How Does the Secretary Make an Award?

34 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart C
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

34 C.F.R. § 606.20 How does the Secretary choose applications for funding?

(a) The Secretary evaluates an application on the basis of the criteria in— (1) Sections 606.21 and 606.23 for a planning grant; and (2) Sections 606.22, 606.23, 600.24, and 606.25 for a development grant. (b) The Secretary informs applicants of the maximum possible score for each criterion in the application package or in a notice published in the Federal Register. (c)(1) The Secretary considers funding an application for a planning grant that meets the requirements under § 606.21. (2) The Secretary considers funding an application for a development grant that— (i) Is submitted with a comprehensive development plan that satisfies all the elements required of such a plan under § 606.8; and (ii) In the case of an application for a cooperative arrangement grant, demonstrates that the grant will enable each eligible participant to meet the goals and objectives of its comprehensive development plan better and at a lower cost than if each eligible participant were funded individually.

34 C.F.R. § 606.21 What are the selection criteria for planning grants?

The Secretary evaluates an application for a planning grant on the basis of the criteria in this section. (a) Design of the planning process. The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the planning process that the applicant will use to develop a comprehensive development plan and an application for a development grant based on the extent to which— (1) The planning process is clearly and comprehensively described and based on sound planning practice; (2) The president or chief executive officer, administrators and other institutional personnel, students, and governing board members systematically and consistently will be involved in the planning process; (3) The applicant will use its own resources to help implement the project; and (4) The planning process is likely to achieve its intended results. (b) Key personnel. The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of key personnel to be involved in the project based on the extent to which— (1) The past experience and training of key personnel such as the project coordinator and persons who have key roles in the planning process are suitable to the tasks to be performed; and (2) The time commitments of key personnel are adequate. (c) Project Management. The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan to manage the project effectively based on the extent to which— (1) The procedures for managing the project are likely to ensure effective and efficient project implementation; and (2) The project coordinator has sufficient authority, including access to the president or chief executive officer, to conduct the project effectively. (d) Budget. The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the proposed project costs are necessary and reasonable.

34 C.F.R. § 606.22 What are the selection criteria for development grants?

The Secretary evaluates an application for a development grant on the basis of the criteria in this section. (a) Quality of the applicant's comprehensive development plan. The extent to which— (1) The strengths, weaknesses, and significant problems of the institution's academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability are clearly and comprehensively analyzed and result from a process that involved major constituencies of the institution; (2) The goals for the institution's academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability are realistic and based on comprehensive analysis; (3) The objectives stated in the plan are measurable, related to institutional goals, and, if achieved, will contribute to the growth and self-sufficiency of the institution; and (4) The plan clearly and comprehensively describes the methods and resources the institution will use to institutionalize practice and improvements developed under the proposed project, including, in particular, how operational costs for personnel, maintenance, and upgrades of equipment will be paid with institutional resources. (b) Quality of activity objectives. The extent to which the objectives for each activity are— (1) Realistic and defined in terms of measurable results; and (2) Directly related to the problems to be solved and to the goals of the comprehensive development plan. (c) Quality of implementation strategy. The extent to which— (1) The implementation strategy for each activity is comprehensive; (2) The rationale for the implementation strategy for each activity is clearly described and is supported by the results of relevant studies or projects; and (3) The timetable for each activity is realistic and likely to be attained. (d) Quality of key personnel. The extent to which— (1) The past experience and training of key professional personnel are directly related to the stated activity objectives; and (2) The time commitment of key personnel is realistic. (e) Quality of project management plan. The extent to which— (1) Procedures for managing the project are likely to ensure efficient and effective project implementation; and (2) The project coordinator and activity directors have sufficient authority to conduct the project effectively, including access to the president or chief executive officer. (f) Quality of evaluation plan. The extent to which— (1) The data elements and the data collection procedures are clearly described and appropriate to measure the attainment of activity objectives and to measure the success of the project in achieving the goals of the comprehensive development plan; and (2) The data analysis procedures are clearly described and are likely to produce formative and summative results on attaining activity objectives and measuring the success of the project on achieving the goals of the comprehensive development plan. (g) Budget. The extent to which the proposed costs are necessary and reasonable in relation to the project's objectives and scope.

34 C.F.R. § 606.23 What special funding consideration does the Secretary provide?

(a) If funds are available to fund only one additional planning grant and each of the next fundable applications has received the same number of points under § 606.20 or 606.21, the Secretary awards additional points, as provided in the application package or in a notice published in the Federal Register, to any of those applicants that— (1) Has an endowment fund of which the current market value, per full-time equivalent enrolled student, is less than the average current market value of the endowment funds, per full-time equivalent enrolled student, at similar type institutions; or (2) Has expenditures for library materials per full-time equivalent enrolled student which are less than the average expenditure for library materials per full-time equivalent enrolled student at similar type institutions. (b) If funds are available to fund only one additional development grant and each of the next fundable applications has received the same number of points under § 606.20 or 606.22, the Secretary awards additional points, as provided in the application package or in a notice published in the Federal Register, to any of those applicants that— (1) Has an endowment fund of which the current market value, per full-time equivalent enrolled student, is less than the average current market value of the endowment funds, per full-time equivalent enrolled student, at comparable institutions that offer similar instruction; (2) Has expenditures for library materials per full-time equivalent enrolled student that are less than the average expenditures for library materials per full-time equivalent enrolled student at comparable institutions that offer similar instruction; or (3) Propose to carry out one or more of the following activities— (i) Faculty development; (ii) Funds and administrative management; (iii) Development and improvement of academic programs; (iv) Acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening management and academic programs; (v) Joint use of facilities; and (vi) Student services. (c) As used in this section, an “endowment fund” does not include any fund established or supported under 34 CFR part 628. (d) Each year, the Secretary provides prospective applicants with the average market value of endowment funds and the average expenditure of library materials per full-time equivalent student. (e) The Secretary gives priority to each 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 or community-based organization to provide that agency or organization with assistance (from funds other than funds provided under this part) in— (1) Reducing the dropout rates of Hispanic students; (2) Improving rates of academic achievement of Hispanic students; and (3) Increasing the rates at which Hispanic high school graduates enroll in higher education.

34 C.F.R. § 606.24 How does the Secretary use an applicant's performance under a previous development grant when awarding a development grant?

(a)(1) In addition to evaluating an application under the selection criteria in § 606.22, the Secretary evaluates an applicant's performance under any previous development grant awarded under the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program that expired within five years of the year when the development grant will begin. (2) The Secretary evaluates whether the applicant fulfilled, or is making substantial progress toward fulfilling, the goals and objectives of the previous grant, including, but not limited to, the applicant's success in institutionalizing practices developed and improvements made under the grant. (3) The Secretary bases the evaluation of the applicant's performance on information contained in— (i) Performance and evaluation reports submitted by the applicant; (ii) Audit reports submitted on behalf of the applicant; and (iii) Other information obtained by the Secretary, including reports prepared by the Department. (b) If the Secretary initially determines that the applicant did not fulfill the goals and objectives of a previous grant or is not making substantial progress towards fulfilling those goals and objectives, the Secretary affords the applicant the opportunity to respond to that initial determination. (c) If the Secretary determines that the applicant did not fulfill the goals and objectives of a previous grant or is not making substantial progress towards fulfilling those goals and objectives, the Secretary may— (1) Decide not to fund the applicant; or (2) Fund the applicant but impose special grant terms and conditions, such as specific reporting and monitoring requirements.

34 C.F.R. § 606.25 What priority does the Secretary use in awarding cooperative arrangement grants?

Among applications for cooperative arrangement grants, the Secretary gives priority to proposed cooperative arrangements that are geographically and economically sound, or will benefit the institutions applying for the grant.

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