Mentoring and Individual Development Plans in NSF Proposals
NSF now requires one-page mentoring plans for proposals requesting funding to support postdoctoral scholars or graduate students. NSF also requires that an individual development plans (IDP) be developed for each graduate student receiving at least one month of NSF-funded support (stipend or tuition) during a grant project year; the PI must certify the IDP updates annually over the length of the project.
These requirements are detailed in the sections below. The last section links resources that PIs may find helpful in developing mentoring plans and IDPs.
Quick Guide: NSF Requirements (Mentoring vs. Individual Development Plans)
NSF Mentoring Plans
What you need to know about NSF mentoring plans.
- Pertains to the American COMPETES Act (2022)
- Required for new and modified awards requesting funding to support postdoctoral scholars or graduate students.
- The Graduate School has created a template to help you get started (see below).
- The mentoring plan should be one-page maximum per proposal/project.
- The mentoring plan should address all the mentoring occurring with all postdoctoral/graduate students on the project.
- The mentoring plan must be uploaded with the proposal.
- The plan does not need to change as students cycle off the project; however,
- If the original proposal did not include a mentoring plan and a budget revision is requested of NSF to add support for graduate or postdoctoral students, then a mentoring plan must be emailed to the cognizant program officer at that time: or,
- If the original proposal did not include a mentoring plan and supplemental funding is requested to support graduate or postdoctoral students, then a mentoring plan must be submitted with that supplemental funding request.
Mentoring Plan Requirement
From PAPPG NSF 24-1 Chapter 2.D.2.i:
“Pursuant to Section 7008(a) of the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (42 U.S.C. § 1862o(a)), each proposal[38] that requests funding to support postdoctoral scholars[39] or graduate students must upload under “Mentoring Plan” in the supplementary documentation section of Research.gov, a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. In no more than one page, the mentoring plan must describe the mentoring that will be provided to all postdoctoral scholars or graduate students supported by the project, regardless of whether they reside at the submitting organization, any subrecipient organization, or at any organization participating in a simultaneously submitted collaborative proposal. Please note that separate plans are not required for postdoctoral scholars or graduate students. The plan may, however, specify how different components of the mentoring program will be enacted for the two types of researchers. Proposers are advised that the mentoring plan must not be used to circumvent the 15-page Project Description limitation. See Chapter II.E.3 for additional information on collaborative proposals. Mentoring activities provided to postdoctoral scholars or graduate students supported on the project will be evaluated under the Broader Impacts review criterion. Note see also Chapter VII.B. for information on requirements regarding Individual Development Plans for postdoctoral scholars or graduate students.
Examples of mentoring activities include but are not limited to: career counseling; training in preparation of proposals, publications and presentations; guidance on ways to improve teaching and mentoring skills; guidance on how to effectively collaborate with researchers from diverse backgrounds and disciplinary areas; and training in responsible professional practices.”
Postaward Additions of Postdoctoral Scholars or Graduate Students
From PAPPG NSF 24-1 Chapter VII.B.5:
“If a recipient rebudgets funds to support a postdoctoral scholar or graduate student and the original proposal included a mentoring plan, no further documentation is necessary. If the original proposal did not include a mentoring plan, then the recipient must send the cognizant NSF Program Officer the requisite mentoring plan, as described in Chapter II.D.2.i(i).
If supplemental funding is requested to support a postdoctoral scholar or graduate student and the original proposal did not include a mentoring plan, then the supplemental funding request must include the requisite mentoring plan, as described in Chapter II.D.2.i(i). The plan should be uploaded to the “Other Supplementary Documents” section of the Research.gov Supplemental Funding Request module.
In all cases, the PI must report on the mentoring activities provided to the individual in the annual and final project reports.”
UM Template for Mentoring Plans
The Graduate School, in coordination with ORSP Research Development, has developed a template to help UM PIs get started writing their mentoring plans. You may download the template here. If you have difficulty accessing the template, please email orspresdev@olemiss.edu or contact your unit’s assigned pre-award research administrator.
Notes about the template:
- It includes a word mark that you will need to remove.
- It is intended to get you started with your plan, not to be your plan. Customize it to reflect what you intend for your mentoring plan.
- The plan must be limited to one page and must cover both graduate students (if involved) and postdoctoral scholars (if involved)
If you have ideas for other items to include in the template that might be useful to other UM PIs, please email orspresdev@olemiss.edu.
Individual Development Plans for Postdoctoral Scholars and Graduate Students
What you need to know about IDPs.
- Pertains to the CHIPS and Science Act (2022)
- An individual (per trainee) IDP is required only for graduate or postdoctoral students receiving “substantial” funding from NSF, defined as “an individual that has received one person month or more during the annual reporting period under the NSF award.”
- The IDPs are NOT submitted to NSF; however, the PI of the affected award will need to certify annually over the award’s life that all such supported students have IDPs.
- The Graduate School has developed a resource page to help you get started with IDPs.
Individual Development Plan Requirement
From PAPPG NSF 24-1 Chapter VII.B.7:
“In accordance with Section 10313 (42 U.S.C. § 18993) of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, for each NSF award that provides substantial support to postdoctoral scholars and graduate students, each individual must have an Individual Development Plan, which is updated annually, that maps the educational goals, career exploration, and professional development of the individual. NSF defines “substantial support” as an individual that has received one person month or more during the annual reporting period under the NSF award.”
Certification
From NSF PAPPG 24-1 Chapter VII.D.1.b.vi:
“In submission of each annual and final annual report, the PI or co-PI is certifying that…each postdoctoral scholar and graduate receiving substantial support from the award has an individual development plan that maps educational goals, career exploration, and professional development.”
References and Resources
- Pertains to the American COMPETES Act (2022)
- Required for new and modified awards requesting funding to support postdoctoral scholars or graduate students.
- The Graduate School has created a template to help you get started (see below).
- The mentoring plan should be one-page maximum per proposal/project.
- The mentoring plan should address all the mentoring occurring with all postdoctoral/graduate students on the project.
- The mentoring plan must be uploaded with the proposal.
- The plan does not need to change as students cycle off the project; however,
- If the original proposal did not include a mentoring plan and a budget revision is requested of NSF to add support for graduate or postdoctoral students, then a mentoring plan must be emailed to the cognizant program officer at that time: or,
- If the original proposal did not include a mentoring plan and supplemental funding is requested to support graduate or postdoctoral students, then a mentoring plan must be submitted with that supplemental funding request.
Mentoring Plan Requirement
From PAPPG NSF 24-1 Chapter 2.D.2.i:
“Pursuant to Section 7008(a) of the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (42 U.S.C. § 1862o(a)), each proposal[38] that requests funding to support postdoctoral scholars[39] or graduate students must upload under “Mentoring Plan” in the supplementary documentation section of Research.gov, a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. In no more than one page, the mentoring plan must describe the mentoring that will be provided to all postdoctoral scholars or graduate students supported by the project, regardless of whether they reside at the submitting organization, any subrecipient organization, or at any organization participating in a simultaneously submitted collaborative proposal. Please note that separate plans are not required for postdoctoral scholars or graduate students. The plan may, however, specify how different components of the mentoring program will be enacted for the two types of researchers. Proposers are advised that the mentoring plan must not be used to circumvent the 15-page Project Description limitation. See Chapter II.E.3 for additional information on collaborative proposals. Mentoring activities provided to postdoctoral scholars or graduate students supported on the project will be evaluated under the Broader Impacts review criterion. Note see also Chapter VII.B. for information on requirements regarding Individual Development Plans for postdoctoral scholars or graduate students.
Examples of mentoring activities include but are not limited to: career counseling; training in preparation of proposals, publications and presentations; guidance on ways to improve teaching and mentoring skills; guidance on how to effectively collaborate with researchers from diverse backgrounds and disciplinary areas; and training in responsible professional practices.”
Postaward Additions of Postdoctoral Scholars or Graduate Students
From PAPPG NSF 24-1 Chapter VII.B.5:
“If a recipient rebudgets funds to support a postdoctoral scholar or graduate student and the original proposal included a mentoring plan, no further documentation is necessary. If the original proposal did not include a mentoring plan, then the recipient must send the cognizant NSF Program Officer the requisite mentoring plan, as described in Chapter II.D.2.i(i).
If supplemental funding is requested to support a postdoctoral scholar or graduate student and the original proposal did not include a mentoring plan, then the supplemental funding request must include the requisite mentoring plan, as described in Chapter II.D.2.i(i). The plan should be uploaded to the “Other Supplementary Documents” section of the Research.gov Supplemental Funding Request module.
In all cases, the PI must report on the mentoring activities provided to the individual in the annual and final project reports.”
UM Template for Mentoring Plans
The Graduate School, in coordination with ORSP Research Development, has developed a template to help UM PIs get started writing their mentoring plans. You may download the template here. If you have difficulty accessing the template, please email orspresdev@olemiss.edu or contact your unit’s assigned pre-award research administrator.
Notes about the template:
- It includes a word mark that you will need to remove.
- It is intended to get you started with your plan, not to be your plan. Customize it to reflect what you intend for your mentoring plan.
- The plan must be limited to one page and must cover both graduate students (if involved) and postdoctoral scholars (if involved)
If you have ideas for other items to include in the template that might be useful to other UM PIs, please email orspresdev@olemiss.edu.
Individual Development Plans for Postdoctoral Scholars and Graduate Students
What you need to know about IDPs.
- Pertains to the CHIPS and Science Act (2022)
- An individual (per trainee) IDP is required only for graduate or postdoctoral students receiving “substantial” funding from NSF, defined as “an individual that has received one person month or more during the annual reporting period under the NSF award.”
- The IDPs are NOT submitted to NSF; however, the PI of the affected award will need to certify annually over the award’s life that all such supported students have IDPs.
- The Graduate School has developed a resource page to help you get started with IDPs.
Individual Development Plan Requirement
From PAPPG NSF 24-1 Chapter VII.B.7:
“In accordance with Section 10313 (42 U.S.C. § 18993) of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, for each NSF award that provides substantial support to postdoctoral scholars and graduate students, each individual must have an Individual Development Plan, which is updated annually, that maps the educational goals, career exploration, and professional development of the individual. NSF defines “substantial support” as an individual that has received one person month or more during the annual reporting period under the NSF award.”
Certification
From NSF PAPPG 24-1 Chapter VII.D.1.b.vi:
“In submission of each annual and final annual report, the PI or co-PI is certifying that…each postdoctoral scholar and graduate receiving substantial support from the award has an individual development plan that maps educational goals, career exploration, and professional development.”
References and Resources
From PAPPG NSF 24-1 Chapter VII.B.5:
“If a recipient rebudgets funds to support a postdoctoral scholar or graduate student and the original proposal included a mentoring plan, no further documentation is necessary. If the original proposal did not include a mentoring plan, then the recipient must send the cognizant NSF Program Officer the requisite mentoring plan, as described in Chapter II.D.2.i(i).
If supplemental funding is requested to support a postdoctoral scholar or graduate student and the original proposal did not include a mentoring plan, then the supplemental funding request must include the requisite mentoring plan, as described in Chapter II.D.2.i(i). The plan should be uploaded to the “Other Supplementary Documents” section of the Research.gov Supplemental Funding Request module.
In all cases, the PI must report on the mentoring activities provided to the individual in the annual and final project reports.”
UM Template for Mentoring Plans
The Graduate School, in coordination with ORSP Research Development, has developed a template to help UM PIs get started writing their mentoring plans. You may download the template here. If you have difficulty accessing the template, please email orspresdev@olemiss.edu or contact your unit’s assigned pre-award research administrator.
Notes about the template:
- It includes a word mark that you will need to remove.
- It is intended to get you started with your plan, not to be your plan. Customize it to reflect what you intend for your mentoring plan.
- The plan must be limited to one page and must cover both graduate students (if involved) and postdoctoral scholars (if involved)
If you have ideas for other items to include in the template that might be useful to other UM PIs, please email orspresdev@olemiss.edu.
Individual Development Plans for Postdoctoral Scholars and Graduate Students
What you need to know about IDPs.
- Pertains to the CHIPS and Science Act (2022)
- An individual (per trainee) IDP is required only for graduate or postdoctoral students receiving “substantial” funding from NSF, defined as “an individual that has received one person month or more during the annual reporting period under the NSF award.”
- The IDPs are NOT submitted to NSF; however, the PI of the affected award will need to certify annually over the award’s life that all such supported students have IDPs.
- The Graduate School has developed a resource page to help you get started with IDPs.
Individual Development Plan Requirement
From PAPPG NSF 24-1 Chapter VII.B.7:
“In accordance with Section 10313 (42 U.S.C. § 18993) of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, for each NSF award that provides substantial support to postdoctoral scholars and graduate students, each individual must have an Individual Development Plan, which is updated annually, that maps the educational goals, career exploration, and professional development of the individual. NSF defines “substantial support” as an individual that has received one person month or more during the annual reporting period under the NSF award.”
Certification
From NSF PAPPG 24-1 Chapter VII.D.1.b.vi:
“In submission of each annual and final annual report, the PI or co-PI is certifying that…each postdoctoral scholar and graduate receiving substantial support from the award has an individual development plan that maps educational goals, career exploration, and professional development.”
References and Resources
- Pertains to the CHIPS and Science Act (2022)
- An individual (per trainee) IDP is required only for graduate or postdoctoral students receiving “substantial” funding from NSF, defined as “an individual that has received one person month or more during the annual reporting period under the NSF award.”
- The IDPs are NOT submitted to NSF; however, the PI of the affected award will need to certify annually over the award’s life that all such supported students have IDPs.
- The Graduate School has developed a resource page to help you get started with IDPs.
Individual Development Plan Requirement
From PAPPG NSF 24-1 Chapter VII.B.7:
“In accordance with Section 10313 (42 U.S.C. § 18993) of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, for each NSF award that provides substantial support to postdoctoral scholars and graduate students, each individual must have an Individual Development Plan, which is updated annually, that maps the educational goals, career exploration, and professional development of the individual. NSF defines “substantial support” as an individual that has received one person month or more during the annual reporting period under the NSF award.”
Certification
From NSF PAPPG 24-1 Chapter VII.D.1.b.vi:
“In submission of each annual and final annual report, the PI or co-PI is certifying that…each postdoctoral scholar and graduate receiving substantial support from the award has an individual development plan that maps educational goals, career exploration, and professional development.”
References and Resources
From NSF PAPPG 24-1 Chapter VII.D.1.b.vi:
“In submission of each annual and final annual report, the PI or co-PI is certifying that…each postdoctoral scholar and graduate receiving substantial support from the award has an individual development plan that maps educational goals, career exploration, and professional development.”