[Federal Register: October 27, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 207)] [Notices] [Page 55615] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr27oc97-53] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No.: 84.200] Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998 Purpose of Program: This program provides fellowships through academic departments and programs of institutions of higher education to assist graduate students of superior ability who demonstrate financial need. The purpose of the program is to sustain and enhance the capacity for teaching and research in areas of national need. Eligible Applicants: Academic departments and programs of institutions of higher education that meet the requirements in 34 CFR 648.2. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 5, 1998. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: March 5, 1998. Applications Available: November 7, 1998. Available Funds: $16,000,000. Estimated Range of Awards: $122,251-$750,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $243,000. Estimated Number of Awards: 60. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 36 months. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 85, and 86; and (b) the regulations in 34 CFR Part 648. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Stipend Level: The Secretary has determined that the maximum fellowship stipend for academic year 1998-1999 is $15,000, which is equal to the level of support that the National Science Foundation is providing for its graduate fellowships. Institutional Payment: The Secretary estimates that the institutional payment for academic year 1998-1999 will be $10,051, which represents a 3.3 percent adjustment of the academic year 1997- 1998 payment based on the Department of Labor's projection in April 1997 of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 1997. The Secretary will adjust the institutional payment prior to the issuance of grant awards based on the Department of Labor's projection in December 1997 of the CPI for 1998. Priorities Absolute Priorities Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and 34 CFR 648.33, the Secretary gives an 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: Applications that propose to provide fellowships in one or more of the following areas of national need: Biology, Chemistry, Computer and Information Sciences, Engineering, Geoscience, Mathematics, and Physics. Invitational Priority 1-- Within the absolute priority specified above, the Secretary is particularly interested in receiving applications from mathematics programs that train Ph.Ds in mathematics who will specialize in the teaching of mathematics, to students at the K-12 level. Invitational Priority 2-- Within the absolute priority specified above, the Secretary is interested in receiving applications from biology, chemistry, and physics programs that train Ph.Ds who will specialize in the teaching of biology, chemistry or physics, to students at the K-12 level. Invitational Priority 3-- Within the absolute priority specified above, the Secretary is interested in receiving applications from engineering programs that train Ph.Ds for careers in the fields of environmental/environmental health and robotic technology. For Applications or Information Contact Cosette H. Ryan, U.S. Department of Education, International Education and Graduate Program Service, 600 Independence Ave, S.W., Suite 600-B, Portals Building, Washington, D. C. 20202-5247. Telephone: (202) 260-3608. 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 person listed in the preceding paragraph. Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternate format, also, by contacting that person. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms included in the application package. Note: The official application notice for a discretionary grant competition is the notice published in the Federal Register. 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) on the World Wide Web 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 toll free at 1-888-293-6498. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1134l-1134q-1. Dated: October 20, 1997. David A. Longanecker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 97-28425 Filed 10-24-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P