FR Doc 05-20625
[Federal Register: October 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 198)]
[Notices]
[Page 60066-60072]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14oc05-35]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; National
Resource Centers (NRC) Program for Foreign Language and Area Studies or
Foreign Language and International Studies Program and Foreign Language
and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships Program; Notice Inviting
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.015A and
84.015B
Dates: Applications Available: October 14, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See the chart listed
under section IV. Application and Submission Information, 3. Submission
Dates and Times (chart).
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: See chart.
Eligible Applicants: (1) Institutions of higher education; and (2)
Consortia of institutions of higher education that meet the eligibility
requirements in the regulations for the NRC and FLAS programs.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$28,950,000 for the NRC program and $29,129,500 for the FLAS program
for FY 2006. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow
enough time to complete the grant process, if Congress appropriates
funds for these programs.
Estimated Range of Awards: $192,000-$349,000 per year for the NRC
program and $39,000-$377,000 per year for the FLAS program.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $241,251 per year for the NRC
program and $234,915 per year for the FLAS program.
Estimated Number of Awards: 120 NRC awards and 124 FLAS awards. We
estimate that the 124 FLAS awards will yield 926 academic year
fellowships and 635 summer fellowships.
Note: Information concerning the FLAS program subsistence
allowance and institutional payment is provided elsewhere in this
notice in section II Award Information.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The NRC program makes awards to institutions of
higher education or consortia of these institutions for establishing or
strengthening nationally recognized foreign language and area or
international studies centers or programs. NRC awards are used to
support undergraduate centers or comprehensive centers, which include
undergraduate, graduate and professional school components.
The FLAS program provides allocations of fellowships to
institutions of higher education or consortia of these institutions to
assist meritorious students undergoing graduate training in modern
foreign languages and related area or international studies.
Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), these
priorities are from the regulations for the NRC program (34
[[Page 60067]]
CFR 656.23(a)(4)) and for the FLAS program (34 CFR 657.22(a)(7)).
NRC Program Absolute Priority: For FY 2006 this priority is an
absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only
applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
Projects that include teacher training activities on the language,
languages, area studies, or thematic focus of the center.
NRC Program Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2006 this
priority is a competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an additional ten points to an
application, depending on the extent to which the application meets
this priority.
This priority is:
Activities designed to demonstrate the quality of the center's or
program's language instruction through the measurement of student
proficiency in the less and least commonly taught languages.
Within the absolute priority and competitive preference priority,
we are particularly interested in applications that address the
following invitational priorities.
NRC Program Invitational Priorities: For FY 2006 these priorities
are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give
an application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive
or absolute preference over other applications.
These priorities are:
NRC Invitational Priority 1
Activities designed to promote undergraduate language learning
through two or more continuous years in the less or least commonly
taught languages.
NRC Invitational Priority 2
Activities designed to increase the number of specialists trained
in areas that are vital to United States national security, such as
Islamic societies.
NRC Invitational Priority 3
Linkages with schools of education designed to improve teacher
training in foreign languages or area or international studies with an
emphasis on the less commonly taught languages and areas of the world
where those languages are spoken.
NRC Invitational Priority 4
Collaboration with Title VI Language Resource Centers, Centers for
International Business Education, and American Overseas Research
Centers, with the objective of increasing the nation's capacity to
train and produce Americans with advanced proficiency of the less and
least commonly taught languages, along with an understanding of the
societies in which those languages are spoken.
NRC Invitational Priority 5
Activities that expand and enhance outreach to K-12 constituencies.
FLAS Program Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2006 these
priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an additional ten points to an
application, depending on the extent to which the application meets
these priorities.
These priorities are:
FLAS Competitive Preference Priority 1
The Secretary will award up to five additional points to eligible
applicants that plan to offer fellowships in the less and least
commonly taught languages to students who are pursuing advanced level
language proficiency.
FLAS Competitive Preference Priority 2
The Secretary will award up to five additional points to eligible
applicants that plan to offer fellowships to master's degree students
who are more likely to pursue government service or enter a
professional field.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1122.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82,
84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The General Provisions for International
Education Programs in 34 CFR part 655. (c) The regulations for the NRC
program in 34 CFR part 656. (d) The regulations for the FLAS program in
34 CFR part 657.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all
applications except federally recognized Indian tribes.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$28,950,000 for the NRC program and $29,129,500 for the FLAS program
for FY 2006. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow
enough time to complete the grant process, if Congress appropriates
funds for these programs.
Estimated Range of Awards: $192,000-$349,000 per year for the NRC
program and $39,000-$377,000 per year for the FLAS program.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $241,251 per year for the NRC
program and $234,915 per year for the FLAS program.
Estimated FLAS Program Subsistence Allowance: The subsistence
allowance for an academic year 2006-2007 fellowship is $15,000, and the
subsistence allowance for a summer 2007 fellowship is $2,500.
Estimated FLAS Program Institutional Payment: The institutional
payment in lieu of tuition for an academic year 2006-2007 fellowship is
$12,000, and the institutional payment in lieu of tuition for a summer
2007 fellowship is $4,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 120 NRC awards and 124 FLAS awards. We
estimate that the 124 FLAS awards will yield 926 academic year
fellowships and 635 summer fellowships.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: (1) Institutions of higher education; and
(2) Consortia of institutions of higher education that meet the
eligibility requirements in the program regulations for the NRC and
FLAS programs.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: These programs do not involve cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You may obtain an
application package via the Internet by downloading the package from
the program Web site: http://www.ed.gov/HEP/iegps.
If you do not have access to the Internet, you may contact Carla
White, International Education Programs Service, U.S. Department of
Education, at (202) 502-7631 to request a paper copy of the package.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact
person listed in this section.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for these programs.
Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant,
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your
application. You must
[[Page 60068]]
limit the narrative to the equivalent of no more than 40 pages for a
single institution application or the equivalent of no more than 50
pages for a consortium application, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5 x 11, on one side only,
with 1 margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. However, you may
single space all text in charts, tables, figures and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12-point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch). However, you may use a 10-point
font in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New or Arial. Applications submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman, Arial Narrow) will be rejected.
Section C of the application package provides instructions about
the application narrative. The narrative must include your complete
response to the selection criteria.
The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget
section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances
and certifications; the one-page abstract; or the appendices.
We will reject your application if--
You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the
page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: October 14, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: In light of the damage
caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita we are establishing two separate
deadlines for the submission of applications for grants under this
competition to permit potential applicants affected by Hurricanes
Katrina and/or Rita additional time to submit their applications. We
are establishing a General Deadline for all applicants, and an Extended
Deadline for potential applicants who have been affected by Hurricanes
Katrina and/or Rita and are located in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama,
Mississippi, and Florida. Specifically, the Extended Deadline applies
only to: (1) institutions of higher education, SEAs, LEAs, non-profit
organizations and other public or private organization applicants that
are located in a federally-declared disaster area as determined by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (see http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema
) and that were adversely affected by Hurricanes
Katrina and/or Rita, and (2) individual applicants who reside or
resided, on the disaster declaration date, in a federally-declared
disaster area as determined by FEMA (see http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema
) and were adversely affected by Hurricanes Katrina and/
or Rita. These applicants must provide a certification in their
application that they meet the criteria for submitting an application
on the Extended Deadline, and be prepared to provide appropriate
supporting documentation, if requested. If the applicant is submitting
the application electronically, submission of the application serves as
the applicant's attestation that they meet the criteria for submitting
an application on the Extended Deadline.
The following chart provides the applicable deadlines for the
submission of applications. If this program is subject to Executive
Order 12372, the relevant deadline for intergovernmental review is also
indicated in the chart.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transmittal of Intergovernmental
applications review
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Deadline:.................... 11/14/05 1/13/06
Extended Deadline:................... 12/1/05 2/1/06
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted by
mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates and times)
about how to submit your application by mail or hand delivery, please
refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: See chart.
4. Intergovernmental Review: These programs are subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for these programs.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
these programs must be submitted in paper format by mail or hand
delivery.
a. Submission of Applications by Mail.
If you submit your application by mail (through the U.S. Postal
Service or a commercial carrier, you must mail the original and two
copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date,
to the Department at the applicable following address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.015A
and 84.015B), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or
By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center--Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.015A
and 84.015B), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
Regardless of the address you use, you must show proof of mailing
consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark,
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service,
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier, or
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark, or
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
b. Submission of Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you submit your application by hand delivery, you (or a courier
service) must deliver the original and two copies of your application,
by hand, on or
[[Page 60069]]
before the application deadline date, to the Department at the
following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control
Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.015A and 84.015B), 550 12th Street,
SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and
Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department:
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by
the Department--in Item 4 of the ED 424 the CFDA number--and suffix
letter, if any--of the competition under which you are submitting
your application.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application
receipt acknowledgement to you. If you do not receive the grant
application receipt acknowledgement within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for a comprehensive
center under the NRC program are from 34 CFR 656.21. In general, the
Secretary awards up to 155 possible points for these criteria. However,
if the criterion from section 656.21(j) is used, the Secretary awards
up to 165 possible points. The maximum possible points for each
criterion are shown in parentheses.
(a) Program planning and budget. (20 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which the activities
for which the applicant seeks funding are of high quality and directly
related to the purpose of the National Resource Centers Program (5
points); (2) The extent to which the applicant provides a development
plan or timeline demonstrating how the proposed activities will
contribute to a strengthened program and whether the applicant uses its
resources and personnel effectively to achieve the proposed objectives
(5 points); (3) The extent to which the costs of the proposed
activities are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the program
(5 points); and (4) The long-term impact of the proposed activities on
the institution's undergraduate, graduate, and professional training
programs (5 points).
(b) Quality of staff resources. (15 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which teaching faculty
and other staff are qualified for the current and proposed Center
activities and training programs, are provided professional development
opportunities (including overseas experience), and participate in
teaching, supervising, and advising students (5 points); (2) The
adequacy of Center staffing and oversight arrangements, including
outreach and administration and the extent to which faculty from a
variety of departments, professional schools, and the library are
involved (5 points); and (3) The extent to which the applicant, as part
of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications
for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been
traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic
minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly (5
points).
(c) Impact and evaluation. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine--(1) The extent to which the Center's
activities and training programs have a significant impact on the
university, community, region, and the Nation as shown through indices
such as enrollments, graduate placement data, participation rates for
events, and usage of Center resources; and the extent to which the
applicant supplies a clear description of how the applicant will
provide equal access and treatment of eligible project participants who
are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented,
such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons
with disabilities, and the elderly (10 points); and (2) The extent to
which the applicant provides an evaluation plan that is comprehensive
and objective and that will produce quantifiable, outcome-measure-
oriented data; and the extent to which recent evaluations have been
used to improve the applicant's program (15 points).
(d) Commitment to the subject area on which the Center focuses. (10
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent
to which the institution provides financial and other support to the
operation of the Center, teaching staff for the Center's subject area,
library resources, linkages with institutions abroad, outreach
activities, and qualified students in fields related to the Center.
(e) Strength of library. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine--(1) The strength of the institution's library
holdings (both print and non-print, English and foreign language) in
the subject area and at the educational levels (graduate, professional,
undergraduate) on which the Center focuses; and the extent to which the
institution provides financial support for the acquisition of library
materials and for library staff in the subject area of the Center (10
points); and (2) The extent to which research materials at other
institutions are available to students through cooperative arrangements
with other libraries or on-line databases and the extent to which
teachers, students, and faculty from other institutions are able to
access the library's holdings (5 points).
(f) Quality of the Center's non-language instructional program. (20
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine--(1) The
quality and extent of the Center's course offerings in a variety of
disciplines, including the extent to which courses in the Center's
subject matter are available in the institution's professional schools
(5 points); (2) The extent to which the Center offers depth of
specialized course coverage in one or more disciplines of the Center's
subject area (5 points); (3) The extent to which the institution
employs a sufficient number of teaching faculty to enable the Center to
carry out its purposes and the extent to which instructional assistants
are provided with pedagogy training; and (4) The extent to which
interdisciplinary courses are offered for undergraduate and graduate
students. The Secretary is assigning a total of ten points to factors
(3) and (4).
(g) Quality of the Center's language instructional program. (20
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine--(1) The
extent to which the Center provides instruction in the languages of the
Center's subject area and the extent to which students enroll in the
study of the languages of the subject area through programs or
instruction offered by the Center or other providers (5 points); (2)
The extent to which the Center provides three or more levels of
language training and the extent to which courses in disciplines other
than language, linguistics, and literature are offered in appropriate
foreign languages (5 points); (3) Whether sufficient numbers of
language faculty are available to teach the languages and levels of
instruction described in the application and the extent to which
language teaching staff (including faculty and instructional
assistants) have been exposed to current language pedagogy training
appropriate for performance-based teaching (5 points); and (4) The
quality of the language program as measured by the performance-based
instruction being used or developed, the adequacy of resources for
language teaching and
[[Page 60070]]
practice, and language proficiency requirements (5 points).
(h) Quality of curriculum design. (10 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which the Center's
curriculum has incorporated undergraduate instruction in the
applicant's area or topic of specialization into baccalaureate degree
programs (for example, major, minor, or certificate programs) and the
extent to which these programs and their requirements (including
language requirements) are appropriate for a Center in this subject
area and will result in an undergraduate training program of high
quality (5 points); (2) The extent to which the Center's curriculum
provides training options for graduate students from a variety of
disciplines and professional fields and the extent to which these
programs and their requirements (including language requirements) are
appropriate for a Center in this subject area and result in graduate
training programs of high quality; and (3) The extent to which the
Center provides academic and career advising services for students; the
extent to which the Center has established formal arrangements for
students to conduct research or study abroad and the extent to which
these arrangements are used; and the extent to which the institution
facilitates student access to other institutions' study abroad and
summer language programs. The Secretary is assigning a total of five
points to factors (2) and (3).
(i) Outreach activities. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the extent to which the Center demonstrates a
significant and measurable regional and national impact of, and faculty
and professional school involvement in, domestic outreach activities
that involve--(1) Elementary and secondary schools (10 points); (2)
Postsecondary institutions (5 points); and (3) Business, media, and the
general public (5 points).
(j) Degree to which priorities are served (10 points): If, under
the provisions of Sec. 656.23, the Secretary establishes competitive
priorities for Centers, the Secretary considers the degree to which
these priorities are being served.
The selection criteria for an undergraduate center under the NRC
program are from 34 CFR 656.22. In general, the Secretary awards up to
155 possible points for these criteria. However, if the criterion from
section 656.22(j) is used, the Secretary awards up to 165 possible
points. The maximum possible points for each criterion are shown in
parentheses.
(a) Program planning and budget. (20 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which the activities
for which the applicant seeks funding are of high quality and directly
related to the purpose of the National Resource Centers Program (5
points); (2) The extent to which the applicant provides a development
plan or timeline demonstrating how the proposed activities will
contribute to a strengthened program and whether the applicant uses its
resources and personnel effectively to achieve the proposed objectives
(5 points); (3) The extent to which the costs of the proposed
activities are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the program
(5 points); and (4) The long-term impact of the proposed activities on
the institution's undergraduate training program (5 points).
(b) Quality of staff resources. (15 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which teaching faculty
and other staff are qualified for the current and proposed Center
activities and training programs, are provided professional development
opportunities (including overseas experience), and participate in
teaching, supervising, and advising students (5 points); (2) The
adequacy of Center staffing and oversight arrangements, including
outreach and administration and the extent to which faculty from a
variety of departments, professional schools, and the library are
involved (5 points); and (3) The extent to which the applicant, as part
of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications
for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been
traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic
minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly (5
points).
(c) Impact and evaluation. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine--(1) The extent to which the Center's
activities and training programs have a significant impact on the
university, community, region, and the Nation as shown through indices
such as enrollments, graduate placement data, participation rates for
events, and usage of Center resources; the extent to which students
matriculate into advanced language and area or international studies
programs or related professional programs; and the extent to which the
applicant supplies a clear description of how the applicant will
provide equal access and treatment of eligible project participants who
are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented,
such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons
with disabilities, and the elderly (10 points); and (2) The extent to
which the applicant provides an evaluation plan that is comprehensive
and objective and that will produce quantifiable, outcome-measure-
oriented data; and the extent to which recent evaluations have been
used to improve the applicant's program (15 points).
(d) Commitment to the subject area on which the Center focuses. (10
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent
to which the institution provides financial and other support to the
operation of the Center, teaching staff for the Center's subject area,
library resources, linkages with institutions abroad, outreach
activities, and qualified students in fields related to the Center.
(e) Strength of library. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine--(1) The strength of the institution's library
holdings (both print and non-print, English and foreign language) in
the subject area and at the educational levels (graduate, professional,
undergraduate) on which the Center focuses; and the extent to which the
institution provides financial support for the acquisition of library
materials and for library staff in the subject area of the Center (10
points); and (2) The extent to which research materials at other
institutions are available to students through cooperative arrangements
with other libraries or on-line databases and the extent to which
teachers, students, and faculty from other institutions are able to
access the library's holdings (5 points).
(f) Quality of the Center's non-language instructional program. (20
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine--(1) The
quality and extent of the Center's course offerings in a variety of
disciplines (5 points); (2) The extent to which the Center offers depth
of specialized course coverage in one or more disciplines of the
Center's subject area (5 points); (3) The extent to which the
institution employs a sufficient number of teaching faculty to enable
the Center to carry out its purposes and the extent to which
instructional assistants are provided with pedagogy training; and (4)
The extent to which interdisciplinary courses are offered for
undergraduate students. The Secretary is assigning a total of ten
points to factors (3) and (4).
(g) Quality of the Center's language instructional program. (20
points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine-- (1) The
extent to which the
[[Page 60071]]
Center provides instruction in the languages of the Center's subject
area and the extent to which students enroll in the study of the
languages of the subject area through programs offered by the Center or
other providers (5 points); (2) The extent to which the Center provides
three or more levels of language training and the extent to which
courses in disciplines other than language, linguistics, and literature
are offered in appropriate foreign languages (5 points); (3) Whether
sufficient numbers of language faculty are available to teach the
languages and levels of instruction described in the application and
the extent to which language teaching staff (including faculty and
instructional assistants) have been exposed to current language
pedagogy training appropriate for performance-based teaching (5
points); and (4) The quality of the language program as measured by the
performance-based instruction being used or developed, the adequacy of
resources for language teaching and practice, and language proficiency
requirements (5 points).
(h) Quality of curriculum design. (10 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which the Center's
curriculum has incorporated undergraduate instruction in the
applicant's area or topic of specialization into baccalaureate degree
programs (for example, major, minor, or certificate programs) and the
extent to which these programs and their requirements (including
language requirements) are appropriate for a Center in this subject
area and will result in an undergraduate training program of high
quality (5 points); and (2) The extent to which the Center provides
academic and career advising services for students; the extent to which
the Center has established formal arrangements for students to conduct
research or study abroad and the extent to which these arrangements are
used; and the extent to which the institution facilitates student
access to other institutions' study abroad and summer language programs
(5 points).
(i) Outreach activities. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the extent to which the Center demonstrates a
significant and measurable regional and national impact of, and faculty
and professional school involvement in, domestic outreach activities
that involve (1) Elementary and secondary schools (10 points); (2)
Postsecondary institutions (5 points); and (3) Business, media and the
general public (5 points).
(j) Degree to which priorities are served (10 points): If, under
the provisions of Sec. 656.23, the Secretary establishes competitive
priorities for Centers, the Secretary considers the degree to which
these priorities are being served.
The selection criteria used in selecting institutions for an
allocation of fellowships under the FLAS program are from 34 CFR
657.21. The Secretary evaluates an application for an allocation of
fellowships on the basis of the quality of the applicant's Center or
program. In general, the Secretary awards up to 140 possible points for
these criteria. However, if priority criteria are used, the Secretary
awards up to 150 possible points. The maximum possible points for each
criterion are shown in parentheses.
(a) Foreign language and area studies fellowships awardee selection
procedures. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to
determine whether the selection plan is of high quality, showing how
awards will be advertised, how students apply, what selection criteria
are used, who selects the fellows, when each step will take place, and
how the process will result in awards being made to correspond to any
announced priorities.
(b) Quality of staff resources. (15 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which teaching faculty
and other staff are qualified for the current and proposed activities
and training programs, are provided professional development
opportunities (including overseas experience), and participate in
teaching, supervising, and advising students (5 points); (2) The
adequacy of applicant staffing and oversight arrangements and the
extent to which faculty from a variety of departments, professional
schools, and the library are involved (5 points); and (3) The extent to
which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment
practices, encourages applications for employment from persons who are
members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such
as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons with
disabilities, and the elderly (5 points).
(c) Impact and evaluation. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine--(1) The extent to which the applicant's
activities and training programs have contributed to an improved supply
of specialists on the program's subject as shown through indices such
as graduate enrollments and placement data; and the extent to which the
applicant supplies a clear description of how the applicant will
provide equal access and treatment of eligible project participants who
are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented,
such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons
with disabilities, and the elderly (20 points); and (2) The extent to
which the applicant provides an evaluation plan that is comprehensive
and objective and that will produce quantifiable, outcome-measure-
oriented data; and the extent to which recent evaluations have been
used to improve the applicant's program (5 points).
(d) Commitment to the subject area on which the applicant or
program focuses. (10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to
determine--(1) The extent to which the institution provides financial
and other support to the operation of the applicant, teaching staff for
the applicant's subject area, library resources, and linkages with
institutions abroad (5 points); and (2) The extent to which the
institution provides financial support to graduate students in fields
related to the applicant's teaching program (5 points).
(e) Strength of library. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine--(1) The strength of the institution's library
holdings (both print and non-print, English and foreign language) for
graduate students; and the extent to which the institution provides
financial support for the acquisition of library materials and for
library staff in the subject area of the applicant (10 points); and (2)
The extent to which research materials at other institutions are
available to students through cooperative arrangements with other
libraries or on-line databases (5 points).
(f) Quality of the applicant's non-language instructional program.
(20 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine--(1)
The quality and extent of the applicant's course offerings in a variety
of disciplines, including the extent to which courses in the
applicant's subject matter are available in the institution's
professional schools (10 points); (2) The extent to which the applicant
offers depth of specialized course coverage in one or more disciplines
on the applicant's subject area (5 points); (3) The extent to which the
institution employs a sufficient number of teaching faculty to enable
the applicant to carry out its purposes and the extent to which
instructional assistants are provided with pedagogy training; and (4)
The extent to which interdisciplinary courses are offered for graduate
students. The Secretary is assigning a total of five points to factors
(3) and (4).
(g) Quality of the applicant's language instructional program. (20
points) The Secretary reviews each application to
[[Page 60072]]
determine--(1) The extent to which the applicant provides instruction
in the languages of the applicant's subject area and the extent to
which students enroll in the study of the languages of the subject area
through programs or instruction offered by the applicant or other
providers (5 points); (2) The extent to which the applicant provides
three or more levels of language training and the extent to which
courses in disciplines other than language, linguistics, and literature
are offered in appropriate foreign languages (5 points); (3) Whether
sufficient numbers of language faculty are available to teach the
languages and levels of instruction described in the application and
the extent to which language teaching staff (including faculty and
instructional assistants) have been exposed to current language
pedagogy training appropriate for performance-based teaching (5
points); and (4) The quality of the language program as measured by the
performance-based instruction being used or developed, the adequacy of
resources for language teaching and practice, and language proficiency
requirements (5 points).
(h) Quality of curriculum design. (20 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine--(1) The extent to which the applicant's
curriculum provides training options for graduate students from a
variety of disciplines and professional fields and the extent to which
these programs and their requirements (including language requirements)
are appropriate for an applicant in this subject area and result in
graduate training programs of high quality (10 points); (2) The extent
to which the applicant provides academic and career advising services
for students (5 points); and (3) The extent to which the applicant has
established formal arrangements for students to conduct research or
study abroad and the extent to which these arrangements are used; and
the extent to which the institution facilitates student access to other
institutions' study abroad and summer language programs (5 points).
(i) Priorities (10 points): If one or more competitive priorities
have been established under section 657.22, the Secretary reviews each
application for information that shows the extent to which the Center
or program meets these priorities.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a
final performance report, including financial information, as directed
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an
annual performance report that provides the most current performance
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in
34 CFR 75.118. For the NRC and FLAS programs, final and annual reports
must be submitted into the Evaluation, Exchange, Language,
International, and Area Studies online reporting system.
4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the objective for the NRC and FLAS programs
is to support the maintenance of a U.S. higher education system able to
produce experts in less commonly taught languages and area studies who
are capable of contributing to the needs of the U.S. Government,
academic and business institutions.
The Department will use the following measures to evaluate its
success in meeting this objective.
NRC Performance Measure 1: Percentage of National Resource Center
Ph.D. graduates who are employed in higher education, government, or
national security.
NRC Performance Measure 2: Percentage of critical languages taught
as reflected in the list of critical languages referenced in title VI
of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
FLAS Performance Measure 1: The average competency score of Foreign
Language and Area Studies Fellowships recipients at the end of one full
year of instruction (post test) minus the average competency score at
the beginning of the year (pre test).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carla White, International Education
Programs Service, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW.,
suite 6000, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone: (202) 502-7631 or via
Internet: OPE_NRC-FLAS@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the program contact persons listed in this
section.
VIII. Other Information
Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Dated: October 11, 2005.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 05-20625 Filed 10-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P