FEDERAL AGENCY:

OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

AUTHORIZATION:

Higher Education Act of 1965, Title VI, Part C, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1131-1131f.

To establish an institute for international public policy. This institute shall conduct a program to significantly increase the numbers of African Americans and other under represented minorities in the international service, including private international voluntary organizations and the foreign service of the United States.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds may be used to support a junior year abroad program, fellowships for graduate study, internships, intensive academic programs such as summer institutes, or intensive language training.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   A consortium consisting of one or more of the following entities: An institution eligible for assistance under Part B of Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended; an institution of higher education that serves substantial numbers of African Americans or other underrepresented minority students and an institution of higher education with programs in training foreign service professionals.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Institutions of higher education and minority students will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Pre-application Coordination:   Technical assistance in preparing applications is available from the agency information contact listed below. An informal preapplication conference with the agency information contact is recommended. 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:   Eligible consortia may submit an application for funding when a new competition is announced in the Federal Register. Application forms and guidelines for the submission of applications are available from the International Studies Team of the International Education and Graduate Programs Service (IEGPS).

Award Procedure:   Final recommendations are made to the Secretary following advice from a panel of consultants.

Deadlines:   Deadlines will be announced in the Federal Register.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   The range is approximately 90 days.

Appeals:   There are no appeals.

Renewals:   The project period may last up to 60 months. Applicants must receive annual approval for renewals.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   The Federal share for each fiscal year shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of each project.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   A grant is awarded for a 60 month period; subject to the availability of funds.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   The Institute shall annually prepare a report on the activities of the Institute and shall submit it to the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of State.

Audits:   All fiscal records will be subject to audit by the Department of Education at any time within 3 years after expiration of the grant.

Records:   All records supporting claims under grants or relating to accountability for awarded funds must be available on request: (1) For 3 years after the close of the fiscal year that the grant expired; or (2) until grantee is notified that the fiscal audit has closed, whichever is later.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   91-0201-0-1-502.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $1,022,000; FY 02 est $1,500,000; and FY 03 est $1,500,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
One award is made for the entire amount available.

One award for $1,022,000 was made in fiscal year 2001.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

34 CFR 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 85, and 86.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:   International Studies Team, International Education and Graduate Programs Service, Higher Education Programs, Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington DC 20202-5332. Contact: Tanyelle Richardson. Telephone: (202) 401-9798.

Web Site Address:   http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/OHEP

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

None.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Applications under the program will be evaluated competitively. Criteria will include: (1) Meeting the purpose of the statute (20 points); (2) extent of need for the project (15 points); (3) quality of key personnel (10 points); (4) evaluation plan (10 points); (5) adequacy resources (5 points); significance (10 points); quality of project design (7 points); quality of project services (8 points); quality of management plan (10 points).