Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), specifically under the Directorate for STEM Education. This program is designed to enhance undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research capabilities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The initiative supports a wide array of projects aimed at improving STEM degree completion rates, expanding faculty research capacity, and facilitating long-term improvements in undergraduate STEM education environments. Recognizing the vital role HBCUs play in diversifying the national STEM workforce, NSF offers targeted funding to elevate institutional competitiveness, educational innovation, and student success. The program offers multiple funding tracks tailored to meet specific goals. Targeted Infusion Projects support short-term activities focused on introducing new STEM curriculum, pedagogical strategies, and infrastructure enhancements. Research Initiation Awards fund faculty research to jumpstart or rebuild research agendas and may involve student participation. Research on Broadening Participation in STEM Projects investigates systemic, institutional, and social factors that affect the participation of underrepresented groups in STEM, aiming to generate actionable insights and scholarly contributions. Implementation Projects are larger-scale efforts meant to support comprehensive, multi-year institutional reform for improved STEM education and retention. Broadening Participation Research Centers represent the most ambitious track, designed to serve as national hubs for research and dissemination around successful strategies to increase STEM participation by African American students and other underrepresented populations. Applicants must follow several procedural steps to submit proposals. For most tracks, submission begins with a required Letter of Intent, followed by a full proposal via Research.gov or Grants.gov. Broadening Participation Research Centers require a preliminary proposal before invitation to submit a full proposal. Proposals must adhere to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and include detailed evaluation and dissemination plans, budgetary justifications, and student mentoring strategies. Projects involving human subjects must also address Institutional Review Board (IRB) compliance. The NSF strongly emphasizes the inclusion of formative and summative evaluation strategies and requires budget allocations to support these assessments. Proposals are reviewed on intellectual merit and broader impacts, with additional review criteria for Implementation Projects and Centers. Submission deadlines are structured based on the project track. Letters of Intent for most tracks are due annually on the fourth Tuesday in July. Research Initiation Awards have a full proposal deadline on the second Thursday in November annually, while the full proposal for Targeted Infusion Projects, Implementation Projects, and Research on Broadening Participation in STEM Projects is due on the fourth Tuesday in November every other year. Broadening Participation Research Centers operate on a separate cycle, with preliminary proposals due the fourth Tuesday in March every other year, and full proposals due the fourth Tuesday in November of the same year. These dates enable institutions to prepare well in advance and strategize for multi-year planning and alignment. NSF anticipates funding approximately 136 awards over FY 2024 and FY 2025, with an estimated total program funding of $62.25 million. Award sizes vary significantly depending on the project type, ranging from up to $350,000 for Research on Broadening Participation in STEM Projects to up to $9 million for Broadening Participation Research Centers over five years. Equipment costs are typically capped at 30% of the total budget for most tracks, and no cost-sharing or matching funds are required. Funds can be used for faculty release time, student research experiences, curriculum development, equipment acquisition, and institutional transformation initiatives. Program inquiries should be directed to HBCU_UP@nsf.gov or by phone at 703-292-8633. For proposal submission support, applicants may consult the NSF Help Desk or the Grants.gov Contact Center depending on their chosen portal. Annual and final project reports are required, and NSF retains the right to conduct reverse site visits or program evaluations throughout the project duration. The HBCU-UP program operates on a recurring cycle with updates issued through formal solicitations, and applicants are encouraged to review current and past solicitations for comprehensive details.

Clearly define project objectives and align them with evaluation benchmarks; maintain distinct mentoring plans for students and PIs; ensure IRB approvals for human subjects research.