## U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Postsecondary Education Washington, DC 20006
- 8510



## Fiscal Year **2015 APPLICATION FOR GRANTS**  **UNDER THE STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS** 

**PROGRAM CFDA #**  **84.031A**

**Form Approved OMB No. 1840**  **- 0114, Expiration Date:**  **XX/XX/2018**

**CLOSING DATE: XX X**  **, 2015** i 

## Table of Contents Dear Applicant Letter

................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 1 Competition Highlights

................................ ................................ ................................ .... 3 Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

................................ ........... 6 Application Transmittal Instructions

................................ ................................ ............... 10 Notice Inviting Applications

................................ ................................ ........................... 12 Program Statute

................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 50 Intergovernm ental Review of Federal Programs

................................ ........................... 63 General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Section 427

................................ ................ 64 Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)

................................ ..................... 65 Instructions for Completing the Application

................................ ................................ ... 67 Project Narrative Instructions

................................ ................................ ........................ 69 Instructions for Standard Forms

................................ ................................ .................... 79 Supplemental Information and Instructions

................................ ................................ ... 89 84.031A Strengthening Institutions Program Profile

................................ ...................... 90 Application Checklist

................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 92 Paperwork Burden Statement

................................ ................................ ....................... 931



## Dear Applicant **Letter Draft**  **letter below.** Thank you for your interest in applying for a new grant under the fiscal ye ar (FY) 2015 Title III Part A, Strengthening Institutions Pro gram (SIP) grant competition (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance [CFDA] number s 84.031A & 84.031F). The FY 2015 competition will **not** fund applications under CFDA 84.031F
. This letter highlights specifi c elements in the SIP c ompetition a

pplication booklet . As you formulate your application, please review these requirements and carefully and thoroughly

review the entire a

pplication booklet
. In order to receive a grant under the Title III, Part A program, an institution of higher education (IHE) must have applied for a “determination of eligibility” and must have been deemed an “ eligible institution. ” The Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the Designation as an Eligible Institution was published in th e Federal Register on November 3, 2014
. For FY 2015, the Title III, Part A, SIP program will fun d both Individual Development Grant s and Coope rative Arrangement Development Grant s. Coop erative Arrangement Development Grant s are where an eligible institution and one or more additional institutions combine the resources of all participating institutions to carry out allowable grant activities, while avoiding costly duplication of effort. The institution that submits the grant application is the lead institution and the fiscal agent for that partnership . T he lead institution **mu st**  be an eligible institution
. Th e FY 2015 Title III, Part A, SIP program, CFDA 84.031A , includes a competitive preference priority . This priorit y affords applicants the possibility of adding three ( 3 ) additional points to an application’s total score
. This priority is : Supporting Strategies for which there is Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness
. Only projects th at are supported by m oderate e vidence (as defined i n the Federal Register NIA for New Awards for the FY 2015 SIP ) will receive additional points
. Applicants demonstrating that one of their proposed process, product, strategy , or practice is based on research that meets the moderate evidence of effectiveness standard will receive the three points . Applicants seeking to address this c ompetitive p reference p riority should identify

a minimum of one study

to a maximum of two studies that support their pro posed project and meet, individually

or together, the definition of moderate evidence of effectivenes s. App licants who do not address the competitive preference or who fail to demonstrate moderate e vidence in the submitted studies will not receive an y add itional points. No partial points will be awarded. Following a peer review by three non
- Federal reviewers , the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) will determine whether th e submitted evidence meets the m oderate e vidence standards. Institutions are not required to address the competitive preference priority
. For additional infor mation about the competitive preference priority , please refer to th e Federal Register NIA for New Awards for the FY 2015 SIP . The NIA is included in this a

pplication booklet. Applications for the FY 2015 , Title III, Part A, SIP awards must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov at: http://www.grants.gov
. An applicant who is unable to submit u sing2

Grants.gov must submit a written request to waive the electronic submission requirement at least two weeks before the deadline date . In order to submit a paper application, an applicant must have received approval for a non
- electronic submission. Ad ditional information about Grants.gov submission requirements can be found in the Competition Highlights, the NIA published in th e Federal Register , and the transmittal instructions that are included in this a pplication booklet
. Do not rel y upon an y information that is inconsistent with the guidance contained within this application package and the NIA. The NIA for the FY 2015 Title III, Part A , SIP is the official document and you should not rely upon an y information that is inconsistent with the gu idance contained within the official document. I urge yo u to carefully read all the information contained in this application booklet. If you have an y questions or require additional information, please contact Nalini L amba
- Nieves at nalini.lamba
- nieves@ed.gov or Pearson Owens at pearson.owens@ed.gov
. F or an overview of significant competition elements, w e encourage applicants to review the a pplication booklet “ Competition Highlights ” section
. We appreciate your interest in the Strengthening Institutions Program and look forward to receiving your application. Sincerel y, Leonard L. Hay

nes, III, Ph.D. Senior Director for Institutional Service3 

## Competition **Highlights Grants.gov**  **:** 1. Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant applications for FY 2015 must be submitted electronically

through Grants.gov at: http://www.grants.gov
. 2. Please note that the Grants.gov site is different from the Department’s e
- Application sy stem used in past competitions. Once you download the application package from Grants.gov, you will be working offline and saving data on your computer. Be sure to note where you are saving the Grants.gov f

ile on your computer. You will need to log on to Grants.gov to upload and submit your application. 3. We urge you to consider the following three important administrative factors when appl yi ng for this grant program: 1. Register at the Grants.gov website early . The registration procedures may require five ( 5 ) or more day s to complete. 2. Consider submitting your application 2
- 3 day s prior to the closing date . The time it takes to upload an application will vary depending on your application and the spee d of your Internet connection. The application submission process must be complete prior to the deadline for transmittal of applications. 3. Remember to provide the DUNS number that was used when your organization registered with the Sy stem for Award Manage ment (SAM), formerl y the Central Contractor Registry

( CCR). 4. Grants.gov does not allow applicants to “un
- submit” or delete applications. Therefore, if you discover that changes or additions are needed once your application has been accepted and validated by

the Department, you must “re
- submit” the application. If the Department receives duplicate applications, we will accept and process the application with the latest “date/time received” validation. 5. Please note that you must submit your application by 4:30:00 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on or before the application deadline date. Late applications will not be accepted
. **We suggest that you submit your application several days before the deadline.**  T he Department is required to enforce the established deadline to ensure fairness to all applicants. No changes or additions to an application will be accepted after the deadline date. **Eligibility :**  6. All grant applicants for SIP must have applied for and receive d FY 2015 Designation of Eligibility . Applicants failing to apply for eligibility

will not have their application entered in the review process. The deadline for appl yi ng for basic eligibility was December 22, 2014
.4

7. Your institution's application for a FY 2015 Title III, SIP grant **MUST** be in the same name provided in the FY 2015 Designation of Eligibility application, or it will be deemed not eligible to be read. **Allowable Activities & Program Regulations:** 8. Authorized grant activities for the S IP are listed in Title III, Part A, Section 311 of the Higher Education Act, as amended (HEA); however, Section 301 of the Higher Education Opportunity

Act of 2008 (HEOA) modified the authorized grant activities for SIP. Please review these modifications prior to preparing your SIP application. 9. Applicants should also r eview the program regulations (34 CFR 607.10 and 607.30) for guidance on which activities and costs are allowable. For example, you may not use your grant funds to:  Recruit students ;  Provide scholarships for students;  Carry out activities that are operational rather than developmental;  Carry out student activities such as entertainment, cultural or social enrichment programs, student publications, social clubs or associations ;  Pay for organized fund raising and;  Cover indirect costs. **Page Limits :**  10. All applicants are required to adhere to the page limit for the Project Narrative portion of the application. Applications for Individual Development Grant s have a 5 0
- page limit and Coope rative Arrangement Development Grant applications have a 70
- page limit. Applicants addressing the competitive preference priority have an additional five pages for a total of 55 pages for Individual Development Grants and 75 pages for Cooperative Arrangem ent Development Grants. **Competitive Preference Priority :**  11. Applicants addressing the competitive preference priority
-- Supporting Strategies for which there is Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness
-- must provide information addressing this priority in a separate document, under Part III, Other Attachments in Grants.gov. The document should be titled, “ Competitive Preference Priority

— Supporting Strategies for which there is Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness
. ” Applicants may use up to five pages to addr ess the competitive preference priorit y . No portion of these five pages can be used as additional pages to respond to the selection criteria. 12. Applicants addressing the competitive preference priority must provide a minimum of one to a maximum of two evidence studies for one strateg y within the grant’s proposed activities
. The evidence studies referenced must also be attached as a separate PDF titled Evidence Studies under Other Attachments, in Grants.gov, for the determination of moderate evidence.5

Submitted studies must meet the moderate evidence definition for an application to receive the three points. 13. If the evidence in one of the submitted activities is not deemed moderate, the institution will **not** receive the additional three points. 14. Institutions should include in their Abstracts whether or not they are addressing the competitive preference priority
. If addressing the priority , the Abstract should include the citation of studies referenced. **Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants :**  15. The lead institution in a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant is the institution that submits the application on behalf of the cooperative partners and is the fiscal agent for the grant. **The lead institution must be an eligible institution.** Partner institutions do not need to be eligible institutions to participate in the cooperative arrangement. Applicants may submit an Individual and a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant application and be awarded both. 16. The Department will make five
- ye ar awards for Individual and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant s in rank order from the funding slate according to the average score received from a panel of three readers. However, applications within funding range that addressed the competitive preference priority will have the evidence submitted in response to that priority reviewed b y IES. Those applicants whose evidence is found to not meet the requirements of moderate evidence will not receive the additional three ( 3 ) points. 17. For FY 2015 , applicants can onl y receive funding for one Title III or Title V program. Current SIP grantees may appl y for and be awarded a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant. **Program Profile and Abstract :**  18. All a pplicants are required to submit a SIP Profile Form, which contains the tie
- breaker i nformation. Applicants are asked to carefull y read question #4 on the Program Profile Form and, if applicable, to check the box or place an X next to the box certifying that they will comply with the statutory

requir ement and program assurances regarding endowments cited in the program regulations. 19. All applicants must provide an abstract limited to one single
- spaced page. The abstract must be uploaded as a **PDF file**  **only** . Complete instructions for submitting the abstract are included in the Instructions for Completing the Application Package. 20. In formation on SIP is accessible at the Department’s Web site at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iduestitle3a/index.html
.6



## Grants.gov

**Submission Procedures and Tips for Ap**  **plicants IMPORTANT** 

**– PLEASE READ FIRST** 

**U.S. Department of Education** 

## Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants To facilitate your use of Grants.gov, this document includes important submission procedures you need to be aw are of to ensure your application is received in a timely manner and accepted by the Department of Education. **ATTENTION**

**– Browser Support**  Grants.gov is a Custom Java Application that uses standard w eb
- browsers as the client. Grants.gov leverages the latest web technologies such as Ajax which relies extensively on JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Grants.gov recommends you use the most up
- to - date web browser possible for the best User Experience. **We strongly recommend ED Staff use Firefox or Chrom**  **e; we currently do not have the latest version of Microsoft IE here**  **at Education.** If you are unsure about w hich version of the browser you are using, please check the following places:  **Microsoft IE**

– the About Internet Explorer setting under Help on your toolbar  **Firefox**

– the About Firefox setting under Help on your toolbar  **Chrome**
- the About Google Chrome setting under the Customize and Control Google Chrome option (located on the far right ) in your toolbar options for your brow sers. The table below

lists supported Web Bro wsers: Web Browser Support Comments Microsoft IE 9/10/11 Supported Mozilla Firefox Supported Versions change frequently; we recommend you have the latest version. Legacy versions are functional but may experience some issues. It is recommended to upgrade to the latest version. Google Chrome Supported Versions change frequently; we recommend you have the latest version. Legacy versions are functional but may experience some issues. It is recommended to upgrade to the latest version. Apple Safari Supported Versions change frequently; we recommend you have the latest version. Legacy versions are functional but may experience some issues. It is recommended to upgrade to the latest version. For additional information of updates, please see the Grants.gov Brow ser Support Page. http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical
- support/software/browser
- support.html **ATTENTION**

**– Adobe Forms and PDF Files Required**  Applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of Education will be posted using Adobe forms. Therefore, app licants will need to dow nload the latest version of Adobe reader ( at least Adobe Reader 10.1.14 ). (Please note that in early 2013, Grants.gov discovered an issue with the newest version of Adobe Reader XI but it wa s subsequently resolved.) Information on com puter and operating system compatibility with Adobe and links to dow nload the latest version is available on Grants.gov at this link: c om patibility table . We strongly recommend that you review these details on www.Grants.gov before completing and submitting your application. In addition, applicants should submit their application a day or two in adv ance of the closing date as detailed below . Also, applicants are required to upload their attachments in .pdf format only. (See details below under “Attaching Files

– Additional Tips.”) If you have any questions regarding this matter please email the Gr ants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or call 1
- 800
- 518
- 4726.7

1) **REGISTER EARLY**

– Grants.gov registration involves many steps including registration on SAM ( www.sam.gov ) whi ch may take approximately one week to complete, but could take upwards of several weeks to complete, depending upon the completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by an applicant . You may begin working on your application while completing the registration process, but you cannot submit an application until all of the Registration steps are complete. Please note that once your SAM registration is active, it will take 24
- 48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov, and before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. For detailed information on the Registration Steps, please go to: http://www.gr ants.gov/web/grants/register.html [Note: Your organization will need to update its SAM registration annually (formerly Central Contractor Registry (CCR).] Primary information about SAM is available at www.sam.gov . How ever, to further assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in SAM or updating your existing SAM account the Department of Education has prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet which you can find at: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam
- faqs.html 2) **SUBMIT EARLY**

– **We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the last day to submit your application. Grants.gov will put a date/tim**  **e stamp on your application and then pr ocess it after it is**  **fully uploaded.** The time it takes to upload an application will vary depending on a number of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection, and the time it takes Grants.gov to process the app lication will vary as well. If Grants.gov rejects your application (see step three below), you will need to resubmit successfully to Grants.gov before 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, DC time on the deadline date. **Note: To submit successfully, you must provid e the DUNS number on your application that was used**  **when you registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.gov. This DUNS number is typically the same number used when your organization registered with the SAM**  **(form erly CCR**  **- Cent**  **ral Contractor Registry). If you do not enter the sam e DUNS number on your**  **application as the DUNS you registered with, Grants.gov will reject your application.** 3) **VERIFY SUBMISSION IS OK**

– You will want to verify that Grants.gov received your application s ubmission on time and that it was validated successfully. To see the date/time your application was received, login to Grants.gov and click on the Track My Application link. For a successful submission, the date/time received should be earlier than 4:30: 00 p.m. Washington, DC time, on the deadline date, AND the application status should be: Validated, Received by Agency, or Agency Tracking Number Assigned. Once the Department of Education receives your application from Grants.gov, an Agency Tracking Numb er (PR/award number) will be assigned to your application and will be available for viewing on Grants.gov’s Track My Application link. If the date/time received is later than 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, D.C. time, on the deadline date, your application is late. If your application has a status of “Received” it is still awaiting validation by Grants.gov. Once validation is complete, the status will either change to “Validated” or “Rejected with Errors.” If the status is “Rejected with Errors,” your applicat ion has not been received successfully. Some of the reasons Grants.gov may reject an application can be found on the Grants.gov site: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/grant
- application
- process/application
- statuses.html . For more detailed information on troubleshooting Adobe errors, you can review the Adobe Reader Error Messages document at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical
- support/troubleshooting/encountering
error - me ssages.html . If you discover your application is late or has been rejected, ple ase see the instructions below . Note: You will receive a series of confirmations both online and via e
- mail about the status of your application. Please do not rely solely on e
- mail to confirm whether your application has been received timely and validat ed successfully. **Submission Problems**

**– What should you do?**  If you have problems submitting to Grants.gov before the closing date, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1
- 800
- 518
- 4726 or http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/about/contact
- us.html , or access the Grants.gov Self
Service web portal at: https://grants
- portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants8

If electron ic submission is optional and you have problems that you are unable to resolve before the deadline date and time for electronic applications, please follow the transmittal instructions for hard copy applications in the Federal Register notice and get a har d copy application postmarked by midnight on the deadline date. If electronic submission is required , you must submit an electronic application before 4:30:00 p.m., unless you follow the procedures in the Federal Register notice and qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a w ritten statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.) **Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov** Please note, once you download an application from Grants.gov, you will be w orking offline and saving data on yo ur computer. Please be sure to note where you are saving the Grants.gov file on your computer. You will need to logon to Grants.gov to upload and submit the application. **You must provide the DUNS number on your application that was used when you registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on**  **Grants.gov.** Please go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/about/contact
- us.html for help with Grants.gov. For additional tips related to submitting grant applications, please refer to the Grants.gov Submit App lication FAQs found on the Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/general
- support/faqs.html
. **Dial -**  **Up Internet Connections** When using a dial up connection to upload and submit your application, it can take significantly longer than when yo u are connected to the Internet with a high
- speed connection, e.g. cable modem/DSL/T1. While times will vary depending upon the size of your application, it can take a few minutes to a few hours to complete your grant submission using a dial up connection. **If you do not have access to a high -**  **speed connection and electronic sub**  **mission is required, you may want to consider following the instru ctions in the Federal Register notice to**  **obtain an exception to the electronic submission requirement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.**  (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.) **MAC Users** For MAC compatibil ity information, review the Operating System Platform Compatibility Table at the following Grants.gov link: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/techni cal
- support/recommended
- soft ware.html
. **If electronic submission is required and you are concerned about your ability to submit electronically as a non**  **** **windows user, please follow instructions in the Federal Register notice to obtain an excep tion to the electronic**  **sub mission require**  **ment no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.** (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.) **Attaching Files**

**– Additional Tips**  Please note the following tips related to attaching files to your application, especially the requirement that applicants **only include read -**  **only, non -**  **modifiable .PDF files** in their application: 1. Ensure that you attach **.PDF files only** for any attachments to your application, and they must be in a **read -**  **only, non**  **- mo**  **difiable form at**  . PDF files are the only Education approved file type accepted as detailed in the Federal Register application notice. Applicants must submit individual .PDF files only when attaching files to their application. Specifically, the D epartment will not accept any attachments that contain files within a file, such as PDF Portfolio files, or an interactive or fillable .PDF file. Any attachments uploaded that are not .PDF files or are password protected files will not be read. 2. Grants.g ov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that have the same name within a grant submission. Therefore, each file uploaded to your application package should have a unique file name. 3. When attaching files, applicants should follow th e guidelines established by Grants.gov on the size and content of file names. Uploaded files must be less than 50 characters, contain no spaces, no special characters (example:
- , &, *, %, /, #, \) including periods (.), blank spaces and accent marks. Ap plications submitted that do not comply with the Grants.gov guidelines will be rejected at Grants.gov and not forwarded to the Department.9 4. Applicants should limit the size of their file attachments. Documents submitted that contain graphics and/or scann ed material often greatly increase the size of the file attachments and can result in difficulties opening the files. For reference, the average discretionary grant application package totals 1 to 2 MB. Therefore, you may want to check the total size of your package before submission. 2/201510 

## Ap **plication Transmittal Instructions ATTENTION ELECTRONIC APPLICANTS: Please note that you must follow the**  **Application Procedures as described in the Fed**  **eral Register**  **NIA announcing the grant**  **competition. This program requires the electronic submission**  **of applications; specific requirements and waiver instructions can be found in the**  **Federal Register**  **NIA .**  According to the instructions found in the Federal Register NIA , those requesting and qualifying for an exception to the electronic submission requirement may submit an application by mail, commercial carrier or b y hand delivery
. If you want to appl y for a grant and be considered for funding, you must meet the following deadline requirements: **Applicatio ns Submitted Electronically:**  **You must submit your grant application through the Internet using the software provided on the**  **Grants.gov Web site ( http://www.grants.gov**  **) by 4:30:00 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on or bef**  **ore the deadline date.** If you submit your application through the Internet via the Grants.gov Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement when we receive yo ur application. For more information on using Grants.gov , please refer to the “Notice Inviting Applications” that was published in the Federal Register or visit http://www.grants.gov. **Submission of Paper Applications by Mail:** If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center Attention: (CFDA Number 84. 031 A ) LBJ Basement L evel 1 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202
- 4260 You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following: (1) A legibl y dated U.S. Postal Service postmark. (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service. (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.11

(4) An y other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do **not** accept either of the following as proof of mailing: (1) A private metered postmark. (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will **not** consider your applic ation. Note : The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before rel yi ng on this method, you should check with your local post office. **Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery:** If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may

deliver your paper application to the Department b y hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center Attention: (CFDA Number 84.031A ) 550 12th Street, SW Room 70 39 , Potomac Center Plaza Washington, DC 20202
- 4260 The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveri es dail y between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturday s, Sunday s, and Federal holiday s. **Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications :**  If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department
-- (1) You must indic ate on the envelope and
-- if not provided by the Department
-- in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any , of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245
- 6288. **La te Applications**  If your application is late, we will notify you that we will not consider the application.12 

## N **otice Inv iting A**  **pplications** 4000
- 01
- U DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Applications for New Awards; Strengthening Institutions Program AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education ACTION: Notice. Overview Information : Strengthening Institutions Program Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2015. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Nu mber: 84.031A. Dates : Applications Available: [INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: [INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. Deadline for Intergovernmental Revie w: [INSERT DATE 120 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program : The Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to help them become self
- sufficient and expand13

their capacity to serve low
- income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the institution’s academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability. Priority : This notice contains one competitive preference priority. The competitive preference priority is from 34 CFR 75.226. Competitive Preference Priority : For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this c ompetition, this priority is a competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award three additional points to an application that meets this priority. This priority is: Competitive Preference Priority

— - Supporting Strategies for whic h there is Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness (3 additional points) . Projects that propose a process, product, strategy, or practice supported by moderate evidence of effectiveness (as defined in this notice). Note : Applicants seeking to address this competitive preference priority should identify a minimum of one study to a maximum of two studies that support their proposed project and meet the definition of “moderate evidence of effectiveness.” Applicants should provide a citation and link for each supporting study on14

the one
- page abstract submitted with the application. All cited studies must also be submitted with the application as a PDF. To qualify as moderate evidence of effectiveness, among other things, a study’s evaluation design must meet What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Evidence Standards (as defined in this notice). Both quasi
- experimental design studies and randomized controlled trials (as defined in this notice) may meet WWC Evidence Standards. T he W WC review protocol for individual studies in the postsecondary education topic area, which describes the specific types of outcomes, populations, and other criteria that will be used by the Department to determine whether a study meets WWC Evidence Standar ds, can be found at: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/pdf/reference_resources/wwc_pe_protoc ol_v3.0.pdf . Applicants may cite to studies that (1) have already been determi ned by the Department to meet the WWC Evidence Standards (e.g., studies listed in the WWC
- reviewed studies database or in the WWC database under the postsecondary topic area as having met WWC standards with or without reservations) or (2) have not yet been reviewed by the Department but that the applicant thinks will meet the WWC Evidence Standards. In the case of studies that have not yet been reviewed, the Department will review the studies to determine if they meet WWC Evidence Standards, in accordance with the procedures described under15

Review and Selection Process in section IV of this notice . In both cases, the studies will be reviewed by the Department to determine if they also meet the other requirements of the definition for “moderate evidence of effectiveness.” In order to receive the three additional points under this competitive preference priority, applicants should propose to implement the strategy from their supporting study or studies as closely as possible and describe in the narrative response to this priority how they will do so. Where modifications to a cited strategy will be made to account for student or institutional characteristics, resource limitations, or other special factors, the applicant should provide a justification or b asis for the modifications in the narrative response to this priority. Modifications may not be proposed to the core aspects of any cited strategy. Definitions : These definitions are from 34 CFR 77.1(c) and apply to the priority in this notice. La rge sample means an analytic sample of 350 or more students (or other single analysis units), or 50 or more groups (such as classrooms or schools) that contain 10 or more students (or other single analysis units). Moderate evidence of effectiveness means one of the following conditions is met:16

(i) There is at least one study of the effectiveness of the process, product, strategy, or practice being proposed that meets the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations, found a st atistically significant favorable impact on a relevant outcome (with no statistically significant and overriding unfavorable impacts on that outcome for relevant populations in the study or in other studies of the intervention reviewed by and reported on b y the What Works Clearinghouse), and includes a sample that overlaps with the populations or settings proposed to receive the process, product, strategy, or practice. (ii) There is at least one study of the effectiveness of the process, product, strategy, or practice being proposed that meets the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations, found a statistically significant favorable impact on a relevant outcome (with no statistically significant and overriding unfavorable impacts on that outcome for relevant populations in the study or in other studies of the intervention reviewed by and reported on by the What Works Clearinghouse), includes a sample that overlaps with the populations or settings proposed to receive the process, product, strategy, or practice, and includes a large sample and a multi
- site sample. ( Note : multiple studies can cumulatively meet the large and multi
- site17

sample requirements as long as each study meets the other requirements in this paragraph.) Multi
- site sample means more than one site, where site can be defined as an LEA, locality, or State. Quasi
- experimental design study means a study using a design that attempts to approximate an experimental design by identifying a comparison group that is simila r to the treatment group in important respects. These studies, depending on design and implementation, can meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations (but not What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations). Randomized controlled trial means a study that employs random assignment of, for example, students, teachers, classrooms, schools, or districts to receive the intervention being evaluated (the treatment group) or not to receive the intervention (the control group). The estimated ef fectiveness of the intervention is the difference between the average outcomes for the treatment group and for the control group. These studies, depending on design and implementation, can meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservati ons. What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards means the standards set forth in the What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook (Version 3.0, March 2014), which can be found18

at the following link: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/DocumentSu m.aspx?sid=19. Program Authority : 20 U.S.C. 1057
- 1059d (title III, part A, of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)). Note : In 2008, the HEA was amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) (P.L. 110
- 315). The HEOA made a number of technical and substantive revisions to SIP, and the program regulations in 34 CFR part 607 have not yet been updated to reflect these statutory changes. Applicable Regulations : (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 607. II. Award Information Type of Award : Discretionary grants

— Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants. Estimated Available Funds : $18,197,309.1 9

Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2016 from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition. Individual Development Grants : Estimated Range of Awards : $400,000
- $450,000 per year. Estimated Average Size of Awards : $425,000 per year. Maximum Award : We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $450,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Educatio n may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal Register . Estimated Number of Awards : 36. Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants : Estimated Range of Awards : $600,000
- $650,000 per year. Estimated Average Size of Awards : $62 5,000 per year. Maximum Award : We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $650,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education may change the maximum amount through a not ice published in the Federal Register . Estimated Number of Awards : 3. Note : The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period : Up to 60 months for each type of award.20

III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants : (a) This program is authorized by title III, part A, of the HEA. To qualify as an eligible institution under any title III, part A program, an institution must be
-- (i) Accredited or pre
- accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or ass ociation that the Secretary has determined to be a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training offered; ( ii) L egally authorized by the State in which it is located to be a junior or community college or to provide an educational progra m for which it awards a bachelor's degree; (iii) Designated as an “eligible institution” by demonstrating that it has: (A) an enrollment of needy students as described in 34 CFR 607.3; and (B) low average educational and general expenditures per full
- t ime equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student as described in 34 CFR 607.4. Note : For purposes of establishing eligibility for this competition, the notice inviting applications for eligibility designation for FY 2015 was published in the Federal Register on November 3, 2014 (79 FR 65197 ) and applications were due on December 22, 2014. Only institutions that submitted the required application and received designation through this21

process are eligible to submit applications for this competition. (b) A grantee under the Developing Hispanic
- Serving Institutions (HSI) Program, which is authorized under title V of the HEA, may not receive a grant under any HEA, title III, part A program, including SIP. Furthermore, a current HSI Program grantee may not giv e up its HSI grant to receive a grant under SIP or any title III, part A program as described in 34 CFR 607.2(g)(1). An eligible HSI that is not a current grantee under the HSI Program may apply for a FY 2015 grant under all title III, part A programs for which it is eligible, as well as receive consideration for a grant under the HSI Program. However, a successful applicant may receive only one grant as described in 34 CFR 607.2(g)(1). (c) An eligible IHE that submits an application for an Individual D evelopment Grant and a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant may be awarded both grants. (d) An eligible IHE that currently has a SIP Individual Development Grant may apply for and be awarded a Cooperative Development Grant. A grantee with an Indi vidual Development Grant or Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant may be a partner or subgrantee in one or more Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants. The lead institution in a Cooperative22

Arrangement Development Grant must be an eligible institu tion. Partners or subgrantees are not required to be eligible institutions. 2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching : This program does not require cost sharing or matching unless the grantee uses a portion of its grant for establishing or improving an endowment fund. If a grantee uses a portion of its grant for endowment fund purposes, it must match those grant funds with non
- Federal funds (20 U.S.C. 1059c(c) (3)(B)). b. Supplement
- Not - Supplant : This program involves supplement
- not - supplant funding requirement s. Grant funds shall be used so that they supplement and, to the extent practical, increase the funds that would otherwise be available for the activities to be carried out under the grant and in no case supplant those funds (34 CFR 607.30(b)). IV. Appl ication and Submission Information 1. Address to Request Application Package : You can obtain an application via the Internet using the following address: www.Grants.gov. If you do not have access to the Internet, please contact one of the program contact persons listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1
- 800
- 877
- 8339.23

Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting one of the program contact persons listed under For Further Information Contact i n section VII of this notice . 2. Content and Form of Application Submission : Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this program. Page Limit: The application nar rative (Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria and the competitive preference priority that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We have established the following mandatory page limits for Individua l Development Grant and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant applications:

 If you are not addressing the competitive preference priority you must limit your application narrative to no more than 50 pages for an Individual Development Grant a pplication and to no more than 70 pages for a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant application.

 If you are addressing the competitive preference priority you must limit your application narrative to no more than 55 pages for an Individual De velopment Grant application and 7524

pages for a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant application. Applicants should provide information addressing the competitive preference priority in the section of the application titled “ Competitive Preference Pri ority

— Supporting Strategies for which there is Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness .” For the purpose of determining compliance with the page limit, each page on which there are words will be counted as one full page. Applicants must use the following sta ndards:

 A “page” is 8.5" x 11", on one side only, with 1" margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Page numbers and an identifier may be within the 1" margins.

 Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the a pplication narrative , except titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. Text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs in the application narrative may be single spaced and will count toward the page limit.

 Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, and no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). However, you may use a 10
- point font in charts, tables, figures, graphs, footnotes, and endnotes.

 Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any25

other font (including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted. The page limit applies to all of the application narrative section, including your complete response to the selection criteria and the competitive preference priority. However, t he page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424
- cover sheet); the Department of Education Supplemental Inf ormation Form (SF 424); Part II, the Budget Information
- Non - Construction Programs Form (ED 524); Section A
- Budget Summary

– U.S. Department of Education Funds; Section B

– Budget Summary

– Non - Federal Funds; and Section C

– Budget Narrative; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; the one
page program abstract; or bibliography. The page limit also does not apply to any copies of studies that are submitted in response to the competitive preference priority. However, if you include any attachments or appendices not specifically listed in this section or requested in the application package, these items will be counted as part of your application narrative for the purpose of the page
- limit requirement. Note : The Budget Information
- Non - Construction Programs Form (ED 524) Sections A
- C are not the same as the narrative response to the Budget section of the selection criteria. We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.26

3. Submission Dates and Times : Applications Available: [IN SERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: [INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using t he Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, p lease refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission Requirements of this notice. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection wit h the application process should contact one of the program contact persons listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in conn ection with the application process, the individual's application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: [INSERT DATE 120 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].27

4. Intergovernmental Review : This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this program. 5. Funding Restrictions : (a) General . We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 607.10(c). We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. (b) Applicability of Executive Order 13 202 . Applicants that apply for construction funds under the title III, part A, HEA programs must comply with Executive Order 13202, as amended. This Executive order provides that recipients of Federal construction funds may not “require or prohibit bidde rs, offerors, contractors, or subcontractors to enter into or adhere to agreements with one or more labor organizations, on the same or other construction project(s)” or “otherwise discriminate against bidders, offerors, contractors, or subcontractors for becoming or refusing to become or remain signatories or otherwise to adhere to agreements with one or more labor organizations, on the same or other related construction project(s).” Projects funded under this program that include construction activity wi ll be provided a copy of this Executive order and will be asked to certify that they will adhere to it.28

6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, and System for Award Management : To do business with the Department of Educ ation, you must
-- a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry (CCR ), th e Government's primary registrant database; c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information while your application is under review by the Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period. You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number can be created within one to two business days . If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Intern al Revenue Service. If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active. The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business days , but may take upwards of several weeks, depending29

on the completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial assistan ce under a program administered by the Department, please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early. Note : Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to allow 24 to 48 ho urs for the information to be available in Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. If you are currently registered with SAM , you may not need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update your registration annually. This may take three or more business days . Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further assist you with obtaining and registering your DUN S number and TIN in SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet, which you can find at: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam
- faqs.html. In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are30

outline d at the following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/ web/grants/register.html . 7. Other Submission Requirements : Applications for grants under the Strengthening Institutions Program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications . Applications for grants under the Strengthening Institutions Program, CFDA number 84.031A, must be submitted electronically using the Gover nmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov . Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not emai l an electronic copy of a grant application to us. We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement .31

You may access the electronic grant application for this competition at www.Grants.gov . You must search for the downloadable app lication package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.031, not 84.031A). Please note the following: • When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about s ubmitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. • Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the G rants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if it is received
-- that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system
-- after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting yo ur application because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.32

• The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov. • You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also fi nd the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department’s G5 system home page at www.G5.gov. • You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will w e penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in paper format. • You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typ ically provide on the following forms: the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information
-- Non - Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certification s.33

• You must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in a PDF read
- only,
non - modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read
- only,
non - modi fiable PDF or submit a password
- protected file, we will not review that material. • Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice. • After you electronically submit your application, you will receive fr om Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send a second notification to you by email. This second notification indicates that the Department has received your application and has assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED
- specified identifying number unique to your application). • We ma y request that you provide us original signatures on forms at a later date. Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues with the Grants.gov System : If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1
- 800
- 518
- 4726. You34

must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it. If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date b ecause of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand delivery. You also may mail yo ur application by following the mailing instructions described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date, please contact the persons listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem occu rred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether your ap plication will be accepted. Note : The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the35

Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system. Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement : You qualify for an exception to the electronic subm ission requirement, and may submit your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application through the Grants.gov system because

–– • You do not have access to the Internet; or • You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to the Grants.gov system; and • No later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a wr itten statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks b efore the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to36

the Department, we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. Address and mail or fax your statement to: Nalini Lamba
Nieves , U. S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW ., room 6024 , Washington, DC 20006
- 8513. FAX: (202) 502
- 7861. Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice. b. Submission of Pap er Applications by Mail . If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of yo ur application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center Attention: (CFDA Number 84.031A) LBJ Basement Level 1 400 Maryland Avenue, SW. Washington, DC 20202
- 4260 You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following: (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark. (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service. (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.37

(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailin g: (1) A private metered postmark. (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application. Note : The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery . If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a c ourier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center Attention: (CFDA Number 84.031A) 550 12th Street, SW. Room 7039 , Potomac Center Plaza Washington, DC 20202
- 426038

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Was hington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications : If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department
-- (1) You must indicate on the envelope and
-- if not provided by the De partment -- in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant appli cation. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245
- 6288. V. Application Review Information 1. Selection Cr iteria : The selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 607.22(a)
- (g). Applicants must address each of the following selection criteria. The total maximum number of points under the selection criteria is 100 points; the maximum score under each criterion is noted in parentheses. The complete text of the selection criteria is in the application package for this competition. (a) Quality of the Applicant’s Comprehensive Development Plan . (Maximum 25 Points) The extent to which
--39

(1) The stre ngths, weaknesses, and significant problems of the institution's academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability are clearly and comprehensively analyzed and result from a process that involved major constituencies of the institution; (2) The goals for the institution's academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability are realistic and based on comprehensive analysis; (3) The objectives stated in the plan are measurable, related to institutional goals, and, if achieved, will contribute to the growth and self
- sufficiency of the institution; and (4) The plan clearly and comprehensively describes the methods and resources the institution will use to institutionalize practice and improvements developed under the proposed pro ject, including, in particular, how operational costs for personnel, maintenance, and upgrades of equipment will be paid with institutional resources. (b) Quality of Activity Objectives . (Maximum 15 Points) The extent to which the objectives for each activity are
-- (1) Realistic and defined in terms of measurable results; and (2) Directly related to the problems to be solved and to the goals of the comprehensive development plan.40

(c) Quality of Implementation Strategy . (Maximum 20 Points) The extent to which
-- (1) The implementation strategy for each activity is comprehensive; (2) The rationale for the implementation strategy for each activity is clearly described and is supported by the results of relevant studies or projects; and (3) The timetable for each activity is realistic and likely to be attained. (d) Quality of Key Personnel . (Maximum 7 Points) The extent to which
-- (1) The past experience and training of key professional personnel are directly related to the stated activity objectives; and (2) The time commitment of key personnel is realistic. (e) Quality of Project Management Plan . (Maximum 10 Points) The extent to which
-- (1) Procedures for managing the project are likely to ensure efficient a nd effective project implementation; and (2) The project coordinator and activity directors have sufficient authority to conduct the project effectively, including access to the president or chief executive officer. (f) Quality of Evaluation Plan . (Max imum 15 Points) The extent to which
--41

(1) The data elements and the data collection procedures are clearly described and appropriate to measure the attainment of activity objectives and to measure the success of the project in achieving the goals of the comprehensive development plan; and (2) The data analysis procedures are clearly described and are likely to produce formative and summative results on attaining activity objectives and measuring the success of the project on achieving the goals of the co mprehensive development plan. (g) Budget . (Maximum 8 Points) The extent to which the proposed costs are necessary and reasonable in relation to the project's objectives and scope. 2. Review and Selection Process : We remind potential applicants that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as the applicant’s use of funds, achievement of project ob jectives, and compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or submitted a report of unacceptable quality. In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secreta ry also requires various assurances including those42

applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, a nd 110.23). Awards will be made in rank order according to the average score received from an evaluation performed by a panel of non
Federal reviewers based on responses to the selection criteria and, if applicable, the competitive preference priority. If an application is scored highly, has the possibility of being funded, and includes a response to the competitive preference priority, IES will review the studies cited in the application to determine whether they meet the “moderate evidence of effectivene ss” standard. Only those applications that address the competitive preference priority and have the possibility of being funded because of high scores and available funds for new awards will undergo further review by IES. At least one study submitted mus t be found to meet the definition of “moderate evidence of effectiveness,” in order for applicants to receive the additional points. Tie
- breaker for Development Grants . In tie
- breaking situations for Development Grants, 34 CFR 607.23(b) requires that we award one additional point to an application from an IHE that has an endowment fund of which the current market value, per full time equivalent (FTE) enrolled student, is less than43

the average current market value of the endowment funds, per FTE enrolled s tudent, at comparable type institutions that offer similar instruction. We also award one additional point to an application from an IHE that has expenditures for library materials per FTE enrolled student that are less than the average expenditure for li brary materials per FTE enrolled student at similar type institutions. We also add one additional point to an application from an IHE that proposes to carry out one or more of the following activities
-- (1) Faculty development; (2) Funds and administrat ive management; (3) Development and improvement of academic programs; (4) Acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening management and academic programs; (5) Joint use of facilities; and (6) Student services. For the purpose of these funding considerations, we use 2012
- 2013 data. If a tie remains after applying the tie
- breaker mechanism above, priority will be given in the case of applicants for: (a) Individual Development Grants, to applicants that have the lowest endowment values per FTE student; and (b) Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants, to applicants in accordance with section 394(b) of the HEA, if the Secretary determines that the44

cooperative arrangement is geographically and economically sound
o r will benefit the applicant institution. 3. Special Conditions : Under 2 CFR 3474.10 , the Secretary may impose special conditions and, in appropriate circumstances, high
- risk conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D ; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant (34 CFR 607.24(c)(2)); or is otherwise not responsible. VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Notices : If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, also. If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you. 2 . Administrative and National Policy Requirements : We identify administrative and national policy req uirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the Applicable Regulations section of45

this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant. 3. Reporting : (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, you must en sure that you have in place the necessary processes and systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b). (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi
- year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performa nce and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118 . The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/fund/gran t/apply/appforms/appforms.html. 4. Performance Measures : The Secretary has established the following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of the Strengthening Institutions Program: a. The percentage change, over the five
- year perio d, of the number of full
- time degree
- seeking undergraduates enrolled46

at SIP institutions. Note that this is a long
- term measure, which will be used to periodically gauge performance; b. The percentage of first
- time, full
- time degree
- seeking undergraduate students at four
- year SIP institutions who were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same SIP institution; c. The percentage of first
- time, full
- time degree
- seeking undergraduate students at two
- year SIP institutions who were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same SIP institution; d. The percentage of first
- time, full
- time degree
- seeking undergraduate students enrolled at four
- year SIP institutions graduating within six years of enrollment; and e. The percentage of first
- time, full
- time degree
- seeking undergraduate students enrolled at two
- year SIP institutions graduating within three years of enrollm ent. 5. Continuation Awards : In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 75.253 , the Secretary considers, among other things: whether a grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget ; and, if the Secretary has47

established performance measurement requirements, the performance targets in the grantee’s approved application. In making a continuatio n grant, the Secretary also considers whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving F ederal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). VII. Agency Contacts For Further Information Contact : Nalini Lamba
- Nieves, Pearson Owens, or Don Crews, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW. , room 6024, Washington, DC 20006
- 8513. You may contact these individuals at the following email addresses and telephone numbers: Nalini.Lamba
- Nieves @ed.gov ; (202) 502
- 7562 Pearson.Owens@ed.gov; (202) 502
- 7804 Don.Crews@ed.gov ; (202) 502
- 7574 If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1
- 800
- 877
- 8339. VIII. Other Information Accessible Format : Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille , large print, audiotape, or48

compact disc) on request to either program contact person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice. Electronic Access to This Document : The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register . Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System at: www.gpo.g ov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register , in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available fre e at the site.49

You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at: www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your sea rch to documents published by the Department. Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated authority to Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under Secretary, to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Educ ation. Dated:

__________________________ Jamienne S. Studley , Deputy Under Secretary .50 

## Program Statute HI GHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED **TITLE III ---**  **INSTITUTIONAL AID**
**SEC. 301. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES**
. (a) FIND INGS. **--** The Congress finds that
-- (1) there are a significant number of institutions of higher education serving high percentages of minority students and students from low
- income backgrounds, that face problems that threaten their ability

to survive; (2) the problems relate to the management and fiscal operations of certain institutions of higher education, as well as to an inability to engage in long
- range planning and development activities, including endowment building; (3) in order to be competitive and provide a high
- quality education for all, institutions of higher education should improve their technological capacity and make effective use of technology ; (4) the title III program prior to 1985 did not alway s meet the specific development needs of historically

Bl ack colleges and universities and other institutions with large concentrations of minority , low
- income students; (5) the solution of the problems of these institutions would enable them to become viable, fiscally stable and independent, thriving institutions of higher education; (6) providing assistance to eligible institutions will enhance the role of such institutions in providing access and quality education to low
- income and minority students; (7) these institutions play an important role in the American s ys tem of higher education, and there is a strong national interest in assisting them in solving their problems and in stabilizing their management and fiscal operations, and in becoming financially independent; and (8) there is a particular national interest in aiding those institutions of higher education that have historically

served students who have been denied access to postsecondary education because of race or national origin and whose participation in the American s ys tem of higher education is in the Nation’s interest so that equality of access and quality

of postsecondary

education opportunities may

be enhanced for all students. (b) PURPOSE.
-- Itis the purpose of this title to assist such institutions in equalizing educational opportun ity

through a program of Federal assistance. **PART A --**  **STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS**  **SEC. 311. PROGRAM PURPOSE**
. (a) GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.
-- The Secretary shall carry

out a program, in accordance with this part, to improve the academic quality , institutiona l management, and fiscal stability of eligible institutions, in order to increase their self
- sufficiency

and strengthen their capacity to make a substantial contribution to the higher education resources of the Nation. (b) GRANTS AWARDED; SPECIAL CONSIDERA TI ON.

– (1) From the sums available for this part under section 399(a)(1), the Secretary may award grants to any eligible institution with an application approved under section 351 in order to assist such an institution to plan, develop, or implement activ ities that promise to strengthen the institution.51

(2) Special consideration shall be given to an y eligible institution
-- (A) which has endowment funds (other than an y endowment fund built under section 332 of this Act as in effect on September 30, 1986, an d under part B) the market value of which, per full
time equivalent student, is less than the average current market value of the endowment funds, per full
- time equivalent student (other than an y endowment fund built under section 332 of this Act as in eff

ect on September 30, 1986, and under part B) at similar institutions; or (B) which has expenditures per full
- time equivalent student for library materials which is less than the average of the expenditures for library materials per full
- time equivalent student by other similarly

situated institutions. (3) Special consideration shall be given to applications which propose, pursuant to the institution’s plan, to engage in (A) facult y development; (B) funds and administrative management; (C) development an d improvement of academic programs; (D) acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management and academic programs; (E) joint use of facilities such as libraries and laboratories; and (F) student services. (c) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.
-- Grants awarded under this section shall be used for 1 or more of the following activities: (1) Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes. (2) Construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other instructional facilities, including the integration of computer technology into institutional facilities to create smart buildings. (3) Support of faculty

exchanges, facult y deve lopment, and facult y fellowships to assist in attaining advanced degrees in the field of instruction of the faculty
. (4) Development and improvement of academic programs. (5) Purchase of library

books, periodicals, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program material. (6) Tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to improve academic success. (7) Funds management, administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds managem ent. (8) Joint use of facilities, such as laboratories and libraries. (9) Establishing or improving a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector. (10) Establishing or improving an endowment fund. (11) Creat ing or improving facilities for Internet or other distance learning academic instruction capabilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services. (12) Other activities proposed in the application submitted pursuant to subsection (c) that
- (A) contribute to carrying out the purposes of the program assisted under this part; and (B) are approved b y the Secretary as part of the review and acceptance of such application. (d) ENDOWMENT FUND.52

(1) IN GENERAL.
-- An eligible institution may use not more than 20 percent of the grant funds provided under this part to establish or increase an endowment fund at such institution. (2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.
-- In order to be eligible to use grant funds in accordance with paragraph (1), the eligible institution shall provide matching funds from non
- Federal sources, in an amount equal to or greater than the Federal funds used in accordance with paragraph (1), for the establishment or increase of the endowment fund. (3) COMPARABILITY.
-- The provisions of part C, regarding the establishment or increase of an endowment fund, that the Secretary determines are not inconsistent with this subsection, shall apply to funds used under paragraph (1). **SEC. 312. DEFINITIONS; ELIGIBILITY.** (a) EDUCATIO NAL AND GENERAL EXPENDITURES.
-- For the purpose of this part, the term “educational and general expenditures” means the total amount expended by an institution of higher education for instruction, research, public service, academic support (including library expenditures), student services, institutional support, scholarships and fellowships, operation and maintenance expenditures for the ph ys ical plant, and any mandatory

transfers which the institution is required to pay by law. (b) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.
-- For the purpose of this part, the term “eligible institution” means -- (1) an institution of higher education
-- (A) which has an enrollment of needy students as required b y subsection (c) of this section; (B) except as provided in section 392(b), the av erage educational and general expenditures of which are low, per full
- time equivalent undergraduate student, in comparison with the average educational and general expenditures per full
- time equivalent undergraduate student of institutions that offer simil ar instruction; (C) which is (i) legall y authorized to provide, and provides within the State, an educational program for which such institution awards a bachelor’s degree; (ii) a junior or community college; or (iii) the College of the Marshall Islands, the College of Micronesia/Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau Community College; (D) which is accredited by a nationally

recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary

to be reliable authority

as to the quality

of training o ffered or which is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation; (E) which meets such other requirements as the Secretary may prescribe; and (F) located in a State; and (2) an y branch of an y institution of higher education described under paragraph (1) which b y itself satisfies the requirements contained in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such paragraph. For purposes of the determination of whether an institution is an eli gible institution under this paragraph, the factor described under paragraph (1)(A) shall be given twice the weight of the factor described under paragraph (1)(B). (c) ENDOWMENT FUND.
-- For the purpose of this part, the term ‘‘endowment fund” means a fund that
-- (1) is established b y State law, b y an institution of higher education, or b y a foundation that is exempt from Federal income taxation; (2) is maintained for the purpose of generating income for the support of the institution; and53

(3) does not inclu de real estate. (d) ENROLLMENT OF NEEDY STUDENTS.
-- For the purpose of this part, the term “enrollment of needy students” means an enrollment at an institution of higher education or a junior or community

college which includes
-- (1) at least 50 percent of the degree students so enrolled who are receiving need
- based assistance under title IV of this Act in the second fiscal ye ar preceding the fiscal ye ar for which the determination is being made (other than loans for which an interest subsidy is paid pur suant to section 428), or (2) a substantial percentage of students receiving Pell Grants in the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal ye ar for which determination is being made, in comparison with the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants at al l such institutions in the second fiscal ye ar preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made, unless the requirement of this subdivision is waived under section 392(a). (e) FULL
- TI ME EQUIVAL ENT STUDENTS. For the purpose of this part, the te rm “full
- time equivalent students” means the sum of the number of students enrolled full time at an institution, plus the full
- time equivalent of the number of students enrolled part time (determined on the basis of the quotient of the sum of the credit ho urs of all part
- time students divided by 12) at such institution. (f) JUNIOR OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
-- For the purpose of this part, the term “junior or community

college” means an institution of higher education
-- (1) that admits as regular students persons who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the institution is located and who have the ability to benefit from the training offered b y the institution; (2) that does not provide an educational program for which it awards a bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent degree); and (3) that
-- (A) provides an educational program of not less than 2 years that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, or (B) offers a 2
- ye ar program in engineering, mathematics, or the phy sical or biological sciences, designed to prepare a student to work as a technician or at the semiprofessional level in engineering, scientific, or other technological fields requiring the understanding and application of basic engineering, scientific, or mathem atical principles of knowledge. (g) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.
-- For the purposes of this section, no historically

black college or university which is eligible for and receives funds under part B of this title is eligible for or may receive funds under this part. **SEC. 313. DURATION OF GRANT.** (a) AWARD PERIOD.
-- The Secretary may award a grant to an eligible institution under this part for 5 years. (b) LIMITATIONS.
-- In awarding grants under this part the Secretary shall give priority

to app licants who are not already receiving a grant under this part, except that for the purpose of this subsection a grant under subsection (c) and a grant under section 394(a)(1) shall not be considered a grant under this part. (c) PLANNING GRANTS.
-- Notwithst anding subsection (a), the Secretary may award a grant to an eligible institution under this part for a period of one year for the purpose of preparation of plans and applications for a grant under this part.54

(d) WAIT
- OUT
- PERIOD.
-- Each eligible institution that received a grant under this part for a 5
- ye ar period shall not be eligible to receive an additional grant under this part until 2 y ears after the date on which the 5
- year grant period terminates. **SEC. 314. APPLICATIONS.** Each eligible institution desiring to receive assistance under this part shall submit an application in accordance with the requirements of section 391. **SEC. 315. GOALS FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND ACADEMIC PROGRAM.** (a) GOAL S.
-- An y application for a grant under this part shall d escribe measurable goals for the institution’s financial management and academic programs, and include a plan of how the applicant intends to achieve those goals. (b) CONTINUATION REQUIREMENTS.
-- An y continuation application shall demonstrate the progress made toward achievement of the goals described pursuant to subsection (a). **PART F --**  **GENERAL PROVISIONS SEC. 391. APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE** 
. (a) APPLICATIONS.
-- (1) APPLICATIONS REQUIRED.
-- An y institution which is eligible for assistance under thi s title shall submit to the Secretary an application for assistance at such time, in such form, and containing such information, as may be necessary

to enable the Secretary

to evaluate the institution’s need for the assistance. Subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out this title, the Secretary may approve an application for assistance under this title only if the Secretary

determines that
-- (A) the application meets the requirements of subsection (b); (B) the applicant is eligible for ass istance in accordance with the part of this title under which the assistance is sought; and (C) the applicant’s performance goals are sufficiently rigorous as to meet the purposes of this title and the performance objectives and indicators for this title established by the Secretary pursuant to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and the amendments made b y such Act. (2) PRELIM INARY APPLICATIONS.
-- In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary may develop a preliminary

application for use b y e ligible institutions applying under part A prior to the submission of the principal application. (b) CONTENTS.
-- An institution, in its application for a grant, shall
-- (1) set forth, or describe how the institution (other than an institution applying unde r part C, D or E) will develop, a comprehensive development plan to strengthen the institution’s academic quality and institutional management, and otherwise provide for institutional self
- sufficiency

and growth (including measurable objectives for the ins titution and the Secretary to use in monitoring the effectiveness of activities under this title); (2) set forth policies and procedures to ensure that Federal funds made available under this title for an y fiscal year will be used to supplement and, to the extent practical, increase the funds that would otherwise be made available for the purposes of section 311(b) or 323, and in no case supplant those funds; (3) set forth policies and procedures for evaluating the effectiveness in accomplishing the purpose of the activities for which a grant is sought under this title;55

(4) provide for such fiscal control and fund accounting procedures as may be necessary

to ensure proper disbursement of and accounting for funds made available to the applicant under this ti tle; (5) provide (A) for making such reports, in such form and containing such information, as the Secretary may require to carry

out the functions under this title, including not less than one report annually

setting forth the institution’s progress towar d achieving the objectives for which the funds were awarded, and (B) for keeping such records and affording such access thereto, as the Secretary

may find necessary

to assure the correctness and verification of such reports; (6) provide that the institutio n will comply with the limitations set forth in section 357, except that for purposes of section 316, paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 396 shall not apply ; (7) describe in a comprehensive manner an y proposed project for which funds are sought under the a pplication and include
-- (A) a description of the various components of the proposed project, including the estimated time required to complete each such component; (B) in the case of an y development project which consists of several components (as describ ed by the applicant pursuant to subparagraph (A)), a statement identifying those components which, if separately

funded, would be sound investments of Federal funds and those components which would be sound investments of Federal funds onl y if funded under this title in conjunction with other parts of the development project (as specified by the applicant); (C) an evaluation by

the applicant of the priorit y given an y proposed project for which funds are sought in relation to an y other projects for which fun ds are sought b y the applicant under this title, and a similar evaluation regarding priorities among the components of any single proposed project (as described b y the applicant pursuant to subparagraph (A)); (D) a detailed budget showing the manner in whi ch funds for an y proposed project would be spent by the applicant; and (E) a detailed description of an y activit y which involves the expenditure of more than $25,000, as identified in the budget referred to in subparagraph (E); and (8) include such other information as the Secretary may prescribe. (c) PRIORITY CRITERIA PUBLICATION REQUIRED.
-- The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register, pursuant to chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, all policies and procedures required to exercise the autho rity set forth in subsection (a). No other criteria, policies, or procedures shall appl y. (d) ELIGIBILITY DATA.
-- The Secretary shall use the most recent and relevant data concerning the number and percentage of students receiving need
- based assistance under title IV of this Act in making eligibility

determinations under section 312 and shall advance the base
- ye ar forward following each annual grant cycle.56

**Sec. 392. (20 U.S.C. 1068a) WAIVER AUTHORITY AND REPORTING REQUIREMENT.**  (a) WAIVER REQUIREMENTS; NEED
- BASED ASSI STANCE STUDENTS.
-- The Secretary

may waive the requirements set forth in section 312(b)(1)(A) in the case of an institution
-- (1) which is extensively

subsidized by

the State in which it is located and charges low or no tuition; (2) which s erves a substantial number of low
- income students as a percentage of its total student population; (3) which is contributing substantially to increasing higher education opportunities for educationall y disadvantaged, underrepresented, or minority students, who are low
- income individuals; (4) which is substantially increasing higher educational opportunities for individuals in rural or other isolated areas which are unserved b y postsecondary institutions; (5) located on or near an Indian reservation or a sub stantial population of Indians, if the Secretary determines that the waiver will substantially increase higher education opportunities appropriate to the needs of American Indians; (6) that is a triball y controlled college or university as defined in secti on 2 of the Triball y Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978; or (7) wherever located, if the Secretary determines that the waiver will substantially increase higher education opportunities appropriate to the needs of Black Americans, Hispa nic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, or Pacific Islanders, including Native Hawaiians. (b) WAIVER DETERMINATIONS; EXPENDITURES.
-- (1) The Secretary may waive the requirements set forth in section 312(b)(1)(B) if the Secretary determines, based on persuasive evidence submitted b y the institution, that the institution’s failure to meet that criterion is due to factors which, when used in the determination of compliance with such criterion, distort such determination, and that the institution’s de signation as an eligible institution under part A is otherwise consistent with the purposes of such parts. (2) The Secretary

shall submit to the Congress every other ye ar a report concerning the institutions which, although not satisfying the criterion contained in section 312(b)(1)(B), have been determined to be eligible institutions under part A institutions which enroll significant numbers of Black American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian students under part A, as the case may be. Such report shall
-- (A) identify

the factors referred to in paragraph (1) which were considered by the Secretary

as factors that distorted the determination of compliance with subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 312(b)(1); and (B) contain a list o f each institution determined to be an eligible institution under part A including a statement of the reasons for each such determination. (3) The Secretary

may waive the requirement set forth in section 312(b)(1)(E) in the case of an institution located o n or near an Indian reservation or a substantial population of Indians, if the Secretary determines that the waiver will substantially increase higher education opportunities appropriate to the needs of American Indians.57

**SEC. 393. APPLICATION REVIEW PRO CESS** 
. (a) REVIEW PANEL.
-- (1) All applications submitted under this title by institutions of higher education shall be read by a panel of readers composed of individuals selected by the Secretary
. The Secretary

shall assure that no individual assigned under this section to review any application has an y conflict of interest with regard to the application which might impair the impartiality

with which the individual conducts the review under this section. (2) The Secretary

shall take care to assure that repre sentatives of historically and predominantl y Black colleges, Hispanic institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and institutions with substantial numbers of Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Native American Pacific Islanders (includin g Native Hawaiians) are included as readers. (3) All readers selected by the Secretary shall receive thorough instruction from the Secretary regarding the evaluation process for applications submitted under this title and consistent with the provisions of this title, including
-- (A) explanations and examples of the ty pes of activities referred to in section 311(b) that should receive special consideration for grants awarded under part A and of the t ypes of activities referred to in section 323 that should r eceive special consideration for grants awarded under part B; (B) an enumeration of the factors to be used to determine the quality of applications submitted under this title; and (C) an enumeration of the factors to be used to determine whether a grant sh ould be awarded for a project under this title, the amount of an y such grant, and the duration of any such grant. (b) RECOMMENDATIONS OF PANEL.
-- In awarding grants under this title, the Secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of the pa nel made under subsection (a). (c) NOTIFI CATION.
-- Not later than June 30 of each ye ar, the Secretary shall notify

each institution of higher education making an application under this title of
-- (1) the scores given the applicant by the panel pursuant to this section; (2) the recommendations of the panel with respect to such application; and (3) the reasons for the decision of the Secretary in awarding or refusing to award a grant under this title, and any

modifications, if an y, in the recommendations of the panel made b y the Secretary
. (d) EXCLUSION.
-- The provisions of this section shall not apply to applications submitted under part D. **SEC. 394. COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS**
. (a) GENERAL AUTHORI TY.
-- The Secretary may make grants to encourage cooperative arrangements (1) with funds available to carry out part A, between institutions eligible for assistance under part A and between such institutions and institutions not receiving assistance under this title; or (2) with funds available to carry out part B, b etween institutions eligible for assistance under part B and institutions not receiving assistance under this title; for the activities described in section 311(b) or section 323, as the case may be, so that the resources of the cooperating institutions mi ght be combined and shared to achieve the purposes of such parts and avoid costly duplicative efforts and to enhance the development of part A and part B eligible institutions. (b) PRI ORITY.
-- The Secretary shall give priority

to grants for the purposes d escribed under subsection (a) whenever the Secretary determines that the cooperative arrangement is geographically

and economically

sound or will benefit the applicant institution.58

(c) DURAT ION.
-- Grants to institutions having a cooperative arrangement may be made under this section for a period as determined under section 313 or section 323. **SEC. 395. ASSISTANCE TO INSTITUTIONS UNDER OTHER PROGRAMS**
. (a) ASSI STANCE ELIGIBILITY.
-- Each institution which the Secretary determines to be an institution eligib le under part A or an institution eligible under part B may be eligible for waivers in accordance with subsection (b). (b) WAIVER APPLICABILITY.
-- (1) Subject to, and in accordance with, regulations promulgated for the purpose of this section, in the case of any application by

an institution referred to in subsection (a) for assistance under any programs specified in paragraph (2), the Secretary is authorized, if such application is otherwise approvable, to waive any requirement for a non - Federal share of the cost of the program or project, or, to the extent not inconsistent with other law, to give, or require to be given, priority consideration of the application in relation to applications from other institutions. (2) The provisions of this section shall a pply to any program authorized by

part D or title IV of this Act. (c) LIM ITATION.
-- The Secretary shall not waive, under sub
- section (b), the non
- Federal share requirement for an y program for applications which, if approved, would require the expenditure of more than 10 percent of the appropriations for the program for an y fiscal y ear. **SEC. 396. LIMITATIONS.** The funds appropriated under section 360 may not be used
-- (1) for a school or department of divinity or any religious worship or sectarian activity; (2) for an activit y that is inconsistent with a State plan for desegregation of higher education applicable to such institution; (3) for an activit y that is inconsistent with a State plan of higher education applicable to such institution; or (4) for purposes other than the purposes set forth in the approved application under which the funds were made available to the institution. **SEC. 397. PENALTIES**
. Whoever, being an officer, director, agent, or employ ee of, or connected in any capacit y with, any re cipient of Federal financial assistance or grant pursuant to this title embezzles, willfully misapplies, steals, or obtains by fraud any

of the funds which are the subject of such grant or assistance, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 2 y ears, or both. **SEC. 398. CONTINUATION AWARDS** The Secretary

shall make continuation awards under this title for the second and succeeding ye ars of a grant onl y after determining that the recipient is making satisfactory progress in carryi ng out the grant. **SEC. 399. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS** 
. (a) AUTHORIZAT IONS.
-- (1) PART A.
-- (A) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part A, $135,000,000 (other than section 316) for fiscal ye ar 1999, and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal ye ars.59

(B) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 316, $10,000,000 for fiscal y ear 1999 and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years. (C) There are authorize d to be appropriated to carry out section 317, $5,000,000 for fiscal y ear 1999 and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years. (2) PART B.
-- (A) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part B (other than section 326 ), $135,000,000 for fiscal y ear 1999, and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal ye ars. (B) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 326, $35,000,000 for fiscal y ear 1999, and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal y ears. (3) PART C.
-- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part C, $10,000,000 for fiscal ye ar 1999, and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years. (4) PART D.
-- (A) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part D (other than section 345(7), but including section 347), $110,000 for fiscal y ear 1999, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years. (B) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 345(7), such sums as may be necessary for fiscal ye ar 1999 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal ye ars. (5) PART E.
-- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part E, $10,000,000 for fiscal ye ar 1999, and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years. (b) USE OF MULTIPLE YEAR AWARDS.
-- In the event of a multiple year award to an y institution under this title, the Secretary shall make funds available for such award from funds appropriated for this titl e for the fiscal y ear in which such funds are to be used by the recipient.60

HI GHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNI TY ACT OF 2008, P.L . 110
- 315 **TITLE III**

**— INSTITUTIONAL AID**  **SEC. 301. PROGRAM PURPOSE.**  Section 311 (20 U.S.C. 1057) is amended

— (1) in subsection (b)

— (A) in paragraph (1), b y s triking “351” and inserting “391”, and (B) in paragraph (3)(F), by inserting “, including services that will assist in the education of special populations” before the period; and (2) in subsection (c)

— (A) in paragraph (6), b y i nserting “, including innovative, customized, instruction courses designed to help retain students and move the students rapidly into core courses and through program completion, which may include remedial education and English language instruction” before the period; (B) b y redesignating paragraphs (7) through (12) as paragraphs (8) through (13), respectivel y; (C) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following: “(7) Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial literacy and economic liter acy of students or the students’ families.”; (D) in paragraph (12) (as redesignated b y subparagraph (B)), b y striking “distance learning academic instruction capabilities” and inserting “distance education technologies”; and (E) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of paragraph (13) (as redesignated b y subparagraph (B)), b y striking “subsection (c)” and inserting “subsection (b) and section 391”. **SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS; ELIGIBILITY.** Section 312 (20 U.S.C. 1058) is amended

— (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), b y striking “subsection (c) of this section” and inserting “subsection (d)”; (2) in subsection (d)(2), by striking “subdivision” and inserting “paragraph”; (3) b y redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and (4) b y inse rting after subsection (f) the following: “(g) LOW
- INCOME IN DIVI DUAL.

—For the purpose of this part, the term ‘low
- income individual’ means an individual from a famil y whose taxable income for the preceding ye ar did not exceed 150 percent of an amount equ al to the poverty level determined by

using criteria of poverty established by

the Bureau of the Census.”. **SEC. 317. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.** Section 391 (20 U.S.C. 1068) is amended b y adding at the end the following: ``(e) Technical Assistance.
-- The Secretary , directly or by grant or contract, may

provide technical assistance to eligible institutions to prepare the institutions to qualify , apply for, and maintain a grant, under this title.''. **SEC. 318. WAIVER AUTHORITY.** Section 392 (20 U.S.C. 1068a) is amen ded b y adding at the end the following: ``(c) Waiver Authorit y With Respect to Institutions L ocated in an Area Affected b y a Gulf Hurricane Disaster.
--61

``(1) Waiver authorit y. -- Notwithstanding an y other provision of law, unless enacted with specific refer ence to this section, for an y affected institution that was receiving assistance under this title at the time of a Gulf hurricane disaster, the Secretary shall, for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2011 (and may , for each of the fiscal y ears 201 2 and 2013)
- - ``(A) waive
-- ``(i) the eligibility

data requirements set forth in section 391(d); ``(ii) the wait
- out period set forth in section 313(d); ``(iii) the allotment requirements under section 324; and ``(iv) the use of the funding formula developed pur suant to section 326(f)(3); ``(B) waive or modify

any statutory or regulatory

provision to ensure that affected institutions that were receiving assistance under this title at the time of a Gulf hurricane disaster are not adversel y affected b y any formula calculation for fiscal year 2009 or for any of the four succeeding fiscal ye ars, as necessary ; and ``(C) make available to each affected institution an amount that is not less than the amount made available to such institution under this title for fiscal year 2006, except that for any fiscal y ear for which the funds appropriated for pay ments under this title are less than the appropriated level for fiscal year 2006, the amount made available to such institutions shall be ratably reduced among the institutio ns receiving funds under this title. ``(2) Definitions.
-- In this subsection: ``(A) Affected institution.
-- The term `affected institution' means an institution of higher education that
-- ``(i) is
-- ``(I) a part A institution (which term shall have the meanin g given the term `eligible institution' under section 312(b)); or (II) a part B institution, as such term is defined in section 322(2), or as identified in section 326(e); ``(ii) is located in an area affected b y a Gulf hurricane disaster; and ``(iii) is able to demonstrate that, as a result of the impact of a Gulf hurricane disaster, the institution
-- (I ) incurred phy sical damage; (II) has pursued collateral source compensation from insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency , and the Small Business Administration, as appropriate; and (III) was not able to full y reopen in existing facilities or to fully reopen to the pre - hurricane enrollment levels during the 30
- day period beginning on August 29, 2005. ``(B) Area affected b y a gulf hurricane disaster ; gulf hurricane disaster.
-- The terms `area affected by a Gulf hurricane disaster' and `Gulf hurricane disaster' have the meanings given such terms in section 209 of the Higher Education Hurricane Relief Act of 2005 (Public Law 109
- 148, 119 Stat. 2809).''
. **SEC. 319. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.** Section 399(a) (20 U.S.C. 1068h(a)) is amended to read as follows: ``(a) Authorizations.
-- ``(1) Part a.
-- (A) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part A (other than sections 316 through 320), $ 135,000,000 for fiscal ye ar 2009, and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the five succeeding fiscal years. ``(B) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 316, $30,000,000 for fiscal ye ar 2009, and such sums as may be necessary

fo r each of the five succeeding fiscal years. ``(C) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 317, $15,000,000 for fiscal ye ar 2009, and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the five succeeding fiscal years.62

``(D) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 318, $75,000,000 for fiscal ye ar 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years. ``(E) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 319, $25,000,000 for fiscal ye ar 2009, and such sums as may be n ecessary

for each of the five succeeding fiscal y ears. ``(F) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 320, $30,000,000 for fiscal ye ar 2009, and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the five succeeding fiscal y ears. ``(2) Part b.
-- (A) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part B (other than section 326), $375,000,000 for fiscal y ear 2009, and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the five succeeding fiscal ye ars. ``(B) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 326, $125,000,000 for fiscal ye ar 2009, and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the five succeeding fiscal years. ``(3) Part c.
-- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part C, $10,000,000 for fiscal ye ar 2009, and such s ums as may be necessary

for each of the five succeeding fiscal years. ``(4) Part d.
-- (A) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part D (other than section 345(9), but including section 347), $185,000 for fiscal y ear 2009, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the five succeeding fiscal y ears. ``(B) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 345(9) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal ye ar 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years. ``(5) Part e.
-- (A) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out subpart 1 of part E, $12,000,000 for fiscal ye ar 2009, and such sums as may be necessary

for each of the five succeeding fiscal ye ars. ``(B) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out subpart 2 of part E, such sums as may be necessary

for fiscal ye ar 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal ye ars.''. **SEC. 320. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.** Title III (20 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.) is further amended

— (1) in section 342(5) (20 U.S.C. 1066a(5))
-- (A) in the matte r preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting a comma after '' 344(b)''; and (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking '' equipment technology ,,'' and inserting '' equipment, technology ,''; (2) in section 343(e) (20 U.S.C. 1066b(e)), b y inserting '' Sale of Qualified Bonds.
-- '' before ''Notwithstanding''; (3) in the matter preceding clause (i) of section 365(9)(A) (20 U.S.C. 1067k(9)(A)), b y striking ``support'' and inserting '' supports''; (4) in section 391(b)(7)(E) (20 U.S.C. 1068(b)(7)(E)), b y striking '' subparagrap h (E)'' and inserting '' subparagraph (D)''; (5) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of section 392(b)(2) (20 U.S.C. 1068a(b)(2)), b y striking '' eligible institutions under part A institutions'' and inserting ``eligible institutions under part A''; and (6) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of section 396 (20 U.S.C. 1068e), by striking '' 360'' and inserting '' 399''.63



## Intergov **ernmental Rev iew**  **of Federal Programs**

**E xecutive**  **O rder**  **12372** This program falls under the rubric of Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive order is to strengthen federalism

— or the distribution of responsibility between localities, States, and the Federal government

— by fostering intergovernmental partnerships. This idea includes supporting processes that State or local governments have devised for coordinating and reviewing proposed Federal financial grant applications. The process for doing this requires grant applica nts to contact State Single Points of Contact for information on how this works. Multi
- state applicants should follow procedures specific to each state. Further information about the State Single Point of Contact process and a list of names by State can be found at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.pdf Absent specific State review programs, applicants may submit comments directly to the Department. All recommendations and comments must be mailed or hand
- delivered b y the date indicated in the actual application notice to the following address: The Secretary , EO 12372

— CFDA# 84. 031A , U.S. Department of Education, room 7E200, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202. Proof of mai ling will be determined on the same basis as applications (see 34 CFR 75.102). Recommendations or comments may be hand
- delivered until 4:30 p.m. ( Eastern Time ) on the closing date indicated in this notice. **Important note** : The above address is not the same address as the one to which the applicant submits its completed applications. **Do not send applications to the above address.**64



## General Education Prov **isions Act (GEP A)**  **Section 427**
**Section 427**  **requires each**  **applicant to**  **include in**  **its application**  **a description**  **of the**  **steps the**  **applicant proposes**  **to take**  **to ensure**  **equitable access**  **to, and**  **participation in,**  **its federally**  **- assisted**  **program for students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs. This**  **section allows**  **applicants discreti**  **on in**  **developing the**  **required description.**  **T he**  **statute highlights**  **six barriers**  **that can**  **impede equitable**  **access or**  **participation that**  **you may**  **address: gender, race, national origin, color disability,**  **or age.**  **A general**  **statement of** 

**a n**  **applicant’s nondisc**  **riminatory hiring**  **policy is**  **not sufficient**  **to meet**  **this requirement.**  **A pplicants**  **must identify**  **potential barriers**  **and explain**  **steps they**  **will take**  **to overcome these barriers.**  

## *Notes:

 **Applicants are required to address this provision by attaching a state ment to the ED**  **GE PA 427 Form that must be downloaded from Grants.gov.** 

 **All applicants must**  **include information in their applications to address this provision in order to receive funding under this program.** 65



## Go **ver nment Performance and Results A**  **ct (GPRA )** 
**What is GPRA?** The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) is a straightforward statute that requires all f

ederal agencies to manage their activities with attention to the consequences of those activities. Each agency

is to clearl y state what it intends to accomplish, identify the resources required, and periodically report their progress to the Congress. In so doing, it is expected that the GPRA will contribute to improvements in accountability for the expenditures of public funds, impro ve Congressional decision
- making through more objective information on the effectiveness of federal programs, and promote a new government focus on results, service delivery , and customer satisfaction. **How has the Department of Education Responded to the GPRA Requirements?**  As required b y GPRA, the Department of Education has prepared a strategic plan for 20 1 4
- 201 8
. This plan reflects the Department’s priorities and integrates them with its mission and program authorities and describes how the Department will work to improve education for all children and adults in the U.S. The Department’s goals, as listed in the plan, are: 1. **Postsecondary Education, Career and Technical Education, and Adult Education.** Increase college access, quality, and completion by improving higher education and lifelong learning opportunities for youth and adults. 2. **Elementary and Secondary.** Prepare all elementary and secondary students for college and career by improving the education system’s ability to consistently deliver excellent classroom instruction with rigorous academic standards while providing effective support services. 3. **Early Learning.** Improve the health, social

- emotional, and cognitive outcomes for all children from birth through 3rd grade, so that all children, particularly those with high needs, are on track for graduating from high school college

- and career

- ready. 4. **Equity.** Ensure effective educational opportunities for all students regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sex, disability, language, and socioeconomic status. 5. **Continuous Improvement of the U.S. Education System.** Enhance the education system’s ability to continuously improve through better and more widespread use of data, research and evaluation, transparency, innovation, and technolog y. 6. **U.S. Department of Education Capacity.** Improve the organizational capacities of the Department to implement this Strategic Plan.66

**What are the Performance Indicators for SIP?** The specific performance indicators for SIP are as follows: 1. The number of full
- time degree
- seeking undergraduates enrolled at SIP institutions . Note that this is a long
- term measure, which will be used periodicall y to gauge performance, beginning in FY 2009. 2. The percentage of first
- time, full
- time degree
- seeking undergraduate students at 4
- ye ar SIP institutions who were in their first y ear of postsecondary enrollment in the previous ye ar and are enrolled in the current y ear at the same SIP institution. 3. The percentage of first
- time, full
- time degree
- seeking undergraduate stude nts at 2
- ye ar SIP institutions who were in their first y ear of postsecondary enrollment in the previous ye ar and are enrolled in the current y ear at the same SIP institution. 4. The percentage of first
- time, full
- time degree
- seeking undergraduate students enrolled at 4
- ye ar SIP institutions graduating within six years of enrollment. 5. The percentage of first
- time, full
- time degree
- seeking undergraduate students enrolled at 2
- ye ar SIP institutions who graduate within three y ears of enrollment. 6. The cost per su ccessful program outcome: federal cost per undergraduate and graduate degree at SIP institutions. **How does**  **the Department**  **of Education**  **determine whether**  **performance goals**  **have been**  **met?** An applicant that receives a grant award will be required to submit annual progress reports and a final report as a condition of the award. T he reports will document the extent to which project goals and objectives are met. The most recent version of this program’s annual performance report can be viewed at https://apr.ed.gov . To login, please click on the training tab and request login information to obtain access.67



## Instructions for Completing the A **pplication**
The SIP application consists of the following four parts. Th ese parts are organized in the same manner that the submitted application should be organized. Remember to upload all forms and sections and follow carefully the Grants.gov application instructions. Note: **All attachments must be**  **PDF file s**  **.** The parts are as follows: **Part I :**  **424 Forms**

 Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)  Department of Education Supplemental Information form for SF 424 **Part II :**  **U.S. Department of Education Budget Summary Forms**

 ED 524 (Section A and Section B) The “ **U.S. Department of Education Budget Information for Non -**  **Construction Programs”** is where applicants provide budget information for Section A

– Budget Summary U.S. Department of Education Funds and Section B

– Budget Summary Non
- Federal Funds
. Applicants should include costs for all project years. **Part III :**  **Department of Education Abstract Form**

 In clude a one
- page Abstract as a PDF file. (If addressing the priority , please indicate so in the Abstract.) **Project Narrative Attachment Form s**   ED Abstract Form  Project Narrative Attachment Form o Upload the 50
- page (individual grants) or 70
- page (cooperative grants) responses to the selection criteria (project narrative);  Budget Narrative Attachment Form  Program Profile **Other Attachments** Uploa d:  the five
- page competitive preference priorit y narrative and;  a separate PDF titled Evidence Studies (for the determination of moderate evidence) **Part IV :**  **Assurances, Certifications, and Survey Forms**

 GEPA Section 427 requirement  Assurances for Non
- Construction Programs (SF 424B)  Lobb yi ng Form (ED Form 80.0013)  Disclosure of Lobb yi ng Activities (SF
- LLL)68

**ED Abstract Form :**  Attach your one - page project abstract that will provide an overview of the proposed project. **Project Narrative Attachment Fo**  **rm :**  The project narrative should include the narrative responses to the selection criteria and the competitive preference priorit y that will be used to evaluate your application submitted for this competition. Please include a Table of Contents as the first page of the application narrative. You must limit the application narrative to no more than 50 pages for the Individual Development Grant application or 7 0 pages for the Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant application
. The P roject Narrative pages should be consecutivel y numbered. If you are addressing the competitive preference priority, your response to the priorit y s hould no t be more than five pages. This applies to both Individual and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants. You mus t attach your project narrative to the P rojec t N arrative Attachment F orm in Grants.gov. Responses and studies addressing the competitive preference priority should be attached to the “Other Attachments” in Grants.gov. **Budget Narrative Attachment Form :**  Attach a detailed line item budget to justify that costs are reasonable and necessary to accomplish the proposed project objectives. Note: The selection criteri a also require a budget section that you will respond to as a part of your project narrative. **Program Profile:** Included in this application is a SIP Program Profile. You must complete this profile and attach it to Part III, Project Narrative Attachment Form , in Grants.gov . **PDF of evidence studies to determine moderate evidence :**  In Part III, the Other Attachment s Form is where you attach both, your five
- page Competitive Preference Priority
-- Supporting Strategies for which there is Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness narrative and the accompan yi ng evidence studies
.
**NOTE: Please do not attach any narratives, supporting files, or application components to the**  **Standard Form (SF 424). Although the form accepts attachments, the Department of Education will only review materials/files attached to the attachment forms listed abo**  **ve. All attachments must be in**  **PDF format. Other types of files will not be accepted** 

.69 

## Project Narrative Instructions **The project narrative shall be attached to the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” in Grants.gov.**  Before preparing the Project Narrative, applicants should review the program statute, program regulations, the Federal Register NIA , and the Dear Applicant Letter for specific guidance and requirements. The Secretary

evaluates an application according to the program specific criteria in 34 CFR 607.22. The Project Narrative should provide in detail the responses to each selection criterion. The maximum possible score for each category of selection criterion is indicated in parenthesis. For ease of re ading b y the reviewers, applicants should follow the sequence of the criteria as provided below. Applications should be written in a concise and clear manner. You must limit the section of the narrative that addresses the selection criteria and the compe titive preference priority to no more than 5 5 pages for the Individual Development Grant application or 75 pages for the Coope rative Arrangement Development Grant application
. Applicants not addressing the competitive preference priority , must limit their responses to the selection criteria to 50 pages for Individual Development Grants or 70 pages for Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant applications. **Note** : Please include a separate document with its own heading when responding to the competitive pr eference priority and attach it to the “ Other Attachments Form ” in Grants.gov
. **Applicants MUST address each of the following SIP selection criteria:** 1. Quality

of Comprehensive Development Plan (25 points) 2. Quality

of Activity

Objectives (15 points) 3. Quality

of Implementation Strategy (20 points) 4. Quality

of Key Personnel ( 7 points) 5. Quality

of Project Management Plan (10 points) 6. Quality

of Evaluation Plan (15 points) 7. Quality

of Budget ( 8 poi nts)

_________ **Total Maximum Score for Selection Criteria 100 points**  **The following guidance may assist you in addressing the questions that will be used to evaluate your responses to the selection criteria**  **: (a)**  **Quality of Comprehensive De velopment Plan**  **(CDP) (Maximum: 25 points)**  **. (1)**  **The strengths, weaknesses, and significant problems of the institution’s**  **academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability are clearly and**70

**comprehensively analyzed and result from a process that involved major constituencies of the institution.**  **Content:** Separately describe and anal yz e your institution's strengths, weaknesses, and significant problems in the following three areas as they r elate to each proposed activity : 1. Academic programs, 2. Institutional management, and 3. Fiscal stability
. We are considering “weaknesses” and “significant problems” to be one and the same. Use the grant funds to address some of these weaknesses and problems. Here are some guidelines for stating the problems:

 State what is “too high” or what is “too low.” F or example, the percentage of freshmen students who fail four courses is too high. When you state the problem this way , the objectives become obvious. Such as , “to decrease, from 42 percent to 30 percent, the percentage of freshmen students who fail four courses.”

 Avoid problem statements that declare the problem as "the lack of " or "the need for" the very solution you are proposing for funding. Such as, “the problem with our academic programs is a lack of or need for student services outside the classroom. Thus, we propose an activity to establish those student services." This t ype of statement usually

contains circular reasoning.

 Provide summaries of or excerpts from recent data, reports, evaluations or studies that demonstrate that you have objecti vel y and thoroughly analyzed your institution’s main problems.

 Describe the process you used to formulate the above information.

 Provide evidence of the extent and nature of the faculty , staff, students, community , industry , and other major constituents' involvement in this process. You may rely on previously

written information, such as a self
- study for accreditation, as long as your process for developing the information involved the major constituencies' representatives and reflects your institution's current situation. **(2) The goals for the institution’s academic programs, institutional management,**  **and fiscal stability are realistic and based on comprehensive analysis. Content:**  Based on a comprehensive anal ys is of your institution's strengths, weaknesses, and significant problems, separately state the institutional goals as they relate to each proposed activit y you plan to address using Title III, Part A Strengthening Institution s Program funds.71

**(3) The**  **objectives stated in the plan are measurable, related to institutional goals, and if achieved, will contribute to the growth and self**  **- sufficiency of the institution.**  **Content:** Focusing onl y on the institutional objectives that are specificall y related to yo ur proposed Title III, Part A Strengthening Institutions Program activities, separately p rovide measurable objectives for how you will reach each of the goals as you discussed in #2. Achieving the objectives outlined should c ontribute to the growth and self
sufficiency

of the institution. **Describe in measurable terms how objectives are related to the goals of the institution. The description should include details on the following:**  Specific Tasks Institutionalize personnel, programs, and services. Methods Involved Operational funding budgeted and allocated to sustain improvements. Tangible Results Program, services, and personnel full y institutionalized. **(4) T**  **he plan clearly and comprehensively describes the methods and resources the**  **institution will use to institutionalize practices and improvements developed under the proposed project, including, in particular, how operational costs for personnel,**  **maintenance, and upgrades of equipment will be paid with inst itutional resources.**  **Content:** Inthis section, separately describe the following for each proposed activity : The methods your institution will use to integrate practices and improvements developed into its operations and, if appropriate, continue them a fter the grant ends. For example, provide specifics on how your institution will obtain approval from appropriate internal and/or external governance authorities to conduct new or revised curricula and use new intervention strategies. What will the time period be for these actions? Provide the resources yo u will need to institutionalize newly developed practices and improvements and, most importantly , how you will fund them. In particular, discuss how yo ur institution will fund operational costs such as personnel, maintenance, and u pgraded equipment. For example, one way to ensure that positions continue after the grant ends is for your institution to pay a percentage of the salary during the grant and increase that percentage during ye ars two, three, four, and five. **(b) Quality**  **of Activity Objectives (Maximum:**  **15 Points). (1)**  **The extent to which the objectives for each activity are realistic and defined in terms of measurable results.** 72

**Content:** State yo ur annual objectives, separatel y for each activity , which, when combined with their performance indicator(s), are measurable and realistic (not too high, not too low). Connect each objective to the problem or weakness it should address, as yo u descri bed in the CDP. In addition:
o DO NOT identify

process objectives such as: "To establish a college
- wide committee , ” whose measurement is: "We formed a committee." Identify processes or tasks un der the Implementation Strategy as discussed next.
o DO use words such as "to increase" or "to decre ase" since you are more likely to be describing a genuine, outcome objective.
o DO NOT begin your objective with words such as "to provide," "to develop," or "to establish." This heightens the likelihood you may be describing a process or task rather than an outcome objective.
o DO provide a realistic number of objectives and performance indicators for each proposed activit y and for each ye ar you are requesting funds for that activity. **(2) The extent to which the objectives for each activity are directly r**  **elated to the problems to be solved and to the goals of the comprehensive development plan.**  **Content :**  Separately describe how meeting the objectives of each proposed activity will address a problem identified in the CDP and affect your institution's abili ty to address its goals for its academic programs, institutional management, or fiscal stability
. If you need funds for more than one activity, you may propose different start and end dates and vary

the duration of each. For example, you may need onl y three y ears to develop a new curriculum but five years to develop a new management information sy stem. An y proposed activity should address a critical problem that the CDP describes as hindering institutional growth and self
- sufficiency . If you propose to use up to 20% for endowment investing, do not write an activit y narrative regarding this use of endowment investing, as we do not consider it an activity in the usual sense. **(c) Quality of Implementation Strategy**  **(Maximum: 20 Points).**  **(1) The**  **extent to which the implementation strategy for each activity is**  **comprehensive. (2)**  **The extent to which the rationale for the implementation strategy for each activity is clearly described and is supported by the results of relevant studies or**  **projects. Cont**  **ent:** For each proposed activity , e xplain why you chose a specific method for implementing that activity. Include how you determined that method to be most73

effective, indicating relevant studies or projects that you reviewed and experts that you consulted
. **(3) The timetable for each activity is realistic and likely to be attained.** 

 Chart an implementation strategy to meet your objectives for each ye ar you are requesting funds and for each activity
.  Use time frames that are realistic for completing a task. Chart each of the five ye ars using the budget period of October 1 to September 30.
 Describe in a comprehensive, sequential and clear manner who will do what and how they will do it to meet the objectives of each activity
.  Id entify , by

title, the primary

participants who will carry out the tasks to meet the objectives. Describe how the personnel will perform the tasks and the results you expect from them. **(d) Quality of Key**  **Personnel (Maximum:**  **7 Points) .**  **(1) The**  **extent to which the experience and training of key professional personnel**  **are directly related to the stated activity objectives. (2)**  **The extent t**  **o which the time commitment of key personnel is realistic. Content:**  For each proposed activity , list, by title and name (if av ailable) which positions are being proposed using Title III funds and describe the qualifications you require of that position and the amount of time each person will all ot to the proposed activity
. If you want to use a consultant, explain why a consult ant is more advantageous than using the institution’s personnel. **(e) Quality of Project Management Plan**  **(Maximum: 10 Points).**  **(1) The extent to which procedures for managing the project are likely to ensure**  **efficient and effective project im**  **plementation. (2)**  **The extent to which project coordinator and activity directors have sufficient**  **authority to conduct the project effectively, including access to the president or chief executive officer.**  For the Title III, Part A, Strengthening Institutions Program coordinator’s position, provide the following:

 Under “Quality

of Key Personnel , ” be sure to include the coordinator's required qualifications (education, experience, training , etc. ) and the specific duties of the position. Directly

r elate the duties to the stated purposes and objectives of the project.74

 Indicate how much time the Title III, Part A, coordinator will commit to the project. Make the time commitment realistic, not too high nor too low, relative to the tasks the individual will perform. Note: Your Title III, Part A coordinator’s time commitment to a project may vary considerabl y from that in another project or another institution’s project. One project focused on developing a management information sy stem, for example, may have a coordinator who is the director of technology in the ordinary

hierarchy

of the college. He or she may

allot 10 percent time to coordinate the project for which the college will pay
. On the other hand, a new coordinator of a faculty development project may be an instructional developer with a 50 percent time or 100 percent time commitment paid for with Title III, Part A, funds. Carefull y think through the management structure and time commitment that will work best at your institution and specify the reasons for your choice.

 Describe the procedures the project coordinator (project director) will use to manage and monitor the project's progress such as how information will be provided to key administrators so they

can integrate project activities with related, on
- going institutional activities.

 Describe the project coordinator's (project director) administrative authority over the activity director(s) who is normally responsible for accomplishing a specific activity 's objectives. Also, describe the administrative authority of the activity

director(s) over subordinates.

 Chart the lines of authority of the project coordinator to key institutional decision makers, including the president. **(f) Quality of Evaluation Plan**  **(Maximum: 15**  **Points) .**  **(1) The extent to which the data elements and the data collection procedures are**  **clearly described and appropriate to measure the attainment of activity objectives and to measure the success of the project in achieving the goals of the**  **compreh ensive development plan.**  **Content:** For each proposed activity , describe the data collection procedures the institution will use to identify the data elements, objectives, and goals identified in the CDP. Include measure attainment of each proposed activi ty . Include procedures for anal yz ing and using both formative and summative data. **(2) The extent to which the**  **data analysis procedures are clearly described and are likely to produce formative and summative results on attaining activity objectives**  **and m easuring the success of the project on achieving the goals of the**  **comprehensive development plan.**75

**Content:** For each proposed activity , describe in detail the project's evaluation plan, including who, what, when and how. Define the baseline indicators of progress that you will use. The detailed evaluation plan should:

 Produce a valid assessment of your implementation strategies;
 Result in annual, quantifiable evidence of the extent to which you attained your objectives for each activity and your goals for which funding is requested;
 In clude the data elements and collection procedures that you will use; and
 Describe procedures for anal yz ing and using both formative and summative data. All applicants must submit a plan to conduct a project evaluation as part of their grant activities. The planned evaluation should be sy stematic in assessing the worth of a project and useful in gu iding project objectives and focus primaril y on determining the outcomes and impacts of the project relative to those objectives. The evaluation should also serve to strengthen the management of the project and lead to better knowledge of what works in pr oducing the desired outcomes. An individual or organization, independent of the project team (and all of its partners), but not necessaril y external to the grantee institution, should execute the project evaluation plan. This independent evaluator should assist in the initial preparation of the evaluation plan and be willing to work alongside the project team throughout the duration of the project. The evaluator should possess good evaluation skills commonly found among practitioners of the American Evaluation Association. Helpful Web sites to consult when preparing an evaluation plan include:

 Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/fipse/evaluate.html

 National Science Foundation: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04016/nsf04016_4.htm

 Kellogg Foundation: http://www.wkkf.org/default.aspx?tabid=75&CID=281&NID=61&LanguageID=0 (for their evaluation handbook)

 Academic Competitiveness Council http://hub.mspnet.org/search/?ac tion=true&search_text=evaluation The project director and team should be committed to gathering the best evaluation data possible for formative and summative purposes. Projects should collect baseline data before the project starts as a basis for measuring progress. A summary

of the evaluation report must be included in the final performance report submitted by

the project to the Department of Education. The report, which also includes76

fiscal and management performance information, is due within 90 day s after expiration of the award . The evaluation report should be included as an appendix to the final performance report as well as available upon request. (Please see 34 CFR 75.217 for information on how project performance may affect future funding
. ) For the Title III, Strengtheni ng Institutions Program, the evaluation plan should produce a valid assessment of the implementation strategies. It should also result in annual, quantifiable evidence of the attainment of objectives for each activity and of the goals in the CDP. **(g) Budget**  **(Maximum: 8 Points)**  **. The extent to which the proposed costs are necessary and reasonable in relation to**  **the project’s objectives and scope. Content:**  Review the program regulations (34 CFR 607.10 and 607.30) for guidance on which activities and costs are allowable. For example, you may not use your grant funds to:

- Recruit students ;

- Provide scholarships for students;

- Carry out activities that are operat ional rather than developmental;

- Carry out student activities such as entertainment, cultural or social enrichment programs, student publication s, social clubs or associations ;

- Pay for organized fund raisin g and;

- Cover indirect costs. Prepare a separate, detailed, budget narrative for each proposed activity for each ye ar you are requesting grant funds. Demonstrate and justify that all costs are reasonable in today ’s market and necessary to accomplish your activity objectives. Please pay particular attention in your justification to those (per item) costs exceeding $25,000, excluding salaries and fringe benefits. For each activity , provide itemized costs (in dollars), and a narrative justification to support your request for:

 Personnel  Fringe Benefits  Travel  Equipment  Supplies  Contractual  Construction  Other  Total You must provide details so we can determine if the costs are allowable, necessary and reasonable.77

**NOTE: The Title III, Strengthening Institutions Program , CFDA**  **84.031A , does not**  **reimburse grantees for indirect costs the y incur in carrying out a projec**  **t funded under this program.**  **Therefore, applicants should not show any dollar amounts for indirect costs on either line 10 of the application budget form (ED 524) or in their**  **budget narrative. Applicants should also be aware that un**  **- reimbursed indirect**  **c osts under grants of this program may not be charged as direct cost items in the**  **same award, used to satisfy matching or cost -**  **sharing requirements, or charged to another Federal award.**  Do not include a budget narrative (as a separate activity) for endowment investing. **Note** : Check all combined totals for the proposed activity budgets and compare it to the total on the ED 524. The totals must match. **U. S. Department of Education Budget Information Non**  **- Construction Programs (Section**  **A -**  **Budget Summary U.S. Department of Education Funds and Section B**

**– Budget**  **Summary Non -**  **Federal Funds (ED 524 form)).** First, carefull y read the instructions contained in this document. Then, using th e Department of Education Budget Information for Non
- Construction Programs (ED524) form, prepare a budget for the entire project that totals all the costs for each year of the grant. If you choose to use up to 20 percent of grant funds to establish or inc rease your institution’s endowment fund through endowment investing, enter the amount of your contribution in the summary budget on the “other” line. If you have additional items for the other category , separate the endowment contribution from the other i tems and make two entries for “other.” Endowment monies should be listed first.78 **Competitive Preference Priority**  **Narrative** For the FY 2015 84.031A SIP competition , there is one competitive preference priority : **Supporting Programs, Practices, or Strategies for which there is Moderate Evidence of**  **Effectiveness**
. Only projects that are supported by moderate evidence (as defined in the FY 2015 , Title III, Part A, SIP competition Federal Register NIA ) will be considered for the additional three ( 3 ) points
. The purpose of the evidence preference is to provide grants for proposed projects that have demonstrated evidence of effectiveness. As such, in responding to this preference , applicants are encour aged to explain how one of their activities in the application is supported by moderate evidence. To determine moderate evidence, applicants must identify a minimum of one to a maximum of two piece s of evidence that they deem the best indicator (s) that this activity meets the definition of moderate evidence. Applicants should also consider how their proposed implementation of practices with an existing evidence base presents new opportunities for evaluation or knowledge
- building about these prac tices that could be used to improve these practices either at their institution or in other contexts. If addressing the priority , you may use up to an additional five pages to address the competitive priority , for a maximum total of 55
- pages for individual grants and 75
- pages for cooperative arrangement grants. No portion of these five pages can be used as additional pages to respond to the selection criteria. **An applicant must include all supporting evidence in PDF format** 
. This PDF information , will be attached as a separate document in Part III ( Other Attachment s Form ) in Grants.gov , with the title: Evidence Studies
. If the Department determines that an applicant has provided insufficient information, the applicant will not have an opportunity to provide additional information to support the application.79 

## Instructions for Standard Forms

o 

### Instructions for the SF
- 424

o 

### Instructions for Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424

o 

### Definitions for Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424

o 

### Instructions for ED 524

o 

### Instructions for Completion of SF
- LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities



## Other Information and Guidance:

o Supplem ental Information and Instructions89



## Supplemental Information and Instructions
**SIP Profile:** All applicants must complete the information requested on this page. Using the profile, the applicant will provide information on a ssurances and e ligibility
. **Do not modify, amend or delete any of this document.**  Applicants must copy

and paste this page into a separate document, or recreate the page exactly as it appears. Then, complete the page, save it to your computer and attach it to Part III, Pro ject Narrative Attachment Form , in Grants.gov, as a PDF document. Do not modify or amend the contents of the form in any way . **Page Limits:** The project narrative (Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that revi ewers use to evaluate yo ur application. We have established mandatory page lim its for Individual Development Grant applications and for Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant applications
. Applicants not addressing the competitive preference priority must limit their narrative to no more than 5 0 pages for individual grants and 70
- pages for cooperative grants . Applicants addressing the priorit y are limited to five additional pages for the competitive preference priority , for a total of 55
- pages for individual grants and 75
- pages for cooperative grants. **Note** : Please include a separate heading when responding to the competitive preference priority
. The page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424); the Department of Education Supplemental Information form (SF 424); Part II, Budget Information

— Non
- Construction Programs (ED Form 524); Part III, the one
- page project abstract, the Program Profile, the PDF titled Evidence Studies; an d Part IV, th e assurances and certifications . However, the page limit does apply to all of the project narrative section ( attached in Part III), including the budget narrative of the selectio n criteria. If you include any attachments or appendices not sp ecifically requested in the application package, these items will be counted as part of the project narrative (Part III) for purposes of the page limit requirement. You must include your complete response to the selection criteria in the project narrative
. **Formatting Requirements:** A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5 ′′ x 11 , ′′ on one side only , with 1 inch margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, **except** titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, captions and all text in charts, tables, and graphs. Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. Applications submitted in any other font (including Times Roman an d Arial Narrow) will not be accepted. Use font size 12. **Special Note: No special accommodations or reformatting justifications will be given for any**  **applications not meeting page limits and formatting requirements** 

### .90



### 84. **031 A**  **Strengt hening Institutions Program Profile**  **INSTRUCTIONS** : ALL applicants must complete these pages. The completed pages must be attached to the “Other Attachments Form” in the application package in the Grants.gov system (as a .PDF document). DO NOT MODIFY OR AMEND THESE PAGES

. **OPE ID #___________ 1. INSTITUTION (Legal Name):** 

_____________________________________________________________________ **2. A re y**  **ou applying as a Branch Campus? _____YES**  **_____NO 3. A**  **DDRESS (A pplicants must indicate the**  **address where the project w ill be located):**  Project Address:

_______________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________State: ______Zip:

_____________ **4. ENDOWMENT FUND A** **SSURA NCE:** 
**□ By** **checking this box (or placing an “X” beside it)**  , an applicant certifies that the institution of higher education proposes to use up to twenty percent (20%) of the Strengthening Institutions Program grant award, made under the authority of Title III, Part A of the Higher Edu cation Act of 1965, as amended, to establish or increase the institution’s endowment fund. The institution agrees to abide by the Department of Education’s regulations governing the Endowment Challenge Grant program, 34 CFR Part 628, the program statute, and the program regulations, 34 CFR Part 607. The institution further agrees to raise the required matching funds. **5 .**  **COOPERA TIVE ARRA**  **NGEMENT FOR PA RTICIP**  **AT ING INSTITUTIONS:**  The applicant institution must provide for each Participating Institution: the Institution Name, DUNS Number, Location (City and State). **6 .**  **Tie -**  **Breaker Information** If the selection process ends in a tie and funds are not sufficient to fund all institutions, we will use the information provided here to determine who will receive a grant. In accordance with Section 607.23(b), the Secretary will award up to three (3) additional points based on the information provided here. Content: On a separate page, provide the following information: TOTAL 20 12 - 20 13 FULL - TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE) STUDENTS=___________ Total market value of endowment fund at the end of 20 12 - 20 13 $__________ B. Total expenditures for library materials during 20 12 - 20 13 $__________ C. Check all activities the applicant proposes to carry out in application:91

a. Faculty d evelopment

____________ b. Funds and administrative management ____________ c. Development and improvement of academic ____________ programs d. Acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening ____________ management and academic programs e. Joint use of facilities

____________ f. Student services

____________92 

## Ap **plication Checklist** Use This Checklist While Preparing Your Application Package : All items listed on this checklist are required. Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424 Department of Education Budget In formation Non
- Con struction Programs Form (ED 524 ) One
- Page Program Abstract

– Attached to the “ED Abstract Form” in Grants.gov Project Narrative for the proposed grant

– Attached to the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” in Grants.gov
. Narrat ive for the competitive preference priorit y narrative, titled: “ Competitive Preference Priorit y

-- Supporting Programs, Practices, or Strategies for which there is Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness. ”)

– Attached to the “ Other Attachments Form” in Grants.g ov Budget Narrative

– Attached to the “ Budget Narrative Attachment Form” in Grants.gov Strengthening Institutions Program Profile

– Attached to the “ Project Narrative Attachment Form ” in Grants.gov PDF of Evidence Studies

– Attached to the “ Other Attachment s Form” in Grants.gov Assurances and Certifications

– found in Grants.gov Assurances for Non
- Construction Programs (SF
- 424B) Grants.gov Lobb yi ng Form (ED 80
- 0013) Disclosure of Lobb yi ng Activities (SF
- LLL) ED GEPA 427 Form93 

## Paperw **ork Burden Statement** According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displ ay s a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of i nformation is estimated to average 65 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain benefit as authorized by Title III, Part A, Sections 311
- 315, of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended b y the HEOA; and governed b y the program regulations in 34 CFR Part 607
. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to regulations.gov during the public comment period for this collection of information. If you have specific questions about the form, instrument or survey , please contact : Nalini Lamba
- Nieves, Strengthening Institutions Program, U.S. Department of Education, 199 0 K Street, NW, Room 6024, Washington, DC 20 006
- 85 44 directly
.