New Developments and Competitive Components in Federal Higher Education Programs: A working perspective on framing the need and finding the funds.

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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
• 2009 Vice Presidents, Deans, Chairs and Directors
  workshop
• August 5, 2009

Andy Clark, Director of Legislative Affairs
University System of Maryland
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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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
  agencys 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 legislators or agencys interest in the
  university program or research

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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)

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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 masters level in
  mathematics, engineering, the physical or natural
  sciences, computer science, information
  technology, nursing, allied health, or other
  scientific disciplines for African Americans.

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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.

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THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF
2009The Stimulus BillWWW.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.

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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.

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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.

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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 Interiors 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

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Key Resources for Federal Funding Pursuits

• www.recovery.gov
• www.cfda.gov
• http//sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/funding
• http//www.gov.state.md.us/grants/