ORSP welcomes internal notices of intent (NOIs) from eligible individuals who are interested in leading a proposal to the National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program.[1] For those interested in leading Regional Alliance Proposals in this year’s competition cycle, priority consideration will be given to those who submit NOIs by the UM Notice of Intent Priority Date listed below; those submitting the most credible NOIs may be invited and sent instructions to participate in an internal competition to submit be selected later in the summer to submit a Regional Alliance proposal in the fall.

Alternatively, those interested in submitting a Planning Grant Proposal for this opportunity are also invited to submit notice of intent. Since there is no NSF deadline for planning grant proposals, internal NOIs will be accepted for planning grants will be accepted until a strong and viable idea is put forward and selected, with priority consideration given to those received by the UM Notice of Intent Priority Date.

The National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program aims to recognize outstanding STEM teachers, reward them for their accomplishments, elevate their public profile, and create rewarding career paths to which all STEM teachers can aspire, both to prepare future STEM researchers and to create a scientifically literate public. See the summary PDF prepared by ORSP Research development accompanying this call, and then read the NSF solicitation for more information.

Key Dates 2024
 

May 23                        NSF Solicitation 24-577 issued
Jul 1                             This UM ORSP announcement issued                       
Jun 10, 27, Jul 10        NSF National STEM Teacher Corps Webinars[2]
Jul 18                           UM Notice of Intent Priority Date[3]
Jul 25                           NSF National STEM Teacher Corps Webinar
Aug 1                           UM Internal Pre-Proposals Due (if applicable)
Aug 6                           NSF National STEM Teacher Corps Webinar
Aug 15                         Selection of which UM proposal to move forward (if applicable)
Aug 20                         Regional Alliance Proposals Notices of Intent Due (optional)
Aug 22; Sep 4, 19        NSF National STEM Teacher Corps Webinars
Oct 1                          Regional Alliance Proposals due to NSF

Instructions for UM Internal Notice of Intent (NOIs)

To be invited to submit a UM pre-proposal, faculty members should first submit an internal NOI. This will help us plan the review process for the internal competition.

The NOI will consist of:

-       Faculty member’s name and email address
-       Faculty member’s primary faculty appointment (title, date and dept)
-       Faculty member’s proposed project title (may change later)
-       Faculty member’s terminal degree
-       Proposal Type: Planning or Regional Alliance
-       Have you participated in one if the webinars yet? (Y/N)
-       A 1-page max PDF or MS Word doc with the following information succinctly presented:

o   If the NOI is for a Regional Alliance proposal:

§  Nature of the Alliance: in 100 words or less

§  Intended Partners / Partner Enlistment Strategy: list any envisioned partners and, for each, whether you have reached out to them yet and, if so, whether or not they have expressed a willingness to be a part of your proposal. If you don’t yet know any partner that you want to include (or know but haven’t reached out or learned of their interest), please let us know that, and let us know instead what your intended strategy will be for enlisting partners.

§  Intended Critical Need: briefly define the critical need that you envision the alliance will serve. If you have not yet defined which critical need you expect to serve, state that, and briefly provide any preliminary thoughts on the topic. Note that defined need can change between the NOI date and any subsequent internal pre-proposal date.

§  Intended Grade-levels of Focus: (e.g., PreK, K-5, 6-8, 9-12, PreK-12). Note that the grade-levels may change between the NOI date and any subsequent internal pre-proposal date.

§  Intended Specific Topic or Content of Focus (e.g., science, mathematics, engineering, technology, CTE). May change later.

§  Intended Ways to Elevate Teaching: Briefly list/define 2-5 ways that you intend for the alliance to elevate the STEM teacher profession in the region. If you have not yet decided which ways, say that, and briefly provide any preliminary thoughts on the topic. May change later.

o   If the NOI is for a Planning Grant then the one-page document should:

§  Briefly, describe what you envision for a planning project, and how it will lead to answering all the questions listed above that would be required for a subsequent Regional Alliance proposal.