IUSE

IUSE stands for Improving Undergraduate STEM Education. It is a program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) within the Directorate for Education and Human Resources. The program funds research and development activities intended to enhance undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at colleges and universities in the United States. IUSE supports projects that investigate how students learn in undergraduate STEM courses, develop and test new curricula and assessment tools, provide professional development for instructors, and support institutional efforts to transform teaching and learning at scale. The emphasis is on evidence-based practices, inclusion, equity, and broadening participation of underrepresented groups in STEM.

Proposals to IUSE are submitted to the NSF and undergo merit review by panels that consider intellectual merit and broader impacts. Funded activities may include classroom-based research on teaching and learning, development of innovative instructional materials, evaluation studies, and dissemination of findings to the broader community. IUSE also supports projects aimed at improving retention and persistence in STEM majors and fostering collaborations among departments, institutions, and educational researchers.

Eligibility typically extends to U.S. colleges and universities and other eligible organizations that can partner with STEM faculty and researchers. Awards vary in scope and duration, often spanning one to several years. Results from IUSE-funded work are expected to be shared through scholarly publications, practitioner-oriented outlets, workshops, and NSF dissemination channels, contributing to the broader improvement of undergraduate STEM education.