Member Advisory - March 13, 2008

U.S. Department of Education Basic Eligibility Application Available for Title V and College Cost Reduction and Access Act Grants
The U.S. Department of Education (DoEd) has published the application for basic eligibility requirement for Title V “Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program” and the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) in the Federal Register. Applications are due April 9, 2008. The basic eligibility application available here.

Title V - Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program
As previously announced, DOEd will not have a new open competition for the FY 2008 Title V, but instead will make FY 2008 awards from applications submitted for FY 2007. 

To be considered in FY 2008, institutions that submitted a grant for the FY 2007 competition and scored between 119 and 96 but did not receive funding, will need to apply again for basic eligibility. Applicants who do not re-apply for basic eligibility will not be funded. DoEd will fund “down the slate” as far as the FY 2008 appropriation allows. The total number of awards is still to be determined.

College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) and HSIs
The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (CCRAA) legislation included $200 million to be awarded to HSIs during FY 2008 and 2009.  This legislation set aside these funds for proposals that address science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) education and articulation programs. A single competition this year is expected to award two-year grants, approximately $1 million each year in both FY 2008 and 2009. The specific legislative language is:

"(i) to increase the number of Hispanic and other low income students attaining degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; and  (ii) to develop model transfer and articulation agreements between 2-year Hispanic-serving institutions and 4-year institutions in such fields."

HSIs interested in applying for a grant under CCRAA must also apply for basic HSI eligibility in order to be considered for funding. Proposals from institutions that have not applied for (and received) basic eligibility this year will not be considered. 

Free CCRAA-HSI workshop to be held in DC April 16, 2008
DoEd and HACU will be coordinating a free CCRAA workshop in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 from 9 am-noon at the Madison Hotel as a post-Capitol Forum event.  The HACU Capitol Forum will be held April 13-15. For more information about and registration for the workshop and the Capitol Forum, visit us online.