Title 34—Education--Volume 1
PART 658—UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAM
§ 658.1   What is the Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program?
The Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program is designed to provide assistance to institutions of higher education, consortia of those institutions, or partnerships between nonprofit educational organizations and institutions of higher education, to assist those institutions, consortia, or partnerships in planning, developing, and carrying out programs to improve undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign languages.
§ 658.2   Who is eligible to apply for assistance under this program?
The following are eligible to apply for assistance under this part:
(a) Institutions of higher education.
(b) Consortia of institutions of higher education.
(c) Partnerships between nonprofit educational organizations and institutions of higher education.
(d) Public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations, including professional and scholarly associations.
§ 658.3   What regulations apply?
The following regulations apply to this program:
(a) The regulations in 34 CFR part 655.
(b) The regulations in this part 658.
§ 658.4   What definitions apply to the Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program?
The definitions in 34 CFR 655.4 apply to this program.
§ 658.10   For what kinds of projects does the Secretary assist institutions of higher education?
(a) The Secretary may provide assistance to an institution of higher education, a consortium of institutions of higher education, or a partnership between a nonprofit educational organization and an institution of higher education to plan, develop, and carry out a program to improve undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign languages. Those grants must be awarded to institutions, consortia, or partnerships seeking to create new programs or to strengthen existing programs in foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields.
(b) The Secretary gives consideration to an applicant that proposes a program that—
(1) Initiates new or revised courses in international or area studies;
(2) Makes instruction in foreign languages available to students in the program; and
(3) Takes place primarily in the United States.
(c) The program shall focus on—
(1) International or global studies;
(2) One or more world areas and their languages; or
(3) Issues or topics, such as international environmental studies or international health.
§ 658.11   What projects and activities may a grantee conduct under this program?
The Secretary awards grants under this part to assist in carrying out projects and activities that are an integral part of a program to improve undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign languages. These include projects such as—
(a) Planning for the development and expansion of undergraduate programs in international studies and foreign languages;
(b) Teaching, research, curriculum development, faculty training in the United States or abroad, and other related activities, including—
(1) Expanding library and teaching resources;
(2) Conducting faculty workshops, conferences, and special lectures;
(3) Developing and testing new curricular materials, including self-instructional materials in foreign languages, or specialized language materials dealing with a particular subject (such as health or the environment);
(4) Initiating new and revised courses in international studies or area studies and foreign languages; and
(5) Conducting pre-service teacher training and in-service teacher professional development;
(c) Expanding the opportunities for learning foreign languages, including less commonly taught languages;
(d) Providing opportunities for which foreign faculty and scholars may visit institutions as visiting faculty;
(e) Placing U.S. faculty members in internships with international associations or with governmental or nongovernmental organizations in the U.S. or abroad to improve their understanding of international affairs;
(f) Developing international education programs designed to develop or enhance linkages between 2-and 4-year institutions of higher education, or baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate programs or institutions;
(g) Developing undergraduate educational programs—
(1) In locations abroad where those opportunities are not otherwise available or that serve students for whom those opportunities are not otherwise available; and
(2) That provide courses that are closely related to on-campus foreign language and international curricula;
(h) Integrating new and continuing education abroad opportunities for undergraduate students into curricula of specific degree programs;
(i) Developing model programs to enrich or enhance the effectiveness of educational programs abroad, including pre-departure and post-return programs, and integrating educational programs abroad into the curriculum of the home institution;
(j) Providing grants for educational programs abroad that—
(1) Are closely linked to the program's overall goals; and
(2) Have the purpose of promoting foreign language fluency and knowledge of world regions;
(k) Developing programs designed to integrate professional and technical education with foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields;
(l) Establishing linkages overseas with institutions of higher education and organizations that contribute to the educational programs assisted under this part;
(m) Developing partnerships between—
(1) Institutions of higher education; and
(2) The private sector, government, or elementary and secondary education institutions in order to enhance international knowledge and skills; and
(n) Using innovative technology to increase access to international education programs.
§ 658.12   For what kinds of projects does the Secretary assist associations and organizations?
The Secretary may award grants under this part to public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations including scholarly associations, that propose projects that will make an especially significant contribution to strengthening and improving undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign languages at institutions of higher education.
§ 658.30   How does the Secretary evaluate an application?
(a) The Secretary evaluates an application from an institution of higher education or a consortium of such institutions on the basis of the criteria in §§ 658.31 and 658.32. The Secretary informs applicants of the maximum possible score for each criterion in the application package or in a notice published in the Federal Register .
(b) The Secretary evaluates an application from an agency or organization or professional or scholarly association on the basis of the criteria in §§ 658.31 and 658.33. The Secretary informs applicants of the maximum possible score for each criterion in the application package or in a notice published in the Federal Register .
§ 658.31   What selection criteria does the Secretary use?
The Secretary evaluates an application for a project under this program on the basis of the criteria in this section.
(a) Plan of operation. (See 34 CFR 655. 31(a))
(b) Quality of key personnel. (See 34 CFR 655.31(b))
(c) Budget and cost effectiveness. (See 34 CFR 655.31(c))
(d) Evaluation plan. (See 34 CFR 655.31(d))
(e) Adequacy of resources. (See 34 CFR 655.31(e))
§ 658.32   What additional criteria does the Secretary apply to institutional applications?
In addition to the criteria referred to in § 658.31, the Secretary evaluates an application submitted by an institution of higher education or a consortium of such institutions on the basis of the criteria in this section.
(a) Commitment to international studies. (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the applicant's commitment to the international studies program.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) The institution's current strength as measured by the number of international studies courses offered;
(ii) The extent to which planning for the implementation of the proposed program has involved the applicant's faculty, as well as administrators;
(iii) The institutional commitment to the establishment, operation, and continuation of the program as demonstrated by optimal use of available personnel and other resources; and
(iv) The institutional commitment to the program as demonstrated by the use of institutional funds in support of the program's objectives.
(b) Elements of the proposed international studies program. (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the nature of the applicant's proposed international studies program.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) The extent to which the proposed activities will contribute to the implementation of a program in international studies and foreign languages at the applicant institution;
(ii) The interdisciplinary aspects of the program;
(iii) The number of new and revised courses with an international perspective that will be added to the institution's programs; and
(iv) The applicant's plans to improve or expand language instruction.
(c) Need for and prospective results of the proposed program. (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the need for and the prospective results of the applicant's proposed program.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) The extent to which the proposed activities are needed at the applicant institution;
(ii) The extent to which the proposed use of Federal funds will result in the implementation of a program in international studies and foreign languages at the applicant institution;
(iii) The likelihood that the activities initiated with Federal funds will be continued after Federal assistance is terminated; and
(iv) The adequacy of the provisions for sharing the materials and results of the program with other institutions of higher education.
§ 658.33   What additional criterion does the Secretary apply to applications from organizations and associations?
In addition to the criteria referred to in § 658.31, the Secretary evaluates an application submitted by an organization or association on the basis of the criterion in this section.
(a) Need for and potential impact of the proposed project in improving international studies and the study of modern foreign language at the undergraduate level.
(b) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the need for and the potential impact of the applicant's proposed projects in improving international studies and the study of modern foreign language at the undergraduate level.
(1) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) The extent to which the applicant's proposed apportionment of Federal funds among the various budget categories for the proposed project will contribute to achieving results;
(ii) The international nature and contemporary relevance of the proposed project;
(iii) The extent to which the proposed project will make an especially significant contribution to the improvement of the teaching of international studies or modern foreign languages at the undergraduate level; and
(iv) The adequacy of the applicant's provisions for sharing the materials and results of the proposed project with the higher education community.
(2) [Reserved]
§ 658.34   What additional factors does the Secretary consider in selecting grant recipients?
In addition to applying the selection criteria in, as appropriate §§ 658.31, 658.32, and 658.33, the Secretary, to the extent practicable and consistent with the criterion of excellence, seeks to encourage diversity by ensuring that a variety of types of projects and institutions receive funding.
§ 658.35   What priority does the Secretary give?
(a) The Secretary gives priority to applications from institutions of higher education or consortia of these institutions that require entering students to have successfully completed at least two years of secondary school foreign language instruction or that require each graduating student to earn two years of postsecondary credit in a foreign language (or have demonstrated equivalent competence in the foreign language) or, in the case of a 2-year degree granting institution, offer two years of postsecondary credit in a foreign language.
(b) The Secretary announces the number of points to be awarded under this priority in the application notice published in the Federal Register.
§ 658.40   What are the limitations on allowable costs?
(a) Equipment costs may not exceed five percent of the grant amount; and
(b) No more than ten percent of the total amount of grant funds awarded to a grantee under this part may be used for the activity described in § 658.11(j).
§ 658.41   What are the cost-sharing requirements?
(a) The grantee's share may be derived from cash contributions from private sector corporations or foundations in the amount of one-third of the total cost of the project.
(b) The grantee's share may be derived from cash or in-kind contributions from institutional and noninstitutional funds, including State and private sector corporation or foundation contributions, equal to one-half of the total cost of the project.
(c) In-kind contributions means property or services that benefit a grant-supported project or program and that are contributed by non-Federal third parties without charge to the grantee.
(d) The Secretary may waive or reduce the required non-Federal share for institutions that—
(1) Are eligible to receive assistance under part A or B of title III or under title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended; and
(2) Have submitted a grant application under this part that demonstrates a need for a waiver or reduction.