Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Directorate for STEM Education

The Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Directorate for STEM Education (IUSE: EDU) grant program is a major initiative led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) aimed at transforming undergraduate STEM education in the United States. With an emphasis on elevating teaching practices, curricular innovation, and institutional change, the IUSE: EDU program invests in the development, implementation, and research of evidence-based strategies that enhance student learning and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The initiative responds to economic and workforce trends predicting vigorous growth in STEM sectors and aligns with national priorities to cultivate a scientifically literate public and a globally competitive STEM workforce. The IUSE: EDU program supports two primary tracks—Engaged Student Learning (ESL) and Institutional and Community Transformation (ICT). The ESL track funds projects that develop or implement innovative instructional approaches, enhance faculty professional development, or study the impact of these methods on student outcomes. It includes three funding levels: Level 1 (up to $400,000 for three years), Level 2 ($400,001–$750,000 for three years), and Level 3 (up to $2 million over five years). The ICT track, focusing on systemic change within and across institutions, supports Capacity-Building efforts (up to $200,000 for single-institution projects or $400,000 for multi-institution efforts), Level 1 (up to $400,000), and Level 2 (up to $2 million), the latter supporting research or design at scale over five years. The NSF encourages a wide range of organizations to apply, including public and private institutions of higher education and other associated organizations. There are no restrictions on the types of institutions eligible to apply, and cost-sharing or matching funds are not required. A maximum of three proposals may be submitted per PI or co-PI in a single year. The program invites proposals that demonstrate clear alignment with NSF’s goals of broadening participation in STEM, integrating educational theory and practice, and generating transferrable knowledge on effective teaching and learning. Projects must include evaluation plans, dissemination strategies, and sustainability considerations. Applications can be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov, adhering to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide. Required components include a full proposal and a supplementary document listing all project participants. Letters of intent or preliminary proposals are not required. Annual deadlines are structured by project type: Level 1 and Capacity-Building proposals are due the third Wednesday in January, while Level 2 and Level 3 proposals are due the third Wednesday in July. For 2026, the next closing date is July 15. Proposals are reviewed based on NSF's merit review criteria: Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts. These criteria evaluate the potential to advance knowledge, societal benefit, originality, qualifications of the team, and resources. Notification of awards is typically issued within six months of submission. Multi-year grants require annual and final reporting, and any new materials created must be released under appropriate open licenses. Interested applicants can contact the IUSE program at [email protected] or call (703) 292-8670. Disciplinary-specific program officers are also listed in the solicitation. The full solicitation, including additional guidelines and application information, is available at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf23510. The program remains a central mechanism for advancing undergraduate STEM education nationwide through both innovation and replication of proven practices.

Include robust evaluation and dissemination strategies; align with NSF’s broader impacts and intellectual merit criteria.