AUTHORIZATION:

Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Executive Order Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2, Chapter 1 Section 402E.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide grants for institutions of higher education to prepare participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. Participants are from disadvantaged backgrounds and have demonstrated strong academic potential. Institutions work closely with participants as they complete their undergraduate requirements. Institutions encourage participants to enroll in graduate programs and then track their progress through to the successful completion of advanced degrees. The goal is to increase the attainment of Ph.D. degrees by students from underrepresented segments of society.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds must be used by the participating institution to provide eligible participants with opportunities for research and other scholarly activities; summer internships; seminars; tutoring; academic counseling; and activities designed to help students secure admission and financial assistance for graduate study. Funds may be used for : services to improve students' financial and economic literacy, mentoring and exposure to cultural events. At least two-thirds of the project participants must be low-income individuals who are first-generation college students. The remaining participants may be from a group that is underrepresented in graduate education.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Institutions of higher education or combinations of institutions of higher education may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Low-income first generation college students or students from groups underrepresented in graduate education that are enrolled in a degree program at an eligible institution of higher education will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with Education Department General Administrative Regulations and the program regulations, Section 647 of the Code of Federal Regulations. OMB Circular A-21 applies to this program. OMB Circular A-122 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Develop a proposal in accordance with legislation, regulations, applications, and timetables issued by the Secretary of Education. No State plan is required. Requests for applications should be made to the Federal TRIO Program. This program is subject to the provisions of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations.

Award Procedure:   Nonfederal field readers evaluate new proposals on the basis of the selection criteria specified in the program regulations, 647.21. Grants are awarded by the Federal TRIO Programs office.

Deadlines:   Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

Approximately 90 to 180 days.

Appeals:   

The program statute authorizes a second review of unseccessful applications. The Department is developing regulations to implement a second review process for unsuccessful applicants. An unsuccessful applicant requesting a second review must provide evidence for the Department, an agent of the Department, or a peer reviewer made a technical, administrative, or scoring error in the processing or review of its application.

Renewals:   

Awards are for five year project periods. Continuation awards are made annually. Generally, continuation awards are made if sufficient funds have been appropriated and the grantee is meeting the conditions of the grant and making substantial progress toward meeting the project objectives.

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ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   

This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   

Five year projects, subject to the availability of funds. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Grantees must submit an annual performance report. No cash reports are required. Progress reports (ED 524B) are required for a project in its first year of funding. Staff monitor grants drawdowns using agency financial reports. Reporting on performance measures is required as part of the submittal of the required annual performance report.

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. States, local governments, and nonprofit organizations are subject to the audit requirements of OMB Circular No. A-133.

In accordance with Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 CFR 61, 74, 75, and 702.

Records:   In accordance with the Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 CFR 75, 730, 75.731, and 75.732 and 647.32 of the program regulations.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

91-0201-0-1-502.

Obligations:   (Project Grants) FY 15 $33,291,000; FY 16 est $35,229,000; and FY 17 est $38,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

Varies by competition. In FY 2015, awards ranged from approximately $213.180 to $367,750; the average award was approximately $236.432.

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