Higher Education – Institution Challenge Grants Program
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
In FY 2016 it is anticipated that $4,500,000 will be available to support awards after legislatively authorized set-asides are deducted. A total of 62 projects were received in response to the FY 2016 RFA. It is anticipated that approximately 15 awards will be granted in FY 2016. As of July 2016, the FY 2016 peer panel has not been convened to evaluate the merit of the submitted applications. Therefore, further information is not available. Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, $4,570,425 million was available to support awards after legislatively authorized set-asides were deducted. A total of 61 applications were reviewed in response to the FY 2016 RFA. A 13-member peer review panel evaluated the applications. The peer panel included faculty and administrators from land grant and non-land grant colleges and universities, and practitioners from the food and agricultural sciences community. Funds were available to support 20 awards in the following Grant Types:
• Conference/Planning Projects [Three (3) awards]
• Regular Projects (13 awards)
• Joint-Institution Projects [One (1) award]
• Large-Scale Comprehensive Initiatives [Three (3) awards]
The funding ratio for this program in FY 2016 was 26%.Funded projects will address one (1) or more of the following educational strategies:
(1) Curriculum Development, Instructional Delivery Systems and Expanding Student Career Opportunities;
(2) Faculty Preparation and Enhancement for Teaching; and/or
(3) Facilitating Interaction with Other Academic Institutions.
The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) program seeks to improve formal, baccalaureate or master’s degree level food, agricultural, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH) education and first professional degree-level education in veterinary medicine (DVM). HEC projects may improve the economic health and viability of communities through the development of degree programs that emphasize new and emerging employment opportunities. Projects may also address the national challenge to increase the number and diversity of students entering the FANH sciences.
Fiscal Year:2017
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, $4,519,357 was available to support awards after legislatively authorized set-asides were deducted. A total of 105 applications were reviewed in response to the FY 2017 RFA. A 21-member peer review panel evaluated the applications. The peer panel included faculty and administrators from land grant and non-land grant colleges and universities, and practitioners from the food and agricultural sciences community. Funds were available to support 19 awards in the following Grant Types:
•Planning Activities [Five (5) awards]
•Regular Projects [Six (6) awards]
•Collaborative Grant Type 1 Projects [Four (4) awards]
•Collaborative Grant Type 2 Projects [Four (4) awards]
The funding ratio for this program in FY 2017 was 18%.
Fiscal Year:2018
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, $4,519,357 was available to support awards after legislatively authorized set-asides were deducted. A total of 116 applications were reviewed in response to the FY 2018 RFA. A 25-member peer review panel evaluated the applications. The peer panel included faculty and administrators from land grant and non-land grant colleges and universities, and practitioners from the food and agricultural sciences community. Funds were available to support 15 awards in the following Grant Types:
•Planning Activities [Six (6) awards]
•Regular Projects [one (1) award]
•Collaborative Grant Type 2 Projects [Four (4) awards]
•Collaborative Grant Type 2 Projects [Four (4) awards]
The funding ratio for this program in FY 2018 was 13%. Funded projects will address one (1) or more of the following educational strategies:
(1) Curriculum Development, Instructional Delivery Systems and Expanding Student Career Opportunities;
(2) Faculty Preparation and Enhancement for Teaching; and/or
(3) Facilitating Interaction with Other Academic Institutions.
Fiscal Year:2019
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, it is anticipated that $4.5 million will be available to support awards after legislatively authorized set-asides are deducted. A total of 104 applications were received in response to the FY 2019 RFA. It is anticipated that approximately 20 awards will be granted in FY 2019. As of August 2019, the FY 2019 peer panel has not been convened to evaluate the merit of the submitted applications. Therefore, further information is not yet available. Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date.
Fiscal Year:2020
It is anticipated that the funding level will be comparable and the types of projects will be similar. Pertinent details will be provided by Program at a future date.
Fiscal Year:2023
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS: 78
NUMBER OF AWARDS: 19
Fiscal Year:2024
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS: 84
NUMBER OF AWARDS: 18
Program Objective
The purpose of the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program, under assistance listing 10.217, is to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, to respond to identified state, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Other
Applicants for the HEC must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Applications may be submitted by:
1. U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities offering a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one discipline or area of the food and agricultural sciences;
2. land-grant colleges and universities, (including land grant institutions in the Insular Areas);
3. colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences; and
4. other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
General application instructions are listed in the NIFA Grants Application Guide. Program-specific instructions are listed in the NOFO. The NOFO overrides the Application Guide if there is a discrepancy between the two documents. Applicants must apply electronically through Grants.gov; no other method or response is accepted. The application forms package for this funding opportunity must be accessed through Grants.gov. Part III of the NIFA Grants Application Guide explains how to access a specific application forms package. Parts II and III of the NIFA Grants Application Guide contain resources to assist grant applicants and detailed information regarding the Grants.gov registration process. Applications must be signed by the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Contact your AOR prior to starting an application to assess the organization’s readiness to submit an electronic application.
Within the limit of funds authorized, the NIFA awarding official will make grants to eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in this NOFO.
Successful applicants receive two types of notifications in the award phase: informal and formal. After award recommendations are complete, NIFA will provide an informal notification to the potential awardee. This informal notification is not an authorization to begin performance.
After the award is finalized, a formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA), signed by the Authorized Departmental Officer, will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the recipient's Authorized Representative.
The NoA will provide pertinent instructions and information including, at a minimum, the information described in 2 CFR 200.211 (see NIFA’s Terms and Conditions.
From 30 to 60 days.
Contact the National Program Leader (NPL) – Headquarters Office regarding dates for specific deadlines, start and end dates, and range of approval/disapproval time.
Program details & compliance
Description
The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) program provides funding to eligible applicants to help ensure a competent, qualified, and well-rounded workforce will exist to serve the food and agricultural sciences system.
Mission Categories
Primary: Food Nutrition
Other categories:
Teacher Education
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Funds may be used only in targeted areas, e.g., curricula design and materials development, faculty preparation and enhancement for teaching, instruction delivery systems, scientific instrumentation for teaching, student experiential learning, and student recruitment and retention, as cited in the annual program announcement in the Federal Register.
Restrictions
RESTRICTIONS: 1.) Stipends may not be used for tuition or scholarships. 2.) Indirect Costs (IDC) not to exceed 30 percent of total Federal funds awarded (TFFA). Section 1462(a) and (c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310(a) and (c)) limits IDC for the overall award to 30 percent of TFFA under a research, education, or extension grant This program is fully discretionary.
Required Documentation
Applicants (unless excepted under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)) must (1): Have an active SAM registration prior to applying; (2) Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier number in its application; and (3) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an application under consideration or an active federal award. Applicants must furnish the information required in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Successful applicants recommended for funding must furnish the information and assurances requested during the award documentation process.
Matching Requirements
A grant recipient is required to match 25% of the USDA funds awarded. Matching funds must come from non-Federal sources and are not required to come in any particular amount from any one source.
However, all matching funds pledged in the application must be accompanied by documentation.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements