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requirements of this section, the Directorate for Education 
and Human Resources shall collaborate and coordinate 
with the Research Directorates, including through the es-
tablishment of an interdirectorate working group on un-
dergraduate STEM education reform, in order to identify 
and implement new and expanded opportunities for col-
laboration between STEM disciplinary researchers and 
education researchers on the reform of undergraduate 
STEM education. 
‘‘(c) GRANTS.—Research and development supported 
by grants under this section may encompass a single dis-
cipline, multiple disciplines, or interdisciplinary education 
at the undergraduate level, and may include— 
‘‘(1) research foundational to the improvement 
of teaching, learning, and retention; 
‘‘(2) development, implementation, and assess-
ment of innovative, research-based approaches to 
transforming teaching, learning, and retention; and 
‘‘(3) scaling of successful efforts on learning 
and learning environments, broadening participation, 
workforce preparation, employing emerging tech-
nologies, or other reforms in STEM education, in-
cluding expansion of successful STEM reform ef-
forts beyond a single course or group of courses to 
achieve reform within an entire academic unit, or ex-
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pansion of successful reform efforts beyond a single 
academic unit to other STEM academic units within 
an institution or to comparable academic units at 
other institutions. 
‘‘(d) SELECTION PROCESS.— 
‘‘(1) APPLICATIONS.—An institution of higher 
education or other eligible nonprofit organization 
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 Di-
rector may require. In addition to a description of 
the proposed research, development, or scaling ef-
fort, including a description of the research findings 
that will serve as the basis for the proposed effort, 
applications shall include, at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) evidence of institutional support for, 
and commitment to, the proposed effort, includ-
ing long-term commitment to implement and 
scale successful strategies resulting from the 
current effort; 
‘‘(B) 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 
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‘‘(C) a description of the plans for assess-
ment and evaluation of the effort, including evi-
dence of participation by individuals with expe-
rience in assessment and evaluation of teaching 
and learning programs. 
‘‘(2) REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS.—In selecting 
grant recipients for funding under this section, the 
Director shall consider, as appropriate to the scale 
of the proposed effort— 
‘‘(A) the likelihood of success in under-
taking 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 un-
dergraduate STEM education reform a priority 
of the participating academic unit or units; 
‘‘(B) the degree to which the proposed ef-
fort 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 effort beyond the period 
of the grant; and 
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‘‘(D) the degree to which the proposed ef-
fort will contribute to the systematic accumula-
tion of knowledge on STEM education. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—The Director shall give pri-
ority to proposals focused on the first 2 years of un-
dergraduate education, including STEM education 
at 2-year institutions of higher education. 
‘‘(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.’’. 
SEC. 324. ADVANCED MANUFACTURING EDUCATION. 
Section 506(b) of the America COMPETES Reau-
thorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–1(b)) is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) ADVANCED MANUFACTURING EDUCATION.— 
The Director shall award grants, on a competitive, merit 
reviewed basis, to community colleges for the development 
and implementation of innovative advanced manufacturing 
education reforms to ensure an adequate and well-trained 
advanced manufacturing workforce. Activities supported 
by grants under this subsection may include— 
‘‘(1) the development or expansion of edu-
cational materials, courses, curricula, strategies, and 
methods that will lead to improved advanced manu-
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