NJIT Implementation of Recent Executive Orders

Institutional Response on the Implementation of Recent Federal Executive Orders with Updates on Federally Funded Research Grants and Contracts

NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM)

Funding Agency:

  • National Science Foundation
RFP# and Website: 
NSF 25-514
Description: 

Important Information And Revision Notes

The NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program solicitation has been revised for the FY2025 competition. Prospective Principal Investigators are encouraged to read the solicitation carefully. Changes and important information affecting Track 1 proposals:

  • The maximum award amount has been increased to up to $2,000,000 for up to 6 years.
  • The eligibility requirement has changed. Institutions submitting a Track 1 proposal may not have had an active Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) or S-STEM award in the past 5 years.
  • Track 1 proposals must include an initial planning/capacity building period during which scholarships are not made to students. Scholarships should be awarded to students after the conclusion of the planning/capacity building period.
  • For Track 1 proposals, at least 50% of all funds must be provided solely as pure scholarships to cover the cost of attendance and entered as Participant Support – Stipends (Line F1) on the NSF budget form.

Changes and important information affecting All proposals:

  • A one-page analysis of job prospects is no longer required and should not be included as a Supplementary Document.
  • The Collaborative Planning Grants track has been removed from the S-STEM program. Instead, interested parties are encouraged to consider developing a Planning proposal as described in Section II.B.1., Program Description.

For proposals with a duration of six years, Current and Pending (Other) Support should be reported for the first five years of the project. In addition, proposals requesting a six-year duration must be submitted via Research.gov because Grants.gov will not accommodate a six-year budget.

The S-STEM program team will host webinars in which key features and expectations of the S-STEM program will be discussed. Information regarding the webinars will be posted to the S-STEM program web page: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/nsf-scholarships-science-technology-engineering.

Active Dear Colleague Letters associated with the S-STEM Program.

Please check that the DCL is still active and contact a S-STEM Program Director prior to submission.

Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. The NSF PAPPG is regularly revised and it is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets the requirements specified in this solicitation and the applicable version of the PAPPG. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Synopsis of Program:

The main goal of the S-STEM program is to enable academically talented, low-income students to pursue successful careers in promising STEM fields. Ultimately, the S-STEM program seeks to increase the number of academically promising low-income students who graduate with an S-STEM eligible degree and contribute to the American innovation economy with their STEM knowledge. Recognizing that financial aid alone cannot increase retention and graduation in STEM, the program provides awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs) not only to fund scholarships, but also to adapt, implement, and study evidence-based curricular and co-curricular[a] activities that have been shown to be effective in supporting recruitment, retention, transfer (if appropriate), student success, academic/career pathways, and graduation in STEM.

To be eligible, scholars must be domestic low-income students with academic ability, talent, or potential and demonstrated unmet financial need who are enrolled in an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree program in an S-STEM eligible discipline. Proposers must provide an analysis that articulates the characteristics and academic needs of the population of students they are trying to serve. NSF is particularly interested in supporting the attainment of degrees in fields identified as critical needs for the Nation. It is up to the proposer to make a compelling case that such a field serves a critical need in the United States.

[a] an activity at a school or college pursued in addition to the normal course of study.

S-STEM Eligible Degree Programs

Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Engineering, and Associate of Applied Science

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Applied Science

Master of Arts, Master of Science, and Master of Engineering

Doctoral (Ph.D. or other comparable doctoral degree)

S-STEM Eligible Disciplines

Disciplinary fields in which research is funded by NSF, including technology fields associated with the S-STEM-eligible disciplines (e.g., biotechnology, chemical technology, engineering technology, information technology, etc.).

The following degrees and disciplines are excluded:

  • Clinical degree programs, including medical degrees, nursing, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and others not funded by NSF, are ineligible degrees.
  • Programs for STEM teacher certification or licensure currently covered by the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program (NOYCE) are ineligible for S-STEM funding.
  • Business school programs that lead to Bachelor of Arts or Science in Business Administration degrees (BABA/BSBA/BBA) are not eligible for S-STEM funding.
  • Masters and Doctoral degrees in Business Administration are also excluded.

Proposers are strongly encouraged to contact Program Officers before submitting a proposal if they have questions concerning degree or disciplinary eligibility.

The S-STEM program particularly encourages proposals from 2-year institutions, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), predominately undergraduate institutions, and urban, suburban, and rural public institutions.

Awards: 

Standard Grant or Continuing Grant

Anticipated Funding Amount: 

$80,000,000 to $120,000,000

Awards for Track 1 (Institutional Capacity Building) projects may not exceed $2,000,000 total for a maximum duration of 6 years.

Awards for Track 2 (Implementation Projects) projects may not exceed $2,000,000 total for a maximum duration of 6 years.

Awards for Track 3 (Inter-institutional Consortia) projects may not exceed $5,000,000 total for a maximum duration of 6 years.

Letter of Intent: 
Not Required
Full Proposal Submission Deadline: 

March 04, 2025

Contacts: 
  • Thomas D. Kim, Lead, telephone: (703) 292-4458, email: tkim@nsf.gov
  • Michael J. Ferrara, Co-Lead, telephone: (703) 292-2635, email: mferrara@nsf.gov
  • Olivia S. Long, telephone: (703) 292-7897, email: olong@nsf.gov