The ADVANCE Program at National Science Foundation

The goal of the ADVANCE program is to develop systemic approaches to increase the 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.

Proposals from primarily undergraduate institutions, teaching intensive colleges, community colleges, minority-serving institutions (e.g. Tribal Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions), women's colleges, and institutions primarily serving persons with disabilities are encouraged.

In 2009-2010, this program will support the following types of ADVANCE 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 the participation and advancement of women in STEM academic careers. These awards support comprehensive programs for institution-wide change. IT projects 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)

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. This type of work is fundamental for institutions that plan to undertake institutional transformation. The institution's need for external resources to undertake institutional self assessment and policy review will specifically be evaluated using an additional ADVANCE merit review criterion.

Partnerships for Adaptation, Implementation, and Dissemination (PAID)

Partnerships for Adaptation, Implementation, and Dissemination awards may focus on one institution or organization, or they may be a partnership between several institutions and/or organizations. PAID projects can focus on all STEM disciplines, several disciplines, or only one discipline, including the social and behavioral sciences. Projects may have an international, national, state or local scope. Previous or current funding from ADVANCE is not a prerequisite for submitting a PAID proposal (see additional ADVANCE merit review criteria). PAID awards support activities such as:

• Adaptation and implementation of materials, tools, research, and practices that have been demonstrated to be effective in increasing the participation and advancement of women in STEM academic careers.
• Dissemination and diffusion of materials, tools, research, and practices, to the appropriate audiences, that have been demonstrated to be effective in increasing the participation and advancement of women in STEM academic careers. Please note that simply making materials, tools, research, and practices available to others is not effective diffusion and dissemination. Rather, an effort to teach and/or train individuals and groups how to adopt or adapt the information is expected as well.
• Scientific research designed to advance understanding of gender in the STEM academic workforce (PAID-Research).

For more information on the National Science Foundation ADVANCE program, please visit the National Science Foundation web site.