HSI DHSI FAQs 2019 Grant Competition .pdf

FAQs- 2019 DHSI Grant Competition

1. What is the range of awards?

The estimated range of awards is $500,000-$600,000 per year. The maximum amount for an Individual grant award is $600,000 per year.

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 July 15 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?

The 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 is 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 in order to recieve the maximum points possible?

No. Applicants must only answer 1 Competitive Preference Priority. If an applicant answers both, the Reviewers will only review the first one.

9. Can I receive a new Title V award if I am already the recipient of a Title V award in 2018?

Yes.

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 recieve other funds under parts A or B of Title III during the period for which funds under this title aer awarded.» This applies to lead institutions only.

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

No.

12. 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.

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

No. Focus on the measures that are specific to your project.

14. The solicitation does not specifically mention the retention of an evaluator. Does the evaluator need to be someone from 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.

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

No

16. 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)

17. Is more than 1 study recommended/needed?

The focus should not be on the study, it should be on the service to be provided, or activity and the research that supports that service and/or activity. Why is the applicant proposing such a service or activity? What evidence supports that it will provide a positive change or impact? (this is where the research comes in are there one or more studies) If so, what are they? Is there a practice guide or report from WWC that supports this?

18. If we want to adapt a study of a summer bridge to 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

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

It is possible, but we are planning on holding a large competition next year.

This is dependent on Congressional appropriations and level funding.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Can you explain the 3rd sub-criterion under Quality of the Evaluation Plan?

• Will the data gathered provide guidance about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other settings? (up to 5 points).

This is specific to your evaluation methods for your project. You should propose methods that you feel will be useful to other organizations in case they want to implement the same strategies and you should make the case for that in your application. Your methods should produce results that are conclusive and at the very least, provide guidance about effective strategies.

23. Can you provide logic model examples?

Yes. Email Njeri.clark@ed.gov mailto:Njeri.clark@ed.gov

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

If you do not have the URL or citation, please attach the study.

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;

• For non-degree/non-credit courses;

• For operational (Indirect) costs;

• For salaries for institution-wide officials;

• For costs of student recruitment; and

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