[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71625-71626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34332]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.120A]


Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year 
1999 under the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Purpose of Program

    The Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) is 
designed to effect long-range improvement in science education at 
predominantly minority institutions and to increase the flow of 
underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, into 
scientific careers.

Eligibility for Grants

    With the October 7, 1998 enactment of the Higher Education 
Amendments of 1998, Pub. L. 105-244, the criteria for eligibility for 
grants under MSEIP were amended. Congress also relocated MSEIP from 
Title X to Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Under 
section 361 of the HEA, as now amended, eligibility for grants is now 
defined as follows:
    Eligibility to receive grants under this part is limited to--
    (1) Public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education 
that:
    (A) Award baccalaureate degrees; and
    (B) Are minority institutions;
    (2) Public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education 
that:
    (A) Award associate degrees; and
    (B) Are minority institutions that:
    (i) Have a curriculum that includes science or engineering 
subjects; and
    (ii) Enter into a partnership with public or private nonprofit 
institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees in 
science and engineering;
    (3) Nonprofit science-oriented organizations, professional 
scientific

[[Page 71626]]

societies, and institutions of higher education that award 
baccalaureate degrees, that:
    (A) Provide a needed service to a group of minority institutions; 
or
    (B) Provide in-service training for project directors, scientists, 
and engineers from minority institutions; or
    (4) Consortia of organizations, that provide needed services to 1 
or more minority institutions, the membership of which may include:
    (A) Institutions of higher education which have a curriculum in 
science and engineering;
    (B) Institutions of higher education that have a graduate or 
professional program in science or engineering;
    (C) Research laboratories of, or under contract with, the 
Department of Energy;
    (D) Private organizations that have science or engineering 
facilities; or
    (E) Quasi-governmental entities that have a significant scientific 
or engineering mission.
    Section 365(4) was also amended to include behavioral sciences in 
the definition of science programs that can be supported.
    Deadline for Application Transmittal: March 5, 1999.
    Applications Available: January 5, 1999.
    Eligible Applicants: (a) For institutional, design, and special 
projects described in 34 CFR 637.14 (a), (b), and (c)--public and 
nonprofit private minority institutions as defined in section 361 (1) 
and (2) of the HEA.
    (b) For special projects described in 34 CFR 637.14 (b) and (c)--
non-profit organizations, institutions, and consortia as defined in 
section 361 (3) and (4) of the HEA.
    (c) For cooperative projects described in 34 CFR 637.15--groups of 
nonprofit accredited colleges and universities whose primary fiscal 
agent is an eligible minority institution as defined in 34 CFR 
637.4(b).

    Note: A minority institution is defined in 34 CFR 637.4(b) as an 
accredited college or university whose enrollment of a single 
minority group or combination of minority groups, as defined in 34 
CFR 637.4(b), exceeds 50 percent of the total enrollment.

    Estimated Range and Average Size of Awards: The amounts referenced 
below are advisory and represent the Department's best estimates at 
this time. The average size of an award is the estimate for a single-
year project or for the first budget period of a multi-year project.

Institutional

    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$200,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $120,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 22.

Design

    Estimated Range of Awards: $15,000-$20,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $18,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 4.

Special

    Estimated Range of Awards: $20,000-$150,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $25,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 11.

Cooperative

    Estimated Range of Awards: $20,000-$500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $280,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 4.

Applicable Regulations

    Regulations applicable to this program are (a) The Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 
74, 75, 77, 79, 83, 85, and 86; and (b) The regulations in 34 CFR part 
637, except for 34 CFR 637.2 which has been superseded by section 361 
of the HEA, as amended.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.
    For Application or Information Contact: Mr. Kenneth Waters or Ms. 
Deborah Newkirk, Institutional Development and Undergraduate Service, 
U.S. Department of Education, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW (Portals CY-80), 
Washington, DC 20202-5335. Telephone: 202/708-9926 or by Internet to 
[email protected]. The government encourages applicants to FAX 
requests for applications to 202/401-7532.
    Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800/877-8339 
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding 
paragraph. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an 
alternate format the standard forms included in the application 
package.

Electronic Access to This Document

    Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register in text or 
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the 
following sites:

http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg/htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html

    To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with 
Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you 
have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing 
Office toll free at 1-888/293-6498.

Program Authority

    Sections 301 (a), (b), and 307 of the Higher Education Amendments 
of 1998, Public Law 105-244, 112 Stat. 1581.

    Dated: December 22, 1998.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 98-34332 Filed 12-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P