Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Summary — February 2, 2004

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
• Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)
• Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational and Technical Institutions
• Federal TRIO Programs
• Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)
• Scholarships and Fellowships
• Child Care Access Means Parents in School
• Teacher Quality Enhancement
• GPRA Data/HEA Program Evaluation
• Academic Facilities
• Howard University

Overview

The Administration's budget request includes $2 billion for fiscal year 2005 for the Higher Education account to build on previous efforts to strengthen support for the President's priorities in postsecondary education.

Higher Education programs contribute to the Department's Strategic Plan by supporting institutional development, enhancing the quality of and access to postsecondary education, strengthening student services, improving the quality of teacher preparation programs, and providing opportunities for students to gain international expertise and training as language and area specialists. Continuing support for these programs is necessary to meet ballooning college enrollments and increasing demands on the American workforce.

The 2005 request provides $418.8 million for the Aid for Institutional Development programs, an overall increase of $18.8 million, or 4.7 percent, over the 2004 level for programs to strengthen institutions of higher education that serve high proportions of minority and disadvantaged students, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGIs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). The total includes $240.5 million, an increase of $17.7 million or 8 percent, for the Strengthening HBCUs program and $58.5 million, an increase of $5.4 million or 10 percent, for the Strengthening HBGIs program. These funding levels will fulfill President Bush's commitment to increase funding by 30 percent between fiscal years 2001 and 2005 for these institutions that play a unique and vital role in providing higher education opportunity to African American students. The request also includes $23.8 million, a 2 percent increase over the 2004 level, for the Strengthening TCCUs program to support institutions that serve Native Americans.

In addition, the budget would provide $95.9 million, an increase of $1.9 million or 2 percent over the 2004 level, for the Developing Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs) program. If enacted, the President's request would result in a 40-percent increase for the HSI program during his first four years in office, exceeding his promise of a 30- percent increase.

The request includes $832.6 million for the Federal TRIO Programs and $298.2 million for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) to provide educational outreach and support services to help 1.8 million disadvantaged students enter and complete college. The budget also would provide $81.3 million for merit- and need-based scholarships and fellowships to postsecondary students under the Byrd Honors Scholarships, Javits Fellowships, and Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) programs.

The request also provides $104 million for the International Education and Foreign Language Studies (IEFLS) programs 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 maintaining and expanding American understanding of other peoples and their languages.

Finally, a $32 million request for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) would support a wide-range of projects to reform and improve postsecondary education, while $88.9 million for Teacher Quality Enhancement would continue support for projects to reform and improve teacher preparation programs and certification requirements.

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

The 2005 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 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. President Bush committed to increasing funding by 30 percent by 2005 for HBCUs and HBGIs, institutions that play a unique and vital role in providing higher education opportunity to minority and disadvantaged students. The 2005 request meets that goal by proposing $240.5 million for HBCUs and $58.5 million for HBGIs.

Developing Hispanic-serving Institutions

The 2005 request would 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 largest ethnic group in the United States, yet 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. The 2005 request, representing 40 percent increase since fiscal year 2001, exceeds the President's commitment to raise funding for HSIs by 30 percent over this period.

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

The 14 International Education and Foreign Language Studies programs strengthen the American education system in the area 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 request would fund approximately 474 grants to institutions of higher education and directly support over 1,450 individuals through fellowships and projects.

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

FIPSE supports exemplary, locally developed projects that are models for innovative reform and improvement in postsecondary education. The 2005 request would provide support for new and continuing projects under the Comprehensive Program, including projects that target areas of higher education deemed to be a top priority. The request also would provide support for FIPSE's international consortia programs. The 2004 total includes $125.7 million for one-time projects, for which funding is not requested in 2005.

Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational and Technical Institutions

This program supports competitive grants to institutions that provide postsecondary vocational and technical education to Native American students.

Federal TRIO Programs
(B.A. in millions)

The Federal TRIO Programs fund educational outreach and student support services designed to encourage individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to successfully pursue postsecondary degrees. The 2005 request would support a new competition in the Student Support Services program and maintain funding for the other programs. Over the last few years, significant investments have been made to respond to program evaluations by targeting higher-risk students and providing work-study opportunities in Upward Bound, and by providing more intense services and grant aid in Student Support Services. Funds also have been used to increase the number and size of grants in the other TRIO programs. The request would maintain these investments and allow TRIO to serve 881,000 disadvantaged students.

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)
(B.A. in millions)

GEAR UP provides funds to States and partnerships for early college preparation and awareness activities to ensure low-income elementary and secondary school students are prepared for and pursue postsecondary education. The 2005 request would support existing projects and a competition for new State and partnership awards, serving a total of 918,000 students. Recent studies and preliminary findings from the program evaluation suggest that GEAR UP's approach shows promise of being effective.

Scholarships and Fellowships
(B.A. in millions)

Byrd Honors Scholarships provide merit-based support in the amount of $1,500, through formula grants to States, to undergraduate students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. The 2005 request would provide awards for 27,172 scholars, including 7,310 new scholars.

Javits Fellowships provide up to 4 years of 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 2005 request would support 233 fellowships in academic year 2006-2007, including 62 new fellows.

GAANN provides fellowships, through 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 2005 request would support 735 fellowships.

Child Care Access Means Parents in School

This program supports the participation of low-income parents in the postsecondary education system by providing 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 2005 request would support a new competition and maintain funding for 122 existing projects.

Teacher Quality Enhancement
(B.A. in millions)

The Teacher Quality Enhancement program helps improve the recruitment, preparation, licensing, and support of new teachers. State Grants may be used to reform teacher licensing and certification requirements, hold institutions of higher education accountable for high-quality teacher preparation, expand alternative pathways to teaching, and increase support for new teachers. Partnership Grants support a wide range of reforms and improvements in teacher preparation programs. Recruitment Grants help reduce shortages of qualified teachers in high-need school districts through scholarships, support services, and recruitment efforts. The 2005 request would allow the Department to maintain support for 35 existing State, Partnership, and Recruitment projects and would fund 40 new awards.

GPRA Data/HEA Program Evaluation

The 2005 request supports continuation of program evaluations and data collections to measure program performance. Funds also would continue support for collecting and reporting State data on teacher quality as required by Title II of the Higher Education Act.

Academic Facilities
(B.A. in millions)

These programs support the construction, reconstruction, and renovation of academic facilities at institutions of higher education. Funding for Interest Subsidy Grants and 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 management and servicing of both previously issued and new loans.

Howard University
(B.A. in millions)

The 2005 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 continuing role in providing access to postsecondary educational opportunities for African Americans.

Student Financial Assistance   Institute of Education Sciences

For further information contact the ED Budget Service.

This page last modified—February 2, 2004 (mjj).