Transcript UMES 2009 Federal Higher Education Programs

New Developments and Competitive Components in Federal Higher
Education Programs:
A working perspective on framing the need and finding the funds.
• University of Maryland
Eastern Shore
Andy Clark, Director of
Legislative Affairs
University System of
Maryland
• 2009 Vice Presidents,
Deans, Chairs and
Directors workshop
• August 5, 2009
FEDERAL FUNDING
The determination to pursue federal funds
revolves around 5 basic institutional needs
– Sustaining existing university programs
– Enhancing faculty and student competitiveness
– Creating incentives for collaborative or interdisciplinary
research
– Building research capacity (Bricks-and Mortar, scientific
journals, equipment and instrumentation)
– Increased diversification of funding sources
Formula (or Block Grant Funding)
• Awarded to State and local governments based on
a predetermined formula, which may be based on
a jurisdiction's crime rate, population, or other
factors.
• Awarded to agencies in each State designated by
the governor.
• Generally requires States to pass awards to local
agencies and organizations via sub-grants.
Discretionary
• Awarded on a competitive basis to public and
private nonprofit organizations.
• Funding ranges from single awards for research,
evaluation, and technical assistance to multisite
awards for program development.
Congressional Earmarks
• Hard Earmarks: Congress directs the Federal
agency to provide certain funds to specific
programs it has identified.
• Soft Earmarks: Congress identifies a program
and directs the Federal agency to:
Evaluate the program.
Fund the program, if warranted.
PROCESS CAPABILITY ANALYSIS – COLD STARTING
THE PURSUIT OF FEDERAL FUNDS
• What Constitutes Capability
(4 key ingredients)
– Understanding the actual agency or legislative award
process (Competitive award or Congressional earmark)
– Performance and productivity of the institution program
(funding history, human capital, student success, library
holdings, publications, research relevance, or service to
community)
– University action on the process (need analysis, grant
writing proficiency)
– University action on the output (Internal checks and
balances to insure the project or program remains within
the mission of the university)
The Process Capability Study: Five Steps For University
Deans, Directors, and VPs
• Determine that the process is in your control
• Establish a clear line of communication with the
faculty member or principal investigator
• Construct a timeline for actions based on the
agency’s grant submission deadline or
Congressional calendar
• Determine possible deviations that may delay or
impeded the process
• Do political calculations based on known facts
about a legislator’s or agency’s interest in the
university program or research
NARROWING THE FOCUS
• Areas of Growing Government Investment in
Postsecondary Education:
– Student Financial Aid (Pell Grants/Direct lending)
– Teacher Training and Development
– Areas of national need (school counselors, radiology,
nursing)
– Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
– Basic and Applied research (instrumentation, facilities,
graduate and doctoral degree support)
– Food Supply (innovation, safety, security)
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING
LANDSCAPE
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The Higher Education Opportunity Act of
2008
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (H.R.
4137) passed the House on July 31, 2008 by a vote of
380-49 and was signed into law on August 14, 2008.
• The last comprehensive reauthorization was in 1998.
• In addition to an expanded GI Bill signed into law in
June, the Higher Education Opportunity Act is the 4th
major higher education bill to be passed by Congress
in the past 14 months.
• In July 2007, Congress passed the College Cost
Reduction and Access Act (P.L. 110-84), a student aid
law that increased Federal aid to college students by
more than $20 billion.
• In May 2008, Congress approved the Ensuring
Continued Access to Student Loans Act (P.L. 110-227),
emergency legislation to ensure the availability of
Federal student loans in the face of the current
troubles in the credit market.
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GRADUATE PROGRAMS AT HISTORICALLY
BLACK INSTITUTIONS
•In
Title III, the bill adds Bowie State University to the
Professional Graduate or Institutions Program making the
institution eligible for $1 million in funding that may be used
for a broad range of activities supporting science, technology
and engineering education.
•In Title VII, Coppin State University was added to the list of
institutions eligible under Section 723; Masters Degrees at
Historically Black Colleges and Universities and
Predominately Black Institutions. Grants up to $1 million are
made to institutions making a substantial contribution at the
master’s level in mathematics, engineering, the physical or
natural sciences, computer science, information technology,
nursing, allied health, or other scientific disciplines for African
Americans.
The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007
• Part J – Strengthening Historically Black Colleges
and Universities and other Minority-Serving
Institutions
• “(b)” New Investment of Funds.—
– “(1) In General.—There shall be available to the
Secretary to carry out this section, from funds not
otherwise appropriated, $255,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2008 and 2009. The authority to award
grants under this section shall expire at the end of fiscal
year 2009.”
THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND
REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009
The “Stimulus” Bill
WWW.RECOVERY.GOV
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
• Funding new Principal Investigators and high‐risk, high‐return
research are top priorities. With the exception of the Academic
Research Infrastructure Program, the Science Masters Program, and
the Major Research Instrumentation Program, the majority of
proposals eligible for Recovery Act funding include those that are
already in‐house and will be reviewed and/or awarded prior to
September 30, 2009.”
• Recovery Act funding is a one‐time occurrence.
• NSF already has many highly rated research proposals in hand to
consider for funding with ARRA funds. Some research proposals
have already been reviewed and others are in the review process.
NSF is planning to use the majority of the $2 billion available in
Research and Related Activities for proposals that are already in
house and will be reviewed and/or awarded prior to Sept. 30, 2009.
• “Grants funded under ARRA will be awarded quickly in order to
contribute to new job creation and reinvestment.
• “All grants issued with Recovery Act funds will be standard grants
with durations of up to 5 years.
NSF Opportunities and UMES
• Alliances for Broadening Participation in STEM (ABP)
• Full Proposal Deadline Date: August 25, 2009. Innovation through
Institutional Integration
• Full Proposal Deadline Date: October 9, 2009. LSAMP Educational
Research Projects
• The Alliances for Broadening Participation in STEM (ABP) solicitation
includes the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation
(LSAMP) program, Bridge to the Doctorate (LSAMP‐BD) Activity, and
the Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP)
program.
• This portfolio of programs seek to increase the number of students
successfully completing quality degree programs in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Particular
emphasis is placed on transforming STEM education through
innovative academic strategies and experiences in support of
groups that historically have been underrepresented in STEM
disciplines.
NSF – Historically Black Colleges Undergraduate
Programs
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program
(HBCU‐UP)
• Full Proposal Deadline Date: August 25, 2009
• This program provides awards to enhance the quality of undergraduate
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and
research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
• Proposed activities and strategies should: be the result of an institutional
STEM self‐analysis; address institutional and NSF goals; and have the
potential to result in significant and sustainable improvements in STEM
program offerings. Typical project implementation strategies include:
curriculum enhancement, faculty professional development, undergraduate
research, academic enrichment, student support services, infusion of
technology to enhance STEM instruction, collaborations with research
institutions and industry, and other activities that enhance the quality of the
undergraduate STEM education and STEM teacher preparation programs.
Proposers are encouraged to analyze the strengths of the institution and
design innovative educational strategies, based on proven best practices, to
place the institution at the forefront of undergraduate STEM education.
National Park Service; HBCU National Register of
Historic Places
• HBCU matching grant assistance is available to
repair historic structures on the campuses of
Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are
listed in the National Register of Historic Places or
considered eligible to be listed by the State
Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). Projects
must meet major program selection criteria and all
work must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s
Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
• Grants are awarded through a competitive process
to eligible applicants. Each grant must be
matched at a ratio of 70 percent Federal funds to
30 percent non-Federal
Key Resources for Federal Funding Pursuits
• www.recovery.gov
• www.cfda.gov
• http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/funding
• http://www.gov.state.md.us/grants/