Evaluation of the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program

The NSF is interested in understanding ways to improve its Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program. One way to do this is to first understand what is working well and identify opportunities for growth by listening to the individuals who have engaged or interacted with the program.

For the evaluation that the WKC Team will conduct, there will be a focus on understanding the recruitment and application process and perceptions of the Program among the community. In general, the purpose of this evaluation is to (a) understand overall perceptions of the Program and (b) identify what is working well and opportunities for growth.

NSF has contracted with WhitworthKee Consulting to conduct an independent evaluation of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. WhitworthKee is an 8(a) minority-owned small business headquartered in Washington, D.C., that specializes in program evaluation; primary research; organizational assessments centering diversity, equity, and inclusion; and the provision of technical assistance. WKC conducts research and evaluation studies using culturally responsive evaluation practices. 

Please note that there is another evaluation occurring simultaneously; however, the focus of that evaluation is on outcomes of the Program and is being conducted by SRI International separately from that of the WKC Team.

WhitworthKee Consulting is committed to culturally responsive evaluation practices, including engaging in a way that respects all backgrounds. By “backgrounds” we mean that we consider factors like where people live, their race, ethnicity, gender, and social class throughout the evaluation to make sure that it represents and is inclusive of the different perspectives. To further support this and ensure that we get it right, we are in the process of establishing an Equity Advisory Committee that will be composed of diverse individuals who will offer their expertise and experience throughout the evaluation.

Individuals may include current and past Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program participants, current and former faculty/principal investigators (PIs) or co-PIs, higher education administrators, members of the STEM community, and/or K-12 school administrators.

Eligibility for participation primarily includes institutions or persons currently or previously involved in the Noyce Program. More information about who can participate in this evaluation will be included in communications when we begin inviting individuals to participate in parts of the evaluation.

If you are identified and selected to participate, a team member will contact you via email or telephone to invite you to the evaluation. You will also receive more specific information about how we are asking you to participate during that time.

Your participation is strictly voluntary. You do not have to participate in any part of the evaluation if you do not wish. Please know that we value everyone’s perspective and the more insights and information we hear, the better equipped the NSF is to make improvements to the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.

Members of our team will ask participants for their thoughts about the overall Noyce Program, areas for improvement, and their experience. While the plan has not been finalized, we will likely be talking with individuals through one-on-one interviews or focus groups. We have also reviewed documents related to the evaluation to understand the context of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.

Yes. WhitworthKee Consulting has strict rules to keep confidential information and data safe. They will remove any personal details from the data and make sure all the information is kept in a secure way.

The information we collect from participants will help us understand how well the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program is meeting its goals. The information, perspectives, and/or feedback that individuals share with us will not impact their ability to receive grants or other forms of support, now or in the future. It will only be used to help the NSF understand how to improve the Program.

You may be asked to participate in the evaluation at any point from Fall 2024 until Winter 2025. We plan to have the findings from the evaluation available by Fall 2026. We will update this information if any changes occur.

Feedback from institutions and participants is very important. The evaluation plan includes mechanisms for ongoing input, and an Evaluation Advisory Committee will provide insights and feedback throughout the process to ensure we are conducting our work in a culturally responsive and responsible way. If you have additional feedback you would like to provide, please contact us directly at WKCNoyceEval@WhitworthKee.com.

Not yet. Before any data collection, we will submit and receive both Information Collection Request (ICR) and IRB approval. We will update this response once we receive both with the OMB control number and the approving IRB body.

For more information or support regarding the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Evaluation, you can contact WhitworthKee Consulting, one of the organizations conducting the evaluation. You can email us at WKCNoyceEval@WhitworthKee.com and someone from our team will respond as soon as possible.