To
(1) Effect long-range improvement in science and engineering education
at predominantly minority institutions and (2) increase the participation
of underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women,
in scientific and technological careers.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Grant
funds may be used for paying costs necessary for improving and maintaining
high quality science and engineering education programs in minority
postsecondary institutions, including salaries and wages, equipment
and instructional materials and supplies, travel related to the
project activities, faculty development, and other direct and indirect
costs. This program is subject to non- supplanting requiements and
must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under
34 CFR 76.564-76.569. For assistance call the Office of the Chief
Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on 202-708-7770.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Private and public nonprofit accredited
institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees;
and are minority institutions, public or private nonprofit institutions
of higher education that award associate degrees, and are minority
institutions that have a curriculum that includes science or engineering
subjects; and enters into a partnership with public or private nonprofit
institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees
in science or engineering. Applications may also be submitted by
nonprofit science-oriented organizations, professional scientific
societies, and institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate
degrees, that provide a needed service to a group of minority institutions;
or provide in-service training for project directors, scientists,
and engineers from minority institutions; or consortia of organizations,
that provide needed services to one or more minority institutions,
the membership of which may include: institutions of higher education
which have a curriculum in science and engineering; institutions
of higher education that have graduate or professional programs
in science or engineering; research laboratories of, or under contract
with the Department of Energy; private organizations that have science
and engineering facilities; or quasi-governmental entities that
have a significant scientific or engineering mission.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Private or public accredited
4-year institutions of higher education whose total enrollments
are predominantly (50 percent or more) American Indian; Alaskan
Native; Black, not of Hispanic origin; Hispanic (including persons
of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American
origin); Pacific Islander; or any combination of these or other
ethnic minorities who are underrepresented in science and engineering.
Also, 2- year private or public accredited minority (see description
of minority above) institutions that have curricula in science
or engineering and have formed a partnership with a 4-year institution.
Credentials/Documentation:
Institutions must provide the information necessary to establish
their eligibility for participation in MSEIP. The data on enrollment
furnished to the Office for Civil Rights to satisfy requirements
for the "Fall Enrollment and Compliance Report of Institutions
of Higher Education" are acceptable. Applications must be signed
by the project director(s), the relevant department head(s), and
by an authorized organizational official. This program is excluded
from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Pre-application
Coordination: The standard application forms
as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular
No. A-102 must be used for this program. This program is eligible
for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated
as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information
on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for
assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application
Procedure: By submission of a formal application
describing the planned project and proposed amount of the grant.
See 34 CFR 637 and the specific program guidelines. Application
forms are provided by MSEIP. This program is subject to the provisions
of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award
Procedure: Panels of outside experts with
knowledge of the fields covered by the application review all
applications. Grants awards are recommended to the Secretary by
the program office, in the order of merit.
Deadlines:
Deadlines are published in the Federal Register.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 3 to 6
months.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
Awards may be renewed for up to 2 years, renewals subject to the
availability of appropriations.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: The program suggests
that some institutional contribution be included as part of program
support. However, by law, this program has no matching requirements.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: One to three
years. Funds are awarded annually and disbursed as required. Renewals
are subject to the availability of appropriations.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
The program requires interim performance reports from directors
of projects having duration of more than one year at the end of
each budget year's activities. A substantive performance and financial
report is required within 90 days upon completion of the project
for all funded projects.
Audits:
Compliance with standard Department of Education requirements.
Records:
Grantees are required to maintain standard programmatic and financial
records. Records are subject to inspection during the life of
the grant and for three years thereafter.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 91-0201-0-1-502.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $8,500,000; FY 02 est $8,500,000; and FY 03 est
$8,500,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
Average new award in 2001 was $120,000; the average continuation
award was $61,000.
Headquarters
Office: Institutional Development and Undergraduate
Education Service, Office of Postsecondary Education, Department
of Education, Washington, DC 20202-5251. Contact: Ms. Deborah
C. Newkirk. Telephone: (202) 502-7591. E-mail: Deborah.Newkirkl@ed.gov.
Web
Site Address: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/OHEP
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
(1) A project is providing state-of- the-art training to minority
students in field and laboratory studies dealing with water quality,
and educating students on the benefits of using an interdisciplinary
approach to solving environmental problems. (2) A project has a
summer science program designed to improve access of pre-college
(8th and 9th grade) minority students to careers in science and
engineering. Integrated, hands-on curriculum in biology, physical
science, mathematics, and computer technology is offered. (3) A
project is a consortium of five minority serving community colleges
across the nation and two engineering schools whose purpose is to
share resources and strategies in order to increase the number of
bilingual engineers and strengthen the educational pipeline from
pre-college through engineering school. (4) One project is to establish
a computer laboratory in science and mathematics.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Decisions are based primarily on the scientific and educational
merits of described activities and conformance with the objectives
of the program. Priority is given to applicants which have not previously
received funding from the Minority Science Improvement Program and
to previous grantees with a proven record of success, as well as
to proposals that contribute to achieving balance among projects
with respect to geographic region, academic discipline and project
type.
