American Overseas Research Centers

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Program Accomplishments

Eleven continuation grants are expected to be awarded in FY 2008.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants may be used to pay all or a portion of the cost of establishing or operating a center or program, including the cost of faculty and staff stipends and salaries; faculty, staff, and student travel; the operation and maintenance of overseas facilities; the cost of teaching and research materials; the cost of bringing visiting scholars and faculty to a center to teach or to conduct research; the cost of organizing and managing conferences; and the cost of publishing and disseminating materials for the scholarly and general public.

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Pellissippi State College Student Creates Special Scholarship for Homeless Students

Arizona Department of Education Recognizes Six Mesa Schools for Civic Engagement

Made in the Future: How Technology Could Transform Our Lives in a Decade

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

The Secretary shall only award grants to centers that: (1) Receive more than 50 percent of their funding from public or private United States sources; (2) have a permanent presence in the country in which the center is located; and (3) are organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which are exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Consortia of institutions of higher education that (1) Receive more than 50 percent of their funding from public or private United States sources; (2) have a permanent presence in the country in which the center is located; and (3) are organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which are exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code.

Credentials/Documentation

None.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures

Eligible centers may submit an application for funding when a new competition is announced in the Federal Register. Application forms and guidelines for the submission of applications are available from the program.

Award Procedures

Final recommendations are made to the Secretary following advice from a panel of consultants.

Deadlines

Deadlines will be announced in the Federal Register.

Authorization

Higher Education Act, Title VI, Part A, Section 609, as amended.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

The range is approximately 90 days.

Appeals

None.

Renewals

Centers selected to receive funds for the four year program must submit performance reports for continuation of support. Renewals are subject to the availability of funds.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants are awarded for 12-month periods for a total project period of up to 48 months.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Funded projects must provide reports within 90 days of termination of each of the three twelve month grant periods and a final report within 90 days of termination of the last twelve month grant period.

Audits

All fiscal records will be subject to audit by the Department of Education any time within three years after expiration of the grant.

Records

All records supporting claims under grants or relating to accountability for awarded funds must be available on request: (1) For three years after the close of the fiscal year that the grant expired; or (2) until the grantee is notified that the fiscal audit has closed, whichever is later.

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0201-0-1-502.

Obigations

(Grants) FY 07 $1,000,000; FY 08 $1,200,000; and FY 09 est $1,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

For FY 2008, the range of awards is expected to be $84,000 to $129,000; the average award is expected to be $109,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

This program is governed by the authorizing legislation and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 CFR 74 through 77, 79 through 82, 85, and 86. Application guidelines will be announced in the Federal Register. Contact the program office for more information.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

International Education Programs Service, Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-5331. Contact: Cheryl Gibbs, E-mail: Cheryl.Gibbs@ed.gov, Telephone: (202) 502-7634.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 75.209 (a) and 75.210, and are as follows--Meets the purposes of the authorizing statue (20 points); Neef for project (15 points); Significance (10 points); Quality of the project design (15 points); Quality of project servies (10 points); Quality of project personnel (10 points); Adequacy of resources (10 points); and Quality of the project evaluation (10 points). Additional information regarding these criteria is in the application package for this competition. Criteria subject to change. Contact program office for further information.