Higher Education Challenge Grants (10.217)

 

Program

10.217 Higher Education Challenge Grants

 

Federal Agency

COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 

Authorization

National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, Section 1417(b)(1), as amended, Public Law 95-113, 7 U.S.C. 3152.

 

Program Number

10.217

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To increase institutional capacities to respond to State, regional, national, or international educational needs by strengthening college and university teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences.

 

Types of Assistance

Project Grants.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds may be used only in targeted areas, e.g., curricula design and materials development, faculty preparation and enhancement for teaching, instruction delivery systems, scientific instrumentation for teaching, student experiential learning, and student recruitment and retention, as cited in the annual program announcement in the Federal Register.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

All U.S. public and private nonprofit colleges and universities offering a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one discipline or area of the food and agricultural sciences.

Beneficiary Eligibility

All U.S. colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to teach the food and agricultural sciences.

Credentials/Documentation

Each first-time recipient must furnish organizational management information requested by the funding agency, and each applicant must provide assurances specified in the annual solicitation of applications.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

All proposals/solicitations are published in the Federal Register. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

Formal proposals should be submitted to the Office of Extramural Programs, CSREES, as outlined in the solicitation of applications. Application procedures are contained in the program regulations and required forms are contained in the Grant Application Kit. This program is subject to the regulatory provisions of USDA, 7 CFR Part 3015, et seq., and all successor regulations.

Award Procedure

Proposals are reviewed and evaluated by CSREES staff members with the assistance and advice of peer panels of qualified educators, administrators, industrialists, and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the fields covered by the proposals. Proposals are supported in order of merit to the extent permitted by available funds. Grant payments may be made by the electronic transfer system, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.

Deadlines

All deadlines are announced in the Federal Register. The deadline for submission of fiscal year 2004 proposals was February 4, 2004.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

None.

Renewals

None.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Dollar-for-dollar matching funds from nonfederal sources is required.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants are awarded for a 1 to 3-year period and may receive no-cost extensions as appropriate up to a maximum of 5 years.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual progress reports. Quarterly financial reports. Final progress and financial reports are due within 90 days after project expiration.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Grantees are expected to maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are expended for authorized purposes. Grant related records must be retained at least 3 years; records must be retained beyond the 3-year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved.

 

Program Accomplishments

An example of program accomplishments: One university developed a course entitled, "Biotechnology: Science and Socio-Economic Issues" presented in two formats: as a traditional on-campus lecture class for undergraduates and as an innovative distance education course. The course introduces genetic engineering and the basic scientific theory of biotechnology in animal, plant, food, and economic research, and the latest applications of biotechnology in agriculture production.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-1500-0-1-352.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 02 $4,166,400; FY 03 $4,692,499; and FY 04 est $5,280,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$47,936 to $152,000. Average: $89,479.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

7 CFR Part 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations (implementing the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-21 and A-110); 7 CFR Part 3017, Government wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants); 7 CFR Part 3018, Restrictions on Lobbying; 7 CFR part 3019, Uniform Administrative: Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations; 7 CFR Part 3405, Higher Education Challenge Grants, Administrative Provisions, and Grant Application Kit.

 

Related Programs

10.226, Secondary and Two-Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants; 10.210, Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants; 10.216, 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

National Program Leader - Higher Education Challenge Grants; Higher Education Programs; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2251; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-2251; Telephone: (202) 720-1973; Fax: (202) 720-2030.

Web Site Address

http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/funding/ourfund.htm

 

Examples of Funded Projects

Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Digital Library for Diagnosis, Conferencing and Education; Applications of Functional Anatomy in Farm Animals Using Collaborative Learning; Foreign Disease Curriculum Development of Veterinary Colleges; anf Transferring Experts' Reasoning to Novice Learners in Food Product Development.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Proposals are evaluated using the following criteria: Potential for advancing quality of education/significance of the problem; proposed approach and cooperative linkages; institutional capability and capacity building; key personnel; and budget and cost-effectiveness.