Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 551
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Enriching Learning, Programs, and Student Experiences (HSI-ELPSE) supports efforts to strengthen undergraduate STEM education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The program is rooted in the National Science Board vision for a stronger, more diverse science and engineering workforce and aligns with the NSF Strategic Plan. At its core, this funding aims to help HSIs improve the quality of STEM learning environments while also increasing STEM recruitment, retention, and graduation outcomes for students pursuing certificates, associate degrees, and/or bachelor degrees in STEM fields.
A key theme of HSI-ELPSE is that improving STEM success requires an honest, detailed understanding of who students are and what they experience, not just broad demographic labels. NSF emphasizes that student identities and needs are multidimensional (for example, students may be Hispanic and first-generation, may commute, may work full-time, may be parenting, etc.), and that effective interventions must be designed with these realities in mind. Applicants are expected to use institutional data to identify equity gaps and barriers, pinpoint where students are being lost along STEM pathways, and analyze the factors driving those outcomes. The insights drawn from those data are meant to directly shape the project design, rather than serving as background context.
The solicitation is specifically focused on studying and improving the student experience in defined institutional settings where STEM learning and persistence are shaped day to day. These settings include individual STEM courses (especially those central to STEM majors), STEM certificate/minor/degree programs and their pathways, and academic units such as departments, divisions, schools, or colleges (for instance, a School of Engineering or College of Natural Sciences). NSF encourages institutions to lean into what it means to be an HSI and to use that mission and designation as a springboard for reimagining how courses, programs, and academic structures can better serve their students.
HSI-ELPSE welcomes projects that implement, test, and refine promising practices as well as projects that conduct research tied to broadening participation and improving student outcomes in STEM. In general, projects in the main track focus on tangible improvements such as curriculum and course redesign, evidence-based pedagogies, student support structures both inside and outside the classroom (advising, mentoring, tutoring, peer supports, learning communities, etc.), and clearer degree pathways that help students progress efficiently through STEM requirements. The program stresses that interventions should be purposefully designed to meet students where they are, building on student strengths while addressing barriers that may be academic, structural, financial, cultural, or logistical.
The solicitation contains multiple funding tracks. One major category is Implementation and Evaluation Projects (IEP), offered at Levels 1 and 2, which are typically geared toward carrying out and evaluating changes in courses, programs, and student pathways, with a strong emphasis on evidence, assessment, and learning from results. A second track is Educational Instrumentation (EI), which supports proposals aimed at expanding access to computing resources and/or laboratory instrumentation needed for high-quality undergraduate STEM education. The EI track is particularly aimed at (1) HSIs located in EPSCoR jurisdictions and (2) HSI Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) located in non-EPSCoR jurisdictions, reflecting NSF interest in addressing capacity gaps that can limit the quality of STEM instruction and hands-on experiences.
Eligibility is limited. For the IEP track, an applicant must be an accredited institution of higher education, must offer undergraduate STEM education programs that result in certificates or degrees, and must meet the federal definition of an HSI under Section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a). The solicitation notes that institutions will be required to provide an updated eligibility letter from the U.S. Department of Education as a supplementary document, making formal HSI status a documented requirement rather than an informal claim.
From the published opportunity details, this is a discretionary grant competition administered by NSF (CFDA 47.076) under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category. The funding opportunity number is 24-551. The original closing date listed is June 4, 2024. NSF anticipates making about 33 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000 per award.Apply for 24 551
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Enriching Learning, Programs, and Student Experiences" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.076.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 33 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the NSF HSI-ELPSE grant opportunity?
HSI-ELPSE (Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Enriching Learning, Programs, and Student Experiences) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity that supports efforts to strengthen undergraduate STEM education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The focus is on improving STEM learning environments and increasing recruitment, retention, and graduation outcomes for students pursuing STEM certificates, associate degrees, and/or bachelor degrees.
What is the main purpose of HSI-ELPSE?
The program aims to help HSIs improve the quality of undergraduate STEM education while also improving student progress and completion in STEM. Projects are expected to make improvements that are grounded in an honest, detailed understanding of student experiences and the specific barriers that affect persistence and success.
How does NSF define the student experience focus in this program?
HSI-ELPSE emphasizes that student identities and needs are multidimensional and cannot be reduced to broad demographic labels. The solicitation highlights that students may have intersecting realities (for example, being Hispanic and first-generation, commuting, working full-time, parenting, etc.), and that interventions should be designed with these day-to-day realities in mind.
What role does institutional data play in an HSI-ELPSE proposal?
Applicants are expected to use institutional data to identify equity gaps and barriers, determine where students are being lost along STEM pathways, and analyze the factors driving those outcomes. Importantly, the insights from those data are meant to directly shape the project design, rather than being included only as background context.
What kinds of institutional settings can HSI-ELPSE projects focus on?
The solicitation is specifically focused on defined institutional settings where STEM learning and persistence are shaped day to day, including:
- Individual STEM courses, especially those central to STEM majors
- STEM certificate, minor, and degree programs and their pathways
- Academic units such as departments, divisions, schools, or colleges (for example, a School of Engineering or College of Natural Sciences)
Is HSI identity and mission part of what NSF wants applicants to address?
Yes. NSF encourages institutions to lean into what it means to be an HSI and to use the mission and designation as a springboard for reimagining how courses, programs, and academic structures can better serve their students.
What types of projects are supported by HSI-ELPSE?
HSI-ELPSE welcomes projects that implement, test, and refine promising practices, as well as projects that conduct research tied to broadening participation and improving student outcomes in STEM.
What are examples of improvements or interventions that fit the program goals?
Based on the opportunity description, main-track projects commonly focus on tangible improvements such as:
- Curriculum and course redesign
- Use of evidence-based pedagogies
- Student support structures inside and outside the classroom (advising, mentoring, tutoring, peer supports, learning communities, etc.)
- Clearer and more efficient degree pathways through STEM requirements
The solicitation stresses that interventions should be purposefully designed to meet students where they are, build on student strengths, and address barriers that may be academic, structural, financial, cultural, or logistical.
What funding tracks are included in the HSI-ELPSE solicitation?
The solicitation includes multiple funding tracks, including:
- Implementation and Evaluation Projects (IEP) at Levels 1 and 2, typically focused on carrying out and evaluating changes in courses, programs, and student pathways with a strong emphasis on evidence and assessment.
- Educational Instrumentation (EI), supporting proposals aimed at expanding access to computing resources and/or laboratory instrumentation needed for high-quality undergraduate STEM education.
What is the emphasis of the Implementation and Evaluation Projects (IEP) track?
IEP projects are generally geared toward implementing and evaluating improvements in courses, programs, and STEM pathways. The opportunity description highlights strong expectations around evidence, assessment, and learning from results.
What does the Educational Instrumentation (EI) track support?
The EI track supports proposals to expand access to computing resources and/or laboratory instrumentation needed for high-quality undergraduate STEM education, with an emphasis on addressing capacity gaps that can limit STEM instruction and hands-on experiences.
Are there specific institutional priorities for the EI track?
Yes. The EI track is particularly aimed at:
- HSIs located in EPSCoR jurisdictions, and
- HSI Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) located in non-EPSCoR jurisdictions.
This reflects NSF interest in supporting institutions where resource and capacity constraints may limit the quality of undergraduate STEM experiences.
Who is eligible to apply under the Implementation and Evaluation Projects (IEP) track?
Eligibility for the IEP track is limited to accredited institutions of higher education that:
- Offer undergraduate STEM education programs resulting in certificates or degrees, and
- Meet the federal definition of a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) under Section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a).
Is formal documentation of HSI status required?
Yes. The solicitation indicates institutions will be required to provide an updated eligibility letter from the U.S. Department of Education as a supplementary document. This makes documented, formal HSI eligibility a requirement rather than an informal designation.
Which federal agency administers this grant competition?
This is a discretionary grant competition administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
What is the funding opportunity number for HSI-ELPSE?
The funding opportunity number is 24-551.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 47.076.
What is the estimated number of awards NSF expects to make?
NSF anticipates making about 33 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000 per award.
What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is June 4, 2024.
What category is this opportunity listed under?
From the published opportunity details, it is listed under the category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What level of undergraduate credentials does HSI-ELPSE focus on in STEM?
The program focuses on undergraduate STEM education leading to certificates, associate degrees, and/or bachelor degrees.
Does HSI-ELPSE only support research, or can it support practical implementation work?
It supports both. The opportunity description indicates HSI-ELPSE welcomes projects that implement, test, and refine promising practices, as well as projects that conduct research connected to broadening participation and improving STEM student outcomes.
How specific should the project context be (course, program, or unit)?
The solicitation emphasizes work in defined, real-world institutional settings where students experience STEM education daily. That includes specific STEM courses (especially gateway or central courses), defined STEM programs and pathways, and academic units such as departments or colleges.
What does NSF mean by designing interventions "to meet students where they are"?
Based on the solicitation description, this means designing changes that reflect students' actual lives and constraints (for example, work schedules, commuting, caregiving responsibilities, first-generation status), while building on strengths and addressing barriers that may be academic, structural, financial, cultural, or logistical.
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