The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is requesting applications for the Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) to strengthen the capacity of institutions of higher education in insular areas to carry out resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences through distance education technology.
Donor Name: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
State: All States
County: All Counties
U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, U.S. Virgin Islands
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/05/2023
Size of the Grant: $200,000
Grant Duration: 48 months
Details:
The Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) is a NIFA-administered competitive grants program focused on improving formal, postsecondary agricultural sciences education.
Leadership Skills Development
The development of leadership skills, knowledge, and qualities are necessary to prepare students for agricultural and related careers in the private sector, government, and academia. DEG teaching applications must demonstrably incorporate a leadership development component to equip students with technical and leadership abilities upon graduation. Specific activities may include:
- Developing practical applications to increase understanding of leadership roles, including critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills; ethics and professionalism; and working in teams.
- Connecting the academic classroom experience with daily leadership roles and organizational activities.
- Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing
- Organizing academies, workshops, and trainings for professional development opportunities that develop leadership skills.
The DEG is aligned with Strategic Goal 5: Expand Opportunities for Economic Development and Improve Quality of Life in Rural and Tribal Communities
Project Types
The following describes the types of projects or grants that are eligible for funding:
- Curricula Design, Materials Development, and Library Resources.
- Faculty Preparation and Enhancement for Teaching
- Instruction Delivery Systems
Grant Types
Applicants may submit applications for one of the following grant types:
- Standard Grant
- Planning Activity
Funding Information
- The amount available for grants in FY 2023 is approximately $800,000.
- Maximum Award for Standard Grant: Up to Approx. $200,000
- Maximum Award for Planning Activity: Up to Approx. $30,000
Duration
- Planning Activity Duration: Up to 24 Months
- Standard Grant Duration: 36-48 Monthss
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants for the Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award.
Institutions receiving a grant under this program are eligible to receive DEG grants in subsequent years. Receiving a grant under any other authority does not affect eligibility for this DEG grants program.
Individual Institutions
For the purposes of the DEG grant program, an eligible institution is an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1995 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), that is located in an insular area and that has a demonstrable capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. All public or non-profit 2-year and 4-year accredited institutions of higher education that offer certificate/degree programs in food and agricultural sciences are eligible. Individual land-grant colleges and universities, and other institutions that have secured land-grant status through Federal legislation, and which are located in insular areas are automatically eligible for awards under the DEG grant program as direct individual applicants.
The eight insular areas are as follows: American Samoa, The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ,The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, The Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, The Republic of the Marshall Islands, The Republic of Palau, The Virgin Islands of the United States.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
