Overseas Programs Faculty Research Abroad

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Program Accomplishments

Twenty-three new grants are expected to be awarded in FY 2008.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Generally, awards will not be available for projects focusing primarily on Western Europe or on countries where the United States has no diplomatic representation.

This program funds fellowships through institutions of higher education to faculty members who propose to conduct research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies to improve their skill in languages and knowledge of the culture of the people of these countries.

Funds support: travel expenses to and from the residence of the fellow and the country or countries of research, a maintenance stipend for the fellow related to his or her academic year salary, and an allowance for research-related expenses overseas such as books and photocopying, tuition, affiliation fees, local travel, and other incidental expenses.

Fellowships are adjusted for duplicating support.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Institutions of higher education may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Those benefiting will: (1a) Be a citizen or national of the United States; (1b) be a permanent resident of the United States; or (1c) provide evidence from the Immigration and Naturalization Service that he or she is in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a citizen or permanent resident; (2) be employed by an institution of higher education; (3) have been engaged in teaching relevant to his or her foreign language or area specialization for the 2 years immediately preceding the date of the award; (4a) have proposed research relevant to a modern foreign language or area specialization that cannot be conducted in the United States, or for which a foreign country or region provides superior research facilities; (4b) contribute to the development or improvement of the study of modern foreign languages or area studies in those fields needed for a full understanding of the area, regions, or countries in which the modern foreign languages are commonly used; (4c) not be doing dissertation research for a Ph.D.; and (5) possess adequate skills in the language or languages necessary to successfully carry out the project.

Credentials/Documentation

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Eligible institutions will be responsible for accepting, screening, and forwarding through the Department of Education's Application Control Center to the International Education Programs Service (IEPS) those individual applications that meet the institution's technical and academic criteria and the program's eligibility requirements.

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No.

A-102.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

Faculty members may address requests for general information to the Advanced Training and Research Team, International Education Programs Service. Completed applications should be submitted directly to the faculty members employing institution, which will forward them to the Application Control Center. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedures

The IEPS will make the initial selection and recommendation of fellowship recipients with the advice of a panel of academic specialists in modern foreign language and area studies and comments by U.S. embassies and binational commissions in the proposed countries of research. The selections are subject to review and final approval by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. The grant covering successful scholars is made to the institutions which employ the faculty members.

Deadlines

Generally the last week in October or the first week in November of the year preceding the year of research. Exact date is announced in the Federal Register. Contact the program office for more information.

Authorization

Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, Section 102(b)(6), Public Law 87-256.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 200 days.

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

Not applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

From 3 to 12 months.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Award recipient: final program report submitted through the grantee institution no later than 90 days after the termination date of the award.

Institution: fiscal year report.

Audits

Fiscal records of institutions subject to the Department audit at any time within 5 years after close of the fiscal year in which expenditures are made.

Records

Records bearing on receipt and expenditure of grant funds must be made available for the Department inspection: (1) For 3 years after the close of the fiscal year in which expenditures are made if departmental audit has occurred by that time; (2) until audit or for 5 years following end of budget period in which grant expired, whichever is later; or (3) until resolution of outstanding audit questions.

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0201-0-1-502.

Obigations

(Grants) FY 07 $1,395,000; FY 08 est $1,600,000; and FY 09 est $1,395,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

For FY 2008, the range of awards is expected to be $20,000 to $100,000; the average award is expected to be $70,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

34 CFR 663, and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Advanced Training and Research Team, International Education Programs Service, Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-5331. Contact: Cynthia Dudzinski. E-mail: cynthia.dudzinski@ed.gov. Telephone: (202) 502-7589.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The following selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 663.21 and are as follows: The maximum score for all of the criteria, including the competitive preference priority is 105 points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. Quality of proposed project (60 points): In determining the quality of the research project proposed by the applicant, the Secretary considers (1) the statement of the major hypotheses to be tested or questions to be examined, and the description and justification of the research methods to be used (10 points); (2) the relationship of the research to the literature on the topic and to major theoretical issues in the field, and the project's originality and importance in terms of the concerns of the discipline (10 points); (3) the preliminary research already completed or plans for research prior to going overseas, and the kinds, quality and availability of data for the research in the host country or countries (10 points); (4) the justification for overseas field research and preparations to establish appropriate and sufficient research contacts and affiliations abroad (10 points); (5) the applicant's plans to share the results of the research in progress with scholars and officials of the host country or countries and the American scholarly community (10 points); and (6) the objectives of the project regarding the sponsoring institution's plans for developing or strengthening, or both, curricula in modern foreign languages and area studies (10 points). Qualifications of the applicant (40 points): In determining the qualifications of the applicant, the Secretary considers (1) the overall strength of the applicant's academic record (teaching, research, contributions, professional association activities (10 points); (2) the applicant's excellence as a teacher or researcher, or both, in his or her area or areas of specialization (10 points); (3) the applicant's proficiency in one or more of the languages (other than English and the applicant's native language) of the country or countries of research, and the specific measures to be taken to overcome any anticipated language barriers (15 points); and (4) the applicant's ability to conduct research in a foreign cultural context, as evidenced by the applicant's previous overseas experience, or documentation provided by the sponsoring institution, or both (5 points). Subject to change. Contact program officer for further information.