Transforming Undergraduate STEM Education Act - Amends the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 to make changes to the program requiring the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to expand previously implemented reforms of undergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, or technology (STEM) education.
Expands grant uses to allow their use in: (1) implementing, rather that just expanding, research-based reforms in undergraduate STEM education; (2) creating multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary STEM courses or programs; (3) expanding undergraduate STEM research opportunities to include interdisciplinary research and research in industry, at federal labs, and at international research institutions or research sites; (4) implementing or expanding bridge, cohort, tutoring, or mentoring programs that enhance student recruitment or persistence; (5) implementing STEM faculty development programs; (6) supporting the participation of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in instructional or assessment activities at primarily undergraduate IHEs; and (7) researching STEM teaching and learning at the undergraduate level related to the proposed reform effort.
Gives priority, among proposals that expand existing reform efforts beyond a single academic unit, to proposals for which a senior institutional administrator serves as the principal investigator.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4955 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4955
To authorize the National Science Foundation to provide grants for
implementing or expanding research-based reforms in undergraduate STEM
education for the purpose of increasing the number and quality of
students studying toward and completing baccalaureate degrees in STEM.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 25, 2010
Ms. Kosmas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science and Technology, and in addition to the Committee
on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the National Science Foundation to provide grants for
implementing or expanding research-based reforms in undergraduate STEM
education for the purpose of increasing the number and quality of
students studying toward and completing baccalaureate degrees in STEM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Transforming Undergraduate STEM
Education Act''.
SEC. 2. TRANSFORMING UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN STEM.
Section 17 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-6) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 17. TRANSFORMING UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN STEM.
``(a) In General.--The Director shall award grants, on a
competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to institutions of higher education
to implement or expand research-based reforms in undergraduate STEM
education for the purpose of increasing the number and quality of
students studying toward and completing baccalaureate degrees in STEM.
``(b) Uses of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under this
section may include--
``(1) development, implementation, and assessment of
innovative, research-based approaches to transforming the
teaching and learning of disciplinary or interdisciplinary STEM
at the undergraduate level;
``(2) expansion of successful STEM reform efforts beyond a
single course or group of courses to achieve reform within an
entire academic unit, or expansion of successful reform efforts
beyond a single academic unit to other STEM academic units
within an institution;
``(3) creation of multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary
courses or programs that formalize collaborations for the
purpose of improved student instruction and research in STEM;
``(4) expansion of undergraduate STEM research
opportunities to include interdisciplinary research
opportunities and research opportunities in industry, at
Federal labs, and at international research institutions or
research sites;
``(5) implementation or expansion of bridge, cohort,
tutoring, or mentoring programs proven to enhance student
recruitment or persistence to degree completion in STEM;
``(6) improvement of undergraduate STEM education for
nonmajors, including education majors;
``(7) implementation of technology-driven reform efforts,
including the installation of technology to facilitate such
reform, that directly impact undergraduate STEM instruction or
research experiences;
``(8) development and implementation of faculty development
programs focused on improved instruction, mentoring,
evaluation, and support of undergraduate STEM students;
``(9) support for graduate students and postdoctoral
fellows to participate in instructional or assessment
activities at primarily undergraduate institutions; and
``(10) research on teaching and learning of STEM at the
undergraduate level related to the proposed reform effort,
including assessment and evaluation of the proposed reform
activities and research on scalability and sustainability of
approaches to reform.
``(c) Selection Process.--
``(1) Applications.--An institution of higher education
seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application
to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Director may require. The application
shall include, at a minimum--
``(A) a description of the proposed reform effort;
``(B) a description of the research findings that
will serve as the basis for the proposed reform effort
or, in the case of applications that propose an
expansion of a previously implemented reform effort, a
description of the previously implemented reform
effort, including data on student recruitment,
persistence to degree completion, and academic
achievement;
``(C) evidence of institutional support for, and
commitment to, the proposed reform effort, including
long-term commitment to implement successful strategies
from the current reform effort beyond the academic unit
or units included in the grant proposal;
``(D) a description of existing or planned
institutional policies and practices regarding faculty
hiring, promotion, tenure, and teaching assignment that
reward faculty contributions to undergraduate STEM
education; and
``(E) a description of the plans for assessment and
evaluation of the proposed reform activities, including
evidence of participation by individuals with
experience in assessment and evaluation of teaching and
learning programs.
``(2) Review of applications.--In selecting grant
recipients under this section, the Director shall consider at a
minimum--
``(A) the likelihood of success in undertaking the
proposed effort at the institution submitting the
application, including the extent to which the faculty,
staff, and administrators of the institution are
committed to making the proposed institutional reform a
priority of the participating academic unit or units;
``(B) the degree to which the proposed reform will
contribute to change in institutional culture and
policy such that a greater value is placed on faculty
engagement in undergraduate education;
``(C) the likelihood that the institution will
sustain or expand the reform beyond the period of the
grant; and
``(D) the degree to which scholarly assessment and
evaluation plans are included in the design of the
reform effort.
``(3) Priority.--For proposals that include an expansion of
existing reform efforts beyond a single academic unit, the
Director shall give priority to proposals for which a senior
institutional administrator, including a dean or other
administrator of equal or higher rank, serves as the principal
investigator.
``(4) Grant distribution.--The Director shall ensure, to
the extent practicable, that grants awarded under this section
are made to a variety of types of institutions of higher
education.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to House Science and Technology
Referred to the Committee on Science and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to House Education and Labor
Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
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