Report Tile

Minority Science and 

Engineering 

Improvement Program

Pre-Application Webinar: July 27-28, 2011

Presented by:

Dr. Bernadette M. Hence

U. S. Department of Education

Washington, DC 20006

Applying for MSEIP in FY 2011
U.S. Department of Education

Office of Postsecondary Education

Higher Education Programs

Institutional Service

Dr. Bernadette M. Hence

Program Manager,

Minority Science and 

Engineering Improvement 

Program

Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program
GOAL:

Ensure that 

you 

understand the 

MSEIP grant 

opportunity

Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

TO PROVIDE

Information 

Technical Assistance

Guidance

...so that you can prepare a better application
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

FY 2011 

Competition 

Highlights
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Program Authorization, Purpose, and 

Supported Activities

Eligibility Requirements

Key Definitions

Competitive Preference Priorities

 Invitational Priorities

Timeline and Estimated Program Impact

 Impact on the President’s National Priority for 

STEM

Competition Highlights
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Authorized 

under Higher 

Education 

Act of 1965, 

as amended

Section 

350
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Title III, Part E

Commonly 

referred to as:
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

• To effect long range improvements in the 

science and engineering education programs 

of predominantly minority institutions

• To increase the participation of 

underrepresented ethnic minorities, 

particularly minority women, into science 

and technological careers.

PURPOSE
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

What this 

grant supports:

Pre-college programs – K-12

(students and teachers)

College Programs (STEM)

Faculty Development (STEM)

Curriculum Development 

(STEM fields)

Renovation of STEM 

labs/classrooms

Student research 

in STEM fields

Stipends 

for eligible 

participants
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

What this 

grant DOES 

NOT support:

- Scholarships for students

- Construction projects
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

ELIGIBILITY

REQUIREMENTS
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Eligibility: 4-YR Public or private 

nonprofit institutions of 

higher education that:

1. Award baccalaureate degrees

AND 2. Minority enrollments that 

exceed 50 percent of the total 

enrollment 

(2 qualifiers)
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Eligibility: 2-YR Public or private 

nonprofit institutions of 

higher education that:

1. Award associate degrees AND

2. Are minority institutions with 

science or engineering subjects

(3 qualifiers)

AND
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Eligibility: 2-YR Public or private 

nonprofit institutions of 

higher education that:

3. Enter into a partnership with any 

public or nonprofit institutions of 

higher education that award 

baccalaureate degrees in science or 

engineering

(3 qualifiers)
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Key Definitions 
Definitions that Apply to MSEIP

Minority - 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 other ethnic groups 

underrepresented in science and engineering.

Minority institution – an accredited college or university 

whose enrollment of a single minority group or a 

combination of minority groups exceed fifty percent 

of the total enrollment.
Definitions that Apply to MSEIP

Sciencefor the purpose of this program, the biological, 

engineering, mathematical, physical, behavioral, and 

social sciences, and history and philosophy of 

science; also included are interdisciplinary fields 

which are comprised of overlapping areas among 

two or more sciences.
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Competitive 

Preference 

Priorities
Competitive Preference Priority

Applicants must meet all program requirements, 

including those provisions requiring a focus on 

science and engineering education in grants 

funded under this program.

Important Requirement: 
Competitive Preference Priority 1

Increasing Postsecondary Success 

Projects that are designed to address the following priority area: 

Increasing the number and proportion of highneed students who persist in and complete 

college or other postsecondary education and 

training. 

2.5 points 
Competitive Preference Priority 2

Enabling More Data-Based Decision-Making

Projects that are designed to collect (or obtain), analyze, and use 

high-quality and timely data, including data on program 

participant outcomes, in accordance with privacy requirements 

(as defined in the Closing Date Notice), in the following priority 

area:

Improving postsecondary student outcomes 

relating to enrollment, persistence, and 

completion and leading to career success. 

2.5 points
Competitive Preference Priority

We will award an additional five (5) points to 

an *applicant that has not received a MSEIP 

grant within **five years prior to this competition:

* Applicant refers to the institution

**(FY 2006, FY 2007, FY 2008, FY 2009, FY 2010)
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Invitational 

Priorities
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Invitational 

Priorities

We do not give an application that meets these 

invitational priorities a competitive or absolute 

preference over other applications.
Invitational Priority 1

Applications that focus on preparing K-12 

students to enter into postsecondary 

programs in science, technology, engineering, 

or mathematics (STEM) fields; or applications 

that develop articulation agreements that 

facilitate students entering into postsecondary 

STEM fields.
Invitational Priority 2

Applications that focus directly on student learning 

and encourage and facilitate the implementation of 

effective pedagogical approaches that increase 

student retention and achievement in STEM 

fields.
Invitational Priority 3

Applications that focus on mentoring programs 

designed to increase the number of 

underrepresented students who graduate 

with STEM undergraduate or graduate 

degrees.
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Timeline and 

Estimated 

Program Impact
Critical Benchmarks and Dates 

Pre-Application Webinars 7/27/11 – 7/28/11

Applications Available 

(Estimated)

By the end of next week 

(8/5/11)

Closing Date for Receipt of 

Applications

~ 30 days from availability of 

the applications

Performance Period Begins 10/1/11

Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program
Critical Information

Institutional Projects

Year 1 - $250,000 max

Year 2 - $250,000 max

Year 3 - $250,000 max

--------------------------

$750,000 maximum

$250,000 per single budget 

period of 12 months

Special Projects

Same as above $750,000 maximum

$250,000 per single budget 

period of 12 months

Cooperative Projects

Year 1 - $300,000 max

Year 2 - $300,000 max

Year 3 - $300,000 max

--------------------------

$900,000 maximum

$300,000 per single budget 

period of 12 months

Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program
Estimated Impact

FY 2010 FY 2011

Estimated number of NEW

awards:

22 13-15

Average Award Size: $172,841/year

(for 3 years)

$225,000/year

(for 3 years)

Appropriation $9,503,000 $9,483,994

Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

For FY 2011... $3,035,168 available for new awards

$6,448,826 used for FY 2009 & FY 2010 grants
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Impact on the 

President’s 

National Priority 

for STEM 
Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement Program

Supports President Obama’s three 

overarching priorities for (STEM) education:

1. Increasing STEM literacy so all students can 

think critically in science, technology, 

engineering, and math; 

2. Improving the quality of math and science 

teaching so American students are no longer 

outperformed by students in other nations; and

3. Expanding STEM education and career 

opportunities for underrepresented groups, 

including women and minorities. 

...and supports the Secretary of Education’s project activities in areas of greatest 

educational need
Email Questions:

bernadette.hence@

ed.gov or call

(202) 219-7038