Hispanic Serving Institutions: Equitable Transformation in STEM Education (ETSE)

The Hispanic Serving Institutions: Equitable Transformation in STEM Education (HSI: ETSE) program, issued under solicitation NSF 24-578, is a funding initiative by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of its larger Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE): HSI program. This effort aligns with the NSF Strategic Plan 2022–2026 and the National Science Board Vision for a diverse and capable STEM workforce. The HSI program recognizes the unique role of HSIs in broadening participation in STEM fields, particularly among historically underrepresented populations, and aims to enhance undergraduate STEM education and increase student recruitment, retention, and graduation rates at these institutions. The ETSE competition supports institutional transformation efforts that promote equitable outcomes in undergraduate STEM education through four specific tracks: Departmental/Division Transformation Track (DDTT), Institutional Transformation Track (ITT), Emerging Faculty Research Track (EFRT), and HSI Program Resource Hubs (Hubs). These tracks are designed to help HSIs transform their academic structures, expand research capabilities, engage students and faculty in high-impact practices, and establish support systems that reflect the strengths and challenges of their student populations. Each track has distinct focus areas and funding parameters. The DDTT supports transformation at the departmental or divisional level, including self-assessments, leadership development, and evidence-based strategies aligned with institutional strategic plans. The ITT focuses on broad institutional reform involving policy, practice, and culture to foster inclusive STEM environments. The EFRT allows individual faculty from 2- and 4-year primarily undergraduate institutions to conduct research in STEM education or broadening participation. Hubs are intended to serve the broader HSI community by promoting collaboration, research, and resource sharing across institutions. Eligibility is restricted to accredited institutions of higher education that qualify as HSIs under Section 502 of the Higher Education Act and are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Institutions applying under EFRT must also be PUIs, which are colleges or universities that have awarded 20 or fewer PhDs in NSF-supported fields in the last two years. Each track has specific PI requirements and institutional limitations on the number of proposals. Applications must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Letters of Intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Submissions must include a full proposal narrative (15 pages) with components like institutional data narrative, theory of change, intersectional lens application, project evaluation plan, dissemination plan, and sustainability plan. A student mentoring plan is required if undergraduate students are to be involved. Supplementary documents include letters of institutional support, eligibility confirmation from the U.S. Department of Education, and biosketches of evaluators. Proposals are evaluated based on NSF’s two core merit criteria—Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts—alongside additional HSI-specific criteria emphasizing inclusivity, transformation potential, and alignment with student demographics and institutional missions. Awards range from $200,000 to $3,000,000, depending on the track, with project durations up to five years. The estimated number of awards is between 11 and 17, with a total program funding of $20 million. Deadlines for full proposals are September 11, 2024, and August 27, 2025, with subsequent deadlines on the last Wednesday in August annually.