16 Jul Funding Alert! Grants for Skilled Technical Workforce Education

Posted at 08:08h in Competency One, Funding Opportunities by

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Attention educators, researchers, institutions of higher education (IHEs), and industry leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields! NSF is now accepting proposals to its Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program. The ATE program supports partnerships among IHEs, industry, and economic development agencies to improve undergraduate and secondary education programs for the skilled technical workforce. This workforce is defined as workers who use high-level science and engineering skills but do not hold a baccalaureate degree. ATE projects are faculty-led and may involve research, curriculum development, professional development for educators, IHE consortia activities, and more. Proposals to this program are due October 14, 2021.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicant eligibility is unrestricted for ATE proposals; however, the program focuses on two-year IHEs with degree paths in advanced technology fields. NSF expects faculty from these institutions to hold significant roles in the proposed project, including serving as principal investigator (PI) or co-PIs. NSF also requires strong industry partners in all ATE proposals.

What are the program details?

ATE applicants may pursue one of five tracks:

  • Track 1: Small Projects for Institutions New to ATE – up to $350,000 over three years; intended for IHEs with little or no ATE program experience within the past seven years. Track 1 projects are typically smaller in scope than Track 2 projects and will stimulate implementation, adaptation, and innovation as related to education programs for the skilled technical workforce.
  • Track 2: ATE Projects – up to $650,000 over three years; supports a wide variety of workforce education projects. This could include program design and improvement, curriculum and educational materials development, professional development for educators, leadership capacity-building for faculty, teacher preparation, and business and entrepreneurial skills development for students.
  • Track 3: Consortia for Innovations in Technician Education – $1.2 to $3 million over three to four years; supports collaborations among two-year IHEs to leverage resources and expertise in a specific industry or application. Possible Track 3 outcomes include building networks across fields or IHEs, faculty professional development, and industry leadership growth within STEM technological areas.
  • Track 4: ATE Centers – planning grants (up to $70,000) or grants to support the activities of an ATE Center ($7.5 million over five years). ATE Centers advance skilled technical workforce education in one of ATE’s industry focus areas, such as advanced manufacturing technologies, biotechnology, energy technologies, security technologies, and more. ATE Centers support systemic improvement, outreach, and leadership development among a variety of stakeholders; provide faculty professional development within the Center’s area of expertise; mentor prospective PIs of future ATE projects; and perform other activities related to the ATE program mission.
  • Track 5: Applied Research on Technician Education – up to $150,000 over two years or up to $800,000 over four years; supports applied research in advanced technology fields in STEM and facilitates partnerships among IHEs that can design and conduct research and development projects. Track 5 projects vary in level of research (planning/pilot study, exploratory research and development, or full-scale research and development), available funding, and project period of performance.

For more detail on each of these tracks and the funding levels within them, see the full program solicitation, pages 4-8. NSF expects to make between 45 and 80 awards across all project levels, for an anticipated total funding amount of $75,000,000.

What makes a project a good fit?

The ATE program seeks projects that address issues in technician education in rural areas, include efforts to broaden workforce diversity, and/or work to recruit veterans into technician education programs.

NSF also encourages proposals from Minority Serving Institutions (including Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions) and other IHEs that support groups historically underrepresented in STEM fields. In addition, NSF evaluates all proposals using two National Science Board-approved merit review criteria:

  • Intellectual merit: the potential to advance knowledge; and
  • Broader impacts: the potential to benefit society and support the achievement of specific societal outcomes.

Applicants should fully address both criteria in their proposals.

What if I am ready to apply? To move your project forward, take the following action steps as soon as possible:

What if I need help with this application?

Contact Assel Grant Services (AGS) today! Our team can help with all aspects of preparing the application and managing the grant if you are awarded. If you would like to discuss this possibility, please contact AGS as soon as possible. Rosie Brennan, Community Engagement Specialist, will be happy to talk with you about this opportunity and provide you a quote for grant services.

What if I am not ready to apply this year?

Start preparing for the next deadline, which is October 6, 2022. NSF also has a variety of other programs and funding opportunities available that might be a good fit. The office’s website has ample resources, webinars, and descriptions of available or upcoming opportunities.

How do I learn more about federal grant opportunities so my application is more likely to be successful?

AGS is excited to offer a new Federal Grants Training Series during 2021! The series is designed to support faculty at institutions of higher education before and during the application process. AGS also offers several on demand webinars on a variety of topics to support the full grant cycle. Check out our website to learn more and sign up for our training newsletter.

AGS blogs, funding alerts, and trainings are aligned with the Grant Professional Certification Institute’s Competencies and Skills

Competency #1: Knowledge of how to research, identify, and match funding resources to meet specific needs

Skill 1.2: Identify major trends in public funding and public policy

Skill 1.6: Identify fundable programs and projects for specific organization

Skill 1.7: Determine best matches between funders and specific programs

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