Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program Application

HSI 2017 Grant application 111716

Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program Application

OMB: 1840-0745

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 1840-0745 can be found here:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Postsecondary Education

Washington, DC 20202

www.ed.gov/hsi

Fiscal Year 2017

APPLICATION FOR GRANTS

UNDER THE DEVELOPING

HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM

CFDA NUMBER: 84.031S

Form Approved

OMB No. 1840-0745, Expiration Date: XXXX

DATED MATERIAL – OPEN IMMEDIATELY

CLOSING DATE: April 17, 2017

Page

Dear Applicant Letter……………………………………………………………. 1

Competition Highlights……...…………………………………………………... 3

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants..…………………… 5

Application Transmittal Instructions….…………………………………………. 9

Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards.......................……...................…. 11

Program Statute…………………………………………………………………... 52

Intergovernmental Review……………………………………………………….. 62

General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)……………….…...................……… 63

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

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

Supplemental Instructions for the Project Narrative…………………………….. 67

Instructions for Standard Forms………………………………………………….. 70

Instructions for the SF 424……………………………………………………….. 71

Instructions for Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424… 73

Instructions for ED 524…………………………………………………………... 77

Instructions for Completion of SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities……. 78

Instructions for Completion of General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)……… 80

Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program Assurances……………………………… 81

Supplemental Information and Instructions……………………………………… 82

HSI Program Profile Form……………………………………………………….. 84

Application Checklist ……………………………………………………………. 87

Paperwork Burden Statement…………………………………………………….. 88

Dear Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in applying for a new grant under the fiscal year (FY) 2017 Title V, Part A, Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program grant competition. This letter highlights items in the application package that will be important to you in applying for a grant under this program. Please review the entire application package carefully before preparing and submitting your application.

In order to receive a grant under the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Title V, Part A, program, an institution of higher education must have been designated as an eligible institution or granted a waiver. The notice announcing the FY 2017 process for designation of eligible institutions, and inviting applications for waiver of eligibility requirements, was published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2016 (80 FR XXXXX). In addition to basic eligibility requirements, an institution must have at least 25 percent enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent (FTE) Hispanic students at the end of the award year immediately preceding the date of application. For this competition, an institution must have 25 percent Hispanic enrollment full-time equivalency by Fall 2015.

In the FY 2017 grant competition, there is an invitational priority and there are two competitive preference priorities. No additional points will be awarded for meeting the invitational priority. We will, however, award an application up to 10 additional points for each competitive preference priority, depending on how well the application meets the priority. Applicants may only respond to one of the competitive preference priorities, for a total of up to 10 additional points. For additional information about the competitive preference priorities, refer to the Federal Register Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for FY 2017, which is included in this application package.

Applications for FY 2017 grants under the DHSI program must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov at: http://www.grants.gov. An applicant who is unable to submit through Grants.gov must submit a written request for a waiver of the electronic submission requirement at least two weeks before the deadline date. Additional information about Grants.gov submission requirements can be found in the Competition Highlights, the Notice published in the Federal Register, and the transmittal instructions which are included in this package.

The Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards published in the Federal Register is the official document describing the requirements for submitting a DHSI grant application. You should not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the guidance contained in the official document. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Njeri Clark at (202) 453-6224 or [email protected]. We encourage applicants to review the “Competition Highlights” found in the application package for an overview of important items.

I appreciate your interest in the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program and look forward to receiving your application.

Sincerely,

/s/

Beatriz Ceja

Director

Hispanic-Serving Institutions Division

Competition Highlights

Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions grant applications for FY 2017 must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov at: http://www.grants.gov. Once you download the application package from Grants.gov, you will be working off-line and saving data on your computer. Be sure to note where you are saving the Grants.gov file on your computer. You will need to log on to Grants.gov to upload and submit your application.

We recommend that you consider four important administrative factors when applying for this grant program:

Register at the Grants.gov website early. The registration procedures may require 5 or more days to complete.
Consider submitting your application 3-4 days prior to the closing date. The time it takes to upload an application will vary depending on your application and the speed of your Internet connection. The application submission process must be complete prior to the deadline for transmittal of applications.
Remember to provide the DUNS number that was used when your organization registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly CCR - Central Contractor Registry).
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.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008 amended the authorized grant activities under Part A of Title V of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 (individual development grants) to include innovative and customized instruction course development; articulation agreement and student support program activities designed to facilitate student transfer from two-year to four-year institutions; activities that improve student financial and economic literacy; and activities to develop distance education technologies.
The HEOA also amended the authorized grant activities under Part C (formerly Part B) of Title V (cooperative arrangement development grants) of the HEA to include activities authorized under new Part B of Title V of the HEA.
Grants under this competition will be awarded on a competitive basis for the following types of grants: Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants. For this competition, an applicant may submit one Individual Development Grant application and/or one Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant application. Due to funding restrictions: an eligible HSI that submits more than one application in the fiscal year will not be awarded more than one Individual grant and one Cooperative grant.
A grantee under the DHSI Program, which is authorized by Title V of the HEA, may not receive another grant under any HEA, Title III, Part A or Part B program.
We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the maximum allowable amount for a single budget period of 12 months. (See Notice Inviting Applications for maximum allowable amounts.)
An eligible HSI that submits a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant with a partnering branch campus that is part of the same institution will not be awarded a grant.
For FY 2017, there is an invitational priority. This priority is: Promoting the Teacher Profession for Hispanic Students.
There are two competitive preference priorities for this competition. We award an application up to ten additional points for each priority. Applicants may only respond to one of the competitive preference priorities for a total of up to ten additional points, depending on how well the application meets the priority.

10. All applicants (Individual and Cooperative) are required to adhere to the page limit for the Project Narrative portion of the application. You must limit the section of the narrative that addresses the selection criteria and the priorities to no more than 55 pages.

11. Applicants must complete a supporting budget narrative for each line item on the ED-524 form. The budget narrative does not count against your page count.

Applicants must complete the “DHSI Program Profile Form” located in this application package. This form serves as the assurance regarding Hispanic enrollment percent required by the program’s statutory language. Applicants are required to provide the Department with any documentation that the institution relied upon to determine that at least 25 percent of the institution’s undergraduate FTE students are Hispanic. The Department will cross-reference, for verification, information reported to the Department’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). If there are any differences in the percentages reported in IPEDS and the percentage reported in the grant application, your institution should explain the differences as a part of its eligibility documentation. If the applicant does not provide data or the Department is unable to verify data submitted by the institution, the Department may deem the applicant as ineligible. After completing the form, a certifying official must review the form and place an X in box #13 certifying that the institution will comply with the statutory requirements and program assurances cited in the HSI program regulations, 34 CFR 606.2.
This application package contains detailed instructions for every required component of your application. It also includes an Application Checklist for your convenience. Note: If all required documents are not submitted with your application, it may be deemed ineligible.
This application package contains submission procedures to ensure your application is received in a timely and acceptable manner. Consult and follow the Federal Register notice (also called the Notice Inviting Applications or NIA) to ensure proper guidance for application submission. Exceptions to the electronic submission requirement are also outlined in the Federal Register notice. The Department is required to enforce the established deadline in order to ensure fairness to all applicants.
Lastly, applicants are reminded that the document published in the Federal Register is the official document. You should not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the guidance contained within this official document.

***Updated 2/2015***

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 aware 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 web-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 Chrome; we currently do not have the latest version of Microsoft IE here at Education. If you are unsure about which 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 browsers.

The table below lists supported Web Browsers:

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 Browser 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, applicants will need to download 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 was subsequently resolved.) Information on computer and operating system compatibility with Adobe and links to download the latest version is available on Grants.gov at this link: compatibility 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 advance 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 Grants.gov Contact Center at [email protected] or call 1-800-518-4726.

REGISTER EARLY – Grants.gov registration involves many steps including registration on SAM (www.sam.gov) which 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.grants.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 . However, 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/time stamp on your application and then process 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 application 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 provide 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 (formerly CCR -Central Contractor Registry). If you do not enter the same 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 submission 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 Number (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 application 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-messages.html. If you discover your application is late or has been rejected, please 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 validated 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=Grants

If electronic 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 hard 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 written 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 working offline and saving data on your 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 Application 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 you 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 submission is required, you may want to consider following the instructions 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 compatibility information, review the Operating System Platform Compatibility Table at the following Grants.gov link: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/recommended-software.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 exception to the electronic submission requirement 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:

Ensure that you attach .PDF files only for any attachments to your application, and they must be in a read-only, non-modifiable format. 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 Department 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.
Grants.gov 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.
When attaching files, applicants should follow the 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. Applications submitted that do not comply with the Grants.gov guidelines will be rejected at Grants.gov and not forwarded to the Department.
Applicants should limit the size of their file attachments. Documents submitted that contain graphics and/or scanned 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.

Application Transmittal Instructions

ATTENTION ELECTRONIC APPLICANTS: Please note that you must follow the application procedures as described in the Federal Register notice announcing the grant competition.

This program requires the electronic submission of applications; specific requirements and waiver instructions can be found in the Federal Register notice (also called Notice Inviting Applications or NIA).

According to the instructions found in the Federal Register notice, those requesting and qualifying for an exception to the electronic submission requirement may submit an application by mail, commercial carrier, or hand delivery.

If you want to apply for a grant and be considered for funding, you must meet the following deadline requirements:

Applications 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 before 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 your 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 qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, submit your paper application 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 84.031S)

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.

(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 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 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.

Due to potential disruption to normal mail delivery, the Department encourages you to consider using an alternative delivery method (for example, a commercial carrier, such as Federal Express or United Parcel Service; U.S. Postal Service Express Mail; or a courier service) to transmit your application for this competition to the Department. If you use an alternative delivery method, please obtain the appropriate proof of mailing under “Applications Delivered by Mail,” and then follow the instructions for “Applications Delivered by Hand.”

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 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 84.031S)

550 12th Street, SW.

Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza

Washington, DC 20202-4260

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, 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 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.

Late Applications

If your application is late, we will notify you that we will not consider the application.

4000-01-U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards; Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education

ACTION: Notice.

Overview Information:

Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program

Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.031S.

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 Review: [INSERT DATE 120 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: The DHSI Program provides grants to assist Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to expand educational opportunities for, and improve the academic attainment of, Hispanic students. DHSI Program grants also enable HSIs to expand and enhance the academic offerings, program quality, faculty quality, and institutional stability of colleges and universities that are educating the majority of Hispanic college students and help large numbers of Hispanic students and low-income individuals complete postsecondary degrees.

Background: Hispanic students are enrolling in postsecondary institutions at higher rates than ever before; however, we continue to lose a substantial number of Hispanic students prior to degree completion.^¹ Additionally, while Hispanic students have very high enrollments at 2-year institutions, the transfer rate to 4-year institutions, as well as the rate of certificate and associate degree completion, continues to be low.^² This is unacceptable especially considering the evidence showing how essential postsecondary education, including certification programs, is to full participation in today’s competitive workforce. Given the growth of the Hispanic population, it is imperative that we ensure educational success for our youngest and fastest growing population. As a nation, we cannot afford to have such a large portion of our population undereducated and therefore underrepresented in competitive careers in a global economy. Progress toward higher rates of Hispanics with postsecondary degrees requires intentional and on-going support throughout every level of the educational pipeline.

To this end, in this competition, the Department is inviting applicants to focus on the various aspects of the teacher preparation pipeline. Currently, Hispanic teachers make up about 7.8 percent of the teacher workforce, yet Hispanic students make up over 24 percent of the public school system’s elementary and secondary student body.^³ HSIs are in a position to enhance and develop programs that improve the preparation, support, and retention of Hispanic teachers. Investing in teacher preparation programs can provide benefits that lead to academic improvement of pre-kindergarten, elementary, and secondary students. A recent report by the Department, “The State of Racial Diversity in the Educator Workforce,” cited the social and academic gains for students of color when they are taught by teachers of color.^⁴ These gains have the potential to contribute to positive academic outcomes for this targeted population. To increase the number of Hispanic teachers, we will need to ensure postsecondary success for this population. This means we must also further efforts to facilitate transfer programs between 2-year and 4-year institutions. In this competition, we also include a transfer model priority for 2-year HSIs to partner with 4-year institutions. This, we believe, is a comprehensive approach to support multiple levels of the educational pipeline leading to educational success.

Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference priorities and one invitational priority. The competitive preference priorities are from the authorized activities for the DHSI Program in section 503(b) of the HEA.

Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2017 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an application up to 10 additional points for each priority, depending on how well the application meets one of these priorities. Applicants may only respond to one of the priorities, for a total of up to 10 additional points.

These priorities are:

Competitive Preference Priority 1 (up to 10 additional points).

Projects that establish or enhance a program of teacher education designed to qualify teacher candidates to teach in public elementary schools and secondary schools.

Competitive Preference Priority 2 (up to 10 additional points).

Projects that develop or enhance articulation agreements and/or student support programs designed to facilitate the transfer from 2-year to 4-year institutions.

Invitational Priority: For FY 2017 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets the invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other applications.

This priority is:

Promoting the Teacher Profession for Hispanic Students.

Projects that develop or enhance partnerships that:

(1) Are designed to increase the number of effective teachers with linguistic and cultural competency serving in high-need schools (as defined in section 200(11) of the HEA);

(2) Combine strong content knowledge with robust practical experience to meet the instructional needs of the local school district(s);

(3) Develop strong teacher pipelines that support the preparation, placement, and retention of effective teachers;

(4) Use outcome data of their recent graduates reported by their State, or otherwise obtained, to facilitate continuous improvement; and

(5) Share best practices and other information on implementation with other institutions.

Definitions: The following definitions are from the notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions for discretionary grant programs, published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2014, (79 FR 73425) (Supplemental Priorities) and the DHSI Program regulations 34 CFR 606.7 and apply to the priorities and selection criteria in this notice:

Cooperative arrangement means an arrangement to carry out allowable grant activities between an institution eligible to receive a grant under the DHSI Program and another eligible or ineligible institution of higher education, under which the resources of the cooperating institutions are combined and shared to better achieve the purposes of the DHSI program and avoid costly duplication of effort.

Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a well-specified conceptual framework that identifies key components of the proposed process, product, strategy, or practice (i.e., the active “ingredients” that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the relationships among the key components and outcomes, theoretically and operationally.

Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use resources such as the Pacific Education Laboratory’s Education Logic Model Application (www.relpacific.mcrel.org/PERR.html or http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED544779.pdf) to help design their logic models.

Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product, strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1101-1101d; 1103-1103g.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The OMB 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 606. (e) The Supplemental Priorities.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants--Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Grants. Planning grants will not be awarded in FY 2017.

Note: For cooperative arrangement grants, under 34 CFR 606.12(a)(2) the application must include the names of participating institutions, the role of each institution, and the rational for each eligible participating institution’s decision to request grant funds as part of a cooperative arrangement rather than as an individual grantee.

Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $107,795,000 for awards for the DHSI program for FY 2017, of which we intend to use an estimated $11,500,000 for this competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.

Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2018 from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000-$750,000.

Maximum Awards:

Individual Development Grants: $550,000.

Cooperative Arrangement Grants: $750,000.

We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding these maximum amounts for a single budget period of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal Register.

Estimated Number of Awards: 20.

Note: The number of estimated awards is for total number of awards without distinction as an individual or cooperative arrangement grant.

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: (a) Institutions of higher education (IHEs) that qualify as eligible HSIs are eligible to apply for new Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Grants under the DHSI Program. To be an eligible HSI, an IHE must--

(i) Have an enrollment of needy students, as defined in section 502(b) of the HEA (section 502(a)(2)(A)(i) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(2)(A)(i));

(ii) Have, except as provided in section 522(b) of the HEA, average educational and general expenditures that are low, per full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student, in comparison with the average educational and general expenditures per FTE undergraduate student of institutions that offer similar instruction (section 502(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(2)(A)(ii));

Note: To demonstrate an enrollment of needy students and low average educational and general expenditures per FTE undergraduate student, an IHE must be designated as an “eligible institution” in accordance with 34 CFR 606.3 through 606.5 and the notice inviting applications for designation as an eligible institution for the fiscal year for which the grant competition is being conducted.

Note: The notice announcing the FY 2017 process for designation of eligible institutions, and inviting applications for waiver of eligibility requirements, was published in the Federal Register on ____________.(80 FR ______). Only institutions that the Department determines are eligible, or are granted a waiver, may apply for a grant in this program.

(iii) Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association that the Secretary has determined to be a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training offered, or making reasonable progress toward accreditation, according to such an agency or association (section 502(a)(2)(A)(iv) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(2)(A)(iv));

(iv) Be legally authorized to provide, and provide within the State, an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s degree (section 502(a)(2)(A)(iii) of the HEA), or be a junior or community college (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(2)(A)(iii));

(v) Have an enrollment of undergraduate FTE students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic students at the end of the award year immediately preceding the date of application (section 502(a)(5)(B) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5)(B)); and

(vi) Provide, as an attachment to the application, the documentation the IHE relied upon in determining that at least 25 percent of the IHE’s undergraduate FTE students are Hispanic. The 25 percent requirement applies only to undergraduate Hispanic students and is calculated based upon FTE students as defined in section 502(a)(4) of the HEA. Instructions for formatting and submitting the verification documentation to Grants.gov are in the application package for this competition.

(b) For this program, the “end of the award year immediately preceding the date of application” refers to the end of the fiscal year prior to the application due date. For purposes of this competition, the data that we will use to determine percent enrollment is Fall 2015 enrollment.

(c) In considering applications for grants under this program, the Department will compare the data and documentation the institution relied on in its application with data reported to the Department’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the IHE’s State-reported enrollment data, and the institutional annual report. If different percentages or data are reported in these various sources, the institution must, as part of the 25 percent assurance verification, explain the reason for the differences. If the IPEDS data show that less than 25 percent of the institution’s undergraduate FTE students are Hispanic, the burden is on the institution to show that the IPEDS data are inaccurate. If the IPEDS data indicate that the institution has an undergraduate FTE less than 25 percent, and the institution fails to demonstrate that the IPEDS data are inaccurate, the institution will be considered ineligible.

(d) A grantee under the DHSI Program, which is authorized by title V of the HEA, may not receive a grant under any HEA, title III, part A or part B program (section 505 of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1101D). The title III, part A programs include: the Strengthening Institutions Program; the American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Program; the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Programs; the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program; and the Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions Program. Furthermore, a current DHSI Program grantee may not give up its HSI grant in order to receive a grant under any title III, part A program (§606.2(c)(1)).

(e) An eligible HSI may only submit one application as an Individual Development Grant applicant and/or one under a Cooperative Arrangement Grant applicant.

(f) An eligible HSI that submits a Cooperative Arrangement Grant with a partnering branch campus that is a part of the same institution will not be awarded a grant (34 CFR 606.7(b)).

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 (section 503(c)(2) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1101b(c)(2)).

b. Supplement-Not Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-supplant funding requirements. 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 606.30(b).)

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package: Njeri Clark, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave SW., room 4C137, Washington DC 20202-0001. Telephone: (202)453-6224 or by email: [email protected].

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.

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 the program contact person listed in this section.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements concerning the content and form of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this program.

Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria, the competitive preference priority and the invitational priority that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We have established mandatory page limits. You must limit the application narrative that addresses the selection criteria and the priorities (if applicable) to no more than 55 pages. How the pages are allocated within the 55 page limit is up to the applicant.

Accordingly, under no circumstances may the application narrative exceed 55 pages.

Please include a separate heading for the competitive preference priority that you address.

For the purpose of determining compliance with the page limits, each page on which there are words will be counted as one full page. Applicants must use the following standards:

• A “page” is 8.5" x 11", on one side only, with 1" margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. 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 application narrative, except titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, captions and all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs. These items may be single-spaced. Charts, tables, figures, and graphs in the application narrative count toward the page limit.

• Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or 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 any other font (including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.

The page limit applies to all of the application narrative section which is your complete response to the selection criteria, the invitational priority (if applicable), and your response to one of the competitive preference priorities (if applicable). However, the page limit does not apply to the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424); the Department of Education Supplemental Information form (SF 424); Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524); the assurances and certifications; or the one-page project abstract, program profile form, program activity budget detail form and supporting budget narrative. If you include any attachments or appendices not specifically requested in the application package, these items will be counted as part of your application narrative for purposes of the page-limit requirement.

We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.

3. Submission Dates and Times:

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].

Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using the 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, please refer to Other Submission Requirements in section IV 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 with the application process should contact the person 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 connection 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].

4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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 competition.

5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. This program does not allow indirect costs.

(b) Applicability of Executive Order 13202. Applicants that apply for construction funds under the DHSI Program must comply with Executive Order 13202, as amended. This Executive order provides that recipients of Federal construction funds may not “require or prohibit bidders, 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 will be provided a copy of this Executive order and will be asked to certify that they will adhere to it.

6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the Department of Education, 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) the 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 at the following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 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 Internal 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, depending on the completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM database. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial assistance 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, it may be 24 to 48 hours before you can access the information in, and 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 DUNS 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 are outlined at the following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under this competition 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 DHSI Program, CFDA number 84.031S, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide 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 email 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.

You may access the electronic grant application for the DHSI Program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 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 84.031S).

Please note the following:

• When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting 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 Grants.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 your 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.

• 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 find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department’s G5 system home page at www.G5.gov. In addition, for specific guidance and procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please refer to the Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.

• You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we 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 typically 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 certifications.

• You must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in a read-only, non-modifiable Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note that this could result in your application not being considered for funding because the material in question--for example, the application narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material from other formats to PDF.

• Your electronic application must comply with any page-limit requirements described in this notice.

• After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from 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. Grants.gov will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors (such as submission of your application by someone other than a registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.

Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.

These emails do not mean that your application is without any disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department’s application requirements as specified in this notice and in the application instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your submitted application has met all of the Department’s requirements.

• We may 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. You 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 because 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 your 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 person 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 occurred 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. We will contact you after we determine whether your application will be accepted.

Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the 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 submission 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 written 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 before the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to 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: Beatriz Ceja, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4C133, Washington, DC 20202-0001. FAX: (202)401-8466.

Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.

b. Submission of Paper 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 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 84.031S)

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.

(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 mailing:

(1) A private metered postmark.

(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.

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.

We will not consider applications postmarked after the deadline date.

c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.

U.S. Department of Education

Application Control Center

Attention: (CFDA Number 84.031S)

550 12th Street, SW.

Room 7039, Potomac Center Plaza

Washington, DC 20202-4260

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, 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 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

V. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 606.22 and 34 CFR 75.210 and are as follows:

(a) Quality of the applicant's comprehensive development plan. (Up to 20 points).

The extent to which--

(1) The strengths, 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; (up to 5 points)

(2) The goals for the institution's academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability are realistic and based on comprehensive analysis; (up to 5 points)

(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 (up to 5 points)

(4) The plan clearly and comprehensively describes the methods and resources the institution will use to institutionalize practice and improvements developed under the proposed project, including, in particular, how operational costs for personnel, maintenance, and upgrades of equipment will be paid with institutional resources. (Up to 5 points)

(b) Quality of the project design. (up to 5 points)

The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the extent to which the proposed project is supported by strong theory (as defined in this notice).

The extent to which the objectives for each activity are--

(1) Realistic and defined in terms of measurable results; (up to 5 points) and

(2) Directly related to the problems to be solved and to the goals of the comprehensive development plan. (up to 10 points)

(d) Quality of implementation strategy. (Up to 15 points)

The extent to which--

(1) The implementation strategy for each activity is comprehensive; (up to 5 points)

(2) The rationale for the implementation strategy for each activity is clearly described and is supported by the results of relevant studies or projects; (up to 5 points) and

(3) The timetable for each activity is realistic and likely to be attained. (up to 5 points)

(e) Quality of project management plan. (Up to 10 points)

The extent to which--

(1) Procedures for managing the project are likely to ensure efficient and effective project implementation; (up to 5 points) 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. (up to 5 points)

(f) Quality of key personnel. (Up to 5 points)

The extent to which--

(1) The past experience and training of key professional personnel are directly related to the stated activity objectives; (up to 2 points) and

(2) The time commitment of key personnel is realistic. (up to 3 points)

(g) Quality of evaluation plan. (Up to 15 points)

The extent to which--

(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; (up to 5 points)

(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 comprehensive development plan; (up to 5 points) and

(3) The evaluation will provide guidance about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other settings. (up to 5 points)

(h) Budget. (up to 5 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 objectives, 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 Secretary also requires various assurances including those 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, and 110.23).

Tiebreaker: In tie-breaking situations for development grants described in 34 CFR 606.23(b), the DHSI Program regulations require that we award one additional point to an application from an IHE that:

(1) Has an endowment fund of which the current market value, per FTE enrolled student, is less than the average current market value of the endowment funds, per FTE enrolled student, at comparable institutions that offer similar instruction;

(2) Has expenditures for library materials per FTE enrolled student that are less than the average expenditures for library materials per FTE enrolled student at comparable institutions that offer similar instruction; or

(3) Proposes to carry out one or more of the following activities--

(i) Faculty development;

(ii) Funds and administrative management;

(iii) Development and improvement of academic programs;

(iv) Acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening management and academic programs;

(v) Joint use of facilities; or

(vi) Student services.

For the purpose of these funding considerations, we use 2014-2015 data.

If a tie remains after applying the tiebreaker mechanism above, priority will be given in the case of applicants for (a) Individual Development Grants, to applicants that addressed the statutory priority found in section 521(d) of the HEA; and (b) Cooperative Arrangement Grants, to applicants in accordance with section 524(b) of the HEA, under which the Secretary determines that the cooperative arrangement is geographically and economically sound or will benefit the applicant HSI.

If a tie still remains after applying the additional point(s) and the relevant statutory priority, we will determine the ranking of applicants based on the lowest endowment values per FTE enrolled student.

3. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 200.205, before awarding grants under this program, the Department conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. 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; or is otherwise not responsible.

4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this competition to receive an award that over the course of the project period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $150,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2), we must make a judgment about your integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards—that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant- before we make an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), accessible through SAM. You may review and comment on any information yourself that Federal agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.

Please note that, if the total value of your currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

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 requirements 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 of 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 ensure 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 multiyear award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance 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/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.

(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.

4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of the DHSI Program:

a. The annual rate of degree or certificate completion for all students, and specifically for Hispanic students, at DHSI grantee institutions.

b. The annual persistence rate at DHSI grantee institutions for all students, and for Hispanic students in particular, from one year to the next.

c. The percent of all students, and of Hispanic students in particular, that transfer from a 2-year HSI to a 4-year institution.

d. The annual percent change in the number of Hispanic students completing a teacher preparation program.

e. The number of all students, and the number of Hispanic students in particular, served by any direct student service supported by the grant.

f. Federal cost per undergraduate and graduate degree at institutions in the DHSI program.

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 has established performance measurement requirements, the performance targets in the grantee’s approved application.

In making a continuation award, 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 Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Agency Contact

For Further Information Contact: Njeri Clark, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW. room 4C137, Washington, DC 20202-0001. Telephone: (202)453-6224 or by email: [email protected].

If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

Applicants should periodically check the DHSI Program Web site for further information. The address is: www.ed.gov/programs/idueshsi/index.html.

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, or compact disc) on request to the 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.gov/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 Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.

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 search to documents published by the Department.

Dated:

________________________________________ Lynn B. Mahaffie,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for

Policy, Planning, and Innovation,

Delegated the Duties of Assistant

Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

Title V Program Statute

TITLE V—DEVELOPING INSTITUTIONS PART A—HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS

SEC. 501. FINDINGS; PURPOSE; AND PROGRAM AUTHORITY.

(a) FINDING. -- Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Hispanic Americans are at high risk of not enrolling or graduating from institutions of higher education.

(2) Disparities between the enrollment of non-Hispanic white students and Hispanic students in postsecondary education are increasing. Between 1973 and 1994, enrollment of white secondary school graduate in 4-year institutions of higher education increased at a rate two times higher than that of Hispanic secondary school graduates.

(3) Despite significant limitations in resources, Hispanic-serving institutions provide a significant proportion of postsecondary opportunities for Hispanic students.

(4) Relative to other institution of higher education, Hispanic-serving institutions are under funded. Such institutions receive significantly less in State and local funding, per full-time equivalent student, than other institutions of higher education.

(5) Hispanic-serving institutions are succeeding in educating Hispanic students despite significant resources problems that--

(A) limit the ability of such institutions to expand and improve the academic programs of such institutions; and

(B) could imperil the financial and administrative stability of such institutions.

(6) There is a national interest in remedying the disparities described in paragraphs (2) and (4) and ensuring that Hispanic students have an equal opportunity to pursue postsecondary opportunities.

(b) Purpose. -- The purpose of this title is to--

(1) expand educational opportunities for, and improve the academic attainment of Hispanic students, and;

(2) expand and enhance the academic offerings, program quality, and institutional stability of colleges and universities that are educating the majority of Hispanic college students and helping large number of Hispanic students and other low-income individuals complete postsecondary degrees.

(c) Program Authority. -- The Secretary shall provide grants and related assistance to Hispanic-serving institutions to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Hispanic students and other low-income individuals.

SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS; ELIGIBILITY.

(a) Definitions. For the purpose of this title:

(1) EDUCATIONAL AND GENERAL EXPENDITURES. The term “educational and general expenditures” means the total amount expended by an institution for instruction, research, public service, academic support (including library expenditures), student services, institutional support, scholarships and fellowships, operation and maintenance expenditures for the physical plant, and an mandatory transfers that the institution is required to pay by law.

(2) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION. The term “eligible institution” means--

(A) an institution of higher education--

(i) has an enrollment of needy students as required by subsection (b);

(ii) except as provided in section 512(b), the average 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 similar instruction:

(iii) that is--

(I) legally authorized to provide, and provides within the State, an education program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s degree or

(II) a junior or community college;

(iv) that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary to be reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or that is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation;

(v) that meets such other requirements as the Secretary may prescribe; and

(vi) that is located in a State; and

(B) any branch of any institution of higher education described under subparagraph (A) that by itself satisfies the requirements contained in clauses (I) and (ii) of such subparagraph. For purposes of the determination of whether an institution is an eligible institution under this paragraph, the factor described under subparagraph (A)(I) shall be given twice the weight of the factor described under subparagraph (A)(ii).

(3) ENDOWMENT FUND.-- The term “endowment fund” means a fund that

(A) is established by State law, by a Hispanic-serving institution, or by a foundation that is exempt from Federal income taxation;

(B) is maintained for the purpose of generating income for the support of the institution; and

(4) FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENTS.--The term “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 hours or all part-time student divided by 12) at such institution.

(5) HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTION.-- The term “Hispanic-Serving institution” means an institution of higher education that—

(A) is an eligible institution; and

(B) has an enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic students at the end of the award year immediately preceding the date of application.

(6) JUNIOR OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE. The term “junior or community college” means an institution of higher education--

(A) 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 by the institution;

(B) that does not provide an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent degree); and

(i) provides an educational program of not less than 2 years in duration that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree; or

(ii) offers a 2-year program in engineering, mathematics or the physical or biological sciences, designed to prepare a student to work as a technician or a the semiprofessional level in engineering, scientific, or other technological fields requiring the understanding the application of basic engineering, scientific, or mathematical principles of knowledge.

(b) Enrollment of Needy Students.-- For the purpose of this title, the term “enrollment of needy students” means an enrollment at an institution with respect to which--

(1) at least 50 percent of the degree students so enrolled are receiving need-based assistance under title IV in the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made (other than loans for which an interest subsidy is paid pursuant to section 428); or

(2) a substantial percentage of the students so enrolled are receiving Federal Pell Grants in the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which determination is made compared to the percentage of students receiving Federal Pell Grants at all such institutions in the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made, unless the requirement of this paragraph is waived under section 512(a).

SEC. 503. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.

(a) TYPES OF ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED. Grants awarded under this title shall be used by Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education to assist the institutions to plan, develop, undertake, and carry out programs to improve and expand such institutions’ capacity to serve Hispanic students and other low-income students.

(b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES. Grants awarded under this section shall be used for one 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.

(3) Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, curriculum development, academic instruction, and faculty fellowships to assist in attaining advanced degrees in the fellow’s field of instruction.

(4) Purchase of library books, periodicals, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program material.

(5) Tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to improve academic success.

(6) Funds management, administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management.

(7) Joint use of facilities, such as laboratories and libraries.

(8) Establishing or improving a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector.

(9) Establishing or improving an endowment fund.

(10) Creating or improving facilities for Internet or other distance learning academic instruction capabilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services.

(11) Establishing or enhancing a program or teacher education designed to qualify students to teach in public elementary schools and secondary schools.

(12) Establishing community outreach programs that will encourage elementary school and secondary school students to develop the academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary education.

(13) Expanding the number of Hispanic and other underrepresented graduate and professional students that can be served by the institution by expanding courses and institutional resources.

(14) Other activities proposed in the application submitted pursuant to section 504 that --

(A) that contribute to carrying out the purposes of this title

(B) are approved by the Secretary as part of the review and acceptance of such application.

(1) Portion of a grant. -- A Hispanic-serving institution may not use more than 20 percent of the grant funds provided under this title for any fiscal year for establishing or improving an endowment fund.

(2) Matching required. -- A Hispanic-serving institution that uses any portion of the grant funds provided under this title for any fiscal year for establishing or improving and endowment fund shall provide from non-Federal funds an amount equal to or greater than the portion.

(3) Comparability. -- The provisions of part C of subchapter III of this chapter 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. 504. DURATION OF GRANT

(a) Award Period - The Secretary may award a grant to a Hispanic-serving institution under this title for 5 years.

(b) Planning grants. Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary may award a grant to a Hispanic-serving institution under this part for a period of one year for the purpose of preparation of plans and applications for a grant under this title.

SEC. 505. SPECIAL RULE

No Hispanic-serving institution that is eligible for and receives funds under this title may concurrently receive other funds under part A or B of Title III during the period for which funds under this title are awarded.

PART B--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 511. ELIGIBILITY; APPLICATION.

(a) Institutional Eligibility. Each Hispanic-serving institution desiring to receive assistance under this title shall submit to the Secretary such enrollment data as may be necessary to demonstrate that the institution is a Hispanic-serving institution as defined in section 502, along with such other data and information as the Secretary may be regulation require.

(b) Applications.

(1) Applications required. Any institution which is eligible for assistance under this subchapter 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 assistance. Subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out this title, the Secretary may approve an application for a grant under this title only if the Secretary determines that-

(A) the application meets the requirements of subsection (b); and

(B) the institution is eligible for assistance in accordance with the provisions of this title under which the assistance is sought.

(2) Preliminary Applications. -- In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary may develop a preliminary application for use by Hispanic-serving institutions applying under this title prior to the submissions of the principal application.

(1) set forth, or describe how the institution 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 institution and the Secretary to use in monitoring the effectiveness of activities under this subchapter);

(2) include a 5-year plan for improving the assistance provided by the Hispanic-serving institution to Hispanic students and other low-income individuals;

(3) set forth policies and procedures to ensure that Federal funds made available under this subchapter for any 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 501(b), and in no case supplant those funds;

(4) 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;

(5) 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 title;

(6) provide that the institution will comply with the limitations set forth in Section 516;

(7) describe in a comprehensive manner any proposed project for which funds are sought under the application 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 any development project that consists of several components (as described by the institution pursuant to subparagraph (A)), a statement identifying those components which, if separately funded, would be sound investments of Federal funds only if funded under this title in conjunction with other parts of the development project (as specified by the institution);

(C) an evaluation by the applicant of the priority given any proposed project for which funds are sought in relation to any other projects for which funds are sought by the applicant under this title, and a similar evaluation regarding priorities among the components of any single proposed project (as described by the applicant pursuant to subparagraph (A));

(D) a detailed budget showing the manner in which funds for any proposed project would be spent by the applicant; and

(E) a detailed description of any activity which involves the expenditure of more than $25,000, as identified in the budget referred to in subparagraph (E); and

(8) provide for making reports, in such form and containing such information, as the Secretary may require to carry out the Secretary’s functions under this title, including not less than one report annually setting forth the institution’s progress toward achieving the objectives for which the funds were awarded and for keeping such records and affording such access to such records, as the Secretary may find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports; and

(9) include such other information as the Secretary may prescribe.

(d) Priority. With respect to applications for assistance under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an application that contains satisfactory evidence that the Hispanic-serving institution has entered into or will enter into a collaborative arrangement with at least one local education agency or community-based organization to provide such agency or organization with assistance (from funds other than funds provided under this title) in reducing dropout rates for Hispanic students, improving rates of academic achievement for Hispanic students, and increasing the rates at which Hispanic secondary school graduates enroll in higher education.

(e) Eligibility Data. The Secretary shall use the most recent and relevant data concerning the number and percentage of students receiving need-based assistance under IV in making eligibility determinations and shall advance the base-year for the determinations forward following each annual grant cycle.

SEC. 512. WAIVER AUTHORITY AND REPORTING REQUIREMENT

(a) Waiver requirements; need-based assistance students. The Secretary may waive the requirements set forth in section 502(a)(2)(A)(I) in the case of an institution

(1) that is extensively subsidized by the State in which it is located and charges low or no tuition;

(2) which serves a substantial number of low-income students as a percentage of its total student population;

(3) that is contributing substantially to increasing higher education opportunities for educationally 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 by postsecondary institutions;

(5) wherever located, if the Secretary determines that the waiver will substantially increase higher education opportunities appropriate to the needs of Hispanic Americans.

(b) Waiver determinations; expenditures-- (1) The Secretary may waive the requirements set forth in section 502(a)(2)(A)(ii) if the Secretary determines, based on persuasive evidence submitted by 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 designation as an eligible institution under part A is otherwise consistent with the purposes of this title.

(2) Expenditures--The Secretary shall submit to the Congress every other year a report concerning the institutions that, although not satisfying the requirements of section 502(a)(2)(A)(ii), have been determined to be eligible institutions under part A. 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 clauses (I) and (ii) of section 502(a)(2)(A); and

(B) contain a list of each institution determined to be an eligible institution under part A including a statement of the reasons for each such determination.

SEC. 513. APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS

(a) Review panel.-- All applications submitted under this title by Hispanic serving institutions of higher education shall be read by a panel of readers composed of individuals selected by the Secretary and who include individuals representing Hispanic-serving institutions. The Secretary shall ensure that no individual assigned under this section to review any application has any conflict of interest with regard to that application which might impair the impartiality with which that individual conducts the review under this section.

(b) Instruction.-- All readers selected by the Secretary shall receive thorough instruction from the Secretary regarding the evaluation process for applications submitted under this title that are consistent with the provisions of this title, including--

(1) an enumeration of the factors to be used to determine the quality of applications submitted under this title; and

(2) an enumeration of the factors to be used to determine whether a grant should be awarded for a project under this title, the Secretary shall take into consideration the amount of any such grant, and the duration of any such grant.

(c) Recommendations of panel. In awarding grants under this title, the Secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of the panel made under subsection (a).

(d) Notification. Not later than June 30 of each year, the Secretary shall notify each Hispanic-serving institution 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 any, in the recommendations of the panel made by the Secretary.

SEC. 514. COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

(a) General authority. The Secretary may make grants to encourage cooperative arrangements with funds available to carry out this title, between Hispanic-serving institutions eligible for assistance under this title and between such institutions and institutions not receiving assistance under this title, for assistance under this title, for the activities described in section 503 so that the resources of the cooperating institutions might be combined and shared in order to achieve the purposes of this title, to avoid costly duplicative efforts and to enhance the development of part A and part B eligible institutions.

(b) Priority. The Secretary shall give priority to grants for the purposes described under subsection (a) whenever the Secretary determines that the cooperative arrangement is geographically and economically sound or will benefit the applicant Hispanic-serving institution.

(c) Duration. Grants to Hispanic-serving institutions having a cooperative arrangement may be made under this section for a period as determined under section 505.

SEC. 515. ASSISTANCE TO INSTITUTIONS UNDER OTHER PROGRAMS

(a) Assistance eligibility. Each Hispanic-serving institution that the Secretary determines to be an institution eligible under this title may be eligible for waivers in accordance with subsection (b).

(b) Waiver applicability

(1) In General-Subject to, and in accordance with, regulations promulgated for the purposes of this section, in the case of any application by a Hispanic-serving 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 apply to any program authorized by Title IV or section 604.

(c) Limitation. The Secretary shall not waive, under subsection (b) of this section, the non-Federal share requirement for any program for applications which, if approved, would require the expenditure of more than 10 percent of the appropriations for the program for any fiscal year.

SEC. 516. LIMITATIONS

The funds appropriated under section 518 may not be used

(1) for a school or department of divinity or any religious worship or sectarian activity;

(2) for an activity that is inconsistent with a State plan for desegregation of higher education applicable to a Hispanic-serving institution;

(3) for an activity that is inconsistent with a State plan of higher education applicable to a Hispanic-serving institution; or

(4) for purposes other than the purposes set forth in the approved application under which the funds were made available to a Hispanic-serving institution.

SEC. 517. PENALTIES

Whoever, being an officer, director, agent, or employee of, or connected in any capacity with, any recipient of Federal financial assistance or grant pursuant to this subchapter 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 years, or both.

SEC. 518. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS

(a) Authorizations. -- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $62,500,000 for fiscal year 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 any Hispanic-serving institution under this title, the Secretary shall make funds available for such award from funds appropriated for this title for the fiscal year in which such funds are to be used by the institution.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs)

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 applicants 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 by the date indicated in the actual application notice to the following address: The Secretary, EO 12372—CFDA# 84.031S, U.S. Department of Education, room 7E200, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202.

Proof of mailing 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.

General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)

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 discretion in developing the required description. The 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 an applicant’s nondiscriminatory hiring policy is not sufficient to meet this requirement. Applicants must identify potential barriers and explain steps they will take to overcome these barriers.

*Notes:

Applicants are required to address this provision by uploading a statement to the ED GEPA 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.

Government Performance

and Results Act (GPRA)

What is GPRA?

The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) is a straightforward statute that requires all federal agencies to manage their activities with attention to the consequences of those activities. Each agency is to clearly 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, improve 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 by GPRA, the Department of Education has prepared a strategic plan for 2014-2018. 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:

Goal 1: Postsecondary Education, Career and Technical Education, and Adult Education. Increase college access, affordability, quality, and completion by improving postsecondary education and lifelong learning opportunities for youths and adults.

Goal 2: Elementary and Secondary Education. Improve the elementary and secondary education system’s ability to consistently deliver excellent instruction aligned with rigorous academic standards while providing effective support services to close achievement and opportunity gaps, and ensure all students graduate high school college- and career-ready.

Goal 3: Early Learning. Improve the health, social-emotional, and cognitive outcomes for all children from birth through 3^rd grade, so that all children, particularly those with high needs, are on track for graduating from high school college- and career-ready.

Goal 4: Equity. Increase educational opportunities for underserved students and reduce discrimination so that all students are well-positioned to succeed.

Goal 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, evidence, transparency, innovation, and technology.

Goal 6: U.S. Department of Education Capacity. Improve the organizational capacities of the Department to implement this strategic plan.

What are the Performance Indicators for the DHSI Program?

The performance indicators for the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program are part of the Department’s plan for meeting Goal 1. The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program’s overarching goal is: To improve the capacity of minority-serving institutions, which traditionally have limited resources and serve large numbers of low-income and minority students, to improve student success and to provide high-quality educational opportunities for their students.

The specific performance indicators for the DHSI Program are as follows:

a. The annual rate of degree or certificate completion for all students, and specifically for Hispanic students, at DHSI grantee institutions.

b. The annual persistence rate at DHSI grantee institutions for all students, and for Hispanic students in particular, from one year to the next.

c. The percent of all students, and of Hispanic students in particular, that transfer from a 2-year HSI to a 4-year institution.

d. The annual percent change in the number of Hispanic students completing a teacher preparation program.

e. The number of all students, and the number of Hispanic students in particular, served by any direct student service supported by the grant.

f. Federal cost per undergraduate and graduate degree at institutions in the DHSI program.

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. The 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.

Instructions for Completing the Application

The DHSI application consists of various forms and assurances. Remember to complete all required forms and upload all attachments to the appropriate forms in Grants.gov. Note: All attachments must be a .PDF file. Other file types will not be accepted. The forms are as follows:

Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) - Complete all required fields.
Assurances – Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B) - Complete all required fields.
Certification Regarding Lobbying - Complete all required fields.
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) - Complete all required fields.
GEPA Section 427 requirement - Applicants must upload a GEPA statement here. Instructions are found within this application.
Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF 424 - Complete all required fields.
U.S. Department of Education Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (SF 524) - Applicants should include costs for all 5 project years. Note: Section B of this form should only be completed if an Endowment Fund is one of your proposed activities since it requires matching grant funds with non-federal funds. Section C of this form should be left blank. Applicants will upload their Budget Narrative to the Budget Narrative Attachment Form.

8. ED Abstract Form - See instructions below.

9. Project Narrative Attachment Form - See instructions below.

10. Budget Narrative Attachment Form - See instructions below.

11. Other Attachments Form - See instructions below.

ED Abstract Form: Include a one-page project abstract that will provide an overview of the proposed project. Include the name of the applicant institution. If applying for a Cooperative Development Grant, include the name of the lead institution and the partner(s). The abstract will not be counted against your page count. You must upload the abstract in .pdf format only to the “ED Abstract Form” in Grants.gov.

Project Narrative Attachment Form: The project narrative should include the narrative responses to the selection criteria and if applicable, the competitive preference priority response that will be used to evaluate your application submitted for this competition. This section is where you are limited to a page count. Please include a Table of Contents as the first page of the application narrative. The Table of Contents is not included in your page count. You must limit the rest of the narrative to no more than 55 pages. The pages of your Project Narrative should be consecutively numbered. You must upload your project narrative in .pdf format only to the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” in Grants.gov. If you use any other format, your application will be deemed ineligible.

Budget Narrative Attachment Form: Here is where you upload a comprehensive, detailed supporting narrative explaining the proposed costs for each year of the performance period. This narrative will not count against your page count. Total costs per year should mimic the costs stated on the ED-524. Include the level of effort (time commitment) per year for the proposed Project Director. You must upload the supporting narrative in .pdf format only to the “Budget Narrative Attachment Form” in Grants.gov. Note: The requirement here is different than the “Quality of the Budget” Selection Criterion requirement. For that criterion, applicants defend proposed costs (i.e. Are the costs that you are proposing reasonable and necessary?; How were the costs determined?).

Other Attachments Form: Here is where you upload the completed DHSI form and any supporting documentation. The form must be in .pdf format only.

If this form is missing from your application proposal, your application may be deemed ineligible.

NOTE: Please do not attach any miscellaneous narratives, supporting files, or application components to the standard forms within Grants.gov. Although the forms accept optional attachments, the Department of Education will only review materials/files attached to the attachment forms listed above. All attachments must be in .pdf format. Other types of files will not be accepted and if uploaded, your application may be deemed ineligible.

Supplemental Instructions for the Project Narrative

The project narrative must be uploaded 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 Notice, and the Dear Applicant Letter for specific guidance and requirements.

The Secretary evaluates an application according to the program specific criteria in 34 CFR 606.22 and 34 CFR 75.210. 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 reading by 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 priorities to no more than 55 pages.

Note: If you choose to respond to one of the Competitive Preference Priorities, please include a separate bold heading. The applicant may choose where to include the competitive preference priority response within the project narrative.

Applicants MUST address each of the following HSI selection criteria:

a. Quality of Comprehensive Development Plan (34 CFR 606.22 (a)) (20 points)

b. Quality of the Project Design (34 CFR 75.210) ( 5 points)

c. Quality of the Activity Objectives (34 CFR 606.22 (b)) (15 points)

d. Quality of the Implementation Strategy (34 CFR 606.22 (c)) (15 points)

e. Quality of the Project Management Plan (34 CFR 606.22 (e)) (10 points)

f. Quality of the Key Personnel (34 CFR 606.22 (d)) ( 5 points)

g. Quality of the Evaluation Plan (34 CFR 606.22 (f)) (15 points)

h. Quality of the Budget (34 CFR 606.22 (g)) ( 5 points) _________

Total Maximum Score for Selection Criteria 90 points

Total Maximum Score for Competitive Preference Priority 10 points

TOTAL POSSIBLE SCORE PER APPLICATION 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 the applicant's comprehensive development plan. (Up to 20 points)

The extent to which--

(2) The goals for the institution's academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability are realistic and based on comprehensive analysis; (up to 5 points)

(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 (up to 5 points)

(b) Quality of the project design. (Up to 5 points)

(c) Quality of the activity objectives. (Up to 15 points)

The extent to which the objectives for each activity are--

(1) Realistic and defined in terms of measurable results; (up to 5 points) and

(2) Directly related to the problems to be solved and to the goals of the comprehensive development plan. (up to 10 points)

(d) Quality of the implementation strategy. (Up to 15 points)

The extent to which--

(1) The implementation strategy for each activity is comprehensive; (up to 5 points)

(2) The rationale for the implementation strategy for each activity is clearly described and is supported by the results of relevant studies or projects; (up to 5 points) and

(3) The timetable for each activity is realistic and likely to be attained. (up to 5 points)

(e) Quality of the project management plan. (Up to 10 points)

The extent to which--

(1) Procedures for managing the project are likely to ensure efficient and effective project implementation; (up to 5 points) 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. (up to 5 points)

(f) Quality of the key personnel. (Up to 5 points)

The extent to which--

(1) The past experience and training of key professional personnel are directly related to the stated activity objectives; (up to 2 points) and

(2) The time commitment of key personnel is realistic. (up to 3 points)

(g) Quality of the evaluation plan. (Up to 15 points)

The extent to which--

(3) The evaluation will provide guidance about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other settings. (up to 5 points)

(h) Quality of the Budget. (up to 5 points)

The extent to which the proposed costs are necessary and reasonable in relation to the project's objectives and scope.

Competitive Preference Priorities:

• Competitive Preference Priority 1 (up to 10 (ten) additional points): Projects that establish or enhance a program of teacher education designed to qualify teacher candidates to teach in public elementary schools and secondary schools.

• Competitive Preference Priority 2 (up to 10 (ten) additional points): Projects that develop or enhance articulation agreements and/or student support programs designed to facilitate the transfer from 2-year to 4-year institutions.

Instructions for Standard Forms:

● APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE - (SF 424)

● U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR THE SF-424 (SF 424)

● U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BUDGET INFORMATION NON-CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS (ED 524)

● DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES (SF-LLL)

● GENERAL EDUCATION PROVISIONS ACT (GEPA)

Other Information and Guidance:

● SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SF-424

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 60 minutes 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. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0043), Washington, DC 20503.

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR COMPLETED FORM TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. SEND IT TO THE ADDRESS PROVIDED BY THE SPONSORING AGENCY.

This is a standard form (including the continuation sheet) required for use as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications and applications and related information under discretionary programs. Some of the items are required and some are optional at the discretion of the applicant or the Federal agency (agency). Required items are identified with an asterisk on the form and are specified in the instructions below. In addition to the instructions provided below, applicants must consult agency instructions to determine specific requirements.

Item	Entry:		Item	Entry:
1.	Type of Submission: (Required): Select one type of submission in accordance with agency instructions. Pre-application Application Changed/Corrected Application – If requested by the agency, check if this submission is to change or correct a previously submitted application. Unless requested by the agency, applicants may not use this to submit changes after the closing date.		10.	Name Of Federal Agency: (Required) Enter the name of the Federal agency from which assistance is being requested with this application.
			11.	Catalog Of Federal Domestic Assistance Number/Title: Enter the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and title of the program under which assistance is requested, as found in the program announcement, if applicable.

2.	Type of Application: (Required) Select one type of application in accordance with agency instructions. New – An application that is being submitted to an agency for the first time. Continuation - An extension for an additional funding/budget period for a project with a projected completion date. This can include renewals. Revision - Any change in the Federal Government’s financial obligation or contingent liability from an existing obligation. If a revision, enter the appropriate letter(s). More than one may be selected. If "Other" is selected, please specify in text box provided. A. Increase Award B. Decrease Award C. Increase Duration D. Decrease Duration E. Other (specify)		12.	Funding Opportunity Number/Title: (Required) Enter the Funding Opportunity Number and title of the opportunity under which assistance is requested, as found in the program announcement.
			13.	Competition Identification Number/Title: Enter the Competition Identification Number and title of the competition under which assistance is requested, if applicable.
			14.	Areas Affected By Project: List the areas or entities using the categories (e.g., cities, counties, states, etc.) specified in agency instructions. Use the continuation sheet to enter additional areas, if needed.
3.	Date Received: Leave this field blank. This date will be assigned by the Federal agency.		15.	Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: (Required) Enter a brief descriptive title of the project. If appropriate, attach a map showing project location (e.g., construction or real property projects). For pre-applications, attach a summary description of the project.
4.	Applicant Identifier: Enter the entity identifier assigned by the Federal agency, if any, or applicant’s control number, if applicable.
5a	Federal Entity Identifier: Enter the number assigned to your organization by the Federal Agency, if any.		16.	Congressional Districts Of: (Required) 16a. Enter the applicant’s Congressional District, and 16b. Enter all District(s) affected by the program or project. Enter in the format: 2 characters State Abbreviation – 3 characters District Number, e.g., CA-005 for California 5th^th district, CA-012 for California 12^th district, NC-103 for North Carolina’s 103^rd district. If all congressional districts in a state are affected, enter “all” for the district number, e.g., MD-all for all congressional districts in Maryland. If nationwide, i.e. all districts within all states are affected, enter US-all. If the program/project is outside the US, enter 00-000.
5b.	Federal Award Identifier: For new applications leave blank. For a continuation or revision to an existing award, enter the previously assigned Federal award identifier number. If a changed/corrected application, enter the Federal Identifier in accordance with agency instructions.
6.	Date Received by State: Leave this field blank. This date will be assigned by the State, if applicable.
7.	State Application Identifier: Leave this field blank. This identifier will be assigned by the State, if applicable.
8.	Applicant Information: Enter the following in accordance with agency instructions: a. Legal Name: (Required): Enter the legal name of applicant that will undertake the assistance activity. This is the name that the organization has registered with the Central Contractor Registry. Information on registering with CCR may be obtained by visiting the Grants.gov website.

			17.	Proposed Project Start and End Dates: (Required) Enter the proposed start date and end date of the project.
	b. Employer/Taxpayer Number (EIN/TIN): (Required): Enter the Employer or Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN or TIN) as assigned by the Internal Revenue Service. If your organization is not in the US, enter 44-4444444.
			18.	Estimated Funding: (Required) Enter the amount requested or to be contributed during the first funding/budget period by each contributor. Value of in-kind contributions should be included on appropriate lines, as applicable. If the action will result in a dollar change to an existing award, indicate only the amount of the change. For decreases, enclose the amounts in parentheses.
	c. Organizational DUNS: (Required) Enter the organization’s DUNS or DUNS+4 number received from Dun and Bradstreet. Information on obtaining a DUNS number may be obtained by visiting the Grants.gov website.
	d. Address: Enter the complete address as follows: Street address (Line 1 required), City (Required), County, State (Required, if country is US), Province, Country (Required), Zip/Postal Code (Required, if country is US).
			19.	Is Application Subject to Review by State Under Executive Order 12372 Process? Applicants should contact the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for Federal Executive Order 12372 to determine whether the application is subject to the State intergovernmental review process. Select the appropriate box. If “a.” is selected, enter the date the application was submitted to the State
	e. Organizational Unit: Enter the name of the primary organizational unit (and department or division, if applicable) that will undertake the assistance activity, if applicable.


	f. Name and contact information of person to be contacted on matters involving this application: Enter the name (First and last name required), organizational affiliation (if affiliated with an organization other than the applicant organization), telephone number (Required), fax number, and email address (Required) of the person to contact on matters related to this application.
			20.	Is the Applicant Delinquent on any Federal Debt? (Required) Select the appropriate box. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of debt include delinquent audit disallowances, loans and taxes. If yes, include an explanation on the continuation sheet.

9.	Type of Applicant: (Required) Select up to three applicant type(s) in accordance with agency instructions.		21.	Authorized Representative: (Required) To be signed and dated by the authorized representative of the applicant organization. Enter the name (First and last name required) title (Required), telephone number (Required), fax number, and email address (Required) of the person authorized to sign for the applicant. A copy of the governing body’s authorization for you to sign this application as the official representative must be on file in the applicant’s office. (Certain Federal agencies may require that this authorization be submitted as part of the application.)
	State Government County Government City or Township Government Special District Government Regional Organization U.S. Territory or Possession Independent School District Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized) Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized) Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization Public/Indian Housing Authority	Nonprofit with 501C3 IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education) Nonprofit without 501C3 IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education) Private Institution of Higher Education Individual For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business) Small Business Hispanic-serving Institution Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Non-domestic (non-US) Entity Other (specify)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR SF 424

1. Project Director. Name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the person to be contacted on matters involving this application.

2. Novice Applicant. Check “Yes” or “No” only if assistance is being requested under a program that gives special consideration to novice applicants. Otherwise, leave blank.

Check “Yes” if you meet the requirements for novice applicants specified in the regulations in 34 CFR 75.225 and included on the attached page entitled “Definitions for Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424.” By checking “Yes” the applicant certifies that it meets these novice applicant requirements. Check “No” if you do not meet the requirements for novice applicants.

3. Human Subjects Research. (See I. A. “Definitions” in attached page entitled “Definitions for Department of Education Supplemental Information For SF 424.”)

If Not Human Subjects Research. Check “No” if research activities involving human subjects are not planned at any time during the proposed project period. The remaining parts of Item 3 are then not applicable.

If Human Subjects Research. Check “Yes” if research activities involving human subjects are planned at any time during the proposed project period, either at the applicant organization or at any other performance site or collaborating institution. Check “Yes” even if the research is exempt from the regulations for the protection of human subjects. (See I. B. “Exemptions” in attached page entitled “Definitions for Department of Education Supplemental Information For SF 424.”)

3a. If Human Subjects Research is Exempt from the Human Subjects Regulations . Check “Yes” if all the research activities proposed are designated to be exempt from the regulations. Insert the exemption number(s) corresponding to one or more of the six exemption categories listed in I. B. “Exemptions.” In addition, follow the instructions in II. A. “Exempt Research Narrative” in the attached page entitled “Definitions for Department of Education Supplemental Information For SF 424.”

3a. If Human Subjects Research is Not Exempt from Human Subjects Regulations. Check “No” if some or all of the planned research activities are covered (not exempt). In addition, follow the instructions in II. B. “Nonexempt Research Narrative” in the page entitled “Definitions for Department of Education Supplemental Information For SF 424

3a. Human Subjects Assurance Number . If the applicant has an approved Federal Wide (FWA) on file with the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, that covers the specific activity, insert the number in the space provided. If the applicant does not have an approved assurance on file with OHRP, enter “None.” In this case, the applicant, by signature on the SF-424, is declaring that it will comply with 34 CFR 97 and proceed to obtain the human subjects assurance upon request by the designated ED official. If the application is recommended/selected for funding, the designated ED official will request that the applicant obtain the assurance within 30 days after the specific formal request.

Note about Institutional Review Board Approval. ED does not require certification of Institutional Review Board approval with the application. However, if an application that involves non-exempt human subjects research is recommended/selected for funding, the designated ED official will request that the applicant obtain and send the certification to ED within 30 days after the formal request.

Paperwork Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1890-0017. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average between 15 and 45 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4700. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form write directly to: Joyce I. Mays, Application Control Center, U.S Department of Education, Potomac Center Plaza, 550 12th Street, S.W. Room 7076, Washington, DC 20202-4260.

DEFINITIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR SF 424

(Attachment to Instructions for Supplemental Information for SF 424)

Definitions:

Novice Applicant (See 34 CFR 75.225). For discretionary grant programs under which the Secretary gives special consideration to novice applications, a novice applicant means any applicant for a grant from ED that—

• Has never received a grant or sub-grant under the program from which it seeks funding;

• Has never been a member of a group application, submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127-75.129, that received a grant under the program from which it seeks funding; and

• Has not had an active discretionary grant from the Federal government in the five years before the deadline date for applications under the program. For the purposes of this requirement, a grant is active until the end of the grant’s project or funding period, including any extensions of those periods that extend the grantee’s authority to obligate funds.

In the case of a group application submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127-75.129, a group includes only parties that meet the requirements listed above.

PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS IN RESEARCH

I . Definitions and Exemptions

A . Definitions.

A research activity involves human subjects if the activity is research, as defined in the Department’s regulations, and the research activity will involve use of human subjects, as defined in the regulations.

—Research

The ED Regulations for the Protection of Human Subjects, Title 34, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 97, define research as “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.” If an activity follows a deliberate plan whose purpose is to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge it is research. Activities which meet this definition constitute research whether or not they are conducted or supported under a program that is considered research for other purposes. For example, some demonstration and service programs may include research activities.

—Human Subject

The regulations define human subject as “a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains (1) data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) identifiable private information.” (1) If an activity involves obtaining information about a living person by manipulating that person or that person’s environment, as might occur when a new instructional technique is tested, or by communicating or interacting with the individual, as occurs with surveys and interviews, the definition of human subject is met. (2) If an activity involves obtaining private information about a living person in such a way that the information can be linked to that individual (the identity of the subject is or may be readily determined by the investigator or associated with the information), the definition of human subject is met. [Private information includes information about behavior that occurs in a context in which an individual can reasonably expect that no observation or recording is taking place, and information which has been provided for specific purposes by an individual and which the individual can reasonably expect will not be made public (for example, a school health record).]

B. Exemptions.

Research activities in which the only involvement of human subjects will be in one or more of the following six categories of exemptions are not covered by the regulations:

(1) Research conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings, involving normal educational practices, such as (a) research on regular and special education instructional strategies, or (b) research on the effectiveness of or the comparison among instructional techniques, curricula, or classroom management methods.

(2) Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey procedures, interview procedures or observation of public behavior, unless: (a) information obtained is recorded in such a manner that human subjects can be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects; and (b) any disclosure of the human subjects’ responses outside the research could reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subjects’ financial standing, employability, or reputation. If the subjects are children, exemption 2 applies only to research involving educational tests and observations of public behavior when the investigator(s) do not participate in the activities being observed . Exemption 2 does not apply if children are surveyed or interviewed or if the research involves observation of public behavior and the investigator(s) participate in the activities being observed. [Children are defined as persons who have not attained the legal age for consent to treatments or procedures involved in the research, under the applicable law or jurisdiction in which the research will be conducted.]

(3) Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey procedures, interview procedures or observation of public behavior that is not exempt under section (2) above, if the human subjects are elected or appointed public officials or candidates for public office; or federal statute(s) require(s) without exception that the confidentiality of the personally identifiable information will be maintained throughout the research and thereafter.

(4) Research involving the collection or study of existing data, documents, records, pathological specimens, or diagnostic specimens, if these sources are publicly available or if the information is recorded by the investigator in a manner that subjects cannot be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects.

(5) Research and demonstration projects which are conducted by or subject to the approval of department or agency heads, and which are designed to study, evaluate, or otherwise examine: (a) public benefit or service programs; (b) procedures for obtaining benefits or services under those programs; (c) possible changes in or alternatives to those programs or procedures; or (d) possible changes in methods or levels of payment for benefits or services under those programs.

(6) Taste and food quality evaluation and consumer acceptance studies, (a) if wholesome foods without additives are consumed or (b) if a food is consumed that contains a food ingredient at or below the level and for a use found to be safe, or agricultural chemical or environmental contaminant at or below the level found to be safe, by the Food and Drug Administration or approved by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

II . Instructions for Exempt and Nonexempt Human Subjects Research Narratives

If the applicant marked “Yes” for Item 3 of Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, the applicant must provide a human subjects “exempt research” or “nonexempt research” narrative.

Insert the narrative(s) in the space provided. If you have multiple projects and need to provide more than one narrative, be sure to label each set of responses as to the project they address.

A . Exempt Research Narrative.

If you marked “Yes” for item 3 a. and designated exemption numbers(s), provide the “exempt research” narrative . The narrative must contain sufficient information about the involvement of human subjects in the proposed research to allow a determination by ED that the designated exemption(s) are appropriate . The narrative must be succinct.

B . Nonexempt Research Narrative.

If you marked “No” for item 3 a. you must provide the “nonexempt research” narrative . The narrative must address the following seven points. Although no specific page limitation applies to this section of the application, be succinct.

(1) Human Subjects Involvement and Characteristics: Provide a detailed description of the proposed involvement of human subjects. Describe the characteristics of the subject population, including their anticipated number, age range, and health status. Identify the criteria for inclusion or exclusion of any subpopulation. Explain the rationale for the involvement of special classes of subjects, such as children, children with disabilities, adults with disabilities, persons with mental disabilities, pregnant women, prisoners, institutionalized individuals, or others who are likely to be vulnerable.

(2) Sources of Materials: Identify the sources of research material obtained from individually identifiable living human subjects in the form of specimens, records, or data. Indicate whether the material or data will be obtained specifically for research purposes or whether use will be made of existing specimens, records, or data.

(3) Recruitment and Informed Consent: Describe plans for the recruitment of subjects and the consent procedures to be followed. Include the circumstances under which consent will be sought and obtained, who will seek it, the nature of the information to be provided to prospective subjects, and the method of documenting consent . State if the Institutional Review Board (IRB) has authorized a modification or waiver of the elements of consent or the requirement for documentation of consent.

(4) Potential Risks: Describe potential risks (physical, psychological, social, legal, or other) and assess their likelihood and seriousness. Where appropriate, describe alternative treatments and procedures that might be advantageous to the subjects.

(5) Protection Against Risk: Describe the procedures for protecting against or minimizing potential risks, including risks to confidentiality, and assess their likely effectiveness. Where appropriate, discuss provisions for ensuring necessary medical or professional intervention in the event of adverse effects to the subjects. Also, where appropriate, describe the provisions for monitoring the data collected to ensure the safety of the subjects.

(6) Importance of the Knowledge to be Gained: Discuss the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained as a result of the proposed research. Discuss why the risks to subjects are reasonable in relation to the anticipated benefits to subjects and in relation to the importance of the knowledge that may reasonably be expected to result.

(7) Collaborating Site(s): If research involving human subjects will take place at collaborating site(s) or other performance site(s), name the sites and briefly describe their involvement or role in the research.

Copies of the Department of Education’s Regulations for the Protection of Human Subjects, 34 CFR Part 97 and other pertinent materials on the protection of human subjects in research are available from the Grants Policy and Oversight Staff, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4250, telephone: (202) 245-6120, and on the U.S. Department of Education’s Protection of Human Subjects in Research Web Site: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/OCFO/humansub.html

NOTE: The State Applicant Identifier on the SF 424 is for State Use only. Please complete it on the OMB Standard 424 in the upper right corner of the form (if applicable).

Instructions for ED 524

Instructions

This form is used to apply to individual U.S. Department of Education (ED) discretionary grant programs. Unless directed otherwise, provide the same budget information for each year of the multi-year funding request. Pay attention to applicable program specific instructions, if attached. Please consult with your Business Office prior to submitting this form.

Section A - Budget Summary

U.S. Department of Education Funds

All applicants must complete Section A and provide a breakdown by the applicable budget categories shown in lines 1-11.

Lines 1-11, columns (a)-(e): For each project year for which funding is requested, show the total amount requested for each applicable budget category.

Lines 1-11, column (f): Show the multi-year total for each budget category. If funding is requested for only one project year, leave this column blank.

Line 12, columns (a)-(e): Show the total budget request for each project year for which funding is requested.

Line 12, column (f): Show the total amount requested for all project years. If funding is requested for only one year, leave this space blank.

Indirect Cost Information: If you are requesting reimbursement for indirect costs on line 10, this information is to be completed by your Business Office. (1): Indicate whether or not your organization has an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement that was approved by the federal government. (2): If you checked “yes” in (1), indicate in (2) the beginning and ending dates covered by the Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. In addition, indicate whether ED or another federal agency (Other) issued the approved agreement. If you check “Other,” specify the name of the federal agency that issued the approved agreement. (3): If you are applying for a grant under a Restricted Rate Program (34 CFR 75.563 or 76.563), indicate whether you are using a restricted indirect cost rate that is included on your approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or whether you are using a restricted indirect cost rate that complies with 34 CFR 76.564(c)(2). Note: State or local government agencies may not use the provision for a restricted indirect cost rate specified in 34 CFR 76.564(c)(2). Check only one response. Leave blank, if this item is not applicable.

Section B - Budget Summary

Non-Federal Funds

If you are required to provide or volunteer to provide matching funds or other non-federal resources to the project, these should be shown for each applicable budget category on lines 1 11 of Section B.

Lines 1-11, columns (a)-(e): For each project year, for which matching funds or other contributions are provided, show the total contribution for each applicable budget category.

Lines 1-11, column (f): Show the multi-year total for each budget category . If non-federal contributions are provided for only one year, leave this column blank.

Line 12, columns (a)-(e): Show the total matching or other contribution for each project year.

Line 12, column (f): Show the total amount to be contributed for all years of the multi-year project. If non-Federal contributions are provided for only one year, leave

Section C - Budget Narrative [Attach separate sheet(s)]

Pay attention to applicable program specific instructions, if attached.

1. Provide an itemized budget breakdown, and justification by project year, for each budget category listed in Sections A and B . For grant projects that will be divided into two or more separately budgeted major activities or sub-projects, show for each budget category of a project year the breakdown of the specific expenses attributable to each sub-project or activity.

2. If applicable to this program, provide the rate and base on which fringe benefits are calculated.

3. If you are requesting reimbursement for indirect costs on line 10, this information is to be completed by your Business Office. Specify the estimated amount of the base to which the indirect cost rate is applied and the total indirect expense. Depending on the grant program to which you are applying and/or your approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, some direct cost budget categories in your grant application budget may not be included in the base and multiplied by your indirect cost rate. For example, you must multiply the indirect cost rates of “Training grants" (34 CFR 75.562) and grants under programs with “Supplement not Supplant” requirements ("Restricted Rate" programs) by a “modified total direct cost” (MTDC) base (34 CFR 75.563 or 76.563). Please indicate which costs are included and which costs are excluded from the base to which the indirect cost rate is applied.

When calculating indirect costs (line 10) for "Training grants" or grants under "Restricted Rate" programs, you must refer to the information and examples on ED’s website at: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.

You may also contact (202) 377-3838 for additional information regarding calculating indirect cost rates or general indirect cost rate information.

4. Provide other explanations or comments you deem necessary.

Paperwork Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 55 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 or retain benefit (Section 501 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended) and voluntary. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202 or email [email protected] and reference the OMB Control Number 1840-0745. Note: Please do not return the completed application to this address.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF SF-LLL, DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES

This disclosure form shall be completed by the reporting entity, whether sub-awardee or prime Federal recipient, at the initiation or receipt of a covered Federal action, or a material change to a previous filing, pursuant to Title 31 U.S.C. Section 1352. The filing of a form is required for each payment or agreement to make payment to any lobbying entity for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with a covered Federal action. Complete all items that apply for both the initial filing and material change report. Refer to the implementing guidance published by the Office of Management and Budget for additional information.

1. Identify the type of covered Federal action for which lobbying activity is and/or has been secured to influence the outcome of a covered Federal action.

2. Identify the status of the covered Federal action.

3. Identify the appropriate classification of this report. If this is a follow-up report caused by a material change to the information previously reported, enter the year and quarter in which the change occurred. Enter the date of the last previously submitted report by this reporting entity for this covered Federal action.

4. Enter the full name, address, city, State and zip code of the reporting entity. Include Congressional District, if known. Check the appropriate classification of the reporting entity that designates if it is, or expects to be, a prime or sub-award recipient. Identify the tier of the sub-awardee, e.g., the first sub-awardee of the prime is the 1st tier. Sub-awards include but are not limited to subcontracts, subgrants and contract awards under grants.

5. If the organization filing the report in item 4 checks “Subawardee,” then enter the full name, address, city, State and zip code of the prime Federal recipient. Include Congressional District, if known.

6. Enter the name of the federal agency making the award or loan commitment. Include at least one organizational level below agency name, if known. For example, Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard.

7. Enter the Federal program name or description for the covered Federal action (item 1). If known, enter the full Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and loan commitments.

8. Enter the most appropriate Federal identifying number available for the Federal action identified in item 1 (e.g., Request for Proposal (RFP) number; Invitations for Bid (IFB) number; grant announcement number; the contract, grant, or loan award number; the application/proposal control number assigned by the Federal agency). Included prefixes, e.g., “RFP-DE-90-001.”

9. For a covered Federal action where there has been an award or loan commitment by the Federal agency, enter the Federal amount of the award/loan commitment for the prime entity identified in item 4 or 5.

10. (a) Enter the full name, address, city, State and zip code of the lobbying registrant under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 engaged by the reporting entity identified in item 4 to influence the covered Federal action.

(b) Enter the full names of the individual(s) performing services, and include full address if different from 10(a) . Enter Last Name, First Name, and Middle Initial (MI).

11. The certifying official shall sign and date the form; print his/her name, title, and telephone number.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act, as amended, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control Number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is OMB No. 0348-0046. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10 minutes 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. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0046), Washington, DC 20503.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF GENERAL EDUCATION PROVISIONS ACT (GEPA)

OMB Number: 1894-0005

Expiration Date: 03/31/2017

NOTICE TO ALL APPLICANTS

The purpose of this enclosure is to inform you about a new

provision in the Department of Education's General

Education Provisions Act (GEPA) that applies to applicants

for new grant awards under Department programs. This

provision is Section 427 of GEPA, enacted as part of the

Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Public Law (P.L.) 103-382).

To Whom Does This Provision Apply?

Section 427 of GEPA affects applicants for new grant

awards under this program. ALL APPLICANTS FOR

NEW AWARDS MUST INCLUDE INFORMATION IN

THEIR APPLICATIONS TO ADDRESS THIS NEW

PROVISION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER THIS PROGRAM.

(If this program is a State-formula grant program, a State

needs to provide this description only for projects or

activities that it carries out with funds reserved for State-level uses. In addition, local school districts or other eligible

applicants that apply to the State for funding need to provide

this description in their applications to the State for funding.

The State would be responsible for ensuring that the school

district or other local entity has submitted a sufficient

section 427 statement as described below.)

What Does This Provision Require?

Section 427 requires each applicant for funds (other than an

individual person) 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

provision allows applicants discretion in developing the

required description. The statute highlights six types of

barriers that can impede equitable access or participation:

gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age.

Based on local circumstances, you should determine

whether these or other barriers may prevent your students,

teachers, etc. from such access or participation in, the

Federally-funded project or activity. The description in your

application of steps to be taken to overcome these barriers

need not be lengthy; you may provide a clear and succinct

description of how you plan to address those barriers that are

applicable to your circumstances. In addition, the information may be provided in a single narrative, or, if appropriate, may be discussed in connection with related topics in the application.

Section 427 is not intended to duplicate the requirements of

civil rights statutes, but rather to ensure that, in designing

their projects, applicants for Federal funds address equity

concerns that may affect the ability of certain potential

beneficiaries to fully participate in the project and to achieve

to high standards. Consistent with program requirements and

its approved application, an applicant may use the Federal

funds awarded to it to eliminate barriers it identifies.

What are Examples of How an Applicant Might Satisfy the Requirement of This Provision?

The following examples may help illustrate how an applicant may comply with Section 427.

(1) An applicant that proposes to carry out an adult literacy

project serving, among others, adults with limited English

proficiency, might describe in its application how it intends to distribute a brochure about the proposed project to such

potential participants in their native language.

(2) An applicant that proposes to develop instructional

materials for classroom use might describe how it will make

the materials available on audio tape or in braille for students who are blind.

(3) An applicant that proposes to carry out a model science

program for secondary students and is concerned that girls

may be less likely than boys to enroll in the course, might

indicate how it intends to conduct "outreach" efforts to girls,

to encourage their enrollment.

We recognize that many applicants may already be

implementing effective steps to ensure equity of

access and participation in their grant programs, and

we appreciate your cooperation in responding to the

requirements of this provision.

Estimated Burden Statement for GEPA Requirements

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.5 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 or retain benefit (Public Law 103-382). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20210-4537 or email [email protected] and reference the OMB Control Number 1894-0005.

Hispanic-Serving Institutions Assurances

Additional instructions for applicants:

Applicants enter HSI assurance data on the “DHSI Program Profile Form.”

The statute governing the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program (Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)) requires the applicant to provide an assurance of the following:

The applicant has an enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent (FTE) students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic students at the end of the award year immediately preceding the date of application.

For the purposes of the calculation, use your institution’s student enrollment count closest to, but not after, September 30, 2015.

Whatever the full-time course load is at your institution, count a full-time undergraduate degree student as one FTE.

To determine the FTE for part-time undergraduate students, total the number of credit hours of all part-time undergraduate students. Include both part-time degree students and part-time unclassified students. Divide the total number of credit hours for the part-time undergraduate students by twelve (12). The result is the FTE for part-time undergraduate students.

Note: An unclassified undergraduate student is one who is not a candidate for a degree or other formal award, but is taking courses for credit in regular classes with undergraduate degree students. However, both classified and unclassified undergraduate students enrolled must be in a program of at least two years in length that would result in the award of a certificate, associate degree or other educational credential.

To calculate the total Undergraduate FTE Enrollment Count: Add the FTE of full-time undergraduate students and the FTE of part-time undergraduate students.

To calculate the Hispanic Undergraduate FTE Enrollment Count: Add the FTE of full-time undergraduate Hispanic students and the FTE of part-time undergraduate Hispanic students.

To calculate the Undergraduate FTE Hispanic Percent: Divide the Hispanic Undergraduate FTE Enrollment Count by the Total Undergraduate FTE Enrollment Count and multiply by 100.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

1. DHSI Program Profile Form: All applicants must complete the information requested on this page. Using the profile, the applicant will provide information on Assurances and Eligibility. This form serves as the assurance regarding Hispanic enrollment percent required by the program’s statutory language. Do not modify, amend, or delete any part 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 upload it to the “Other Attachments Form” in Grants.gov in .pdf format only. Do not modify or amend the contents of the form in any way.

HSI Program Assurances: All applicants must provide assurances regarding the percent of Hispanic students enrolled at their institutions. By inserting a check mark in the box or an X in front of the box, for item #13, and by providing the required data for items #9 and #10 on the “HSI Program Profile Form,” an applicant certifies that it will fully comply with the requirements.

Special Note: The Department will cross-reference, for verification, data reported to the Department’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the institution’s state reported enrollment data, and the institutional annual report. If there are any differences in the percentages reported in IPEDS and the percentage reported in the grant application, the institution should explain the differences as a part of its eligibility documentation. When providing eligibility documentation to support your HSI assurances, please note that if the applicant does not provide data or the Department is unable to verify data submitted by the institution, the Department may deem the applicant as ineligible.

2. Page Limits: The project narrative is where applicants address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We have established a mandatory page limit applicable for both the Individual Development Grant and the Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant applications. You must limit the narrative (not including the Table of Contents) and the response to one of the competitive preference priorities to no more than 55 pages. Note: Please include a separate bold heading when responding to the competitive priorities. If you include or upload any attachments or appendices not specifically requested in the application package to “Project Narrative Attachment Form” in Grants.gov, these items will be counted as part of your page count for purposes of the page limit requirement.

The page limit does not apply to the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424); the Department of Education Supplemental Information form (SF 424); U.S. Department of Education Budget form for Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524); the assurances and certifications; the one-page project abstract; Table of Contents in the Project Narrative; or the supporting Budget Narrative.

3. 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 and Arial Narrow) will not be accepted. Use font size 12.

Special Note: No special accommodations or reformatting justifications will be allowed for any applications not meeting page limits and formatting requirements.

Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Program Profile Form

INSTRUCTIONS: ALL applicants must complete and submit this profile form. You may copy or recreate this form, but do not amend or modify the required information or format. Please complete all sections of this form. Upon completion, upload this document in .pdf format only to the “Other Attachments Form” in Grants.gov.

1. Name of Institution/Campus Requesting: (Use your institution’s complete name. If your institution is a branch campus, use the parent institution’s name but follow it with the name of the branch campus. For example, you would cite the State University of New York- Brockport Campus.)

Institution/Campus OPE ID#: DUNS#:

2. Applicant Address: (All applicants must indicate the address where the project will be located)

Project Address:

City: State: Zip:

3. Participating Institutions in a Cooperative Arrangement:

3a. Name of Applicant Institution (Lead):

3b. Name of Participating Institutions DUNS Number Location (city/state)

4. Prior DHSI Grant Status: If applicable, please identify the fiscal year, grant type and highlight your institution’s major accomplishment(s) as it relates to enrollment, persistence, graduation rates, and/or fiscal stability. (Note: please check all that apply.)

Fiscal Year(s): Grant Type: Individual Cooperative (If checked, please list partner institution(s).)

Names of Partner(s):

Major Accomplishment(s): Performance:

1. Enrollment Persistence Graduation Rates Fiscal Stability

2. Enrollment Persistence Graduation Rates Fiscal Stability

3. Enrollment Persistence Graduation Rates Fiscal Stability

5. Level of Effort (Time commitment) of Project Director (If Project Director is to be hired, state “N/A.”)

List active grants for which the Project Director currently has responsibility:

PR Award Number of grant: Level of effort: Final year of performance period:

6. Tiebreaker Information: Enter the full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment for Fall 2015. See the Application Guide and Federal Register Notice for instructions on calculating FTE enrollment.

Total Fall 2015 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE) students =

Total market value of endowment fund for 2014-15
Total expenditures for library material during 2014-15

Note: Failure to provide information requested in items a) and b) above may result in the Department not considering the application under a tie-breaker situation

7. Endowment Fund Assurance:

The institution certifies that it proposes to use no more than twenty percent (20%) of the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program development grant, made under the authority of Title V, of the Higher Education 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 606. The institution further agrees to raise the required matching funds.

8. Dual Submission Certification: If an institution applies for a grant this fiscal year under more than one program, it must indicate that fact in each application:

Strengthening Institutions Program

American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and

Universities Program

Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program

Alaska Native-Serving Institutions Program

Title V, Part A Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program (For Title V, Part A, applicants may submit an Individual Development grant application and/or one Cooperative Arrangement grant application in the same fiscal year. If you are submitting another proposal, please indicate the application type for that proposal.)

Cooperative Arrangement Individual

8a. If your application ranks in funding range for more than one program in FY 2017, please state the preferred order of award acceptance. Per Title V, HSI Statute: SEC. 505. SPECIAL RULE -No Hispanic-serving institution that is eligible for and receives funds under this title may concurrently receive other funds under part A or B of Title III during the period for which funds under this title are awarded.

9. Prior Title III/Title V grant status: Please list the PR Award Numbers for all Title III, Part A and Part B grant awards that the institution has had in the past five (5) years: Per Title V, HSI Statute: SEC. 505. SPECIAL RULE -No Hispanic-serving institution that is eligible for and receives funds under this title may concurrently receive other funds under part A or B of Title III during the period for which funds under this title are awarded.

10. Institutional Assurance Statistics: See the Application Guide and the Federal Register Notice for HSI Assurance Instructions. Please provide us with the data your institution reported to the following: IPEDS and State Reported Enrollment. Enter information for all areas below for Fall 2015 (up to September 30, 2015).

10a. HSI Assurance:

Total Undergraduate FTE Enrollment Count:

Hispanic Undergraduate FTE Enrollment Count:

Undergraduate FTE Hispanic Percent:

10b. State Enrollment Reported Data:

Hispanic Undergraduate FTE Enrollment:

Undergraduate FTE Hispanic Percent:

10c. IPEDS Reported Data:

Hispanic Undergraduate FTE Enrollment:

Undergraduate FTE Hispanic Percent:

11. Eligibility Documentation: Please provide us with the documentation the institution relied upon in determining that at least 25 percent of the institution’s undergraduate FTE students are Hispanic.

NOTE: The Department will cross-reference, for verification, data reported to the Department’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). If there are any differences in the percentages reported in IPEDS and the percentage reported in the grant application, the institution should explain the differences as a part of its eligibility documentation. If the applicant does not provide data or the Department is unable to verify data submitted by the institution, the Department may deem the applicant as ineligible.

12. Certifying Representative:

Name:

Title:

Contact Number:

Fax Number:

13. By checking this box, the applicant and President of the institution certify that the Institution of Higher Education (IHE) will comply with the statutory requirements, program standards, and program assurance cited in the HSI program regulations 34 CFR Part 606.

Application Checklist

Here’s a checklist to use to ensure your successful submission of your proposal. Please make sure all items are checked before submitting your proposal in Grants.gov.

All items listed on this checklist are required.

 Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) – Completed all required fields.

 Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424 – Completed all required fields.

 Department of Education Budget Information Non-Construction Programs Form (ED 524) – Completed all required fields.

 Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B) – All required fields are complete.

 Certification Regarding Lobbying – All required fields are complete.

 Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) – All required fields are complete.

 ED GEPA 427 Form – All required fields are complete and the GEPA statement has been uploaded to the form.

 One-Page Project Abstract – Uploaded in .pdf format to the “ED Abstract Form” in Grants.gov.

 Project Narrative – Complete response to all Selection Criteria and if applicable, the response to the Competitive Preference Priority of my choice have been uploaded in .pdf format to the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” in Grants.gov. Page limit requirements have been met.

 Budget Narrative – Supporting narrative for the proposed budget has been completed for all 5 budget years of the performance period. The level of effort (time commitment) for the proposed Project Director is included in the narrative. Costs match the costs stated on the ED-524 Budget Form. Narrative has been uploaded in .pdf format to the “Budget Narrative Attachment Form.”

 DHSI Program Profile Form – All fields of this form have been completed. Profile form and supporting documentation regarding the required 25% Hispanic enrollment have been uploaded to the “Other Attachments Form” in Grants.gov.

PAPERWORK BURDEN STATEMENT

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 55 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 or retain benefit (Section 501 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended). 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 U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202.

1 www.http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d15/tables/dt15_326.20.asp

2 US Census Bureau, Population Division Survey, 2014 Annual Social and Economic Supplement, Table 1: Educational Attainment. 2015. www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2014/tables.html

3 https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_caa.asp

4 https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/highered/racial-diversity/state-racial-diversity-workforce.pdf

File Type	application/msword
File Title	Application for Grants under the Student Support Services Program, HEA Title IV-A
Author	I.R.G.
Last Modified By	Kate Mullan
File Modified	2016-11-18
File Created	2016-11-18