Sunsetting of the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM
May 9, 2025
At the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), our mission is to foster scientific progress, improve national health and prosperity, and safeguard our nation’s security. This means making decisions to ensure our efforts align with our priorities. Today, we initiated the reduction in force of the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM. NSF is mindful of its statutory program obligations and plans to take steps to ensure those continue.
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The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for STEM Education works to develop a well-informed citizenry and a diverse and capable workforce of scientists, technicians, engineers, mathematicians and educators.
EDU's programs support STEM education at all educational levels and in a variety of settings. The directorate:
- Funds cutting-edge research and evaluation projects across all STEM disciplines and STEM projects — through scholarships, fellowships, centers, alliances, networks, curriculum development and institutional capacity building.
- Invests in activities aimed to improve knowledge of accessibility, integration and adaptability in STEM education and beyond — ensuring that STEM education and career opportunities are accessible, inclusive and equitable for all Americans, including women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities.
EDU was formerly the Directorate of Education and Human Resources.
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Initiatives

Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Initiative
This national initiative focuses on enhancing U.S. leadership by accelerating the inclusion of groups that have historically been excluded from or underserved in STEM.

National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program
Supports interdisciplinary traineeships that advance ways for graduate students in research-based master's and doctoral degree programs to pursue a range of STEM careers.