[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 56 (Thursday, March 23, 1995)] [Notices] [Page 15448] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-7274] [[Page 15448]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No.: 84.031A] Grants to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Authorized by Section 316 of Title III of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as Amended Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year 1995. Purpose of Program: Provide grants to eligible institutions of higher education to assist them to improve and expand their capacity to serve Hispanic and other students. This grant program provides applicants an opportunity to support those elements of the National Education Goals that are relevant to their unique missions. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 8, 1995. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 8, 1995. Applications Available: The Department will mail applications by March 24, 1995, to the office of the president of all institutions that have applied to be designated as eligible for a grant under the Strengthening Institutions Program. Available Funds: $12,000,000. Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000 to $350,000 per year. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $325,000 per year. Estimated Number of Awards: 35 development grants. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: 60 months. Special Funding Considerations: A HSI that is eligible for and receives a grant under section 316 of the HEA may not concurrently receive funds under the Strengthening Institutions Program, the Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, or the Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions Program. In tie-breaking situations described in 34 CFR 607.23 of the Strengthening Institutions Program regulations, the Secretary awards additional points under 34 CFR 607.22 to an application from an institution that has an endowment fund for which the current market value, per FTE student, is less than the average per FTE student at similar type institutions; and has expenditures for library materials, per FTE student, that are less than the average, per FTE student, at similar type institutions. For the purposes of these funding considerations, an applicant must be able to demonstrate that the current market value of its endowment fund, per FTE student, or expenditures for library materials, per FTE student, is less than the following national average for base year 1992-93. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Average Average market library value of expenditures endowment for fund, per materials, FTE per FTE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Two-year public institutions................. $1,222 $41 Two-year nonprofit, private institutions..... 12,600 104 Four-year public institutions................ 1,862 141 Four-year nonprofit.......................... 32,164 239 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Applicable Regulations: (a) The Department of Education General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 85, and 86; and (b) the Strengthening Institutions Program regulations in 34 CFR Part 607, as amended and published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. Priorities: The Secretary gives an absolute preference to an application that contains satisfactory evidence that the applicant has entered into or will enter into a collaborative arrangement with at least one local educational agency to provide that agency with assistance, from funds other than grant funds, in reducing Hispanic dropout rates, improving Hispanic rates of academic achievement, and increasing the rates at which Hispanic high school graduates enroll in institutions of higher education. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To be eligible to receive a grant, an institution must qualify as an eligible institution under the Strengthening Institutions Program and must be determined by the Secretary to be an HSI. The Secretary determines that an eligible institution under the Strengthening Institutions Program qualifies as an HSI if--(1) when it applies for a grant, at least 25% of its enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent students are Hispanic students; and (2) it assures that not less than 50% of its Hispanic students are low-income individuals who are first-generation college students, and another 25% of its Hispanic students are either low- income or first-generation college students. The Secretary will conduct for fiscal years 1995 and 1996 a biennial grant award competition for grants to HSIs under section 316 of the HEA. Under a biennial grant award competition, an institution submits a grant application that may be considered for funding under two successive fiscal year grant award competitions. Applications are evaluated and ranked by field readers for the first competition. If the institution's application is not selected for funding under the first fiscal year's award competition, it will be considered for funding under the second fiscal year's award competition for new awards, based upon the score it received in the first competition. As part of the plan, the Secretary will not invite applications for new awards for the second fiscal year. Accordingly, if an HSI wishes to apply for a new grant award for fiscal year 1995 or fiscal year 1996, the HSI must submit an application by the closing date of May 8, 1995. The applicant should identify the fiscal year (1995 and/or 1996) for which it seeks funding. The Secretary will not make awards for planning grants under this competition. For Applications or Information Contact: Jerry M. Whitlock, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Portals Building, Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20202-5335. Telephone: (202) 708- 9926. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800- 877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. You may view information about the Department's funding opportunities, including copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), telephone (202) 260-9950; or on the Internet Gopher Server at GOPHER.ED.GOV (under Announcements, Bulletins and Press releases). However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant competition is the notice published in the Federal Register. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1057. Dated: March 17, 1995. David A. Longanecker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 95-7274 Filed 3-22-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P