Funding Opportunities
Widening Implementation & Demonstration of Evidence-Based Reforms (WIDER)
Deadline: April 24, 2013
External Deadline:
07/03/2013
Sponsor: NSF
Institute Contact: Gail Spatt, 404.385.8334 or spatt@gatech.edu
Sponsor Website: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13552/nsf13552.htm
Sponsor Website: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13552/nsf13552.htm
The internal selection process for 2013 has closed. When the next solicitation is released, this page will reflect the relevant updates. For planning purposes, EVPR office instructions to the campus from the last solicitation appear below:
NSF has recently released a solicitation for the Widening Implementation & Demonstration of Evidence-Based Reforms (WIDER) program, which focuses on evidence-based STEM undergraduate education. A detailed description of the solicitation appears below.
Because Georgia Tech may only submit one proposal in the Planning or Institutional Implementation categories, we will hold an internal competition for submissions that might fall within these areas. By Wednesday, April 24, 2013, interested PIs should submit the following as one pdf to spatt@gatech.edu:
Because Georgia Tech may only submit one proposal in the Planning or Institutional Implementation categories, we will hold an internal competition for submissions that might fall within these areas. By Wednesday, April 24, 2013, interested PIs should submit the following as one pdf to spatt@gatech.edu:
a. A short (2 pages or less) abstract highlighting both the methods to be used and the evidentiary basis for the proposed methods for STEM effectiveness
b. PI information
c. Potential participating faculty /units
d. Collaborating institutions (including STEM sites).
The PI selected to move forward will be notified by the first week of May.
Please direct any questions to Gail Spatt (404-385-8334 or spatt@gatech.edu).
NSF: NSF Releases Widening Implementation & Demonstration of Evidence-Based Reforms (WIDER) Solicitation
On April 5, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released its anticipated solicitation for its Widening Implementation and Demonstration of Evidence-Based Reforms (WIDER) program. WIDER is a new NSF program first proposed in the fiscal year (FY) 2012 budget request to increase the use of evidence-based undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education practices through institutional reforms. Specifically, WIDER aims to address a top Obama Administration priority of producing an additional 1 million STEM graduates by supporting “highly effective methods of STEM teaching and learning in institutions of higher education, by employing instructional materials and methods that have a convincing evidentiary basis of effectiveness.”
NSF staff have emphasized that WIDER is meant to support bold institutional change, and, therefore, proposals to WIDER must include engagement by university administration. Groups or individuals with proposals that don’t have institutional buy-in should instead consider applying to the Transforming Undergraduate Education in STEM program (TUES, http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5741).
The Obama Administration has placed particular emphasis on expanding the STEM workforce as a means to increase national competitiveness in what the Administration sees as a rapidly expanding global high-tech economy. NSF has taken the lead on many of the Administration’s efforts particularly in regards to increasing STEM participation among minorities and women.
Details of the funding opportunity follow.
Letters of Intent: Letters of Intent are not required for this solicitation.
Due Dates: Full proposals are due by July 3, 2013.
Total Funding and Award Size: NSF anticipates the availability of $20 million, contingent on congressional appropriations, for WIDER grants. 30 to 50 total awards are expected across four categories: Planning grants: up to 20 awards; Institutional Implementation grants: up to 12 awards; Community Implementation grants: up to 12 awards; and Research grants: up to 10 awards.
Eligibility and Limitations: Organizations may submit only one Planning or one Institutional Implementation proposal for a given deadline. There are no restrictions on the number of Community Implementation or Research proposals that an individual or organization may submit.
Sources and Additional Resources:
· Additional information about this funding opportunity, including the complete funding opportunity announcement (FOA), is available at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13552/nsf13552.htm.