2014-10-24: Improving Undergraduate STEM Education

Funding Opportunity Number: 14-588
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Eligible Applicants: Unrestricted (i.  e.  , open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"
Agency Name: NSF
Closing Date: 2014-10-24
Award Ceiling: $3,000,000
Expected Number of Awards: 185

Description: A well-prepared, innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce is crucial to the Nation's health and economy.  Indeed, recent policy actions and reports have drawn attention to the opportunities and challenges inherent in increasing the number of highly qualified STEM graduates, including STEM teachers.  Priorities include educating students to be leaders and innovators in emerging and rapidly changing STEM fields as well as educating a scientifically literate populace.  Both of these priorities depend on the nature and quality of the undergraduate education experience.  In addressing these STEM challenges and priorities, the National Science Foundation invests in evidence-based and evidence-generating approaches to understanding STEM learning; to designing, testing, and studying instruction and curricular change; to wide dissemination and implementation of best practices; and to broadening participation of individuals and institutions in STEM fields.  The goals of these investments include: increasing the number and diversity of STEM students, preparing students well to participate in science for tomorrow, and improving students' STEM learning outcomes.
The Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) program invites proposals that address immediate challenges and opportunities that are facing undergraduate STEM education, as well as those that anticipate new structures (e.  g.  organizational changes, new methods for certification or credentialing, course re-conception, cyberlearning, etc.  ) and new functions of the undergraduate learning and teaching enterprise.  The IUSE program recognizes and respects the variety of discipline-specific challenges and opportunities facing STEM faculty as they strive to incorporate results from educational research into classroom practice and work with education research colleagues and social science learning scholars to advance our understanding of effective teaching and learning.
Toward these ends the program features two tracks: (1) Engaged Student Learning and (2) Institutional and Community Transformation.  Two tiers of projects exist within each track: (i) Exploration and (ii) Design and Development.  These tracks will entertain research studies in all areas.  In addition, IUSE also offers support for a variety of focused innovative projects that seek to identify future opportunities and challenges facing the undergraduate STEM education enterprise.
Link: www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?opp…

2014-09-11: Enduring Questions

Funding Opportunity Number: 20140911-AQ
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Humanities (see "Cultural Affairs" in CFDA)
Eligible Applicants: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education | Private institutions of higher education
Agency Name: NEH
Closing Date: 2014-09-11
Award Ceiling: $38,000

Description: The NEH Enduring Questions grant program supports faculty members in the preparation of a new course on a fundamental concern of human life as addressed by the humanities.  This question-driven course would encourage undergraduates and teachers to join together in a deep and sustained program of reading in order to encounter influential ideas, works, and thinkers over the centuries.
What is an enduring question? The following list is neither prescriptive nor exhaustive but serves to illustrate.
• Are there universals in human nature?
• What is the source of moral authority?
• What is evil?
• Can war be just?
• How do we differ from other animals?
• Is peace possible?
• What is worth dying for?
• What is the value of education?
• Can greed be good?
• What is good government?
• What is progress?
• Am I my brother?s keeper?
Link: www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?opp…

• Bubble of the Month
• McCune Charitable Foundation
• In need of a moderate grant, say $25,000?  Check out the McCune Charitable Foundation.  They fund a variety of projects in education, arts, culture and humanities.  They also accept Letters of Inquiry (LOIs), so you don't have to write a full proposal until you know that they're interested.  If you need help with the LOI, please see me.  We're always glad to help.