Opportunity Information: Apply for 13 552
Apply for 13 552
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Widening Implementation Demonstration of Evidence Based Reforms" 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 Nov 6, 2014 and posted on Apr 5, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This Opportunity is now current but no longer receiving proposals.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Widening Implementation and Demonstration of Evidence Based Reforms (WIDER) grant opportunity was designed to help colleges and universities make a broad, institution-level shift toward teaching practices in STEM that are supported by solid evidence of effectiveness. The central idea is not simply to fund isolated classroom improvements, but to change the campus environment so that STEM faculty are consistently encouraged, enabled, and rewarded for using proven approaches to teaching and learning. WIDER aligns with the first recommendation from the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report "Engage to Excel," which called for widespread adoption of evidence-based teaching as a key strategy to improve STEM persistence and help the nation reach the goal of producing 1 million additional STEM graduates.
WIDER particularly emphasized reforms in high-enrollment, lower-division STEM courses because those courses often serve as gateway experiences that heavily influence whether students continue in STEM. These are also courses taken by large numbers of students who are not necessarily STEM majors but need them for general education requirements, so improving them can have broad impact. The program took an expansive view of what counts as effective STEM teaching and learning, including traditional classroom practices backed by research, updated laboratory and field learning approaches, and well-supported distance education or hybrid models that combine online and face-to-face instruction. It also recognized that motivation and student interest matter, so approaches that measurably improve engagement in STEM were within scope when grounded in evidence.
The outcomes NSF sought through WIDER were straightforward but ambitious: improved student learning, a higher number of students choosing STEM majors (with special attention to increasing participation from groups historically underrepresented in STEM), and stronger retention both in the critical first two years of college and through graduation for STEM majors overall. In other words, the program was about scaling what works, not just piloting new ideas, and about making the improvements durable across departments and institutions rather than dependent on a few individual champions.
Applicants were able to pursue WIDER funding for several related purposes. One pathway supported institutional planning efforts, helping campuses lay the groundwork for large-scale adoption of evidence-based teaching. Another supported direct implementation, meaning the actual expansion and integration of proven instructional materials and methods into STEM programs and courses. A third area supported research focused on institutional change, especially research on how to elevate the importance of evidence-based teaching within campus strategic planning, and how to align faculty evaluation, promotion, and reward systems so that using effective teaching practices becomes a valued and sustained norm rather than an optional extra.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, listed under CFDA 47.076 (Education and Human Resources). NSF expected to make around 50 awards with an estimated total funding level of $20 million. Individual award sizes ranged from a $100,000 floor to a $2,000,000 ceiling, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity, subject to clarification in the full solicitation). The funding opportunity number was 13-552, it was originally posted April 5, 2013, and the full proposal deadline was July 3, 2013. The opportunity is archived and is no longer accepting proposals. For full details, NSF directed applicants to NSF Publication 13-552 and provided Grants.gov support contact information for access issues.
NSF WIDER (Widening Implementation and Demonstration of Evidence Based Reforms) Grant FAQs
What is the NSF WIDER grant opportunity?
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Widening Implementation and Demonstration of Evidence Based Reforms (WIDER) grant opportunity was designed to help colleges and universities drive broad, institution-level change in STEM teaching by expanding the use of teaching practices that have solid evidence of effectiveness.
What was WIDER trying to change, beyond individual courses?
WIDER was aimed at shifting the campus environment so STEM faculty are consistently encouraged, enabled, and rewarded for using proven approaches to teaching and learning. The emphasis was on durable, institution-level reform rather than isolated, one-off classroom improvements.
How does WIDER relate to national STEM education goals?
WIDER aligned with the first recommendation from the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report "Engage to Excel," which called for widespread adoption of evidence-based teaching to improve STEM persistence and help the nation reach the goal of producing 1 million additional STEM graduates.
Why did WIDER emphasize high-enrollment, lower-division STEM courses?
WIDER particularly emphasized reforms in high-enrollment, lower-division STEM courses because these courses often function as gateway experiences that strongly influence whether students continue in STEM. These courses also serve large numbers of students who may not be STEM majors (for example, students taking courses to meet general education requirements), so improvements can have broad institutional impact.
What kinds of teaching and learning approaches were considered in scope?
The program took an expansive view of effective STEM teaching and learning, including classroom practices supported by research, updated laboratory and field learning approaches, and well-supported distance education or hybrid models that combine online and face-to-face instruction.
Did WIDER include student motivation and engagement as part of evidence-based reform?
Yes. WIDER recognized that motivation and student interest matter. Approaches that measurably improved engagement in STEM were within scope when grounded in evidence.
What outcomes was NSF seeking through WIDER?
NSF sought improved student learning, an increased number of students choosing STEM majors (with special attention to increasing participation from groups historically underrepresented in STEM), and stronger retention during the first two years of college and through graduation for STEM majors overall.
Was WIDER focused more on piloting new ideas or scaling proven approaches?
WIDER was about scaling what works rather than simply piloting new ideas. It aimed to make improvements durable across departments and institutions rather than dependent on a few individual champions.
What types of activities could applicants seek WIDER funding for?
Applicants could pursue funding for (1) institutional planning efforts to lay the groundwork for large-scale adoption of evidence-based teaching, (2) direct implementation to expand and integrate proven instructional materials and methods into STEM programs and courses, and (3) research on institutional change, including how to elevate evidence-based teaching in campus strategic planning and align faculty evaluation, promotion, and reward systems to sustain effective teaching practices.
What did the "planning" pathway support?
The planning pathway supported institutional planning efforts intended to prepare campuses for large-scale adoption of evidence-based STEM teaching practices.
What did the "implementation" pathway support?
The implementation pathway supported the direct expansion and integration of proven instructional materials and methods into STEM programs and courses.
What did the research on institutional change focus on?
This area supported research on how to advance the importance of evidence-based teaching within campus strategic planning and how to align faculty evaluation, promotion, and reward systems so that effective teaching becomes a valued and sustained norm.
What NSF category and CFDA listing applied to WIDER?
WIDER was a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category and was listed under CFDA 47.076 (Education and Human Resources).
How many awards did NSF expect to make and what was the total estimated funding?
NSF expected to make around 50 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $20 million.
What was the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual award sizes ranged from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $2,000,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any type of entity, subject to clarification in the full solicitation.
What is the funding opportunity number for WIDER?
The funding opportunity number was 13-552.
When was the opportunity posted and when were proposals due?
The opportunity was originally posted on April 5, 2013, and the full proposal deadline was July 3, 2013.
Is the WIDER opportunity still accepting proposals?
No. The opportunity is archived and is no longer accepting proposals.
Where were applicants directed for full details?
NSF directed applicants to NSF Publication 13-552 for full details.
Where could applicants get help with access issues?
NSF provided Grants.gov support contact information for applicants experiencing access issues.
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