Under the leadership of Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Vickie Schray, the Higher Education Programs (HEP) administers and supports projects that broaden access to higher education. HEP projects are awarded to institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations and agencies, and state agencies.

HEP is divided into the following service areas:

• Accreditation and State Liaison (ASL) has responsibility for the accrediting agency recognition process and for the coordination of activities between states and the U.S. Department of Education that impact institutional participation in the federal financial assistance programs.

• The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education provides grants to colleges and universities to promote reform, innovation, and improvement in postsecondary education. The Comprehensive Program is FIPSE’s primary grant competition, supporting innovative, replicable education improvement projects that respond to problems of national significance at the postsecondary level. FIPSE also administers four international consortia programs that are co-funded by FIPSE and its foreign government partners.

• The Higher Education Preparation and Support Service (Federal TRIO Programs) administers the eight TRIO outreach and support programs targeted to help disadvantaged students progress from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs, as well as programs related to preparation for postsecondary education.

• The Institutional Development and Undergraduate Education Programs Service administers several national Title III programs designed to help higher education institutions that serve a large proportion of disadvantaged students improve their academic programs and administrative capabilities. IDUES also administers the Title V, Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program, whose purpose is to assist eligible Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education to expand their capacity to serve Hispanic and low-income students. In addition, IDUES is responsible for undergraduate incentive programs, and for managing and collecting college facilities construction loans made to higher education institutions.

• The International Education Programs Service administers the Title VI (HEA) domestic international education programs, and programs authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act.

• The Teacher and Student Development Programs Service administers programs supporting teacher preparation, graduate fellowships, and early college preparation and support.

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Postsecondary Education
1990 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006