Your Broader Impacts Learning Path

Build a strong foundation in Broader Impacts through five online, self-paced courses covering BI planning and strategies, faculty development, partnerships, and evaluation.

BI Microcredential journey includes: fundamentals, creating plan, faculty development, building partnerships, evaluation

Explore the Courses:

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Explore Broader Impacts (BI), why it matters, and how to select BI activities that align with research goals.

Explain U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) definition of Broader Impacts.
Explore the evolving landscape of BI and why it matters for advancing societal impact.
Identify different types of BI activities and societally relevant outcomes.
Select and incorporate BI activities that align with research goals and proposal requirements.

Learn how to support researchers in developing effective Broader Impacts (BI) plans that align with NSF expectations and demonstrate meaningful societal impact. This module explores SMART BI activity design, budgeting considerations, basic evaluation methods, and practical planning tools, including the Guiding Principles, BI Planning Checklist, BI Rubric, and BI Wizard.

Advise researchers on developing strong BI statements.
Evaluate and select appropriate BI activities.
Plan and budget BI activities strategically.
Apply evaluation methods to measure BI outcomes and impact.

Learn how to help researchers define their BI identity—the contributions they aim to make to communities and society—and develop meaningful BI plans. Explore tools, strategies, and resources to support their professional development, communication, and community partnerships.

Support BI identity development and integration into teaching, research, and mentoring.
Guide BI statements, research communication, and documentation for reviews and promotion.
Tailor training and resources to researchers’ needs.
Help researchers select BI activities and collaborate with community partners.

Effective Broader Impacts work relies on strong, mutually beneficial partnerships across universities, communities, industry, government, and other stakeholders. This course introduces key elements of successful and sustainable collaboration, explores common partnership models, and builds practical skills for fostering trust, reciprocity, and connection between university and community partners.