AUTHORIZATION:

Title V, Part C of the Improving America�s Schools Act of 1994, Public law 103-382 (October 20, 1994), 7 U.S.C. 301 note, as amended; Public Law 105-185, cited as �Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994,� (hereafter referred to as the Act) provides that certain tribal colleges, designated as �1994 Land-Grant Institutions,� (hereafter referred to as LGIs) receive various benefits., 7 U.S.C 301 note.

OBJECTIVES:

To enhance educational opportunities at the thirty-four (34) Land Grant Institutions by strengthening their teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences in targeted need areas.

The legislation designates that the interest from the endowment funds benefit the 1994 land-Grant institutions by supporting teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences in the target areas of:

1) Curricula design and instructional materials

2) Faculty development and preparation for teaching

3) Instruction delivery systems

4) Student experiential learning

5) Equipment & instrumentation for teaching

6) Student recruitment and retention

Additionally, endowment funds released on or after October 1, 2001, also may be used for facility renovation, repair, construction and maintenance to support teaching programs in the food and agriculture sciences in addition to the above six (6) areas, to support the land-grant mission.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The Tribal Colleges Endowment Fund benefits the 1994 land-grant institutions by promoting capacity development in teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences. The Tribal Colleges Endowment Fund, as a teaching capacity development program, is a companion program of the Tribal Colleges Equity Grants Program. It differs primarily from the Equity Grants Program in two (2) respects, namely:

� Endowment funds may be escrowed indefinitely and used for major obligations relating to the allowable activities.

� As of October 1, 2001, Endowment funds also may be used for facility renovation, repair, construction. and maintenance in support of and in addition to the six (6) targeted areas of support listed below.

Interest distribution from an endowed corpus based on a formula specific to this legislation.

The legislation designates that the interest from the endowment funds benefit the 1994 land-Grant institutions by supporting teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences in the target areas of:

1) Curricula design and instructional materials

2) Faculty development and preparation for teaching

3) Instruction delivery systems

4) Student experiential learning

5) Equipment & instrumentation for teaching

6) Student recruitment and retention

Additionally, endowment funds released on or after October 1, 2001, also may be used for facility renovation, repair, construction and maintenance to support teaching programs in the food and agriculture sciences in addition to the above six (6) areas, to support the land-grant mission. Interest distribution from an endowed corpus based on a formula specific to this legislation.

Distribution funds received prior to October, 2001 may not be used for new construction.

Institutions that intend to use their Endowment Funds for new construction should submit their plans to USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Multicultural Alliances for approval. Institutions that list plans for new construction in their Planning Document will be sent specific guidelines.

Section 7402 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (Pub. L. 110-246), amends Section 534(a)(3) of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note: Public Law 103-382) to require that all eligible recipients of the 1994 Institutions Endowment Fund meet certain accreditation requirements in order to receive interest distributions from that fund. Those LGIs that do not meet these requirements will have their share of funds redistributed to those 1994 institutions which meet accreditation requirements.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Eligibility is defined by legislation. An institution must be an accredited 1994 Land Grant Institution with current accreditation from a recognized accreditation organization.

Section 7402 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (Pub. L. 110-246), amends Section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note: Public Law 103-382) by adding at the end the following: ��(34) Ilisagvik College.��

The complete listing of 1994 Land-Grant Institutions (LGIs) is as follows:

Bay Mills Community College, Blackfeet Community College, Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Chief Dull Knife College, College of the Menominee Nation, D-Q University, Dine� College, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Fort Belknap College, Fort Berthold Community College, Fort Peck Community College, Haskell Indian Nations University, Ilisagvik College , Institute of American Indian Arts, Leech Lake Tribal College, Little Big Horn College, Little Priest Tribal College, Navajo Technical College, Nebraska Indian Community College, Northwest Indian College, Oglala Lakota College, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, Salish Kootenai College, Si Tanka University, Sinte Gleska University, Sisseton Wahpeton College, Sitting Bull College, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Stone Child College, Tohono O�odham Community College, Turtle Mountain Community College, United Tribes Technical College, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College, and White Earth Tribal and Community College.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Eligibility is defined by legislation. An institution must be an accredited 1994 Land Grant Institution with current accreditation from a recognized accreditation organization.

Section 7402 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (Pub. L. 110-246), amends Section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note: Public Law 103-382) by adding at the end the following: ��(34) Ilisagvik College.��

The complete listing of 1994 Land-Grant Institutions (LGIs) is as follows:

Bay Mills Community College, Blackfeet Community College, Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Chief Dull Knife College, College of the Menominee Nation, D-Q University, Dine� College, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Fort Belknap College, Fort Berthold Community College, Fort Peck Community College, Haskell Indian Nations University, Ilisagvik College , Institute of American Indian Arts, Leech Lake Tribal College, Little Big Horn College, Little Priest Tribal College, Navajo Technical College, Nebraska Indian Community College, Northwest Indian College, Oglala Lakota College, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, Salish Kootenai College, Si Tanka University, Sinte Gleska University, Sisseton Wahpeton College, Sitting Bull College, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Stone Child College, Tohono O�odham Community College, Turtle Mountain Community College, United Tribes Technical College, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College, and White Earth Tribal and Community College.

Credentials/Documentation:   A Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number must be obtained - A DUNS number is a unique number that identifies an organization. It has been adopted by the Federal government to help track how Federal grant money is distributed. If your organization does not have a DUNS number, call the special Dun & Bradstreet hotline at 1-866-705-5711 to receive one (1) free of charge. You will receive a DUNS number within several days of your request. Please note, individual proprietorships (i.e. farmers, ranchers) can request and receive a DUNS number, but must register with Grants.gov as an organization, not as an individual.

Registration with Central Contractor Registry (CCR) is required - The CCR is the central government repository for organizations working with the Federal government. If your organization is not already registered, identify the primary contact who should register your organization. When your organization registers with CCR, it will be required to designate an e-Business Point of Contact (e-Business POC). The e-Business POC authorizes individuals to submit grant applications on behalf of the organization and creates a special password called a Marketing Partner ID Number (M-PIN) to verify individuals authorized to submit grant applications for the organization. Visit the CCR Web site at http://www.ccr.gov to begin this process. It may take several days to collect the information needed for your organization�s registration. The CCR Assistance Center can be reached at 888-227-2423. This information collection is approved under OMB Control No. 0524-0039, �NIFA Application Kit for Research and Extension Programs.�. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. There is no application process. Please refer to Section :093 for specific details regarding the Award Procedure.

Award Procedure:   On the termination of each fiscal year, the Secretary of Agriculture withdraws the earned interest from the Endowment fund and distributes it to the 1994s on a pro rata basis. The pro rata basis formula is as follows: 60 percent is based on the Indian student count for each institution; 40 percent is distributed in equal shares.

Interest distributions are made on an annual basis.

The interest earned from the endowment corpus is distributed to each 1994 Institution based on a 60-40 percentage formula:

� 60 percent (60%) is based on the number of American Indian students enrolled (based on the annual Student Indian Count as defined in Section 390(3) of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act) will be furnished to the agency by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium - AIHEC) and

� 40 percent (40%) on an equal base formula.

The computation is made by NIFA and a letter of notification is sent to each 1994 institution President.

The Endowment Interest distribution is available to the 1994 Institutions to be drawn down at their discretion through the electronic payment systems of either the Department of Health and Human Services (PMS) or through the Treasury ASAP system.

Upon notification of their annual distribution, 1994s are required to submit a Planning Document (subject to approval) on how their Endowment funds will be spent.

Deadlines:   Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

From 30 to 60 days.

Appeals:   

Not Applicable.

Renewals:   

Not applicable, each year of funding is awarded as a new grant.

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ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   

Statutory Formula: Title Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994, Public Law 103-382. Title V, Part C of the Improving America�s Schools Act of 1994, Public law 103-382 (October 20, 1994), 7 U.S.C. 301 note, as amended; Public Law 105-185, cited as �Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994,� (hereafter referred to as the Act) provides that certain tribal colleges, designated as �1994 Land-Grant Institutions,� (hereafter referred to as LGIs) receive various benefits.

This program has no matching requirements. NIFA does not require matching or cost sharing support for this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   

Interest distributions are made on an annual basis.

The Endowment Interest distribution is �no-year� funds and can be used or held indefinitely. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   As part of its oversight and accountability responsibilities, NIFA requires that the following documents be submitted by September 30 of each year or within 90 days after having received the interest distribution notification:

� Planning Document � College intent to utilize the Endowment Funds (Institutions are encouraged to engage in long-range planning and the sharing of ideas within the Tribal College Community.)

� Annual Technical/Progress Report � How funds were spent over the past year and any impact of those funds.

� Annual SF- 425, Federal Financial Report, per Agency instructions.

SPECIAL NOTE:

Specific and detailed guidance regarding the format and content of the Planning Document and Annual Technical/Progress Report accompany the annual Interest Distribution letters which are sent to the Presidents of each 1994 Land-Grant Institution.

Further, the reports are required to keep Congress informed of progress and accomplishments regarding the utilization of the Endowment funds. NIFA uses the SF-425, Federal Financial Report to monitor cash. As part of its oversight and accountability responsibilities, NIFA requires that the following documents be submitted by September 30 of each year or within 90 days after having received the interest distribution notification:

� Planning Document � College intent to utilize the Endowment Funds (Institutions are encouraged to engage in long-range planning and the sharing of ideas within the Tribal College Community.)

� Annual Technical/Progress Report � How funds were spent over the past year and any impact of those funds.

� Annual SF- 425, Federal Financial Report, per Agency instructions.

SPECIAL NOTE:

Specific and detailed guidance regarding the format and content of the Planning Document and Annual Technical/Progress Report accompany the annual Interest Distribution letters which are sent to the Presidents of each 1994 Land-Grant Institution.

Further, the reports are required to keep Congress informed of progress and accomplishments regarding the utilization of the Endowment funds. Institutions are required to submit the SF-425, Federal Financial Report, per Agency instructions. The office listed below provides agency oversight of these reports:

Formula Grants Section (F/S)
Financial Operations Branch (FOB)
Office of Extramural Programs (OEP)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
STOP 2298
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-2298

Telephone: (202) 401-6520
Fax: (202) 690-3002

E-mail: formulagrantquestions@nifa.usda.gov.

As part of its oversight and accountability responsibilities, NIFA requires that the following documents be submitted by September 30 of each year or within 90 days after having received the interest distribution notification:

� Planning Document � College intent to utilize the Endowment Funds (Institutions are encouraged to engage in long-range planning and the sharing of ideas within the Tribal College Community.)

� Annual Technical/Progress Report � How funds were spent over the past year and any impact of those funds.

� Annual SF- 425, Federal Financial Report, per Agency instructions.

SPECIAL NOTE:

Specific and detailed guidance regarding the format and content of the Planning Document and Annual Technical/Progress Report accompany the annual Interest Distribution letters which are sent to the Presidents of each 1994 Land-Grant Institution.

Further, the reports are required to keep Congress informed of progress and accomplishments regarding the utilization of the Endowment funds.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Audits will be conducted in accordance with guidelines established in the revised OMB Circular No. A-133, �Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations,� and implemented in 7 CFR 3052. This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General.

Records:   In accordance with the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Non-profit Organizations [2 CFR 215, Subpart C, Section 215.53, (OMB Circular A-110)] grantees shall maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for authorized purposes. Grant-related records are subject to inspection during the life of the grant and must be retained at least three (3) years. Records must be retained beyond the three (3) year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

12-1500-0-1-352.

Obligations:   (Formula Grants (Apportionments)) FY 08 $3,080,640; FY 09 est $3,669,843; FY 10 est $3,670,080 - The difference between the appropriation and obligation numbers reflects legislative authorized set-asides deducted as appropriate, and in some cases the availability of obligational authority from prior years.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

The Endowment Interest distribution increases each year in proportion to the Endowment Corpus and the interest earnings for each year; as well as the number of American Indians enrolled at each institution. The highest amount awarded was in 2009 was $299,509 and the lowest amount was $57,866. Three Institutions received amounts over $200,000; 11 Institutions received amounts over $100,000 and 18 Institutions received amounts under $99,000.

NOTE: For Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, two (2) LGIs did not meet eligibility criteria for interest distribution.

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