[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 228 (Monday, November 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59867-59868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30026]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.116N]


Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education--Special 
Focus Competition (Invitational Priority: Institutional Cooperation and 
Student Mobility in Postsecondary Education between the United States, 
Canada and Mexico); Notice Inviting Application for New Awards for 
Fiscal Year (FY) 1997

PURPOSE OF PROGRAM: To provide grants to improve postsecondary 
education opportunities by focusing on problem areas or improvement 
approaches in postsecondary education.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program is a Special Focus Competition 
pursuant to 34 CFR 630.11(b)(1) to support projects addressing a 
particular problem area or improvement approach in postsecondary 
education. The competition also includes an invitational priority to 
encourage proposals designed to support the formation of educational 
consortia of American, Canadian and Mexican institutions to encourage 
cooperation in the coordination of curricula, the exchange of students 
and the opening of educational opportunities throughout North America.
    The invitational priority is issued in cooperation with Canada and 
Mexico. Canadian and Mexican institutions participating in any 
consortium proposal responding to the invitational priority may apply, 
respectively, to Human Resources Development Canada and the Mexican 
Bureau of University Development for additional funding under separate 
Canadian and Mexican competitions.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education or 
combinations of such institutions and other public and private 
nonprofit educational institutions and agencies.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 14, 1997.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 13, 1997.
    Applications Available: December 2, 1996.
    Available Funds: $1,150,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$150,000, for three years.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $102,000, for three years.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75 (except as 
noted in 34 CFR 630.4(a)(2)), 77, 79, 80, 82, 85, and 86; and (b) the 
regulations for this program in 34 CFR Part 630.

Priorities

Invitational Priorities

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) and 34 CFR 630.11(b)(1), the Secretary is 
particularly interested in applications that meet the following 
invitational priority. However, an application that meets this 
invitational priority does not receive competitive or absolute 
preference over other applications.
    Invitational Priority: Projects that support consortia of 
institutions of higher education that promote institutional cooperation 
and student mobility between the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Selection Criteria

    In evaluating applications for grants under this program 
competition, the Secretary uses the following selection criteria chosen 
from those listed in 34 CFR 630.32:
    (a) Significance for Postsecondary Education. The Secretary reviews 
each proposed project for its significance in improving postsecondary 
education by determining the extent to which it would--
    (1) Achieve the purposes of the program competition, as referenced 
in Sec. 630.11(b)(1), by addressing a particular problem area or 
improvement approach in postsecondary education;
    (2) Address an important problem or need;
    (3) Represent an improvement upon, or important departure from, 
existing practice;
    (4) Involve learner-centered improvements;
    (5) Achieve far-reaching impact through improvements that will be 
useful in a variety of ways and in a variety of settings; and
    (6) Increase the cost-effectiveness of services.
    (b) Feasibility. The Secretary reviews each proposed project for 
its feasibility by determining the extent to which--
    (1) The proposed project represents an appropriate response to the 
problem or need addressed;
    (2) The applicant is capable of carrying out the proposed project, 
as evidenced by, for example--
    (i) The applicant's understanding of the problem or need;
    (ii) The quality of the project design, including objectives, 
approaches, and evaluation plan;
    (iii) The adequacy of resources, including money, personnel, 
facilities, equipment, and supplies;
    (iv) The qualifications of key personnel who would conduct the 
project; and
    (v) The applicant's relevant prior experience;
    (3) The applicant and any other participating organizations are 
committed to the success of the proposed project, as evidenced by, for 
example--
    (i) Contribution of resources by the applicant and by participating 
organizations;
    (ii) Their prior work in the area; and
    (iii) The potential for continuation of the proposed project beyond 
the period of funding (unless the project would be self-terminating); 
and
    (4) The proposed project demonstrates potential for dissemination 
to or adaptation by other organizations, and shows evidence of interest 
by potential users.
    (c) Appropriateness of funding projects. The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine whether support of the proposed project by the 
Secretary is appropriate in terms of availability of other funding 
sources for the proposed activities.
    In accordance with 34 CFR 630.32 the Secretary announces the 
methods that will be used in applying the selection criteria.
    The Secretary gives equal weight to the selection criteria on 
significance, feasibility, and appropriateness. Within each of these 
criteria, the Secretary gives equal weight to each of the criteria 
listed above. In applying the criteria, the Secretary first analyzes an 
application in terms of each individual criterion. The Secretary then 
bases the final judgement of an application on an overall assessment of 
the degree to which the applicant addresses all selection criteria.
    For Applications or Information Contact: Fund for the Improvement 
of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education, 7th 
and D Streets, S.W., Room 3100, ROB-3, Washington, D.C. 20202-5175. 
Telephone: (202) 708-5750 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Individuals may also 
request applications by submitting the name of

[[Page 59868]]

the competition, their name, and postal mailing address to the e-mail 
address ([email protected]). By January 15, 1997, individuals will also be 
able to obtain the application text from the Internet address (http://
www.ed.gov/prog__info/FIPSE/). 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.
    Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including 
copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, can 
be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), 
telephone (202) 260-9950; or on the Internet Gopher Server (at GOPHER:/
/gcs.ED.GOV/); or on the World Wide Web (at http://gcs.ed.gov). 
However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant 
competition is the notice published in the Federal Register.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1135-1135a-3.

    Dated: November 18, 1996.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 96-30026 Filed 11-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P