To authorize the National Science Foundation to provide grants for implementing or expanding research-based reforms in undergraduate STEM education for the purpose of increasing the number and quality of students studying toward and completing baccalaureate degrees in STEM.

Summary: Transforming Undergraduate STEM Education Act - Amends the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 to make changes to the program requiring the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to expand previously implemented reforms of undergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, or technology (STEM) education.

Expands grant uses to allow their use in: (1) implementing, rather that just expanding, research-based reforms in undergraduate STEM education; (2) creating multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary STEM courses or programs; (3) expanding undergraduate STEM research opportunities to include interdisciplinary research and research in industry, at federal labs, and at international research institutions or research sites; (4) implementing or expanding bridge, cohort, tutoring, or mentoring programs that enhance student recruitment or persistence; (5) implementing STEM faculty development programs; (6) supporting the participation of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in instructional or assessment activities at primarily undergraduate IHEs; and (7) researching STEM teaching and learning at the undergraduate level related to the proposed reform effort.

Gives priority, among proposals that expand existing reform efforts beyond a single academic unit, to proposals for which a senior institutional administrator serves as the principal investigator.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Transforming Undergraduate STEM 
Education Act''.

SEC. 2. TRANSFORMING UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN STEM.

    Section 17 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-6) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 17. TRANSFORMING UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN STEM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director shall award grants, on a 
competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to institutions of higher education 
to implement or expand research-based reforms in undergraduate STEM 
education for the purpose of increasing the number and quality of 
students studying toward and completing baccalaureate degrees in STEM.
    ``(b) Uses of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under this 
section may include--
            ``(1) development, implementation, and assessment of 
        innovative, research-based approaches to transforming the 
        teaching and learning of disciplinary or interdisciplinary STEM 
        at the undergraduate level;
            ``(2) expansion of successful STEM reform efforts beyond a 
        single course or group of courses to achieve reform within an 
        entire academic unit, or expansion of successful reform efforts 
        beyond a single academic unit to other STEM academic units 
        within an institution;
            ``(3) creation of multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary 
        courses or programs that formalize collaborations for the 
        purpose of improved student instruction and research in STEM;
            ``(4) expansion of undergraduate STEM research 
        opportunities to include interdisciplinary research 
        opportunities and research opportunities in industry, at 
        Federal labs, and at international research institutions or 
        research sites;
            ``(5) implementation or expansion of bridge, cohort, 
        tutoring, or mentoring programs proven to enhance student 
        recruitment or persistence to degree completion in STEM;
            ``(6) improvement of undergraduate STEM education for 
        nonmajors, including education majors;
            ``(7) implementation of technology-driven reform efforts, 
        including the installation of technology to facilitate such 
        reform, that directly impact undergraduate STEM instruction or 
        research experiences;
            ``(8) development and implementation of faculty development 
        programs focused on improved instruction, mentoring, 
        evaluation, and support of undergraduate STEM students;
            ``(9) support for graduate students and postdoctoral 
        fellows to participate in instructional or assessment 
        activities at primarily undergraduate institutions; and
            ``(10) research on teaching and learning of STEM at the 
        undergraduate level related to the proposed reform effort, 
        including assessment and evaluation of the proposed reform 
        activities and research on scalability and sustainability of 
        approaches to reform.
    ``(c) Selection Process.--
            ``(1) Applications.--An institution of higher education 
        seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application 
        to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing 
        such information as the Director may require. The application 
        shall include, at a minimum--
                    ``(A) a description of the proposed reform effort;
                    ``(B) a description of the research findings that 
                will serve as the basis for the proposed reform effort 
                or, in the case of applications that propose an 
                expansion of a previously implemented reform effort, a 
                description of the previously implemented reform 
                effort, including data on student recruitment, 
                persistence to degree completion, and academic 
                achievement;
                    ``(C) evidence of institutional support for, and 
                commitment to, the proposed reform effort, including 
                long-term commitment to implement successful strategies 
                from the current reform effort beyond the academic unit 
                or units included in the grant proposal;
                    ``(D) a description of existing or planned 
                institutional policies and practices regarding faculty 
                hiring, promotion, tenure, and teaching assignment that 
                reward faculty contributions to undergraduate STEM 
                education; and
                    ``(E) a description of the plans for assessment and 
                evaluation of the proposed reform activities, including 
                evidence of participation by individuals with 
                experience in assessment and evaluation of teaching and 
                learning programs.
            ``(2) Review of applications.--In selecting grant 
        recipients under this section, the Director shall consider at a 
        minimum--
                    ``(A) the likelihood of success in undertaking the 
                proposed effort at the institution submitting the 
                application, including the extent to which the faculty, 
                staff, and administrators of the institution are 
                committed to making the proposed institutional reform a 
                priority of the participating academic unit or units;
                    ``(B) the degree to which the proposed reform will 
                contribute to change in institutional culture and 
                policy such that a greater value is placed on faculty 
                engagement in undergraduate education;
                    ``(C) the likelihood that the institution will 
                sustain or expand the reform beyond the period of the 
                grant; and
                    ``(D) the degree to which scholarly assessment and 
                evaluation plans are included in the design of the 
                reform effort.
            ``(3) Priority.--For proposals that include an expansion of 
        existing reform efforts beyond a single academic unit, the 
        Director shall give priority to proposals for which a senior 
        institutional administrator, including a dean or other 
        administrator of equal or higher rank, serves as the principal 
        investigator.
            ``(4) Grant distribution.--The Director shall ensure, to 
        the extent practicable, that grants awarded under this section 
        are made to a variety of types of institutions of higher 
        education.''.