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Title: Requirement of a Departmental Plan for Broadening Participation 
        in the CRIF: MU competition for Fiscal Year 2008 Awards
Date: 03/16/07


 Subject:   IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ



 Dear Colleague Letter:  Requirement of a Departmental Plan for
 Broadening Participation in the CRIF: MU competition for Fiscal
 Year 2008 Awards



 Dear Colleague:



 Beginning with the next competition (June 25, 2007 deadline),
 proposals submitted to the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and
 Facilities: Departmental Multi-User Instrumentation (CRIF: MU)
 program will be required to include a departmental plan that
 outlines strategies and activities to increase participation by
 underrepresented groups.  An additional review criterion has been
 added to the solicitation to assess how the acquisition or upgrade
 of the requested instrumentation supports the departmental plan.
 While the departmental plan itself will not be assessed as part of
 the proposal review, it must be included as a supplemental
 document.  The plan is limited to three pages and while not
 formally prescribed, it is recommended that the plan address
 leadership, strategic planning, statistics & analysis, human
 resources focus, and results with respect to broadening
 participation.  Further guidance can be sought from the cognizant
 program officers.

 The National Science Foundation, its Directorate for Mathematical
 and Physical Sciences (MPS), and the Division of Chemistry within
 the MPS Directorate, have embraced the need for broad inclusion of
 diverse segments of the population in science, technology,
 engineering, and mathematics fields (STEM).  As stated in the NSF
 FY 2006-2011 Strategic Plan, an essential core value for NSF is to
 reach out to groups that have been underrepresented in STEM fields;
 to leverage resources to integrate research with education; and to
 explore every opportunity for successful engagement and
 partnership. In striving for the highest standards of excellence in
 chemistry research and education, the NSF Division of Chemistry has
 embarked on a comprehensive strategy to incorporate the principles
 of broadening participation in all of its activities and we welcome
 your partnership in this important goal.

 Thank you for your cooperation and shared commitment to broadening
 participation in chemistry.

 Sincerely,

 Luis Echegoyen
 Director, Division of Chemistry, NSF