The Innovation in Two-Year College STEM Education (ITYC) program, issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF), supports innovative projects designed to improve STEM education at two-year colleges. This program aims to advance evidence-based practices, broaden participation in STEM fields, and build institutional capacity to foster student success. The ITYC program has two primary tracks: Track 1, A Focus on the Academic Experiences of Two-Year College Students, and Track 2, Leveraging Institutional Strengths and Innovation. Both tracks emphasize student-centered approaches and institutional collaboration.

Track 1 focuses on transforming the academic experiences of two-year college students, particularly in STEM courses and pathways. Projects may include efforts to redesign introductory or developmental courses, integrate authentic research experiences into curricula, develop culturally responsive pedagogies, and provide experiential learning opportunities connected to students' communities. Track 2 emphasizes leveraging institutional strengths and fostering collaboration within departments, across institutions, and with external partners to improve student success in STEM. These projects may focus on faculty professional development, creating pathways for STEM transfer, or developing innovative models for student transitions to four-year institutions or the workforce.

The program encourages institutions to leverage partnerships with four-year colleges, workplace organizations, and local school districts to strengthen STEM pathways. Proposals must include a strong evaluation plan, clear goals and outcomes, and strategies for generating knowledge that benefits the two-year college community. While the program supports research and practice-based projects, research is not a requirement. Projects that generate new knowledge through assessment, evaluation, or research are encouraged.

Awards are capped at 500,000 dollars for up to three years, but institutions that have not received NSF funding in the past five years may request up to 600,000 dollars for four years. Up to 20 awards are anticipated, with a total program budget of 10 million dollars annually, contingent on funding availability. Proposals are eligible only from two-year colleges accredited to offer undergraduate STEM programs. Other institutions, such as baccalaureate or doctoral colleges, may participate as collaborators or subawardees but cannot serve as lead organizations.

Applicants must submit full proposals through Research.gov or Grants.gov. Proposals must include a Project Summary, a Project Description of no more than 15 pages, a strong evaluation plan, a timeline, and a plan for sustainability beyond the funding period. Proposals will be reviewed based on NSF’s merit review criteria of intellectual merit and broader impacts, as well as program-specific criteria, which include understanding the target population and aligning the project with its needs.

The deadline for full proposals is December 13, 2023, and annually thereafter on the second Wednesday in December. Applicants are encouraged to develop robust management plans for collaborative proposals and to emphasize strategies that address the unique challenges and opportunities of two-year college STEM education. Successful proposals will demonstrate a clear understanding of the two-year college context, leverage institutional and community strengths, and focus on equitable outcomes for diverse student populations.