[Federal Register: March 16, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 50)] [Notices] [Page 13009-13010] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr16mr99-49] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No. 84.116D] Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education-- Congressional Priorities for Postsecondary Education Notice of Final Priorities and Invitation for Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 Purpose of Program: To implement the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1999, as enacted in the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, Public Law 105-277. The law requires that $9.5 million of the funds allocated to Title VII, Part B of the Higher Education Act be used to conduct a grant competition consistent with the subject areas outlined in the House Report 105-635, p. 188, Senate Report 105-300, pp. 241-243, and House Report 105-825, pp. 384, 1304-1305. Further, the law states that the competition be conducted in a manner consistent with current departmental practices and policies. The Secretary funds only projects that focus on the subject areas contained in the House and Senate appropriations reports and the statement of the managers, as summarized in the absolute priorities section of this notice. EFFECTIVE DATE: The priorities in this notice take effect April 15, 1999. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies, or combinations of those institutions or agencies. Requested Deadline for Receipt of Statements of Intent to Apply: April 16, 1999. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 30, 1999. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 29, 1999. Applications Available: March 16, 1999. Available Funds: $9,500,000. Estimated Range of Awards: $20,000 to $1,500,000. Project Period: Up to 36 months. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 85, and 86. Absolute Priorities Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and P.L. 105-277, the Secretary gives absolute preference to applications that meet one or more of the following priorities. The Secretary funds under this competition only applications that meet one or more of these absolute priorities. Absolute Priority 1--Demonstration programs to encourage underrepresented groups, such as women and minorities, to enter careers in technology and business. Absolute Priority 2--A project to endow a Contracts Chair-of- Excellence program to be administered in cooperation with a consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions with environmental science and engineering capabilities. Absolute Priority 3--Demonstration programs to establish a state- of-the-art science and technology program that will explore the application of novel electronic materials that are used in the development of high temperature supercomputers. Absolute Priority 4--Enhanced distance education and teacher- training activities. Absolute Priority 5--Applications for conversion of library catalogs to electronic format. Absolute Priority 6--For assistance with critical infrastructure needs, such as fiberoptic cabling, hardware, and communications equipment, and classroom renovations, in conjunction with a program specifically tailored to the needs of students with part-time employment with a goal of fully preparing participants for the skilled job opportunities of the future. Absolute Priority 7--To support a university-based advanced mathematics teacher-student training program. Absolute Priority 8--To establish off-campus and community-based delivery of educational programs and services to improve rural access. Absolute Priority 9--To improve the skills of physical science teachers. Absolute Priority 10--For an inter- and intravideo conferencing project. Absolute Priority 11--For a demonstration project that establishes a center for technical education to serve young people who do not intend to go on to college. Absolute Priority 12--To support innovative approaches to connecting community colleges to four-year institutions through a cooperative [[Page 13010]] curriculum, shared student services, and faculty collaborations. Absolute Priority 13--A project of interinstitutional efforts dedicated to improving the scientific expertise and interest of undergraduate students. Absolute Priority 14--Educational programs to train students for careers in the hospitality and tourism industry. Selection Criteria In evaluating an application for a new grant under this competition, the Secretary uses selection criteria chosen from the general selection criteria in 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. Under 34 CFR 75.201 of EDGAR, the Secretary announces in the application package the selection criteria and factors, if any, for this competition and the maximum weight assigned to each criterion. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR APPLICATIONS: The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3100, ROB-3, Washington, DC 20202-5175. Telephone: (202) 358-3041 to order applications; or (202) 708-5750, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday, for information. Individuals may also request applications by submitting the name of the competition, their name, and postal mailing address to the e-mail address fipse@ed.gov. Individuals may obtain the application text from the Internet address http://www.ed.gov/offices/ OPE/FIPSE/. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact office listed in the preceding paragraph. Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternate format, also, by contacting that office. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms included in the application package. Electronic Access to This Document Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or portable document format (pdf) via the Internet at either of the following sites: http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm http://www.ed.gov/news.html To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing Office at (202) 512-1530 or, toll free, at 1-888-293-6498. Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511 or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases. Note: The official version of a document is the document published in the Federal Register. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1138-1128b and Public Law 105-277. Dated: March 12, 1999. David A. Longanecker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 99-6484 Filed 3-15-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P