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The NRC and FLAS Application: Putting it all

TogetherPresentation by:

Cheryl E. Gibbs, Senior Program Officer

Peter Baker, Program Officer

February 2-3, 2009

International Education Programs Service

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The criteria specific sessions provide guidance about how to respond to the selection criteria, so that your narrative is compelling, complete, and concise.

This session offer tips for “packaging” your application to ensure that it is:

• Reader friendly• Organized• Includes all required components • Meets the prescribed technical requirements

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This session concludes with provisions in the Higher Education Opportunities Act (HEOA) that were signed August 2008 and that have implications for NRC and FLAS program regulations. The regulations are in the drafting stage, and not yet final. STAY TUNED.

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Application Components Application for Federal Assistance SF 424 Budget Form ED 424: Sections A and C Detailed 4 Year NRC Budget Detailed 4 Year FLAS Budget Assurances, Certifications, Disclosure

Forms Abstract Table of Contents Acronyms and Meanings

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Application Components (cont.) Appendices: Timeline, Course List, Index

to Bios, Bios General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)

Information

Note: The FY 2010 Closing Date Notice (CDN) and application package will provide additional guidance about competition

requirements.

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ALLOWABLE FONTS

Arial Courier Courier New Times New Roman

PLEASE SEE CDN FOR FINAL CONFIRMATION OF ALLOWABLE FONTS AND SIZES.

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Abstract Tips Insert a header that has the name of the

institution and the name of the center or program

One page; single- or double-spaced. Use 1’ margin: top, bottom and sides

Make sure that all date references are correct Include a brief summary of the activities that

you are requesting NRC funding, for the FY 2010-2013 cycle

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Table of Contents Tips Identify Institution and Center or Program Reference all required components of the

application in the table of contents Use key words from the selection criteria to

identify narrative sections. For example, I. Commitment to the Subject Area page 5

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Table of Contents (cont.)

Do not clutter the table of contents with a variety of fonts and numbering styles

It is easier to find information when the format is simple, clear, and consistent

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Acronyms List Include a one-page list of the

acronyms used in the proposal (with meanings). Using acronyms throughout the narrative without prior explanations impedes the review of your application

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Your Budget Presentation Includes:

ED 524 Form: Section A: Budget SummaryThis is the form where you enter the NRC and FLAS program fund

Section C: The is your Detailed NRC and/or

FLAS Budget for the 4-year grant cycle NRC and FLAS Budget Refer to sample budgets in packet

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The Application Narrative Tips

Do not exceed the page limit for the narrative. The Closing Date Notice will announce the page limit for the FY 2010 competition. – The CDN includes the “warning” that an

application will be rejected if it exceeds the page limit published in the CDN

Note: FY 2006 limits: Single Institution 40 pp Consortium 50 pp

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Application Narrative (cont.) WHAT CONSTIUTES THE APPLICATION

NARRATIVE ?

The narrative is the section of the application that addresses the selection criteria.

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The Application Narrative (cont.) To make good use of the narrative “real

estate”, decide what information is better conveyed in a table or chart, and what information is better conveyed in “narration”

Answer the specific question(s) posed in the selection criterion and all subsections. Be thorough in your responses, convey what is relevant to the criterion

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Timeline Tips 4 pages maximum The timeline maps out the Title

VI budgeted activities for the project period, including absolute, invitational, and competitive priority projects

Cross reference activities in the timeline to the narrative and budget

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Timeline Tips (cont.) Use colors or shading to show the

progression of project activities: beginning, ongoing, developed and phased off NRC funds

If you use colors, all submitted copies of the proposal should be in color

Indicate projects that will be assumed by the institution and when

Consortium applicants: clearly indicate activities that each center will conduct independently and activities that you will conduct together

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Course List Tips Provide information

for the following timeframes:

courses offered in 2008-2009 and the enrollments

2009-2010 courses being offered and enrollments (if available)

2010-2011 courses to be offered

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Course List Tips (cont.) Double side the Course List Include the course number; name of course;

instructor; # credits; term; undergraduate and graduate enrollments

Include information on cross-listed courses Indicate courses that were, are, or will be

supported with NRC funds Specify percentage (25% -100% ) of area or

international content for each course

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Course List Tips (cont.) If a course title does not

allude to the area or international content, provide a note to explain the % content notated for that course

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Bio Tips Begin bio section with an

“index” that lists the name, position, department, and appendix page number

2 Bios to a page Full page bio for Project

Director Double-side pages Present bios in a standard

format for ease of reading

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Bio Tips (cont.) Bios include:

– Department and tenure status

– Education (degree, institution, year)

– Academic and related overseas experience

– Language(s) with proficiency indicated (include scale and values)

– % time dedicated to area or international studies

– Area or international courses taught

– Research and teaching specialization

– Recent publications– Number of

dissertations or theses supervised over past 5 years

– Distinctions

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Bio Tips (cont.)

Make sure the information is up to date

Do not include personal information such as marital status, children, etc.

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HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES ACT(HEOA)

AUGUST 2008

There are provisions in the HEOA that impact the regulations for the NRC and FLAS programs. The next slides highlight provisions in the law that will be integrated into program regulations.

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Supporting instructors of less commonly taught languages

Projects that support students in the

sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to achieve foreign

language proficiency

Two activities are added that define a National Resource Center:

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Clarifying language regarding outreach has been added, as well as additional activities:

Partnerships or programs of linkage or outreach with state educational agencies or local educational agencies

Partnerships or programs of linkage or outreach with departments or agencies of Federal and State governments, including Federal or State scholarship programs for students in related areas

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TYPES OF PRIORITIES

Section 75.105 of the Education Department General Education Regulations (EDGAR) authorizes the Secretary to establish annual priorities for a grant program

There are three kinds of priorities:– Absolute – Competitive – Invitational

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TYPES OF PRIORITIES (cont.)

ABSOLUTE priority: a specific focus (priority) that all applicants must meet under a particular program competition

COMPETITIVE priority: a focus (priority) that an applicant may be awarded some or all bonus points, depending on the extent to which the application meets the priority

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TYPES OF PRIORITIES (cont.)

INVITATIONAL priority: a focus (priority) that does not receive additional points; and the applicant does not have to meet the invitational priority as a requirement for submitting an application under a given program

The invitational priority simply invites applications that meet the focus (priority)

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Closing Date Notice (CDN) The CDN is the official announcement that

invites applications under the NRC and FLAS Programs for FY 2010

The CDN (published in the Federal Register) includes information about estimated funds, the estimated number of grants, the application due date, transmittal instructions, selection criteria, priorities, and the technical requirements for the grant competition

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Closing Date Notice (cont.) The CDN information is official and

binding. All applicants must adhere to the CDN requirements

The CDN is included in the NRC and FLAS application guidelines

The application guidelines will be updated for OMB approval before the FY 2010 competition