American Overseas Research Centers

To enable American Overseas Research Centers, that are consortia of higher education institutions, to promote postgraduate research, exchanges, and area studies.

American Overseas Research Centers promote postgraduate research, exchanges, and area studies.

The Secretary shall only award grants to centers that: (1) receive more than 50 percent of their funding from public or private United States sources; (2) have a permanent presence in the country in which the center is located; and (3) are organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which are exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code.

Consortia of institutions of higher education that (1) receive more than 50 percent of their funding from public or private United States sources; (2) have a permanent presence in the country in which the center is located; and (3) are organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which are exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code will benefit.

Grants may be used to pay all or a portion of the cost of establishing or operating a center or program, including the cost of faculty and staff stipends and salaries; faculty, staff, and student travel; the operation and maintenance of overseas facilities; the cost of teaching and research materials; the cost of bringing visiting scholars and faculty to a center to teach or to conduct research; the cost of organizing and managing conferences; and the cost of publishing and disseminating materials for the scholarly and general public.

Grants are awarded for 12-month periods for a total project period of up to 48 months.

Grantees are subject to audit requirements as described in 34 CFR 74.26.

Applications for awards will be evaluated competitively in accordance with the selection criteria published in 34 CFR 75.209 and 75.210. The Secretary will weigh criteria using points indicated in the application package or in a notice published in the Federal Register. Applicants should address the selection criteria only in the context of the program requirements in Title VI, Part A, Section 609 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

Applications are evaluated by peer review panels with area studies expertise. Funding recommendations are made to the Secretary based on the outcome of the peer review process.

The approval time is approximately 90 days.

Centers selected to receive funds for the 4-year project period must submit annual performance reports for continuation of support. Continuation grant awards are subject to the availability of funds.