NSF Changes Name of Education Directorate

On October 25, the National Science Foundation announced that it would change the name of its Directorate for Education and Human Resources to the Directorate for STEM Education. The Division of Human Resource Development will likewise be known as the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM. The changes are intended to better reflect the value and totality of the agency’s work with the missing millions, underrepresented minorities who have the potential to participate in STEM but experience increased barriers that discourage many from pursuing STEM graduate degrees. The name changes took effect immediately and do not affect the work done by the Directorate.

The Directorate for STEM Education administers many programs that positively impact graduate education, two of which are the Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program. The Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides fellowships for graduate students in science, technology, engineering or math or STEM education. While the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program provides fellowship programs focused on increasing the number of STEM bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded to populations historically underrepresented in STEM fields.