; and (D) the degree to which evaluation and assessment plans are included in the design of the proposed reform effort. (3) Priority For applications that include an expansion of existing reforms beyond a single academic unit, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall give priority to applications for which a senior institutional administrator, such as a dean or other administrator of equal or higher rank, serves as the principal investigator. (4) Grant distribution The Director of the National Science Foundation shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that grants awarded under this section are made to a variety of types of institutions of higher education, including two-year and minority-serving institutions of higher education. (e) Education research (1) In general All grants made under this section shall include an education research component that will support the design and implementation of a system for data collection and evaluation of proposed reform efforts in order to build the knowledge base on promising models for increasing recruitment and retention of students from underrepresented minority groups in STEM education at the undergraduate level across a diverse set of institutions. (2) Dissemination The Director of the National Science Foundation shall coordinate with relevant Federal agencies in disseminating the results of the research under this subsection to ensure that best practices in broadening participation in STEM education at the undergraduate level are made readily available to all institutions of higher education, other Federal agencies that support STEM programs, non-Federal funders of STEM education, and the general public. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation $15,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to carry out this section. 12. Definitions In this Act: (1) Director The term Director means the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy ( OSTP ). (2) Federal