Chemical Education Today edited by
Association Report: CUR
Kerry Karukstis Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA 91711
Understanding the Federal Funding Landscape for Undergraduate Research by Kerry Karukstis
Introducing Washington Partners The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) actively promotes the importance of undergraduate student– faculty collaborative research and scholarship to state legislatures, private foundations, government agencies, and the U.S. Congress. CUR recently formed a Government Relations Committee to help the organization become more influential in its activities at the federal level, particularly those programs focused on undergraduate participation in research. To further support the work of the Government Relations Committee and the organization’s service to members, CUR is pleased to announce that we have recently contracted with Washington Partners, LLC to provide our members with timely, concise information about federal programs that effect the support for undergraduate research. Washington Partners, LLC is a full-service government relations and public relations firm specializing in educational clients. Given the strong focus of the 109th Congress on international competitiveness issues (1), specifically those regarding science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and recent reports of the National Academies (2) and the National Science Board (3) calling for national investment in these areas, we believe that this association with Washington Partners is an opportune one to help those in the undergraduate research arena understand the federal funding landscape. Legislative Analysis for CUR Members As one service provided to CUR, Washington Partners contributes an informational legislative analysis in each issue of CUR’s electronic newsletter to members (CUR E-News). The inaugural commentary focused on an overview of
the annual federal budget and appropriations process (4). While the President’s State of the Union and subsequent budget request initiates the budget and appropriations work for the year with suggested levels of funding, the crucial portion of the budget process occurs when the House and Senate work on their respective budget resolutions. A broad view of the spending options for the federal government divides expenditures into three categories: (i) federal deficit interest costs; (ii) mandatory spending on such large social programs as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and subsidies on student loans; and (iii) discretionary spending on programs selected annually by Congress. The vast majority of programs receive federal funding from the discretionary allocations, although mandatory spending represents the largest source of federal funding. The House and Senate Budget Committees decide on the size of the discretionary budget, with amendments considered in committee and on the House and Senate floor. It is at this point in the budget process that it is critical to contact representatives and senators to encourage them to support amendments that increase discretionary spending, particularly for programs at such federal agencies as the National Science Foundation. Conveying to Congress the impact that NSF funding has on our campuses, particularly with regard to our students’ education and future, is essential. Noting those activities that would be discontinued without continual funding, or emphasizing the successful activities that could be resumed with additional funding provides congressional representatives with the compelling arguments to support discretionary spending levels or increases. It is the House and Senate Appropriations Committees that divide the discretionary funds once the total amount is set.
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Conveying to Congress the impact that NSF funding has on our campuses…is essential.
The NSF and Undergraduate Research As an example of the important legislative analysis that Washington Partners can provide for the undergraduate research community, the May issue of CUR E-News (5) presented a compilation of the specific undergraduate priorities that each NSF division has set for FY2007. The anticipated number of undergraduates expected to benefit from NSF research programs in FY2007 is 13,515, a 4.69% increase over FY2006 and a 6.12% increase relative to FY2005. Washington Partners also detailed each of the funding priorities established by the directorates of NSF. The Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, for example, will emphasize activities “that connect undergraduate education with research”. A substantial increase in funding from $500,000 to $1.5 million will be allocated to interdisciplinary undergraduate research programs. The Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate will also substantially increase funding for undergraduate research, with a $2.5 million increase for the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. Advancing undergraduate engineering education is also a priority of the Engineering Directorate, with a proposed increase of 22.3% over FY2006 for research and education grants. These funding levels are indicative of several of the priorities established by NSF for FY2007, particularly encouraging collaborative research and education efforts and supporting programs that attract and prepare U.S. students to be highly Journal of Chemical Education
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Association Report: CUR qualified members of the global scientific and engineering workforce. Increases are also expected in the number of undergraduate researchers to be supported by funding in the Biological Sciences, Geosciences, and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences directorates. As an additional aid to CUR members, Washington Partners has provided information on anticipated changes in NSF program management. All federal programs undergo Program Assessment Ratings Tool (PART) analyses by the Office of Management and Budget to evaluate how well federal dollars translate into specific outcomes. To maintain the high scores already received by several NSF programs that have been through this review process, NSF is implementing a new program management system governed by three central tenets in the areas of relevance, quality, and performance. Each research program must be able to articulate why particular investments in research and development are important, relevant, and appropriate. Furthermore, each research program must justify how funds will be allocated to assure quality research and development. Finally, mechanisms for monitoring and documenting how well an investment is performing must be in place. With this overriding management structure, PART analyses of NSF research programs should demonstrate clear outcomes and sufficient data to support their continuation. Washington Partners will continue to monitor legislation, funding status, and other changes in federal agencies that may impact undergraduate research and to communicate this information to the CUR membership. Given the recent national focus on STEM issues, particularly relating to un-
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dergraduate education, CUR anticipates the need for significant involvement of the undergraduate community in advocacy activities at the federal level, and we welcome the guidance that Washington Partners can provide to our organization and members. Literature Cited 1. American Competitiveness Initiative: Leading the World in Innovation. Domestic Policy Council, Office of Science and Technology Policy: Washington, DC, 2006, http:// www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/2006/aci/aci06-booklet.pdf (accessed May 2006). 2. Rising above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century: An Agenda for American Science and Technology, National Academy of Science, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, National Academies Press: Washington, DC, 2006; http://darwin.nap.edu/books/ 0309100399/html (accessed May 2006). 3. America’s Pressing Challenge—Building a Stronger Foundation. National Science Board: Washington, DC, 2006; http:// www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsb0602/nsb0602.pdf (accessed May 2006). 4. CUR E-News April 3, 2006. 5. CUR E-News May 2, 2006.
Kerry K. Karukstis is a member of the Department of Chemistry, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711;
[email protected].
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