Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

• Preparing and Submitting a New Application
• Renewal Applications
• Funding
• Progress Reports and Noncompeting Applications

Preparing and Submitting a New Application

Q. What is the goal of the IMSD program?

A. The main goal of the IMSD program is to increase the number of students from groups underrepresented (URG) in the biomedical and behavioral sciences that graduate from Ph. D. programs in these fields at institutions with research intensive environments. However, the institutional IMSD program is expected also to increase the diversity of the student pool in the biomedical and behavioral science departments of the institutions, in order to reduce the gap in the completion of Ph.D. degrees in biomedical and/or behavioral sciences by URG and non-URG students. Specific expectations of the institutional IMSD program are:

1. to increase the overall institutional number of URG students that complete a Ph.D. and continue biomedical research careers;
2. that at least 60 percent of the undergraduate students participating in the IMSD program will, upon graduation, directly enter into a Ph.D. program;
3. that at least 90 percent of the Ph.D. students participating in the IMSD program will complete the degree; and
4. the program will contribute to the institution’s ongoing student and faculty diversity efforts.

To accomplish these objectives, the proposed program design should be derived from an institutional self assessment of the:

1. research environment;
2. student and faculty diversity;
3. number of URG and non-URG students that complete the Ph.D. degree at institutions with research intensive environments, continue competitive post doctoral training, and engage in productive research careers; and
4. challenges/impediments that URG students encounter as they progress to the next step of their training and complete the Ph.D. degree. As a result of the self-assessment each applicant institution must establish the program’s goals and specific measurable objectives which should be consonant with the MBRS IMSD program expectations and design an institutional program that will contribute significantly to the overall IMSD goals.

Q. Where do I find the supplemental instructions for the IMSD application?

A. There are no separate supplemental instructions for the new (Type 1) or competitive renewal (Type 2) applications. Applicants should follow the instructions in the IMSD Program Announcement.

Q. Should more than one department participate in the IMSD grant proposal?

A. Yes, although only one grant application may be submitted by each institution, participation of all departments relevant to biomedical and behavioral sciences is highly encouraged since the IMSD should be an institutional program.

Q. Who is eligible to participate in the IMSD program?

A. The purpose of the IMSD program is to achieve greater participation of students from underrepresented groups in the biomedical and behavioral research enterprise of this country. Selection of students in the IMSD program should take into consideration whether the student's participation would help achieve the overall goals/objectives of the proposed institutional program. Nationally, groups considered to be underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research include, but are not limited to, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Hawaiian Natives, and natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands. However, no student may be denied participation in the program solely because of his/her race, religion, gender or ethnicity.

Students must be U.S. citizens or non-citizen nationals or permanent residents and must be matriculated full-time in baccalaureate or doctoral degree programs in biomedical or behavioral science fields at the applicant institution.

It is the responsibility of the applicant institution to establish the qualifications of students prior to their IMSD participation.

Q. What is the maximum level of support that can be requested for graduate students?

A. The maximum cap allowed for graduate students equals the NRSA level 0 of support or $36.996. This includes their wages and fringe benefits as well as tuition and fees. Thus, additional training related expenses for predoctoral or graduate students are not allowed.

Q. Can we use IMSD funds to recruit students to the institution or support students in the summer program who are not matriculated full time in degree-granting programs at my institution?

A. No.

Q. What should be included in the evaluation plan of an application?

A. The evaluation plan must provide information on how an institution will asses if the program outcomes and the proposed program goals and specific measurable objectives have been achieved as well as establish what the institutional impact of the IMSD program has been on the overall institutional number of students going on to Ph.D. and/or graduating from Ph.D. programs. Thus, the emphasis of the evaluation activities should be on:

1. assessment of the overall institutional impact of the program on current institutional baseline numbers,
2. overall outcome-based program improvements, and
3. identification of programs elements that should be institutionalized by senior leadership.

The evaluation plan must be based on appropriate literature and cited methodology. The plan should also identify the selected evaluator and present his/her credentials.

Q. What application form should I use to prepare a new competing application?

A. Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application forms and SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) through Grants.gov/Apply. Only the forms package directly attached to the IMSD FOA can be used. You will not be able to use any other SF424 (R&R) forms (e.g., sample forms, forms from another FOA) although some of the "Attachment" files may be useable for more than one FOA.

Q. What is the receipt date for the IMSD application?

A. The application submission/receipt dates for the IMSD program are February 21, 2007 and 2008, and February 23, 2009. Applications must be successfully received by Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization) on the application submission/receipt date(s).

A registration process is necessary before submission and applicants are highly encouraged to start the process at least four weeks prior to the grant submission date. See Section IV of the IMSD FOA.

Q. Can I submit my application in paper format, or must I submit it electronically?

A. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Applications may not be submitted in paper format.

A one-time registration is required at both: (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted) and eRA Commons, and applicants are highly encouraged to start the process at least 4 weeks prior to the grant submission date. See Section IV of the IMSD FOA.

Renewal Applications

1. a restatement of goals, specific measurable objectives, anticipated milestones and outcomes as proposed in the previous application;
2. a brief description of the overall impact of IMSD program activities on the academic environment, overall enrollments, and graduation rates of underrepresented students and other related aspects of the institution;
3. a summary, in narrative and/or tabular form, of the specific accomplishments of the IMSD program during the previous 4-year project period, including the number and percent of underrepresented undergraduate, and Ph.D. students (as applicable) who participated in and graduated from, and who entered into or completed (as applicable) the Ph.D. degree in biomedical and/or behavioral research fields;
4. a list of those students (name, undergraduate/graduate, department) who participated, during the previous 4-year project period, in research and/or other IMSD program-supported developmental activities, e.g., workshops, scientific meetings, etc.;
5. a brief description of any significant honors, and awards to IMSD students (give specific dates) that were related to, or resulted from, involvement in activities supported by the IMSD program;
6. a brief description of what has been learned through the program evaluation and any changes made in the program as a result of the evaluation; and
7. a list, for the previous 8-year project period (if applicable), of those students who were supported by the IMSD program. This list should give each student's name, department, the underrepresented group (e.g., African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Hawaiian Natives, and natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands) he/she belongs to, type and year of degree earned, current plans or status, and contact information.
8. description of the institutional impact of the program (using baseline numbers before the program was implemented) on the numbers and the preparation of students from underrepresented groups who enter into and successfully complete the Ph.D. degree in biomedical and/or behavioral research fields.
9. description of progress made toward institutionalization of IMSD successful activities.

The competitive renewal application is treated like any new application except that the progress on the present program is also evaluated based on the goals and objectives outlined in the original application. Renewal applications that do not contain progress report will be returned to the applicant.

Funding

• Scientific merit of the proposed project as determined by peer review.
• Availability of funds.
• Relevance to program priorities.

Funding under this program takes into consideration the legislative intent, and the past performance of the IMSD program in increasing the entry of underrepresented students into, and graduation from, Ph.D. programs is weighted heavily in making funding decisions.

Progress Reports and Noncompeting Applications