Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Summary — February 6, 2006

Archived  Information

Section II. E.  Higher Education Programs

• Overview
• Title III: Aid for Institutional Development
• Developing Hispanic-serving Institutions
• International Education and Foreign Language Studies
• Advancing America Through Foreign Language Partnerships
• Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)
• Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational and Technical Institutions
• Federal TRIO Programs
• Scholarships and Fellowships
• Child Care Access Means Parents in School
• GPRA Data/HEA Program Evaluation
• Academic Facilities
• Howard University

Overview

The Administration's request for fiscal year 2007 includes $1.1 billion for Higher Education Programs. This request complements the Administration's proposals for elementary and secondary education by helping to ensure the availability of quality postsecondary educational opportunities.

The request includes $417 million for the Aid for Institutional Development programs, which would maintain President Bush's commitment to strengthen institutions of higher education that serve high proportions of minority and disadvantaged students, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGIs). The budget also provides $94.9 million for the Developing Hispanic-serving Institutions program.

To address the need for skilled professionals with competency in languages critical to US national security, the President has announced a National Security Language Initiative (NSLI), for which $114 million is requested for fiscal year 2007. Under the direction of the President, the Departments of Education, Defense, and State and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence will undertake a comprehensive national plan to expand foreign language education beginning in early childhood and continuing throughout formal schooling and into the workforce. The NSLI will be built around three broad goals to address weaknesses in our teaching and learning of foreign languages, especially critical need languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Hindi, Farsi, and others. The NSLI goals are to:

• Expand the number of Americans mastering critical need languages and start at a younger age.

• Increase the number of advanced-level speakers of foreign languages, with an emphasis on critical need languages.

• Increase the number of critical need language teachers and the resources available to them.

As part of this initiative, the request includes $24 million for a new Advancing America Through Foreign Language Partnerships program to establish fully articulated language programs of study in languages critical to U.S. national security through grants to institutions of higher education for partnerships with school districts for language learning from kindergarten through high school and into advanced language learning at the postsecondary level.

The budget also provides $106.8 million for the International Education and Foreign Language Studies (IEFLS) programs, an increase of $1 million over the 2006 level, to help meet the Nation's security and economic needs through the development of expertise in foreign languages and area and international studies. The increased complexity of the post-Cold War world, the events surrounding the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, and the war on terrorism underscore the importance of expanding American understanding of other peoples and their languages. The $1 million increase is requested as part of the President's NSLI to establish a nationwide distance education E-Learning Language Clearinghouse to deliver foreign language education resources to teachers and students across the country.

As part of the Administration's comprehensive High School Reform initiative, described under Elementary and Secondary Education, the request would eliminate separate funding for high schools currently provided under the Higher Education account, including funding for Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, Talent Search, and the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. The request for the High School Reform initiative would include funds to cover the continuation costs of existing grants funded under these programs. The request for Higher Education Programs includes $380.1 million to maintain support for those Federal TRIO Programs focused on serving 428,000 low-income, first-generation and disabled college students, adults, and veterans. These programs include Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers, and McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement.

Finally, the budget would provide $39.8 million for need-based scholarships and fellowships to postsecondary students under the Javits Fellowships and Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) programs, as well as $22 million for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) to support a wide-range of projects to reform and improve postsecondary education.

Title III: Aid for Institutional Development
(B.A. in millions)

The request for Title III demonstrates the Administration's strong commitment to ensuring access to high quality postsecondary education for the Nation's minority and disadvantaged students. Title III funding, which is awarded both competitively and by a formula that directs aid to specified institutions, would help provide equal educational opportunity and strong academic programs for these students and help achieve greater financial stability for the institutions that serve them. The 2007 request would maintain current funding levels for all Title III programs except the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions program, where funds have been reduced to support only the continuation of existing projects. No funds are requested for new awards in this program because of the limited number of potential grantees and the low number of applicants. Any unfunded institutions would be eligible to seek funds under the Strengthening Institutions program.

A 2005 PART analysis rated both the Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities program and the Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions program as Results Not Demonstrated due to insufficient data demonstrating program effectiveness against newly established performance targets.

Developing Hispanic-serving Institutions

This program funds competitive grants to expand and enhance the academic quality, institutional management, fiscal stability, and self-sufficiency of colleges and universities that enroll large percentages of Hispanic students. Hispanic-Americans are the Nation's largest minority population, yet they continue to lag behind their non-Hispanic peers in overall educational achievement. This request demonstrates the Administration's commitment to ensuring that Hispanic students have access to high quality postsecondary education and to closing the gaps between Hispanic and majority students in academic achievement, high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment, and life-long learning.

In 2005, a PART analysis of the Developing Hispanic-serving Institutions program resulted in a Results Not Demonstrated rating because of insufficient data demonstrating program effectiveness against newly established performance targets.

International Education and Foreign Language Studies
(B.A. in millions)

The request for the International Education and Foreign Language Studies (IEFLS) programs includes an increase of $1 million, or 0.9 percent, over the 2006 level, to establish a nationwide distance education E-Learning Clearinghouse to deliver foreign language education resources to teachers and students across the country. The 14 IEFLS programs provide competitive grants to strengthen the American education system in the areas of foreign languages and international studies. These programs support comprehensive language and area study centers within the United States, research and curriculum development, opportunities for American scholars to study abroad, and activities to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in international service. In addition to promoting general understanding of the peoples of other countries, the Department's international programs also serve important economic, diplomatic, defense, and other security interests of the United States. The 2007 request would fund approximately 463 grants to institutions of higher education, directly support over 1,151 individuals through fellowships and projects, and support the international service programs of more than 100 underrepresented minorities.

In 2004, the Domestic programs were rated Results Not Demonstrated by the PART due to insufficient data demonstrating program effectiveness against newly established performance targets.

Advancing America Through Foreign Language Partnerships

This proposal would award competitive grants to establish fully articulated language programs of study in languages critical to US national security through grants to institutions of higher education for partnerships with school districts for language learning from kindergarten through high school and into advanced language learning at the postsecondary level. These language programs, coupled with directed and targeted fellowships for individual students, would produce significant numbers of graduates with advanced levels of proficiency in languages critical to national security, many of whom would be candidates for employment with agencies and offices of the Federal Government across a broad range of disciplines. The 2007 request would support 24 new awards focusing on critical languages such as Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)
(B.A. in millions)

FIPSE awards competitive grants to support exemplary, locally developed projects that are models for innovative reform and improvement in postsecondary education. The 2007 request would maintain current funding levels for the Comprehensive Program and the International Consortia programs, allowing new competitions to be held under each program. Funding for the Comprehensive Program would support projects that target areas of higher education deemed to be a top priority, such as improving the preparation of science and math teachers and aligning curricula between high schools and postsecondary institutions to help students prepare for and succeed in higher education.

Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational and Technical Institutions

This program, which is currently authorized under the Perkins Act, supports competitive grants to institutions that provide postsecondary vocational and technical education to Native American students. The Administration is requesting funding for the program in the Higher Education account because the Administration believes this activity should be authorized under the Higher Education Act along with other programs that provide institutional support for postsecondary institutions.

A 2002 PART analysis of this program produced a Results Not Demonstrated rating, based on findings that while the program has a clear purpose and addresses a real need, it lacks performance objectives and thus cannot demonstrate positive results. The Department is taking steps to correct these weaknesses.

Federal TRIO Programs
(B.A. in millions)

The reduced request for 2007 reflects the decision to shift high-school-related TRIO resources to the proposed High School Reform initiative, which would provide a more flexible, comprehensive, and accountable approach to addressing the college preparation needs of high school students. The new initiative would help ensure that the types of services currently provided under programs like Upward Bound, Talent Search, and GEAR UP are part of a broader effort to provide students, especially those most at- risk, with the full range of services they need in order to succeed.

The remaining Federal TRIO Programs would receive $380.1 million to maintain services for 428,000 low-income, first-generation (or disabled) college students and adults. The majority of funds would maintain support for the Student Support Services program, which received a Moderately Effective PART rating when it was re-assessed in 2005 due to demonstrated success in achieving its performance goals. Funding for Educational Opportunity Centers would increase by $11.4 million for a new grant competition to provide college preparation assistance to approximately 5,000 veterans (similar services for veterans are currently provided under Upward Bound). Funding for McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement also would support a new competition.

Scholarships and Fellowships
(B.A. in millions)

Javits Fellowships provide up to 4 years of competitively awarded support to students of superior ability and high financial need who are pursuing doctoral degrees, or the highest terminal degree, in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The 2007 request would support 224 fellowships in academic year 2006-2007, including 64 new fellows. The program received an Adequate PART rating in 2004 based on data showing that its performance exceeded targets and that the program is on track to achieve program goals related to time-to-degree completion and graduation rates.

GAANN provides fellowships, through competitive grants to postsecondary institutions, to graduate students with superior ability and financial need studying in areas of national need. Participating graduate schools must provide assurances that they will seek talented students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. The 2007 request would support 704 fellowships, including 221 new fellows. This program was rated Results Not Demonstrated by a 2004 PART analysis, but more recent and complete performance data show that the program is on track to achieve its goals.

Child Care Access Means Parents in School

This competitive grant program supports the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary education through campus-based childcare services. Grants made to institutions of higher education must be used to supplement childcare services or start a new program, not to supplant funds for current childcare services. The program gives priority to institutions that leverage local or institutional resources and employ a sliding fee scale. The 2007 request would fund 181 existing projects.

A PART analysis of this program produced a Results Not Demonstrated rating in 2004 due to lack of performance data and evaluation information. The Department has established long-term goals and is taking steps to collect needed data.

GPRA Data/HEA Program Evaluation

The request would fund the continuation of contracts for program evaluations and data collections to measure the performance of Higher Education Act programs. Data and information from these activities are used to comply with GPRA reporting requirements and to inform budgetary decisions.

Academic Facilities
(B.A. in millions)

These programs support the construction, reconstruction, and renovation of academic facilities at institutions of higher education. Funding for CHAFL Federal Administration is used solely to manage and service existing portfolios of facilities loans and grants made in prior years. The request for HBCU Capital Financing Federal Administration would support the management and servicing of loan guarantees on both previously issued and new loans.

Howard University
(B.A. in millions)

The 2007 request would maintain support for Howard University's academic programs, research programs, endowment program, construction activities, and the Howard University Hospital. The request reflects continued support for maintaining and improving the quality and financial strength of an institution that has played a historic role in providing access to postsecondary educational opportunities for students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, especially African-Americans. The direct Federal appropriation accounts for approximately 53 percent of Howard University's operating costs.

A PART review in 2005 produced an Adequate rating based on data showing that Howard's performance exceeded targets and that the program is on track to achieve program goals related to graduation rates, persistence, and enrollment.

Student Financial Assistance   Institute of Education Sciences

For further information contact the ED Budget Service.

This page last modified—February 6, 2006 (mjj).