Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award grants to institutions of higher education for the implementation or expansion of research-based reforms in master's and doctoral level STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education that emphasizes preparation for diverse careers in the STEM workforce, including at institutions of higher education, in industry, and at government agencies and research laboratories. Describes the activities that may be supported by grants awarded under this Act.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4968 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4968
To authorize the National Science Foundation to award grants for
implementing or expanding research-based reforms in master's and
doctoral level STEM education that emphasize preparation for diverse
careers in the STEM workforce.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 25, 2010
Ms. Giffords 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 award grants for
implementing or expanding research-based reforms in master's and
doctoral level STEM education that emphasize preparation for diverse
careers in the STEM workforce.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. 21ST CENTURY GRADUATE EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation
shall award grants, on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to
institutions of higher education to implement or expand research-based
reforms in master's and doctoral level STEM education that emphasize
preparation for diverse careers in the STEM workforce, including at
diverse types of institutions of higher education, in industry, and at
government agencies and research laboratories.
(b) Uses of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under this
section may include--
(1) creation of multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary
courses or programs that formalize collaborations for the
purpose of improved student instruction and research in STEM;
(2) expansion of graduate STEM research opportunities to
include interdisciplinary research opportunities and research
opportunities in industry, at Federal laboratories, and at
international research institutions or research sites;
(3) development and implementation of future faculty
training programs focused on improved instruction, mentoring,
evaluation, and support of undergraduate STEM students;
(4) support and training for graduate students to
participate in instructional activities beyond the traditional
teaching assistantship, and especially as part of ongoing
educational reform efforts, including at K-12 schools and at
primarily undergraduate institutions;
(5) development and implementation of seminars, workshops,
and other professional development activities that increase the
engagement and education of graduate students in the innovation
and technology transfer process;
(6) development and implementation of seminars, workshops,
and other professional development activities that increase the
ability of graduate students to effectively communicate their
research findings to technical audiences outside of their own
discipline and to nontechnical audiences;
(7) expansion of successful STEM reform efforts beyond a
single academic unit to other STEM academic units within an
institution; and
(8) research on teaching and learning of STEM at the
graduate 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) in the case of applications that propose an
expansion of a previously implemented reform effort, a
description of the previously implemented reform
effort;
(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; and
(D) a description of the plans for assessment and
evaluation of the grant proposed reform activities.
(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 preparing
graduate students for diverse careers in the STEM
workforce;
(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.
<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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