DHSI 2023 Grant Competition FAQs.pdf

FAQs The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program

FY 2023 Grant Competition

1. What is the range of awards?

The estimated range of awards is $500,000-$600,000 per year. An applicant may request up to $600,000 per year for 5 years for a total of $3,000,000.

2. May an applicant request less than the average award size?

Yes.

3. What is the correct deadline date for application submission?

The deadline to submit applications for this competition is June 13, 2023, at 11:59:59 pm Eastern time. You should note that each application is time stamped. The time of submission is based upon the entire upload of the application and acceptance of the application in grants.gov and G5 interface.

4. Selection Criterion (e) Quality of Management Plan refers to the “Project Coordinator and Activity Director." Is the Project Coordinator the same as Project Director and/or Principal Investigator? Are projects expected to include both a Principal Investigator and a Project Director?

Titles are sometimes used interchangeably, and while you do not need to have both, the overall management plan is up to you.

5. Is teacher education in STEM an allowable activity?

Yes.

6. Can we give students stipends for lab work, research?

Yes, stipends to students conducting research are allowable, but must be aligned to program purpose and goals as it relates to this program.

7. Can we hire students for tutoring?

Yes.

8. Can I answer both Competitive Preference Priorities to receive the maximum points possible?

Yes. Applicants may answer one, both, or none of the CPP questions.

Responding to the CPPs is optional.

9. Can I receive a new Title V award if I am already the recipient of a Title V award in 2022?

Yes. There is no wait-out period for this program. Grantees who have awards from previous years can apply for and receive a new grant in this competition.

*The only grantees who may not receive a new grant in this competition are grantees who were recently funded in the FY 2023 “fund down the slate” process because institutions may only receive 1 Individual Development Grant per fiscal year under this program.

10. Can I receive a new Title V award if I am a current Title III, Part A or B grantee?

No. Per legislation, «No Hispanic-serving institution that is eligible for and receives funds under this title may concurrently receive other funds under parts A or B of Title III during the period for which funds under this title are awarded. » This applies to lead institutions only, not institutions named as partners in the proposal.

11. Is there an Absolute Priority that must be addressed for this competition?

No.

12. Is the Invitational Priority required to be addressed in my proposal?

No. We invite applicants to propose projects in this vital area, but it is optional. Applicants will not lose or gain points or gain an advantage for responding or not responding to the Invitational Priority.

13. If an application is submitted late, is there a grace period for acceptance?

No! You must submit your application no later than 11:59:59 PM Eastern time on the deadline date. If it is a second late, it is ineligible.

14. Should my project address all the Performance Measures listed in the NIA?

No. Focus on the measures that are specific to your project. Some may overlap with the performance measures for the program

15. The solicitation does not specifically mention the retention of an evaluator. Does the evaluator need to be someone from outside the organization, or can it be an in-house evaluator? What are the limitations in cost for such an evaluator?

It depends on your project. We do not stipulate what type of evaluation methods you propose or if you use an internal or external evaluator.

Develop your evaluation based on what makes sense for your institution and your project. The costs should correlate to the project.

16. Will my application be deemed ineligible if my charts are single spaced?

No

17. Can a non-WWC approved, or Department assessed study that meets the standard also be acceptable.

Yes, if the study meets the requirements as outlined in (iii)

18. Is more than 1 study recommended/needed?

This is up to the applicant. The focus should not be on the number of studies, but rather on the service or activities to be implemented and the research that supports that service and/or activity. Ask yourself why are you proposing such a service or activity? What evidence supports that what you are proposing will provide a positive change or impact? This is where the research comes in. Is there a practice guide or report from WWC that supports your proposed project?

19. If we want to adapt a study of a summer bridge to a college program for high school students for a bridge to graduate for college students, is this acceptable, especially since while the proposed project does not overlap with the population in the study (high school students), it does overlap with the setting (college campus).

Yes, but then state what aspects of the practice within the study you are adapting and then how will you know your adaptation will not be negative, how will you evaluate

20. If I am not funded this year, will you fund down the slate next year?

We do not know currently. This is dependent on the Congressional appropriation for the program next year.

21. I heard there is a 2 year wait out period for this program?

The wait-out period provision in the HEA (on which the regulation is based) was eliminated from the statute by Pub.L. 109-292, the Third Higher Education Extension Act of 2006.

22. Can you provide a sample of the rubric that the reviewers will use?

SCORING GUIDANCE FOR DHSI GRANT REVIEWERS

• A fully developed response demonstrates a clear understanding of the criterion requirements. The response not only addresses the factor, but also comprehensively demonstrates alignment between what is proposed, how it will be carried out, and the subsequent impact.

• A well-developed response demonstrates a clear understanding of the criterion requirements. The response addresses the factor and demonstrates a basic alignment between what is proposed and how it will be carried out and the subsequent impact.

• An adequate response demonstrates a partial understanding of the criterion requirements. The response may address the factor, but provides inadequate, and at times, inconsistent information with regards to what is proposed, how it will be carried out, and the subsequent impact.

• A poorly developed response demonstrates minimal understanding of the criterion requirements. The response does not address the factor, and demonstrates poor alignment between what is proposed, how it will be carried out, and the subsequent impact.

• A zero-point response means that the criterion requirements were not addressed anywhere in the application.

23. Can you provide logic model examples?

Yes. Logic Model Examples will be posted to grants.gov under the “Related Documents” tab. You can also google various logic models.

24. Do we have to upload the actual study relating to Promising Evidence to our application?

Yes, please upload the study. If you do not have the actual study, please cite the URL or citation.

25. What are the DHSI unallowable activities?

The funds appropriated under this program may not be used for:

• Activities inconsistent with applicable State higher education plans;

• For a school or department of divinity or any religious worship or sectarian activity;

• Entertainment

• For non-degree/non-credit courses;

• For operational (Indirect) costs;

• For standard office furniture for the institution unrelated to the grant project.

• For salaries of those who have college-wide administrative authority;

• For costs of student recruitment to the institution; and

• For purposes other than the purposes set forth in the approved application.

26. If I am in a No Cost Extension (NCE) period for my Title III grant. Am I eligible to apply for Title V funding?

Yes. You are eligible since the Title III grant is in the extension period whereas you are not receiving additional funds from that program.

27. Can DACA and undocumented students receive funds like stipends under the program?

If the students can receive other forms of assistance at the institution, then yes, they can. Please follow institutional policy.