Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Computing in Undergraduate Education

The **Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Computing in Undergraduate Education (IUSE: CUE)** program, under the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to enhance undergraduate computing education to better prepare a diverse student population for computing careers and interdisciplinary challenges. The program seeks innovative, scalable approaches to teaching computing, with an emphasis on broadening participation for groups underrepresented and underserved in computing education and professions. IUSE: CUE builds on NSF’s prior investments in transforming undergraduate STEM education and aligns with the broader goals of NSF’s Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) framework. The program funds projects in three tracks: **Transformation, Pathways, and Mobilizing**. The **Transformation** track supports innovative solutions to key challenges in computing education, including integration of computing with other disciplines, updating curricula to reflect emerging technologies, holistic support for diverse students, and effective online learning. Projects should have a substantial regional or national impact and require multi-institutional partnerships, including at least three institutions or organizations. **Pathways** projects focus on building effective pathways to computing degrees and careers, particularly involving two-year colleges. They explore strategies for transitioning students from high school to two-year colleges or from two-year to four-year programs and require collaboration with industry partners to address workforce needs. **Mobilizing** proposals seek to develop a shared national vision for undergraduate computing education through convenings, workshops, and collaborative efforts, addressing topics such as modernizing core curricula and incorporating emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education (two-year and four-year institutions, including community colleges), nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and state or local government entities in the United States. Proposals must include clear plans to broaden participation in computing (BPC), focusing on the needs of underrepresented populations and incorporating inclusive practices. Specific requirements include a project evaluation plan, a dissemination plan for sharing project results, and a sustainability plan to ensure long-term impact. For Transformation and Pathways tracks, proposals must include multi-institutional partnerships, while Pathways proposals must involve at least one two-year college. The **anticipated funding** for the IUSE: CUE program is **$7.5 million**, with an expected **3 to 6 awards** issued annually. Transformation and Pathways projects may request up to **$2 million** for a maximum of **5 years**, while Mobilizing projects may request up to **$1 million** for a maximum of **18 months**. The program does not require cost-sharing. Proposals must adhere to NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and can be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov. Proposals submitted as collaborative projects must be submitted through Research.gov. Proposals are evaluated using NSF’s standard **Merit Review Criteria**—**Intellectual Merit** and **Broader Impacts**—along with program-specific criteria that assess the identification of target populations’ needs and the strategies for addressing those needs. Projects must demonstrate clear goals, innovative approaches, and measurable outcomes, with an emphasis on broadening participation in computing education. **Deadlines** for full proposals are **May 30, 2024**, **April 29, 2025**, and annually on the last Tuesday of April thereafter. Award recipients are required to participate in program-level evaluations, maintain a project website, and attend annual principal investigator (PI) and community meetings. Reporting requirements include annual and final project reports submitted through Research.gov, as well as program-level evaluation data disaggregated by demographics such as race, ethnicity, gender, and disability status. For additional information, applicants can contact program directors Jeffrey Forbes, Allyson Kennedy, and Paul Tymann via the contact information provided in the solicitation. Further technical assistance is available through Research.gov and Grants.gov support services.