This grant program has two main objectives: (1) To
support high quality service learning projects that engage students in meeting
community needs with demonstrable results, while enhancing students' academic
and civic learning; and (2) to support efforts to build capacity and
strengthen the service infrastructure with institutions of higher education.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
To strengthen the service-learning infrastructure and support high quality
programs.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: Entities eligible to receive
a grant are limited to individual institutions of higher education (as defined
by the Higher Education Act of 1965), consortia of institutions of higher
education, and nonprofit organizations or public agencies, including States,
working in partnership with one or more institutions of higher education.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Graduate and
undergraduate students, faculty members, local and national nonprofit
organizations, and public agencies will benefit.
Pre-application Coordination: Grant applicants apply
directly to the Corporation for National and Community Service through an
annual grant cycle. Selected institutions and organizations receive grants
directly from the Corporation. This program is excluded from coverage under
E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure: Contact the Corporation
for specific details.
Award Procedure: Contact the Corporation for
specific details.
Deadlines: Contact the Corporation for National
Service headquarters.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: A range has
not been established.
Appeals: None.
Renewals: None.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: Grant recipients
are required to provide a cash and/or in-kind match of an amount equal to or
greater than the amount of the grant award.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: The
Corporation awards grants for a one-year period, with the possibility of
renewal in each of the two following years, contingent upon program
performance and the availability of funds.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: None.
Audits: Audits must be performed as required by
the Law.
Records: None.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 95-2720-0-1-506.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $9,705,000; FY 02 est
$11,790,000; and FY 03 est $10,750,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
$40,000 to $320,000. Average: $167,466.
For fiscal year 2001, the Corporation awarded continuation grants to support
57 service-learning programs at colleges and universities across the Nation.
These programs engaged over 30,000 students at over 300 institutions of higher
education in service activities such as tutoring, mentoring, health outreach
and education, primary and preventive health care, conflict resolution,
neighborhood clean-up and revitalization, gang violence, and substance abuse
prevention. Through structured reflection and related course work, the
students translate their service activities into opportunities for academic
and civic learning. The Corporation monitors and provides technical assistance
to funded programs in order to enhance quality and networking opportunities.
In fiscal year 2001, the Corporation's funding will support approximately 56
continuing programs.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Application regulations have been specified in the Law. Contact the
Corporation's headquarters office for further details.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: See Appendix IV of the
Catalog for a list of State Program Offices.
Headquarters Office: Corporation for National and
Community Service, 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20525. Telephone:
202 606-5000, Ext. 117.
Web Site Address: http://www.nationalservice.org
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
(1) Over 150 teacher education students at three State
colleges are learning how to use service- learning in K-12 classrooms, while
working alongside K-12 students in service projects assisting the homebound
elderly. (2) As part of a credit bearing clinical program, over 35 law
students at a private university are providing legal assistance to low-income
communities in order to reduce toxic exposure and work place environmental
hazards. (3) As part of their clinical rotations, over 250 nursing and allied
health professions students from one private and one community college are
providing community-based health education and primary care to senior citizens
and low-income people. (4) A national organization of community colleges is
providing sub-grants, technical assistance, and networking opportunities to
eight member colleges engaged in developing service learning projects and
infrastructure.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Grant applications are reviewed against the following
quality criteria: (1) Program design, (2) organization capacity, and (3)
Budget/Cost-Effectiveness. All applications are evaluated in a multi-stage
process that includes a peer review. Continuation applications are reviewed by
corporation staff.
