accepted into certain U.S. Department of Energy summer research initiatives at national laboratories, including Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI), Faculty Student Teams (FaST), Community College Institutes (CCI), and Pre-Service Teacher (PST) Internships.
What is the purpose of the DOE-related supplemental support mentioned?
The described purpose is to expand access to high-quality research experiences by supporting students and faculty who are accepted into the listed DOE summer research initiatives at national laboratories.
What is the Broadening Participation in STEM Resource Network (BPS Resource Network) element?
The solicitation includes a Division of Human Resource Development (HRD) call related to a Broadening Participation in STEM Resource Network (BPS Resource Network). It invites design proposals to create a network that helps HRD grantees and other NSF stakeholders meet NSF's strategic performance goal (2011-2016) of preparing and engaging a diverse STEM workforce.
Is the BPS Resource Network limited to the HBCU UP program goal?
No. The solicitation notes the scope of BPS Resource Network design proposals is not limited to the HBCU UP program goal.
Is eligibility for the BPS Resource Network the same as eligibility for HBCU UP institutional tracks?
No. The solicitation indicates eligibility for the BPS Resource Network is broader, following general NSF categories of eligible proposers, unlike the HBCU UP institutional tracks that are limited to accredited HBCUs with undergraduate STEM programs.
How many awards and how much total funding were anticipated under this opportunity?
The solicitation anticipated 44 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $14.7 million.
What was the award size range described?
Individual awards were described as ranging from a $200,000 floor to a $3,000,000 ceiling.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The solicitation indicated no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What are the program identifiers for this opportunity?
The opportunity is identified as NSF 12-519, and it lists CFDA 47.076 (Education and Human Resources).
What were the key dates mentioned in the posting and closing information?
The posting date was December 9, 2011. The listed closing dates were in 2012, with the solicitation referencing March 12, 2012 and a current closing date of July 12, 2012. The archive date was January 14, 2016.
What are the PI role expectations for TIP proposals?
For TIP, principal investigators are expected to be directly involved in implementation.
What are the PI role expectations for BPR proposals?
For BPR, principal investigators should be active researchers on the project, and at least one PI must have experience in education or social science research.
What are the PI role expectations for RIA proposals?
For RIA, the PI must be an eligible STEM faculty member at the HBCU, must not already hold an active federal research award, and the mechanism does not allow co-PIs or senior personnel.
What are the PI and co-PI expectations for Implementation and ACE proposals?
Implementation and ACE proposals should list as PI and co-PIs the key personnel responsible for carrying out project activities.
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