Starting May 20, 2024, the National Science Foundation (NSF) implemented a pivotal shift:
All grant proposals must include a mentoring plan for graduate students—expanding what once applied only to postdoctoral researchers.
This change, driven by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, signals more than a policy tweak. It represents a federal-level push to institutionalize mentorship in the STEM research pipeline.
Let’s break it down:
Mentorship is no longer a checkbox. It's now a review criterion in NSF proposals.
Graduate students’ professional growth, support, and engagement must be planned, tracked, and reported.
NSF ran national workshops in 2024 to prepare institutions for this transformation.
This isn’t just about compliance—this is about accountability and intentional growth.
At InzpireU, we’ve spent years building technology that powers data-driven mentorship. And now, we're perfectly positioned to support universities navigating this mandate.
Here’s how:
Grant-ready templates tailored to NSF’s framework—saving faculty and PIs precious time. These plans can be adapted across departments, labs, or research groups.
Track mentorship hours, outcomes, and participation at scale. Our analytics show who is engaging, what’s working, and where improvements are needed—making reporting seamless.
Mentors and graduate students can co-create measurable goals with check-ins, reflections, and evidence of progress. This structure aligns directly with NSF’s evaluation criteria.
Grant reviewers want clarity. InzpireU’s exportable summaries provide transparent evidence of mentorship outcomes, tailored to NSF proposal needs.
University-wide mentorship doesn’t need to be messy. InzpireU connects departments, enabling deans and administrators to have a single source of truth.
Mentorship has long been the unsung hero of academic success. Now, it’s being formally recognized—and funded.
This is a moment for universities to build sustainable, outcome-oriented mentorship ecosystems that don't just fulfill a grant requirement—but elevate the graduate experience.
Whether you're a PI preparing for your next NSF proposal or a university admin designing mentorship at scale—InzpireU can help.
🔗 Let’s connect and co-create the future of mentorship in education.