The purpose of these resources is to help USU researchers plan and executive compelling societal impact activities that align with their work. While many of the resources often refer specifically to Broader Impacts in the context of National Science Foundation grants and fellowships, many of the resources can be used for any outreach purpose.
Developing Your Societal Impact Identity
Every researcher has a unique blend of skills, passions, and perspectives that can shape how they make a difference through their work. Developing a broader impact identity means aligning your research with meaningful, authentic ways to contribute to society—rooted in your own values and strengths.
By planning ahead and intentionally connecting your science to public needs, you can build a societal impact strategy that evolves over time, strengthens your career, and leaves a lasting legacy.
Guiding Questions to Develop Your Societal Impact Identity
ARIS Broader Impacts Toolkit
These ARIS resources and tools are designed to help researchers develop projects and partnerships that will satisfy the Broader Impact requirements of the National Science Foundation proposals. They include:
- BI Guiding Principles – A high-level overview of societally relevant outcomes and review criteria specified by NSF.
- BI Planning Checklist – A list that reviews the key elements of an effective Broader Impacts project proposal.
- BI Wizard – A tool that walks you through all of the key steps to building partnerships and effective projects.
- Bi Project Rubric – A rubric to help you evaluate a Broader Impact project plan.
Sample Broader Impact Statements
View examples of Broader Impact statements from successful NSF proposals, collected from PIs at Georgia Tech.
Working with Community Partners
The right partnerships not only maximize the societal impact of your work but also increase the likelihood of securing external funding. Funders often look for strong, equitable collaborations that enhance a project’s reach and effectiveness.
- ARIS Toolkit: Type of Partnerships
- “Communities Don’t Want Us to Roll In and Roll Out”: Beyond the Baseline to Sustainable and Mutually Beneficial University-Community Partnerships for Societal Impacts
- Guiding Principles for Engaging in Research with Native American Communities
- APLU, CSC, and CECE Playbook: Deeply Engaging Communities and Communicating Shared Public Impact
How do I demonstrate research impact while complying with Utah House Bill 261 (HB261)?
At USU, we are committed to fostering an environment of inclusive excellence. This commitment extends to external grant proposals, which must be impactful while complying with Utah House Bill 261 (HB 261). HB 261 prohibits universities from "using an individual's certain characteristics in decisions regarding aspects of employment or education," essentially prohibiting practices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). While HB 261 does not impact academic research, many funding agencies advocate for DEI and grant applicants may wonder how they can address DEI in a grant proposal while not running afoul of HB 261. Below are some strategies to help you carefully address DEI in proposal narratives.
- Focus on Universal Excellence and Success: Avoid calling out specific groups. Instead, emphasize the commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion for all members of our statewide campus community. Highlight how the proposed project will contribute to academic success, post-graduation readiness, and engagement in scholarly activities. Focus on framing programs in terms of success - student success, faculty success, staff success, and community success. Specific examples of words that might be appropriate based on the project’s goals include: "equal opportunity," "all backgrounds," "social mobility," "student well-being," "differing viewpoints," and "belonging."
- Promote Varied Pedagogy: Highlight how the proposed project will utilize varied pedagogical approaches to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed and excel. This could include innovative teaching methods, evidence-based professional development, or student-centered approaches.
- Support Student Success: Detail how the proposed project will support student success through personalized coaching, mentoring, supplemental instruction, early research opportunities, and peer learning communities.
- Foster a Sense of Belonging: Explain how the proposed project will contribute to a campus climate conducive to belonging. This could involve supporting student-run organizations, offering engaging activities, workshops, events, and services, or creating opportunities for students to explore their civic identity and develop leadership skills.
- Broaden Students’ Worldview: Describe how the proposed project will offer unique experiences that broaden students’ worldview and support their post-graduation career goals. This could include study abroad programs, internships, undergraduate research, or other experiential learning initiatives.
By focusing on these areas, you can craft grant proposals that are impactful, promote inclusive excellence, and still comply with HB 261. For questions about compliance with HB 261, refer to the USU Compliance website, the USHE HB 261 Guidance, and the Employee Guidance for Communications.