This document has been archived and replaced by NSF 23-122.
NSF 21-087
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the Noyce Program 2021
ELIGIBILITY AND SUPPORT
- What STEM majors or degrees are eligible for Noyce scholarship or stipend support?
- Can cost of attendance cover non-scholarship expenses such as licensure exams or internship placement fees?
- Are Noyce scholarships or stipends taxable?
- Can a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient receive concurrent support from a Department of Education Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant?
- Can a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient obtain credit for a teaching service commitment in alternative settings, for example, as a long-term substitute, teaching assistant, or paraprofessional at the K-12 level or as an instructor or teaching assistant at the post-secondary level?
- Under what circumstances can a hardship waiver be granted for a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient, such that the scholarship, stipend, or fellowship is forgiven?
- In the absence of a hardship waiver, as described above, how should scholarship, stipend, or fellowship repayments be returned when the recipient fails to complete the required teaching service commitment?
- In the absence of a hardship waiver, as described above, what is the responsibility of the grantee institution if a Noyce recipient is responsible for repaying a scholarship, stipend, or fellowship and does not repay within a reasonable period after the teaching service commitment grace period expires?
- Can private, Catholic, or charter schools meet the Noyce high-need school district requirement?
- How many schools must be categorized as high-need in a school district for it to serve as an appropriate placement to complete the Noyce teaching service commitment?
- Can the external evaluator for a Noyce project be at the same institution as the project?
- What is an acceptable national assessment for selecting Master Teaching Fellowship recipients?
- What are examples of allowable cost sharing, including in-kind and cash matching, for Track 2: Teaching Fellowships and Track 3: Master Teaching Fellowships projects?
- Which minority-serving institutions (MSIs) may Noyce projects consider when requesting additional funding for collaboration incentives?
- Can a project request multiple collaboration incentives when partnering with both a two-year college and an MSI?
- Do projects for Track 4 need to use quantitative methods?
- Is it allowable for Track 4 projects to focus on research that does not involve Noyce teachers?
- Would it be appropriate for a Track 4 project to compare two or more high-need schools or districts to study factors contributing to STEM teacher effectiveness and retention?
- Can one member of the PI team satisfy both requirements for at least one individual with expertise and experience in STEM education research and at least one individual with an advanced degree in a STEM or STEM education discipline?
- How and when should proposals for STEM research experiences be submitted?
- Can a request for supplemental funding be submitted to an existing Noyce award?
- What are examples of eligible formal or informal STEM settings for research experiences? Are national centers, research laboratories, or NASA sites required settings for research experiences?
- What are acceptable STEM research areas or disciplines for research experiences? Are areas of critical need a requirement?
- How many STEM research experiences will be funded each year?
REPAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP, STIPEND, OR FELLOWSHIP
HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICT
GENERAL INQUIRIES
TRACK 4: NOYCE RESEARCH
RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN STEM SETTINGS
ELIGIBILITY AND SUPPORT
What STEM majors or degrees are eligible for Noyce scholarship or stipend support?
Noyce-eligible STEM majors, degrees, or disciplines are identified based on its Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. The CIP code is used by state agencies, national associations, academic institutions, and government agencies for collecting, reporting, and analyzing instructional program data. Additional details on CIP codes can be found at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode.
STEM majors, degrees, or disciplines that are typically eligible for Noyce cost of attendance support are: biological sciences (CIP code 26), computer sciences (CIP code 11), engineering (CIP code 14), mathematics and statistics (CIP code 27), physical sciences (CIP code 40), or fields related to these disciplines (e.g., biological and physical science CIP code 30.01, data science CIP code 30.70, marine sciences CIP code 30.32, mathematics and computer science CIP code 30.08).
Noyce does not provide cost of attendance support for agriculture (CIP code 01), business (CIP code 52), education (CIP code 13), or health professions (CIP codes 51, 60, and 61), unless these majors are coupled with a Noyce-eligible STEM major in a double major.
Can cost of attendance cover non-scholarship expenses such as licensure exams or internship placement fees?
Licensure exams and internship placement fees are not included in cost of attendance but may be included in the "Participant Costs (Other)" section of a Noyce budget. Cost of attendance should only include the cost of tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and certain other personal expenses for a student enrolled at the institution on at least a half-time basis. For additional guidance on allowances for miscellaneous personal expenses, students with dependents, students enrolled less than half-time, or other specifics, see the full definition of cost of attendance in Section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
Are Noyce scholarships or stipends taxable?
NSF does not consider scholarships or stipends to be income. However, NSF does not interpret tax laws or provide guidance on whether scholarships or stipends are taxable.
Can a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient receive concurrent support from a Department of Education Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant?
A recipient of a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship may receive concurrent support from a TEACH Grant, as long as the recipient meets the appropriate eligibility criteria for both programs, and the total annual support received from both sources does not exceed the recipient's annual cost of attendance.
A student receiving both Noyce and TEACH support is subject to both the Noyce teaching service commitment and the TEACH teaching service commitment in their entirety, although the same period of teaching service that meets the eligibility requirements of both programs may count toward both Noyce and TEACH teaching service commitments simultaneously.
Can a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient obtain credit for a teaching service commitment in alternative settings, for example, as a long-term substitute, teaching assistant, or paraprofessional at the K-12 level or as an instructor or teaching assistant at the post-secondary level?
No. The teaching service commitment must be met through service as a licensed/certified classroom teacher of record in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or computer science at the elementary or secondary school level in a high-need school district.
Under what circumstances can a hardship waiver be granted for a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipient, such that the scholarship, stipend, or fellowship is forgiven?
The grantee institution may waive repayment of the scholarship, stipend, or fellowship if the recipient has a documented inability to complete the teacher certification/licensure program or teach during the teaching service commitment period due to: (i) conditions that are qualifying reasons for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, (ii) a call or order to active duty status as a member of the armed forces reserves or National Guard, (iii) permanent disability or death, or (iv) circumstances indicated in the grantee's established institutional policy.
In the absence of a hardship waiver, as described above, how should scholarship, stipend, or fellowship repayments be returned when the recipient fails to complete the required teaching service commitment?
The grantee institution should collect repayment funds from the recipient. These funds may not be reused for other purposes and must be returned to NSF by the grantee institution.
- Funds may be returned via https://www.pay.gov.
- Funds may be returned via check, payable to:
National Science Foundation
ATTN: NSF Cashier
2415 Eisenhower Ave
Alexandria, VA 22314
In the absence of a hardship waiver, as described above, what is the responsibility of the grantee institution if a Noyce recipient is responsible for repaying a scholarship, stipend, or fellowship and does not repay within a reasonable period after the teaching service commitment grace period expires?
The Noyce recipient, not the grantee institution, is responsible for repayment of a Noyce scholarship, stipend, or fellowship when the teaching service commitment is not fulfilled. While the institution is required to (i) collect and return repayments to the US Treasury or NSF; and (ii) appropriately maintain documentation of such efforts in the event of a future audit by NSF, the institution is not responsible for repaying funds owed by Noyce recipients.
Can private, Catholic, or charter schools meet the Noyce high-need school district requirement?
If the school is part of a Local Education Agency (LEA) or religious jurisdiction, such as a diocese, that functions as a LEA, it can satisfy the Noyce high-need requirement as long as the LEA meets the two criteria of the high-need LEA requirement as defined in section 201 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021). A high-need LEA does not have to be a public school system.
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How many schools must be categorized as high-need in a school district for it to serve as an appropriate placement to complete the Noyce teaching service commitment?
If at least one school in the school district meets the high-need definition, the entire district is considered high-need for purposes of the Noyce program.
Can the external evaluator for a Noyce project be at the same institution as the project?
Yes. However, it must be clear that the external evaluator can provide independent and objective feedback to the project.
What is an acceptable national assessment for selecting Master Teaching Fellowship recipients?
The Noyce program does not specify which nationally recognized assessments should be used for Master Teaching Fellowship recipients. Projects might use a state assessment of content knowledge or a national assessment such as the GRE.
What are examples of allowable cost sharing, including in-kind and cash matching, for Track 2: Teaching Fellowships and Track 3: Master Teaching Fellowships projects?
The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR § 200.306) prescribes criteria and procedures for the allowability of cash and in-kind contributions.
Grantees should be aware that mandatory cost sharing commitments are subject to audit. Audit findings involving cost sharing have pertained to: a) failure to keep adequate source documentation for claimed cost sharing; b) unclear valuation of in-kind donated contributions; c) lack of support for cost sharing contributions by sub-recipients; and d) failure to complete annual certifications for awards with mandatory cost sharing requirements. Additional guidance on cost sharing may be obtained at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/caar/costrev.jsp.
Which minority-serving institutions (MSIs) may Noyce projects consider when requesting additional funding for collaboration incentives?
MSIs include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and other institutions that enroll a significant percentage of underrepresented minority students as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. These other institutions include Alaska Native-serving Institutions, Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions, High Hispanic Enrollment Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, and Native American-Serving Non-tribal Institutions. All of these MSIs are eligible for consideration of collaboration incentives. Projects requesting additional funds for collaboration incentives are encouraged to clearly address how the project will purposefully engage, recruit, and support the populations that result in the institution's designation as an MSI.
Can a project request multiple collaboration incentives when partnering with both a two-year college and an MSI?
Yes. If a project includes partners from both a two-year college and an MSI, the project can receive both collaboration incentives. A subaward or collaborative submission is not required to receive the collaboration incentive, but there must be well documented commitments of substantive engagement between all partners involved in the collaboration. If an institution is both a two-year college and MSI, only one collaboration incentive may be requested.
Do projects for Track 4 need to use quantitative methods?
There is no requirement that a Track 4 project use quantitative methodology. Track 4 projects may use any appropriate methodology (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed) to address the posed research question(s).
Is it allowable for Track 4 projects to focus on research that does not involve Noyce teachers?
Track 4 projects are not required to involve Noyce teachers. However, the research study should focus on both STEM teacher effectiveness and retention in high-need schools or districts. The maximum funding request for a Track 4 proposal that does not involve Noyce teachers is $1,000,000.
Would it be appropriate for a Track 4 project to compare two or more high-need schools or districts to study factors contributing to STEM teacher effectiveness and retention?
This topic area would be appropriate for Track 4 if the proposal has a robust theoretical framing and appropriate methodological design.
Can one member of the PI team satisfy both requirements for at least one individual with expertise and experience in STEM education research and at least one individual with an advanced degree in a STEM or STEM education discipline?
No. These two requirements must be satisfied by separate individuals.
How and when should proposals for STEM research experiences be submitted?
Proposals may be submitted to the Noyce program only after consultation with and consent of a Noyce Program Officer. Proposers should follow the guidance in PAPPG Chapter II for the preparation and submission of full research proposals to NSF. While proposals may be submitted any time, those submitted by the Noyce program's August submission deadline will be prioritized for support in the respective year.
Can a request for supplemental funding be submitted to an existing Noyce award?
No. While STEM research experiences may complement the work in an existing award, they are not intended to supplant or supplement ongoing funded work nor support efforts that could be completed within the scope and parameters of an active Noyce award.
What are examples of eligible formal or informal STEM settings for research experiences? Are national centers, research laboratories, or NASA sites required settings for research experiences?
Proposed projects must include STEM research experiences in a formal or informal science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or computer science setting. While allowable, there is not a requirement that the research experience be held at a national center, research laboratory, or NASA site. Other possible research settings may include industry, institutions of higher education, or non-profit organizations. However, K-12 schools do not meet the STEM setting requirement for research experiences.
What are acceptable STEM research areas or disciplines for research experiences? Are areas of critical need a requirement?
Submissions must align with Noyce-eligible STEM major(s). While research experiences are encouraged in disciplinary areas of critical need, including quantum computing and quantum science, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer science, and data analytics, research experiences in other STEM areas are also appropriate.
How many STEM research experiences will be funded each year?
The Noyce program will support as many meritorious proposals in a given year as funding availability will allow.