Texas Regional STEM Degree Accelerator Initiative
Request for Proposals – Planning Grant

Educate Texas invites proposals for the Texas Regional STEM Degree Accelerator Initiative. Our goal for this project is to provide grants to regional teams of public institutions of higher education and workforce partners to ensure that 100,000 underrepresented students in Texas earn STEM degrees within the next three to four years.  To accomplish this goal, Educate Texas is providing grants to regional teams to:

a)      Use real-time labor market data to identify regional STEM workforce needs.

b)      Collaboratively develop strategic plans that use research-based practices that are known to support and increase student performance in STEM academic and career pathways.

c)      Increase the number of underrepresented students in each region who graduate with postsecondary STEM credentials (including two-year, four-year, or technical degrees and/or workforce certificates) that meet identified workforce needs. 

About the Project: This Request for Proposals (RFP) is part one of a two-phase project.  

·         During Phase 1, Regional Planning Teams will analyze data and develop a Regional STEM Pathway Plan. This process will be supported by Educate Texas, Rand, Burning Glass, and a national Advisory Board and each Regional Team will receive up to $15,000 for planning. The roles of each of our partners is included in the RFP and a list of Advisory Board members is as follows: 

o   Dr. Howard Gobstein, Association of Public Land Grant Universities

o   Dr. Clifford W. Houston, University of Texas Medical Branch

o   Dr. Sylvia Hurtado, University of California-Los Angeles

o   Dr. Davis Jenkins, Community College Research Center

o   Dr. Adrianna Kezar, University of Southern California

o   Dr. Kelly Mack, Association of American Colleges and Universities

o   Dr. Mark Milliron, Civitas Learning

o   Dr. Uri Treisman, The Charles A. Dana Center

·         During Phase 2, Regional Teams that develop successful STEM Pathway Plans are eligible for additional funding to implement their plans, beginning in September 2015.  Implementation grants are anticipated to be a total of $400,000 up to $1 million over a period of three years.  Award amounts willdepend on the amount of available funding as well as proposed scale and impact of the project plan.

Eligible Applicants: Regional Teams led by a public institution of higher education (IHE) in Texas that are in one of the following categories: (1) Targeted Metro Regions or (2) Rural-Serving Institutions of Higher Education.  Regional Teams must include the following partners (at a minimum), and may include additional partners as appropriate:

·         A public two-year institution of higher education

·         A public four-year institution of higher education

·         K-12 partner: independent school district(s)

·         Workforce: regional workforce partners, workforce investment boards, chambers of commerce, and employers

The purpose of these partnerships is to strategically increase the number of underrepresented students earning STEM degrees that meet identified workforce needs in a region.  Therefore, we strongly encourage the creation of Regional Teams that are intentional, collaborative partnerships where all members both contribute to and gain value from participating in the project. There is a preference for one proposal from each metro region.  However, in larger regions multiple grants may be made where it is necessary and appropriate.

How to Apply: Please read the attached RFP to learn more about the Texas Regional STEM Degree Accelerator and how to submit your proposal.  You may also visit http://www.edtx.org/texas-regional-stem-degree-accelerator

Important Dates:

·         November 20, 2014: RFP webinar from 1:00-2:00 p.m. CST

·         December 16, 2104: Proposals are due to edtx@cftexas.org by at 2:00 p.m. CST. 

Questions: contact Kelty Garbee by email at kgarbee@cftexas.org or by phone at 512-279-7856. You may also contact John Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, at jfitz@cftexas.org or 512-279-7845.

Kelty Garbee  | Associate Program Officer

Educate Texas | Communities Foundation of Texas

5500 Caruth Haven Lane | Dallas, Texas  75225

P: 512-279-7856 |  C: 512-914-5768  | EdTX.org | Facebook | Twitter

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