|  |
|--|
|  |
|  |

- What is the purpose of the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) program?
- Who is eligible to apply?
- What kinds of projects can be funded under the GPA program?
- If an IHE, department, or organization receives a GPA award, who is eligible to participate in the project?
- Are there restrictions on participation for individuals who have received previous Fulbright awards?
- Are there restrictions on who can join a GPA project group?
- What is the average length of an award?
- What date should an applicant list as the proposed start date for the project?
- Does the GPA program have priorities?
- What kinds of expenses can be charged to a GPA grant?
- Is there a matching requirement?
- What is the minimum amount of time grantee institutions should conduct pre-departure orientation/preparation activities for participants?
- Are indirect costs allowed to be charged to a GPA grant?
- Do the provisions of the "Fly America Act" apply to this program?
- Is there a page limitation on the application?
- Are appendices allowed?
- What techniques are helpful in preparing an application narrative and other important information for the program?
- Am I required to submit my application electronically?
- If an applicant experiences technical difficulties or has questions regarding the Grants.gov system, whom does he/she contact for assistance?
- If an applicant has programmatic questions, whom should he/she contact?
- How will applicants be selected to receive grants?
- When will applicants be notified of their status?
- What is an average size award?
- How many grant awards are provided each year?
- Are host family stays common in the short-term group programs?
- For GPA short-term projects, can the position of Project Director be shared by multiple eligible participants?
- How does the U.S. staff support themselves abroad? How can the grant pay for key personnel if no U.S.-based salaries/fringe can be paid for with GPA funds?
- What level of language proficiency is required by the project participants?
- Can we view samples of previously funded successful projects?
- Is it possible to visit more than one country?
- Can long-term applicants request to visit more than one country?
- Can some participants go for four weeks and others for six to eight weeks?
- For GPA advanced overseas intensive language training projects, what are the guidelines for determining whether a language program is intensive?
- What is the grant cycle for the GPA program?
- Do the project goals and objectives in the narrative need to map to the PMF forms, or do we select only one or two for PMFs? Are those goal/objectives the same as the ones in narrative or broader?
- Should we address the GPRA measure in the application, after receiving the grant award, or both?
- What goes under “Other” in the budget line item?
- Can staff at the overseas partner agency/institution be compensated for their work of planning and managing for the time the educators are in the host country?
- Can we recruit participants from K-12 school districts and community colleges, or should it be one of the two? Which institution should the project director and co- or sub-director come from?
- Do we have to submit a day by day, lecture by lecture proposal, naming each of the presenters and the reading list? Or can it be detailed, but without the complete reading list or names of lectures?
- Can GPA projects visit travel-warning countries?
- If "unsafe" at the time of the grant operation, then what? Assuming that the organization has extensive in-country safety experience and the educators are all on-board with participating, would they be allowed to go or would they need to postpone?
- What kinds of paperwork do we need to submit to the host country?
- Can the pre-departure orientation be spaced out over a few months, and can it include distance learning reading assignments, online discussion, and forum posting? Or are only three day pre-travel trainings allowed?
- In the past few years, there has been a competitive preference priority for the incorporation of Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs) into the GPA project. What are the parameters for this?
- Are GPA long-term grantees required to administer pre- and post-language program evaluations to all participants?
- Is the funding up front or cost reimbursable, for example to purchase airplane tickets?
- If we request $180,000 and our budget is cut to $100,000 - what would we do? Can we cut the number of participants?

The GPA program is a discretionary grant program designed to contribute to the development and improvement of the study of modern foreign languages and area studies in the United States by providing training opportunities for faculty, teachers, and upperclassmen and/or graduate students in foreign countries outside of Western Europe and where the United States has diplomatic representation.  Awards are made under the program to conduct overseas group projects in research, training, curriculum development, and advanced foreign language study.

TOP

Institutions of higher education (IHE), state departments of education, private nonprofit educational organizations, and consortia of institutions, departments, and organizations are eligible to apply. 

TOP

There are four kinds of GPA projects. Three are short-term projects: (1) short-term seminar; (2) curriculum development; and (3) group research or study. The fourth type is long-term advanced overseas intensive language training project. Please refer to the GPA application booklet for details on the features of each project type.

TOP

A citizen, national, or permanent  resident of the United States who is: 

  (A)  Currently employed full-time in a United States  school system, institution of higher education, local education agency or state  education agency (not applicable to students)

  AND at least one of the following:

- A teacher in an elementary or secondary school OR 
- A faculty member who teaches modern foreign languages or area studies OR 
- An       experienced education administrator responsible for planning, conducting,       or supervising programs in modern foreign languages or area studies at the       elementary, secondary, or postsecondary levels

OR

  (B)  A graduate student,  or junior or senior in an institution of higher education, who is a prospective  teacher in the areas of social sciences, humanities and foreign languages.  The student should meet the  provisions set by his or her local and state education agencies. 

*(Note: Area Studies is  defined as a program of comprehensive study of the aspects of a society or  societies including the study of their geography, history, culture, economy,  politics, international relations, or languages.*

TOP

The Fulbright Scholarship Board “lifted” the restriction that limits the number of Fulbright awards that a participant can receive.  However, we strongly recommend that IHEs, state departments of education, and education organizations select the most qualified participants who will share their experiences with students, colleagues, civic and professional organizations, and the public in their respective home communities.

TOP

Yes. Spouses, other family members, and friends, who have not been selected to participate in a GPA project according to the selection criteria stated in the approved application, are not permitted to join the group at any point during the program. GPA participants must remain with the group at all required times.

TOP

For short-term GPA programs, there is a grant performance period of 18 months, meaning that the pre-departure orientation, overseas travel, and follow-up phase must happen during those 18 months. For long-term GPA programs, the grant performance period is 24 months.

TOP

For the Fiscal Year 2024 GPA competition, the program office suggests using June 17, 2024 as the proposed start date for the GPA projects.

TOP

Yes. The program has an absolute  priority which states that projects must focus on one or more of the following  geographic regions of the world: Africa; East Asia; South Asia; Southeast Asia  and the Pacific; the Western Hemisphere (Central and South America, Mexico, and  the Caribbean); East Central Europe and Eurasia; and the Near East. 

The program also periodically has  invitational and competitive preference priorities. Please check the current  fiscal year's Federal Register notice and application package for details. For FY 2024 competitive preference priorities please  follow this link: Federal Register

TOP

The grant does not provide funds for project-related expenses within the United States.  Grant funds may be used only for the following:  a maintenance stipend based on fifty percent of the amount established by the U.S. Department of State; round-trip international travel; a local travel allowance for necessary project-related travel within the host country; purchase of project-related artifacts, books, and other teaching materials in the country of study; rent for instructional facilities in the country of study; clerical and professional services performed by resident instructional personnel in the country of study; and other expenses in the country of study deemed necessary for the project's success and approved in advance by the U.S. Department of Education.

Please note that the GPA program will not provide funds for:- U.S.-based salaries and fringe benefits; and
- U.S.-based activities such as pre-departure orientations and post-travel follow-up.

The applicant may regard the above and other unallowable costs as part of the applicant matching contribution.

For advanced overseas intensive language training projects, the GPA grant may pay for costs associated with pre- and post-foreign language assessment in the host country.

TOP

No, there is no formal matching requirement for the GPA program. However, the United States Department of Education encourages cost sharing by the project participants and their affiliated institutions, school districts, or organizations to cover the expenses within the United States, and to make up the difference between the grant and the costs of the activities abroad. Applicants are invited to provide cost share through in-kind or cash contributions.

TOP

For the GPA short-term and long-term projects, a minimum of 16 hours of pre-departure orientation/preparation activities should be included in the project design and discussed in detail in the “Plan of Operation” criterion. Please note that as a United States-based activity, related costs will not be paid for using GPA grant funds.

TOP

No. Indirect costs are not allowed to be charged to a GPA grant.

TOP

All international travel to and from the United States must comply with the Fly America Act. This Act states that federal travelers funded by the U.S. government are required to use U.S. air carrier services for air travel when available. International travel budget estimates should be based on jet economy high season rates.  The Fly America Act may not be applicable for regional travel within the host country, in which the office would approve the use of foreign airlines. 

TOP

While there is no  page limit imposed on applicants, we recommend that you (1) limit  the application narrative to no more than 40 pages and (2) use  the following standards: 

- A “page” is  8.5" x 11", on one side only, with 1" margins at the top,  bottom, and both sides.
- Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in  the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations,  references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and  graphs.
- Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no smaller than 10  pitch (characters per inch).
- Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New,  or Arial.

TOP

Yes. However, an applicant must be  mindful to submit only what is requested and what would be considered  supporting documentation of the narrative. For GPA short-term projects, this  may include: (1) a detailed preliminary pre-departure orientation and overseas  program itinerary; (2) curriculum vitas of key personnel; (3) letters of  support; (4) examples of evaluation materials and Performance Measure Forms  (PMFs); and (5) other supporting documents, if necessary. Please consult the  current application, under "Instructions for Completing the GPA  Application Package" for additional information.

  For GPA advanced language  training projects, this  may include: (1) curriculum vitas of key personnel; (2) position descriptions;  (3) project timeline chart; (4) letters of support; (5) class schedule with  details; (6) pre-departure schedule of activities; (7) follow-up activities;  (8) examples of evaluation tools; (9) details concerning pre-and post- foreign  language assessment; and (10) other supporting documents, if necessary.

TOP

- Start early. 
- Contact the GPA program contact.
- Review GPA legislation,       rules and regulations, and policy thoroughly.
- Review the Federal       Register Notice and Application Package thoroughly.
- Review abstracts and       application narratives of funded projects.
- Review promising       practices for GPA projects. Review funded projects or review them on the       program website.
- Form an internal task       force and management team with appropriate grant, international, and       project-related experience.
- Identify your       institution’s/department’s/program’s need and wants.
- Provide clear, goals,       measures, and activities.
- Provide a detailed plan       of operation and evaluation.
- Prepare a specific and       detailed budget.
- Request letters of       support, both from domestic and overseas partners.
- Identify your academic       host country coordinator and establish strong linkages.
- Address each part of the       selection criteria thoroughly and in the order presented.
- Present a persuasive       description of how the pieces fit together and complement each other.
-  Do not make readers have to search for       information.
- Write in plain English       and use correct grammar.
- Avoid specific professional jargon/acronyms. Remember to provide the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) on your application that was used when your organization registered with the SAM (System for Award Management).
- Register with  Grants.gov  early.
- DO NOT wait until the       last minute to submit your electronic application.
- If your application is       not funded, consult the reviewer’s comments and consider reapplying.

TOP

Applications  for grants under this program must be submitted electronically through the  Grants.gov system, unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in  accordance with application instructions. Please refer to the current Federal Register for more information concerning  submission exceptions.

TOP

Contact the Grants.gov Support Desk at 1-800-518-4726 by phone or support@grants.gov by e-mail.   For international callers, dial 606-545-5035. The Desk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week  (except for federal holidays).  GPA program  officers are not able to answer technical questions about the Grants.gov  system. 

TOP

For GPA-specific questions please e-mail GPA@ed.gov. 

TOP

For FY 2024, GPA short-term project applications will be reviewed by separate panels according to world area. GPA long-term projects will be reviewed by one panel across world areas.   A two- to three-member panel of non-federal evaluators reviews each application. Each reviewer will prepare a written evaluation of the application and assign points for each selection criterion. A rank order from highest to lowest score will be developed for each of the two types of projects and will be used for funding purposes.

TOP

Notifications may vary from year to year. For Fiscal Year 2024 GPA project applicants will be notified by late Spring 2024, informally via e-mail. All applicants, both successful and unsuccessful, will receive copies of evaluators' scores and comments for reference purposes.

TOP

The average size of an award for a GPA short-term project is $132,474, whereas the average award size for a GPA long-term project is $250,663. 

The estimated range of awards for GPA short-term projects is between $50,000 and $180,000. The estimated range of awards for GPA long-term projects ranges from $50,000 to $300,000, as stated in the Federal Register.

TOP

The program is estimated to award 20 short-term projects and 10 long-term projects, as stated in the Federal Register.  However, the Department is not bound by any estimates in the Federal Register. 

TOP

It can be common, but is not required for GPA projects to propose host family visits and/or stays. However, the program encourages this both as an experiential learning experience as well as for potential cost saving measures, where appropriate.

TOP

GPA funds will provide for travel costs for one Project Director from the United States in all four project types. For the GPA Short-Term Seminar Project, Short-Term Curriculum Development Project, and Long-Term Advanced Overseas Intensive Language Training Project, travel funds for one additional administrative person may also be supported with GPA funds. These individuals’ roles, qualifications, and specific responsibilities should be well justified in the proposal. If any other Key Personnel are necessary, they must be paid for with cost share funds.

TOP

U.S.-based project expenses, including U.S.-based salary, fringe expenses, and stipends and honoraria for U.S. key personnel, should be covered through other sources such as in kind contributions or cost share from the applicant and/or partner institutions.

TOP

For the Short-Term Group Research or Study Project, participants must have completed at least one semester of intensive language training and one course in area studies relevant to the project. For the GPA Long-Term Advanced Overseas Intensive Language Training Project, participants must have successfully completed at least two academic years of training in the language to be studied in the host country.

TOP

If you  follow this GPA Awards link you will be able to view the abstracts of successful applications from  Short-Term and Long-Term projects that were submitted to and funded by the U.S. Department of  Education in fiscal years 2008 to 2023. Keep in mind that GPA project rules and  requirements may have changed since then. 

If you would like to request a GPA application in its  entirety, you must submit a FOIA request.  Please click on this link to  learn about how to request an application. The GPA resources****link  will lead you to further resources concerning the Group Projects Abroad  application preparation and process.

TOP

For GPA short-term projects, yes, it is possible for projects to visit more than one country if it is applicable to the scope of the project.  Applicants should thoroughly justify in the application narrative why it is necessary and appropriate for the project to visit more than one country and address issues concerning potential higher travel costs.

TOP

No.  One of the critical components of the GPA long-term grant is to take advantage as much as possible of the foreign language in the host country and traveling to different countries would limit this foreign language exposure.

TOP

For GPA short-term projects, all project participants should be in the country(ies) of study for a minimum of four weeks. It is possible that justification may be made for some participants to stay for a longer period of time, depending upon project activities and scope.  These issues should be thoroughly addressed in the application narrative.

Participants on GPA advanced overseas intensive language training projects should remain in the program for the standard period of training, whether a summer, semester, academic or full year (8 week minimum).

TOP

The language to be studied must be indigenous to the host country and maximum use shall be made of local institutions and personnel. Language training must be given at the advanced level (equivalent to that provided to students who have successfully completed at least two academic years of language training). The project must also be designed to take advantage of advanced foreign language training opportunities present in the country of study that are not available in the United States.

TOP

GPA Short-Term projects compete annually for grants with performance periods of 18 months. GPA Long-Term Advanced Overseas Intensive Language Training Projects compete annually as well, with a performance period of 24 months.

TOP

The project narrative and Project Goal Statement on the Performance Measure Form (PMF) should connect to each other. 

As an applicant, you should complete at least two (2) Project Goal Statements, with Performance Measures and Activities listed for each. 

TOP

You may discuss how you would respond to the GPRA measure; however, reviewers will be most interested in a detailed reply to the project specific goals and measures. If you are awarded the grant, you will then be required to respond to the GPRA measure (or measures) that are appropriate for your program.

TOP

Anything that is not included in one of the primary line items can be listed under the “Other” budget descriptor.   Make sure that the costs are spelled out and the purpose for the expense is clear.   It should be transparent and easy to see exactly what you’re proposing.  The costs listed under “Other” could include, but are not limited to, host country facility rental or speaker honoraria. 

TOP

Yes, staff can be compensated, but it should be kept reasonable. Think about the overall allowable costs of the project. If the compensation for staff seems high, then the reviewers may also think that as well. Also, the grant funds from this program should not pay for full salaries for any position.

TOP

Eligible participants are K-12 educators/administrators, postsecondary faculty and pre-service teachers (eligibility requirements are also posted on the GPA program website).  A participant group can include any combination of K-12 teachers and/or postsecondary educators and administrators. The project director is typically someone who is employed at the institution (2- or 4-year) from which they are applying.

TOP

Your proposal should be as detailed and specific as possible. Daily schedules, planned lecturers, and presenters should be clearly stated in the itinerary, as soon as that information is known.

TOP

Any GPA application proposing travel in a country with a  travel warning will be disqualified. For a full list of travel alerts and  warnings, please view the U.S.  Department of State Travel Advisories website. If you would like to confirm whether a country is eligible for this fiscal year’s grant cycle, please contact GPA@ed.gov.

TOP

Any GPA application proposing travel to a country with a travel warning will be disqualified. If events occur and a travel warning is issued for one’s host country after the grant is awarded, your institution would be forced to find another region or country to send the group of educators. The safety of the GPA program participants is our biggest concern.

TOP

For all GPA projects, each grantee must contact the Embassy  and/or Fulbright Commission to inform them of their upcoming travel. Before  grant awards are made, the program staff in IFLE seeks approval from these  entities, so they should be aware of your program. You should remind the  Embassy and/or Fulbright Commission that the GPA program is a Department of  Education (ED) program, and that ED contacted them already and received their  approval; also, send them the list of participants, your in-country itinerary,  and your one-page abstract. If they request additional information, within  reason, you should send them that information as well.  A list of US Embassies and their contact  information can be found at https://www.usembassy.gov/.  A list of Fulbright Commissions and their contact information can be found at https://eca.state.gov/fulbright/about-fulbright/funding-and-administration/fulbright-commissions. 

TOP

It is certainly allowable to do pre-departure orientations and meetings earlier in the performance period, especially if that includes distance learning. Many Project Directors do this for nationwide participant groups.

TOP

There is a Competitive Preference Priority for the incorporation of Less Commonly Taught Languages. This priority has been awarded to applications that propose GPA short-term or GPA long-term projects that provide substantive training and thematic focus on any modern foreign language except French, German, or Spanish.

TOP

Yes.  IHEs, state departments of education, and educational organizations that receive a GPA long-term grant must have the appropriate language instructor administer pre-and-post language program evaluations to all participants. The language instructors are required to submit the evaluation results into the International Resource Information System (IRIS).  The GPA grant may pay for costs associated with pre-and post-foreign language assessment in the host country.

TOP

Funding is given to the institution in an account.  You "draw down" on those funds as they are needed. Any expenditure made in advance of receiving the award would be at the risk of the applicant.  Airplane tickets must be approved by the program office PRIOR to purchase. You can work to have them placed "on hold" but purchases should not be made until approved.  Also, all travel must be Fly America Act (FAA) compliant.

TOP

This will be discussed with each grantee on a case-by-case basis. 

TOP