NSF Director's Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars (DTS)
Program Solicitation
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National Science Foundation |
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Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (optional):
September 22, 2004
Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required):
October 20, 2004
Nominations due by 5 p.m. nominator's local time
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
February 09, 2005
The deadline dates for a Letter of Intent, Nomination and Full Proposal have been changed.
Nominations should list those being nominated as co-PIs so that the nominee can get access to reviewers' comments under Proposal Status in FastLane.
Nominees previously invited to submit proposals may choose to submit only a revised full proposal by the February 9, 2005 deadline, and thus by-pass the nomination process. A Letter of Intent is requested by September 22, 2004 from individuals planning to submit a revised full proposal.
This solicitation continues a two-step review process in which potential applicants are first nominated by presidents, chief academic officers, or independent researchers, as viable candidates for recognition as distinguished teaching scholars. On the basis of these substantive nominations and letters of reference covering the nominee's research and educational accomplishments, a subset of individuals will be invited to submit proposals of the projects they intend to undertake.
Program Title:
NSF Director's Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars (DTS)
Synopsis of Program:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to promote improvement in the education of those who study science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). The NSF Director’s Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars (DTS) recognizes and rewards individuals who have contributed significantly to the scholarship of their discipline and to the education of students in STEM, and exemplify the ability to integrate their research and educational activities. DTS is part of NSF’s efforts to foster an academic culture that values a scholarly approach to both research and education. The Director’s Award is the highest honor bestowed by the NSF for excellence in both teaching and research in STEM fields, or in educational research related to these disciplines. The awards will be conferred at a special ceremony recognizing the awardees.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Myles G. Boylan, Program Director, Directorate for Education & Human Resources, Division of Undergraduate Education, 835 N, telephone: (703) 292-4617, fax: (703) 292-9015, email: mboylan@nsf.gov
Nancy L. Pruitt, Program Director, Directorate for Education & Human Resources, Division of Undergraduate Education, 835 N, telephone: (703) 292-4627, fax: (703) 292-9015, email: npruitt@nsf.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
The purpose of the National Science Foundation Director's Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars is to recognize and reward individuals who have contributed significantly to the scholarship of their discipline and the education of students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and to enable the expansion of their efforts. Awardees will be honored for their leadership in their respective fields as well as for their innovations and effectiveness in facilitating student learning in STEM disciplines. The National Science Foundation (NSF) will identify distinguished teaching scholars from among those faculty who are both meritorious scholars and exemplary educators, as evidenced by their ability to integrate their research and educational activities, and to approach research and education in a scholarly manner.
The Director's Award embodies the high priority the NSF places on promoting the efforts of outstanding scientists, mathematicians, and engineers working at the frontiers of scientific knowledge who are also committed to advancing the frontiers of STEM education. The Award will foster innovative and far-reaching developments in STEM education, increase awareness of careers in science and engineering, give recognition to the scientific and educational missions of the NSF, enhance connections between fundamental research and education, and highlight the importance to the Nation's future of citizens who are informed about STEM.
Acknowledging the high value that academia places on scholarship through its recruiting and hiring practices, its promotion and tenure process, and the prestige it attaches to the recognition and reward of scholars, the DTS program seeks to influence the academic culture by:
This program seeks to recognize those faculty who bring the excitement and richness of scientific discovery to a broad spectrum of students. It is intended to promote the continued and expanded efforts of individuals with a history of substantial impact on: (a) the research in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) discipline or on STEM educational research; (b) the STEM education of K-16 students who have diverse interests and aspirations, including future K-12 teachers of science and mathematics, and students who plan to pursue STEM careers, as well as those who need to understand science and mathematics as citizens in a society increasingly dependent on science and technology.
This program is driven by the need to provide leadership at all institutions of higher learning for developing excellence in STEM education; promote to leadership positions those individuals who exemplify the ability to be involved in, and contribute creatively and significantly to, both teaching and scholarly activity in their discipline and in education; provide exemplary faculty role models; and lead efforts that apply the resources of higher education to pressing issue in K-12 STEM education.
The award will be given to those individuals who demonstrate a combination of past accomplishments and the potential for future contributions. The selection of DTS awardees will involve a two-step process. Nominations of candidates for recognition as distinguished teaching scholars will be peer reviewed, and, on the basis of supporting documentation, a subset of the nominees will be invited to submit a proposal for a project whose objectives are consistent with the goals of the DTS program. Details of what should be included in the nomination documents and subsequent proposal are described in the section on Proposal Preparation and Submission.
The categories of proposers identified in the Grant Proposal Guide are eligible to submit proposals under this program announcement/solicitation.
Under this solicitation, proposals from selected nominees may be submitted for any amount up to $300,000 for a four-year project. NSF expects to fund approximately 6 awards depending on the quality of submissions and the availability of funds. Approximately $1.8 million is anticipated to be available for this program in FY 2005. The anticipated date of awards is April 2005. Although there is no limit on the number of candidates nominated from an institution, no more than one award will be made to a single institution in this fiscal year's competition.
Letters of Intent (optional):
A letter of intent is optional but encouraged before submitting a nomination. It is intended to enhance the efficiency of the review process. The letter of intent should briefly state the intention to nominate an individual for an NSF Director's Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars, and give the individual’s name, institutional affiliation, discipline, and whether the impact of the nominee’s work has been primarily on the undergraduate or K-12 sector.
Nominees who were previously invited to submit a proposal of the project they intend to undertake may choose to only submit a revised full proposal by the February 9, 2005 deadline for full-proposals, and thus by-pass the nomination process. An optional letter of intent is requested of individuals planning to submit a revised full proposal.
Letters of intent should be sent by electronic mail to dts-prog@nsf.gov by September 22, 2004.
Preliminary Proposals (required):
Nomination: Nominating documents comprise the "preliminary proposal."
The nomination of an individual should consist of:
The person being nominated should be listed as a co-PI on the preliminary proposal.
The Nominator/Sponsoring Scientist must submit a Proposal using NSF’s FastLane website, www.fastlane.nsf.gov. For instructions, click on “Postdoctoral Fellowships and Other Programs.” Select “I am a Sponsoring Scientist.” Select the program “NSF Distinguished Teaching Scholar.” On the Program Information screen, click on “How to Prepare Statement.”
To prepare a proposal nominating an individual, access the FastLane website, www.fastlane.nsf.gov. The nominator/sponsoring scientist must login with last name, social security number (SSN) and password and become the PI of the proposal. On the PI Information screen, check the information and update if necessary. On the Proposal Actions screen, click on Create Blank Proposal.
Cover Sheet: The Cover Sheet must be created first. Select the program solicitation.
Remainder of Cover Sheet: The title of the proposal must have this format: “Nomination of (person being nominated) for a DTS Award”. The person being nominated is added here as a co-PI.
Project Summary: 1 page limit. The Project Summary must state who is being nominated, the nominee’s STEM discipline and/or departmental affiliation, and characterize those who have been primarily impacted by the nominee’s educational activities (e.g., undergraduates, or K-12 teachers and students).
Project Description: No page limit. This is the Nominating Document. This document contains the nominator/sponsoring scientist’s support for the nominee. The nomination should address how the individual has:
Influenced his or her research discipline;
Incorporated or integrated contemporary research questions, processes, and results into educational experiences for students and teachers;
Contributed to the literature on teaching and learning;
Mentored others to conduct research and educate undergraduates and/or K-12 students and teachers; or
Demonstrated leadership among colleagues in promoting the above.
Biographical Sketch: No page limit. The resume must be for the nominee.
Letters of Reference: A minimum of 4 letters of reference are required.
At least two letters of reference from peers within or outside the nominee’s institution that address the impact of the work of the nominee on the discipline, and
At least two letters from individuals within or outside the nominee’s institution that describe and provide evidence of the impact of the nominee’s body of scholarly work on undergraduates, including non-science majors, or from leaders in the K-12 community (e.g., district superintendents, representatives of state education agencies, members of national professional organizations) that address the impact of the nominees work on K-12 education.
The nominator or nominee should solicit letters of reference in support of the nominee, and have them submitted using FastLane. Once a person has been identified in FastLane as a reference writer, an email can be sent to them with instructions on how to use FastLane to submit the letter. The status of letters of reference, but not their contents, can be monitored by the nominator/sponsoring scientist and the nominee, as co-PI.
All nomination documents must be received by 5 pm nominator's local time, October 20, 2004.
Reviewers will be asked to comment specifically on the nominee’s qualifications as described above.
Full Proposal Instructions:
Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement/solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF Website at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
Full Proposal: (Limit Project Description to 12 double-spaced pages)
On the basis of a peer review of the documents supporting the nomination, in mid-December 2004 a subset of the nominees will be invited to submit a proposal for a project with objectives that are consistent with the goals of the DTS program. Such proposals should be submitted in response to this program solicitation and prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The closing date for Full Proposals will be February 9, 2005, at 5 p.m. proposer's local time.
The person nominated in the preliminary proposal is now the PI of the full proposal.
No more than one individual will be named as NSF Distinguished Teaching Scholar for a given proposal. If other personnel are essential participants or contributors to the proposed project, they may be listed on the budget form as personnel. In the rare case that such collaborators/contributors are listed as Co-PIs, a justification should be provided.
Cover Sheet: Prepare the cover sheet first. Select the Program Announcement.
Project Summary: 1 page limit, single-spaced. The Project Summary must include separate paragraphs addressing National Science Board approved criteria of intellectual merit and broader impact, or the proposal will be returned without review. These paragraphs are included in the 1-page limit.
Project Description: The proposal Project Description (limited to 12 double-spaced pages) should include the following:
Educational activities may, for example, focus on:
NSF is most interested in supporting projects that promote scholarly work in STEM education; enhance its value in the higher education community; have an impact beyond the Awardees’ institutions; and that maintain the prestige of the award.
A budget justification of up to three pages must accompany the budget forms and provide details about budget line items. The purpose(s) and destination(s) of any proposed international travel should be provided. These pages are in addition to the Project Description.
Proposers are reminded to identify the program announcement/solicitation number (04-594) in the program announcement/solicitation block on the proposal Cover Sheet. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.
Cost Sharing:
Cost sharing is not required by NSF in proposals submitted under this Program Solicitation.
Other Budgetary Limitations:
Proposals must be submitted by the following date(s):
Letters of Intent (optional):
Preliminary Proposals
(required):
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this announcement/solicitation through the FastLane system. Detailed instructions for proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail fastlane@nsf.gov. The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system. Specific questions related to this program announcement/solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this announcement/solicitation.
Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal certifications (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a listing of the certifications). The AOR must provide the required electronic certifications within five working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. Proposers are no longer required to provide a paper copy of the signed Proposal Cover Sheet to NSF. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane Website at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov
Reviews of proposals submitted to NSF are solicited from peers with expertise in the substantive area of the proposed research or education project. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review process. NSF invites the proposer to suggest, at the time of submission, the names of appropriate or inappropriate reviewers. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts with the proposer. Special efforts are made to recruit reviewers from non-academic institutions, minority-serving institutions, or adjacent disciplines to that principally addressed in the proposal.
The National Science Board approved revised criteria for evaluating proposals at its meeting on March 28, 1997 (NSB 97-72). All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two merit review criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.
On July 8, 2002, the NSF Director issued Important Notice 127, Implementation of new Grant Proposal Guide Requirements Related to the Broader Impacts Criterion. This Important Notice reinforces the importance of addressing both criteria in the preparation and review of all proposals submitted to NSF. NSF continues to strengthen its internal processes to ensure that both of the merit review criteria are addressed when making funding decisions.
In an effort to increase compliance with these requirements, the January 2002 issuance of the GPG incorporated revised proposal preparation guidelines relating to the development of the Project Summary and Project Description. Chapter II of the GPG specifies that Principal Investigators (PIs) must address both merit review criteria in separate statements within the one-page Project Summary. This chapter also reiterates that broader impacts resulting from the proposed project must be addressed in the Project Description and described as an integral part of the narrative.
Effective October 1, 2002, NSF will return without review proposals that do not separately address both merit review criteria within the Project Summary. It is believed that these changes to NSF proposal preparation and processing guidelines will more clearly articulate the importance of broader impacts to NSF-funded projects.
The two National Science Board approved merit review criteria are listed below (see the Grant Proposal Guide Chapter III.A for further information). The criteria include considerations that help define them. These considerations are suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. While proposers must address both merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to address only those considerations that are relevant to the proposal being considered and for which he/she is qualified to make judgments.
NSF staff will give careful consideration to the following in making funding decisions:
All proposals are carefully reviewed by at least three other persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular field represented by the proposal. Proposals submitted in response to this announcement/solicitation will be reviewed by Ad Hoc and/or panel review.
Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either support or decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate a recommendation.
A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the Program Director. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.
NSF is striving to be able to tell proposers whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months. The time interval begins on the closing date of an announcement/solicitation, or the date of proposal receipt, whichever is later. The interval ends when the Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.
In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy implications and the processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or organization that makes financial or personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer does so at their own risk.
Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. Organizations whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the cognizant NSF Program Division administering the program. Verbatim copies of reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See section VI.A. for additional information on the review process.)
An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any special provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in the award letter; (4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (NSF-GC-1); * or Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative agreement awards are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC). Electronic mail notification is the preferred way to transmit NSF awards to organizations that have electronic mail capabilities and have requested such notification from the Division of Grants and Agreements.
*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/. Paper copies of these documents may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions is contained in the NSF Grant Policy Manual (GPM) Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpm. The GPM is also for sale through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402. The telephone number at GPO for subscription information is (202) 512-1800. The GPM may be ordered through the GPO Website at http://www.gpo.gov.
For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the PI must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period.
Within 90 days after the expiration of an award, the PI also is required to submit a final project report. Failure to provide final technical reports delays NSF review and processing of pending proposals for the PI and all Co-PIs. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in advance to assure availability of required data.
PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project reporting system, available through FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual and final project reports. This system permits electronic submission and updating of project reports, including information on project participants (individual and organizational), activities and findings, publications, and other specific products and contributions. PIs will not be required to re-enter information previously provided, either with a proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system.
General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:
Myles G. Boylan, Program Director, Directorate for Education & Human Resources, Division of Undergraduate Education, 835 N, telephone: (703) 292-4617, fax: (703) 292-9015, email: mboylan@nsf.gov
Nancy L. Pruitt, Program Director, Directorate for Education & Human Resources, Division of Undergraduate Education, 835 N, telephone: (703) 292-4627, fax: (703) 292-9015, email: npruitt@nsf.gov
For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188, email: fastlane@nsf.gov
email: duefl@nsf.gov
The NSF Guide to Programs is a compilation of funding for research and education in science, mathematics, and engineering. The NSF Guide to Programs is available electronically at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gp. General descriptions of NSF programs, research areas, and eligibility information for proposal submission are provided in each chapter.
Many NSF programs offer announcements or solicitations concerning specific proposal requirements. To obtain additional information about these requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices. Any changes in NSF's fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to Programs will be announced in the NSF E-Bulletin, which is updated daily on the NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin, and in individual program announcements/solicitations. Subscribers can also sign up for NSF's MyNSF News Service (http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/) to be notified of new funding opportunities that become available.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. Awardees are wholly responsible for conducting their project activities and preparing the results for publication. Thus, the Foundation does not assume responsibility for such findings or their interpretation.
NSF welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers and educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to compete fully in its programs. In accordance with Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from NSF, although some programs may have special requirements that limit eligibility.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including student research assistants) to work on NSF-supported projects. See the GPG Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.
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The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering. To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit the NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov
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The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the proposal review process; to applicant institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies needing information as part of the review process or in order to coordinate programs; and to another Federal agency, court or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 267 (January 5, 1998), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to an information collection unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding this burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, Division of Administrative Services, National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230.
OMB control number: 3145-0058.
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