NSF Funding Opportunity for ADVANCE Program Focused on Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a new opportunity for proposals for grant funding through the ADVANCE program. ADVANCE seeks to develop a more diverse and capable science and engineering workforce by promoting gender, racial, and ethnic equity. The ADVANCE program goal is to broaden the implementation of evidence-based systemic change strategies that promote equity for STEM faculty in academic workplaces and the academic profession. The solicitation includes four funding tracks: Institutional Transformation (IT), Adaptation, Partnership, and Catalyst. Letters of intent to apply are due by November 3, 2020.
 
NSF summarizes the program as such: “The NSF ADVANCE program provides grants to enhance the systemic factors that support equity and inclusion and to mitigate the systemic factors that create inequities in the academic profession and workplaces. Systemic (or organizational) inequities may exist in areas such as policy and practice as well as in organizational culture and climate. For example, practices in academic departments that result in the inequitable allocation of service or teaching assignments may impede research productivity, delay advancement, and create a culture of differential treatment and rewards. Similarly, policies and procedures that do not mitigate implicit bias in hiring, tenure, and promotion decisions could lead to women and racial and ethnic minorities being evaluated less favorably, perpetuating historical under-participation in STEM academic careers and contributing to an academic climate that is not inclusive.”
 
There is a proposal preparation webinar scheduled for July 29th 1:30pm-2:30pm EDT.
 
For more information, please visit: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5383&WT.mc_id=USNSF_44&WT.mc_ev=click.