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Dear Colleague Letter: Requirement of a Departmental
Plan for Broadening Participation in the CRIF: MU competition for
Fiscal Year 2008 Awards
Subject: IMPORTANT,
PLEASE READ
Dear Colleague:
Beginning with the next competition (June 25, 2007 deadline),
proposals submitted to the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and
Facilities: Departmental Multi-User Instrumentation (CRIF:
MU) program will be required to include a departmental plan
that outlines strategies and activities to increase participation
by underrepresented groups. An additional review criterion
has been added to the solicitation to assess how the acquisition
or upgrade of the requested instrumentation supports the departmental
plan. While the departmental plan itself will not be assessed
as part of the proposal review, it must be included as a supplemental
document. The plan is limited to three pages and while not
formally prescribed, it is recommended that the plan address leadership,
strategic planning, statistics & analysis, human resources
focus, and results with respect to broadening participation. Further
guidance can be sought from the cognizant program officers.
The National Science Foundation, its Directorate for Mathematical
and Physical Sciences (MPS), and the Division of Chemistry within
the MPS Directorate, have embraced the need for broad inclusion
of diverse segments of the population in science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics fields (STEM). As stated in the NSF
FY 2006-2011 Strategic Plan, an essential core value for NSF
is to reach out to groups that have been underrepresented in STEM
fields; to leverage resources to integrate research with education;
and to explore every opportunity for successful engagement and
partnership. In striving for the highest standards of excellence
in chemistry research and education, the NSF Division of Chemistry
has embarked on a comprehensive strategy to incorporate the principles
of broadening participation in all of its activities and we welcome
your partnership in this important goal.
Thank you for your cooperation and shared commitment to broadening
participation in chemistry.
Sincerely,
Luis Echegoyen
Director, Division of Chemistry, NSF
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