[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60066-60072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20625]


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

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; National 
Resource Centers (NRC) Program for Foreign Language and Area Studies or 
Foreign Language and International Studies Program and Foreign Language 
and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.015A and 
84.015B

    Dates: Applications Available: October 14, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See the chart listed 
under section IV. Application and Submission Information, 3. Submission 
Dates and Times (chart).
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: See chart.
    Eligible Applicants: (1) Institutions of higher education; and (2) 
Consortia of institutions of higher education that meet the eligibility 
requirements in the regulations for the NRC and FLAS programs.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$28,950,000 for the NRC program and $29,129,500 for the FLAS program 
for FY 2006. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final 
congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow 
enough time to complete the grant process, if Congress appropriates 
funds for these programs.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $192,000-$349,000 per year for the NRC 
program and $39,000-$377,000 per year for the FLAS program.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $241,251 per year for the NRC 
program and $234,915 per year for the FLAS program.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 120 NRC awards and 124 FLAS awards. We 
estimate that the 124 FLAS awards will yield 926 academic year 
fellowships and 635 summer fellowships.


    Note: Information concerning the FLAS program subsistence 
allowance and institutional payment is provided elsewhere in this 
notice in section II Award Information.


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


    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The NRC program makes awards to institutions of 
higher education or consortia of these institutions for establishing or 
strengthening nationally recognized foreign language and area or 
international studies centers or programs. NRC awards are used to 
support undergraduate centers or comprehensive centers, which include 
undergraduate, graduate and professional school components.
    The FLAS program provides allocations of fellowships to 
institutions of higher education or consortia of these institutions to 
assist meritorious students undergoing graduate training in modern 
foreign languages and related area or international studies.
    Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), these 
priorities are from the regulations for the NRC program (34

[[Page 60067]]

CFR 656.23(a)(4)) and for the FLAS program (34 CFR 657.22(a)(7)).
    NRC Program Absolute Priority: For FY 2006 this priority is an 
absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only 
applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Projects that include teacher training activities on the language, 
languages, area studies, or thematic focus of the center.
    NRC Program Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2006 this 
priority is a competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an additional ten points to an 
application, depending on the extent to which the application meets 
this priority.
    This priority is:
    Activities designed to demonstrate the quality of the center's or 
program's language instruction through the measurement of student 
proficiency in the less and least commonly taught languages.
    Within the absolute priority and competitive preference priority, 
we are particularly interested in applications that address the 
following invitational priorities.
    NRC Program Invitational Priorities: For FY 2006 these priorities 
are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give 
an application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive 
or absolute preference over other applications.
    These priorities are:

NRC Invitational Priority 1

    Activities designed to promote undergraduate language learning 
through two or more continuous years in the less or least commonly 
taught languages.

NRC Invitational Priority 2

    Activities designed to increase the number of specialists trained 
in areas that are vital to United States national security, such as 
Islamic societies.

NRC Invitational Priority 3

    Linkages with schools of education designed to improve teacher 
training in foreign languages or area or international studies with an 
emphasis on the less commonly taught languages and areas of the world 
where those languages are spoken.

NRC Invitational Priority 4

    Collaboration with Title VI Language Resource Centers, Centers for 
International Business Education, and American Overseas Research 
Centers, with the objective of increasing the nation's capacity to 
train and produce Americans with advanced proficiency of the less and 
least commonly taught languages, along with an understanding of the 
societies in which those languages are spoken.

NRC Invitational Priority 5

    Activities that expand and enhance outreach to K-12 constituencies.
    FLAS Program Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2006 these 
priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an additional ten points to an 
application, depending on the extent to which the application meets 
these priorities.
    These priorities are:

FLAS Competitive Preference Priority 1

    The Secretary will award up to five additional points to eligible 
applicants that plan to offer fellowships in the less and least 
commonly taught languages to students who are pursuing advanced level 
language proficiency.

FLAS Competitive Preference Priority 2

    The Secretary will award up to five additional points to eligible 
applicants that plan to offer fellowships to master's degree students 
who are more likely to pursue government service or enter a 
professional field.


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1122.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 
84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The General Provisions for International 
Education Programs in 34 CFR part 655. (c) The regulations for the NRC 
program in 34 CFR part 656. (d) The regulations for the FLAS program in 
34 CFR part 657.


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all 
applications except federally recognized Indian tribes.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$28,950,000 for the NRC program and $29,129,500 for the FLAS program 
for FY 2006. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final 
congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow 
enough time to complete the grant process, if Congress appropriates 
funds for these programs.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $192,000-$349,000 per year for the NRC 
program and $39,000-$377,000 per year for the FLAS program.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $241,251 per year for the NRC 
program and $234,915 per year for the FLAS program.
    Estimated FLAS Program Subsistence Allowance: The subsistence 
allowance for an academic year 2006-2007 fellowship is $15,000, and the 
subsistence allowance for a summer 2007 fellowship is $2,500.
    Estimated FLAS Program Institutional Payment: The institutional 
payment in lieu of tuition for an academic year 2006-2007 fellowship is 
$12,000, and the institutional payment in lieu of tuition for a summer 
2007 fellowship is $4,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 120 NRC awards and 124 FLAS awards. We 
estimate that the 124 FLAS awards will yield 926 academic year 
fellowships and 635 summer fellowships.


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


    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: (1) Institutions of higher education; and 
(2) Consortia of institutions of higher education that meet the 
eligibility requirements in the program regulations for the NRC and 
FLAS programs.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: These programs do not involve cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You may obtain an 
application package via the Internet by downloading the package from 
the program Web site: http://www.ed.gov/HEP/iegps.
    If you do not have access to the Internet, you may contact Carla 
White, International Education Programs Service, U.S. Department of 
Education, at (202) 502-7631 to request a paper copy of the package.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact 
person listed in this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for these programs.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, 
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your 
application. You must

[[Page 60068]]

limit the narrative to the equivalent of no more than 40 pages for a 
single institution application or the equivalent of no more than 50 
pages for a consortium application, using the following standards:
    A ``page'' is 8.5 x 11, on one side only, 
with 1 margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. However, you may 
single space all text in charts, tables, figures and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12-point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch). However, you may use a 10-point 
font in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New or Arial. Applications submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman, Arial Narrow) will be rejected.
    Section C of the application package provides instructions about 
the application narrative. The narrative must include your complete 
response to the selection criteria.
    The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget 
section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances 
and certifications; the one-page abstract; or the appendices.
    We will reject your application if--
     You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
     You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the 
page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: October 14, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: In light of the damage 
caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita we are establishing two separate 
deadlines for the submission of applications for grants under this 
competition to permit potential applicants affected by Hurricanes 
Katrina and/or Rita additional time to submit their applications. We 
are establishing a General Deadline for all applicants, and an Extended 
Deadline for potential applicants who have been affected by Hurricanes 
Katrina and/or Rita and are located in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, 
Mississippi, and Florida. Specifically, the Extended Deadline applies 
only to: (1) institutions of higher education, SEAs, LEAs, non-profit 
organizations and other public or private organization applicants that 
are located in a federally-declared disaster area as determined by the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (see http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema) and that were adversely affected by Hurricanes 
Katrina and/or Rita, and (2) individual applicants who reside or 
resided, on the disaster declaration date, in a federally-declared 
disaster area as determined by FEMA (see http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema) and were adversely affected by Hurricanes Katrina and/
or Rita. These applicants must provide a certification in their 
application that they meet the criteria for submitting an application 
on the Extended Deadline, and be prepared to provide appropriate 
supporting documentation, if requested. If the applicant is submitting 
the application electronically, submission of the application serves as 
the applicant's attestation that they meet the criteria for submitting 
an application on the Extended Deadline.
    The following chart provides the applicable deadlines for the 
submission of applications. If this program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372, the relevant deadline for intergovernmental review is also 
indicated in the chart.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Transmittal of  Intergovernmental
                                        applications         review
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Deadline:....................        11/14/05           1/13/06
Extended Deadline:...................         12/1/05            2/1/06
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted by 
mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates and times) 
about how to submit your application by mail or hand delivery, please 
refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: See chart.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: These programs are subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for these programs.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
these programs must be submitted in paper format by mail or hand 
delivery.
    a. Submission of Applications by Mail.
    If you submit your application by mail (through the U.S. Postal 
Service or a commercial carrier, you must mail the original and two 
copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, 
to the Department at the applicable following address:
    By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.015A 
and 84.015B), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or
    By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education, 
Application Control Center--Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.015A 
and 84.015B), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
    Regardless of the address you use, you must show proof of mailing 
consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark,
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service,
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier, or
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark, or
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.


    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.


    b. Submission of Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you submit your application by hand delivery, you (or a courier 
service) must deliver the original and two copies of your application, 
by hand, on or

[[Page 60069]]

before the application deadline date, to the Department at the 
following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control 
Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.015A and 84.015B), 550 12th Street, 
SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and 
Federal holidays.

    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you 
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department:
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 4 of the ED 424 the CFDA number--and suffix 
letter, if any--of the competition under which you are submitting 
your application.
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application 
receipt acknowledgement to you. If you do not receive the grant 
application receipt acknowledgement within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for a comprehensive 
center under the NRC program are from 34 CFR 656.21. In general, the 
Secretary awards up to 155 possible points for these criteria. However, 
if the criterion from section 656.21(j) is used, the Secretary awards 
up to 165 possible points. The maximum possible points for each 
criterion are shown in parentheses.
    (a) Program planning and budget. (20 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which the activities 
for which the applicant seeks funding are of high quality and directly 
related to the purpose of the National Resource Centers Program (5 
points); (2) The extent to which the applicant provides a development 
plan or timeline demonstrating how the proposed activities will 
contribute to a strengthened program and whether the applicant uses its 
resources and personnel effectively to achieve the proposed objectives 
(5 points); (3) The extent to which the costs of the proposed 
activities are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the program 
(5 points); and (4) The long-term impact of the proposed activities on 
the institution's undergraduate, graduate, and professional training 
programs (5 points).
    (b) Quality of staff resources. (15 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which teaching faculty 
and other staff are qualified for the current and proposed Center 
activities and training programs, are provided professional development 
opportunities (including overseas experience), and participate in 
teaching, supervising, and advising students (5 points); (2) The 
adequacy of Center staffing and oversight arrangements, including 
outreach and administration and the extent to which faculty from a 
variety of departments, professional schools, and the library are 
involved (5 points); and (3) The extent to which the applicant, as part 
of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications 
for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been 
traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic 
minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly (5 
points).
    (c) Impact and evaluation. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine--(1) The extent to which the Center's 
activities and training programs have a significant impact on the 
university, community, region, and the Nation as shown through indices 
such as enrollments, graduate placement data, participation rates for 
events, and usage of Center resources; and the extent to which the 
applicant supplies a clear description of how the applicant will 
provide equal access and treatment of eligible project participants who 
are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, 
such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons 
with disabilities, and the elderly (10 points); and (2) The extent to 
which the applicant provides an evaluation plan that is comprehensive 
and objective and that will produce quantifiable, outcome-measure-
oriented data; and the extent to which recent evaluations have been 
used to improve the applicant's program (15 points).
    (d) Commitment to the subject area on which the Center focuses. (10 
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent 
to which the institution provides financial and other support to the 
operation of the Center, teaching staff for the Center's subject area, 
library resources, linkages with institutions abroad, outreach 
activities, and qualified students in fields related to the Center.
    (e) Strength of library. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine--(1) The strength of the institution's library 
holdings (both print and non-print, English and foreign language) in 
the subject area and at the educational levels (graduate, professional, 
undergraduate) on which the Center focuses; and the extent to which the 
institution provides financial support for the acquisition of library 
materials and for library staff in the subject area of the Center (10 
points); and (2) The extent to which research materials at other 
institutions are available to students through cooperative arrangements 
with other libraries or on-line databases and the extent to which 
teachers, students, and faculty from other institutions are able to 
access the library's holdings (5 points).
    (f) Quality of the Center's non-language instructional program. (20 
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine--(1) The 
quality and extent of the Center's course offerings in a variety of 
disciplines, including the extent to which courses in the Center's 
subject matter are available in the institution's professional schools 
(5 points); (2) The extent to which the Center offers depth of 
specialized course coverage in one or more disciplines of the Center's 
subject area (5 points); (3) The extent to which the institution 
employs a sufficient number of teaching faculty to enable the Center to 
carry out its purposes and the extent to which instructional assistants 
are provided with pedagogy training; and (4) The extent to which 
interdisciplinary courses are offered for undergraduate and graduate 
students. The Secretary is assigning a total of ten points to factors 
(3) and (4).
    (g) Quality of the Center's language instructional program. (20 
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine--(1) The 
extent to which the Center provides instruction in the languages of the 
Center's subject area and the extent to which students enroll in the 
study of the languages of the subject area through programs or 
instruction offered by the Center or other providers (5 points); (2) 
The extent to which the Center provides three or more levels of 
language training and the extent to which courses in disciplines other 
than language, linguistics, and literature are offered in appropriate 
foreign languages (5 points); (3) Whether sufficient numbers of 
language faculty are available to teach the languages and levels of 
instruction described in the application and the extent to which 
language teaching staff (including faculty and instructional 
assistants) have been exposed to current language pedagogy training 
appropriate for performance-based teaching (5 points); and (4) The 
quality of the language program as measured by the performance-based 
instruction being used or developed, the adequacy of resources for 
language teaching and

[[Page 60070]]

practice, and language proficiency requirements (5 points).
    (h) Quality of curriculum design. (10 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which the Center's 
curriculum has incorporated undergraduate instruction in the 
applicant's area or topic of specialization into baccalaureate degree 
programs (for example, major, minor, or certificate programs) and the 
extent to which these programs and their requirements (including 
language requirements) are appropriate for a Center in this subject 
area and will result in an undergraduate training program of high 
quality (5 points); (2) The extent to which the Center's curriculum 
provides training options for graduate students from a variety of 
disciplines and professional fields and the extent to which these 
programs and their requirements (including language requirements) are 
appropriate for a Center in this subject area and result in graduate 
training programs of high quality; and (3) The extent to which the 
Center provides academic and career advising services for students; the 
extent to which the Center has established formal arrangements for 
students to conduct research or study abroad and the extent to which 
these arrangements are used; and the extent to which the institution 
facilitates student access to other institutions' study abroad and 
summer language programs. The Secretary is assigning a total of five 
points to factors (2) and (3).
    (i) Outreach activities. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine the extent to which the Center demonstrates a 
significant and measurable regional and national impact of, and faculty 
and professional school involvement in, domestic outreach activities 
that involve--(1) Elementary and secondary schools (10 points); (2) 
Postsecondary institutions (5 points); and (3) Business, media, and the 
general public (5 points).
    (j) Degree to which priorities are served (10 points): If, under 
the provisions of Sec. 656.23, the Secretary establishes competitive 
priorities for Centers, the Secretary considers the degree to which 
these priorities are being served.
    The selection criteria for an undergraduate center under the NRC 
program are from 34 CFR 656.22. In general, the Secretary awards up to 
155 possible points for these criteria. However, if the criterion from 
section 656.22(j) is used, the Secretary awards up to 165 possible 
points. The maximum possible points for each criterion are shown in 
parentheses.
    (a) Program planning and budget. (20 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which the activities 
for which the applicant seeks funding are of high quality and directly 
related to the purpose of the National Resource Centers Program (5 
points); (2) The extent to which the applicant provides a development 
plan or timeline demonstrating how the proposed activities will 
contribute to a strengthened program and whether the applicant uses its 
resources and personnel effectively to achieve the proposed objectives 
(5 points); (3) The extent to which the costs of the proposed 
activities are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the program 
(5 points); and (4) The long-term impact of the proposed activities on 
the institution's undergraduate training program (5 points).
    (b) Quality of staff resources. (15 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which teaching faculty 
and other staff are qualified for the current and proposed Center 
activities and training programs, are provided professional development 
opportunities (including overseas experience), and participate in 
teaching, supervising, and advising students (5 points); (2) The 
adequacy of Center staffing and oversight arrangements, including 
outreach and administration and the extent to which faculty from a 
variety of departments, professional schools, and the library are 
involved (5 points); and (3) The extent to which the applicant, as part 
of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications 
for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been 
traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic 
minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly (5 
points).
    (c) Impact and evaluation. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine--(1) The extent to which the Center's 
activities and training programs have a significant impact on the 
university, community, region, and the Nation as shown through indices 
such as enrollments, graduate placement data, participation rates for 
events, and usage of Center resources; the extent to which students 
matriculate into advanced language and area or international studies 
programs or related professional programs; and the extent to which the 
applicant supplies a clear description of how the applicant will 
provide equal access and treatment of eligible project participants who 
are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, 
such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons 
with disabilities, and the elderly (10 points); and (2) The extent to 
which the applicant provides an evaluation plan that is comprehensive 
and objective and that will produce quantifiable, outcome-measure-
oriented data; and the extent to which recent evaluations have been 
used to improve the applicant's program (15 points).
    (d) Commitment to the subject area on which the Center focuses. (10 
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent 
to which the institution provides financial and other support to the 
operation of the Center, teaching staff for the Center's subject area, 
library resources, linkages with institutions abroad, outreach 
activities, and qualified students in fields related to the Center.
    (e) Strength of library. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine--(1) The strength of the institution's library 
holdings (both print and non-print, English and foreign language) in 
the subject area and at the educational levels (graduate, professional, 
undergraduate) on which the Center focuses; and the extent to which the 
institution provides financial support for the acquisition of library 
materials and for library staff in the subject area of the Center (10 
points); and (2) The extent to which research materials at other 
institutions are available to students through cooperative arrangements 
with other libraries or on-line databases and the extent to which 
teachers, students, and faculty from other institutions are able to 
access the library's holdings (5 points).
    (f) Quality of the Center's non-language instructional program. (20 
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine--(1) The 
quality and extent of the Center's course offerings in a variety of 
disciplines (5 points); (2) The extent to which the Center offers depth 
of specialized course coverage in one or more disciplines of the 
Center's subject area (5 points); (3) The extent to which the 
institution employs a sufficient number of teaching faculty to enable 
the Center to carry out its purposes and the extent to which 
instructional assistants are provided with pedagogy training; and (4) 
The extent to which interdisciplinary courses are offered for 
undergraduate students. The Secretary is assigning a total of ten 
points to factors (3) and (4).
    (g) Quality of the Center's language instructional program. (20 
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine-- (1) The 
extent to which the

[[Page 60071]]

Center provides instruction in the languages of the Center's subject 
area and the extent to which students enroll in the study of the 
languages of the subject area through programs offered by the Center or 
other providers (5 points); (2) The extent to which the Center provides 
three or more levels of language training and the extent to which 
courses in disciplines other than language, linguistics, and literature 
are offered in appropriate foreign languages (5 points); (3) Whether 
sufficient numbers of language faculty are available to teach the 
languages and levels of instruction described in the application and 
the extent to which language teaching staff (including faculty and 
instructional assistants) have been exposed to current language 
pedagogy training appropriate for performance-based teaching (5 
points); and (4) The quality of the language program as measured by the 
performance-based instruction being used or developed, the adequacy of 
resources for language teaching and practice, and language proficiency 
requirements (5 points).
    (h) Quality of curriculum design. (10 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which the Center's 
curriculum has incorporated undergraduate instruction in the 
applicant's area or topic of specialization into baccalaureate degree 
programs (for example, major, minor, or certificate programs) and the 
extent to which these programs and their requirements (including 
language requirements) are appropriate for a Center in this subject 
area and will result in an undergraduate training program of high 
quality (5 points); and (2) The extent to which the Center provides 
academic and career advising services for students; the extent to which 
the Center has established formal arrangements for students to conduct 
research or study abroad and the extent to which these arrangements are 
used; and the extent to which the institution facilitates student 
access to other institutions' study abroad and summer language programs 
(5 points).
    (i) Outreach activities. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine the extent to which the Center demonstrates a 
significant and measurable regional and national impact of, and faculty 
and professional school involvement in, domestic outreach activities 
that involve (1) Elementary and secondary schools (10 points); (2) 
Postsecondary institutions (5 points); and (3) Business, media and the 
general public (5 points).
    (j) Degree to which priorities are served (10 points): If, under 
the provisions of Sec. 656.23, the Secretary establishes competitive 
priorities for Centers, the Secretary considers the degree to which 
these priorities are being served.
    The selection criteria used in selecting institutions for an 
allocation of fellowships under the FLAS program are from 34 CFR 
657.21. The Secretary evaluates an application for an allocation of 
fellowships on the basis of the quality of the applicant's Center or 
program. In general, the Secretary awards up to 140 possible points for 
these criteria. However, if priority criteria are used, the Secretary 
awards up to 150 possible points. The maximum possible points for each 
criterion are shown in parentheses.
    (a) Foreign language and area studies fellowships awardee selection 
procedures. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to 
determine whether the selection plan is of high quality, showing how 
awards will be advertised, how students apply, what selection criteria 
are used, who selects the fellows, when each step will take place, and 
how the process will result in awards being made to correspond to any 
announced priorities.
    (b) Quality of staff resources. (15 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which teaching faculty 
and other staff are qualified for the current and proposed activities 
and training programs, are provided professional development 
opportunities (including overseas experience), and participate in 
teaching, supervising, and advising students (5 points); (2) The 
adequacy of applicant staffing and oversight arrangements and the 
extent to which faculty from a variety of departments, professional 
schools, and the library are involved (5 points); and (3) The extent to 
which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment 
practices, encourages applications for employment from persons who are 
members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such 
as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons with 
disabilities, and the elderly (5 points).
    (c) Impact and evaluation. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine--(1) The extent to which the applicant's 
activities and training programs have contributed to an improved supply 
of specialists on the program's subject as shown through indices such 
as graduate enrollments and placement data; and the extent to which the 
applicant supplies a clear description of how the applicant will 
provide equal access and treatment of eligible project participants who 
are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, 
such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons 
with disabilities, and the elderly (20 points); and (2) The extent to 
which the applicant provides an evaluation plan that is comprehensive 
and objective and that will produce quantifiable, outcome-measure-
oriented data; and the extent to which recent evaluations have been 
used to improve the applicant's program (5 points).
    (d) Commitment to the subject area on which the applicant or 
program focuses. (10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to 
determine--(1) The extent to which the institution provides financial 
and other support to the operation of the applicant, teaching staff for 
the applicant's subject area, library resources, and linkages with 
institutions abroad (5 points); and (2) The extent to which the 
institution provides financial support to graduate students in fields 
related to the applicant's teaching program (5 points).
    (e) Strength of library. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine--(1) The strength of the institution's library 
holdings (both print and non-print, English and foreign language) for 
graduate students; and the extent to which the institution provides 
financial support for the acquisition of library materials and for 
library staff in the subject area of the applicant (10 points); and (2) 
The extent to which research materials at other institutions are 
available to students through cooperative arrangements with other 
libraries or on-line databases (5 points).
    (f) Quality of the applicant's non-language instructional program. 
(20 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine--(1) 
The quality and extent of the applicant's course offerings in a variety 
of disciplines, including the extent to which courses in the 
applicant's subject matter are available in the institution's 
professional schools (10 points); (2) The extent to which the applicant 
offers depth of specialized course coverage in one or more disciplines 
on the applicant's subject area (5 points); (3) The extent to which the 
institution employs a sufficient number of teaching faculty to enable 
the applicant to carry out its purposes and the extent to which 
instructional assistants are provided with pedagogy training; and (4) 
The extent to which interdisciplinary courses are offered for graduate 
students. The Secretary is assigning a total of five points to factors 
(3) and (4).
    (g) Quality of the applicant's language instructional program. (20 
points) The Secretary reviews each application to

[[Page 60072]]

determine--(1) The extent to which the applicant provides instruction 
in the languages of the applicant's subject area and the extent to 
which students enroll in the study of the languages of the subject area 
through programs or instruction offered by the applicant or other 
providers (5 points); (2) The extent to which the applicant provides 
three or more levels of language training and the extent to which 
courses in disciplines other than language, linguistics, and literature 
are offered in appropriate foreign languages (5 points); (3) Whether 
sufficient numbers of language faculty are available to teach the 
languages and levels of instruction described in the application and 
the extent to which language teaching staff (including faculty and 
instructional assistants) have been exposed to current language 
pedagogy training appropriate for performance-based teaching (5 
points); and (4) The quality of the language program as measured by the 
performance-based instruction being used or developed, the adequacy of 
resources for language teaching and practice, and language proficiency 
requirements (5 points).
    (h) Quality of curriculum design. (20 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which the applicant's 
curriculum provides training options for graduate students from a 
variety of disciplines and professional fields and the extent to which 
these programs and their requirements (including language requirements) 
are appropriate for an applicant in this subject area and result in 
graduate training programs of high quality (10 points); (2) The extent 
to which the applicant provides academic and career advising services 
for students (5 points); and (3) The extent to which the applicant has 
established formal arrangements for students to conduct research or 
study abroad and the extent to which these arrangements are used; and 
the extent to which the institution facilitates student access to other 
institutions' study abroad and summer language programs (5 points).
    (i) Priorities (10 points): If one or more competitive priorities 
have been established under section 657.22, the Secretary reviews each 
application for information that shows the extent to which the Center 
or program meets these priorities.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a 
final performance report, including financial information, as directed 
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an 
annual performance report that provides the most current performance 
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 
34 CFR 75.118. For the NRC and FLAS programs, final and annual reports 
must be submitted into the Evaluation, Exchange, Language, 
International, and Area Studies online reporting system.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the objective for the NRC and FLAS programs 
is to support the maintenance of a U.S. higher education system able to 
produce experts in less commonly taught languages and area studies who 
are capable of contributing to the needs of the U.S. Government, 
academic and business institutions.
    The Department will use the following measures to evaluate its 
success in meeting this objective.
    NRC Performance Measure 1: Percentage of National Resource Center 
Ph.D. graduates who are employed in higher education, government, or 
national security.
    NRC Performance Measure 2: Percentage of critical languages taught 
as reflected in the list of critical languages referenced in title VI 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
    FLAS Performance Measure 1: The average competency score of Foreign 
Language and Area Studies Fellowships recipients at the end of one full 
year of instruction (post test) minus the average competency score at 
the beginning of the year (pre test).

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Carla White, International Education 
Programs Service, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 
suite 6000, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone: (202) 502-7631 or via 
Internet: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the program contact persons listed in this 
section.

VIII. Other Information

    Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 
Internet at the following site: www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in 
the Washington, DC area at (202) 512-1530.


    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: October 11, 2005.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 05-20625 Filed 10-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P