NSF ADVANCE program requests preproposals by July 29 The National Science Foundation has announced a solicitation for the ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers program (NSF 09-504). The goal of the program is to develop systemic approaches to increase representation and advancement of women in academic science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers, thereby contributing to the development of a more diverse science and engineering workforce. Creative strategies to realize this goal are sought from women and men. Members of underrepresented minority groups and individuals with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply. Proposals that address the participation and advancement of women with disabilities and women from underrepresented minority groups are particularly encouraged. In 2009-2010, this program will support the following types of projects: ● Institutional Transformation (IT): Institutional Transformation awards are expected to include innovative systemic organizational approaches to transform institutions of higher education in ways that will increase participation and advancement of women in STEM academic careers. They support comprehensive programs for institution-wide change and must include a research component designed to study the effectiveness of the proposed innovations in order to contribute to the knowledge base informing academic institutional transformation (see additional ADVANCE merit review criteria). ● Institutional Transformation Catalyst (IT-Catalyst) awards are designed to support institutional self-assessment activities, such as basic data collection and analysis and policy review, in order to identify specific issues in the recruitment, retention and promotion of women faculty in STEM academics within their institution of higher education. Because an institution may submit only one Institutional Transformation proposal or one IT-Catalyst proposal, UND will conduct an internal review of preproposals for those projects. Preproposals should consist of the following sections: ● Cover page listing the project name, collaborators, contact person, ● Impact on the research program of the collaborators, department(s), and college(s) ● How your plan supports the mission of UND in this area ● Strategies planned to increase representation and advancement of women. ● Short-term pre-funding costs (infrastructure improvement) and long-term financial support plan/need after the grant is over. Preproposals should be no more than 5 pages in length using a reasonable format (1 inch margins, font size 11, single-spaced). Preproposals are due in Research Development and Compliance (RD&C) by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28. Criteria used for reviewing preproposals will include appropriateness to the goal of the program; probability for funding by NSF; reasonableness of budgetary requests; and impact of the request on the university and the academic units involved. Investigators will be notified of the review results as soon as possible in order to meet NSF deadlines (IT and IT-Catalyst Letter of Intent = August 4; Full Proposals = November 12). Contact RD&C (7-4278 or shirleygriffin@mail.und.nodak.edu) for the complete NSF MRI announcement, or download it at: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5383&govDel=USNSF_39. -- Barry I. Milavetz, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Office of the Vice President for Research, barrymilavetz@mail.und.nodak.edu, 777-4278