U.S. Department of Education: Promoting Educational Excellence for all Americans
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Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Summary — February 14, 2011

 

Section II. E.  Higher Education Programs

Overview

The Administration's 2012 request includes $2.3 billion for Higher Education Programs to help achieve the President's goal of significantly increasing the percentage of Americans with postsecondary degrees or industry-recognized certificates.

A key priority for 2012 is a $150 million request for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) to support the "First in the World" competition. This proposal, which would be modeled after the i3 program for K-12 education, would provide incentives and rewards for innovation and building evidence of what works to reduce costs and improve outcomes in postsecondary education. First in the World would help meet the Administration's goal of the United States having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

Another priority is a $40 million request for first-time funding for the Hawkins Centers of Excellence program to increase the talent pool of effective minority educators by expanding and reforming teacher education programs at minority-serving institutions (MSIs). Supporting the preparation of effective teachers for high-need schools is a key strategy for closing the achievement gap between minority students and their white peers.

To help close gaps in college enrollment and degree attainment between minority and low-income students and other students, the request provides $484.8 million in discretionary funding for the Aid for Institutional Development programs, the same as the 2011 CR level. The request would 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), by improving their academic programs, institutional capacity, and student supports. The budget also provides $117.4 million for the Developing Hispanic-serving Institutions program.

The request also would provide $920.1 million, a $67 million increase over the 2011 CR level, to support college preparation and completion activities for participants in the Federal TRIO Programs, as well as $323.2 million to serve an estimated 756,000 middle and high school students preparing for college through Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). These programs, together with the $150 million in mandatory funds provided through the College Access Challenge Grants program, provide significant investments designed to increase college access and completion for low-income students.

In addition, the request includes $125.9 million for the International Education and Foreign Language Studies programs, which help meet the Nation's security and economic needs through the development of expertise in foreign languages and area and international studies. The budget also would fund $40.7 million for merit- and need-based scholarships and fellowships to postsecondary students under Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) programs.

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

  2010   2011 CR   2012
Request
 
 
Strengthening Institutions $84.0   $84.0   $84.0  
Strengthening Tribally Controlled
  Colleges and Universities
30.2   30.2   30.2  
Strengthening Tribally Controlled
  Colleges and Universities (mandatory
30.0 1 30.0 1 30.0 1
Strengthening Alaska Native and
  Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions
15.1   15.1   15.1  
Strengthening Alaska Native and
  Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions (mandatory)
15.0 1 15.0 1 15.0 1
Strengthening Historically Black
  Colleges and Universities
266.6   266.6   266.6  
Strengthening Historically Black
  Colleges and Universities (mandatory)
85.0 1 85.0 1 85.0 1
Strengthening Historically Black
  Graduate Institutions
61.4   61.4   61.4  
Master's Degree Programs at
  HBCUs and PBIs (mandatory)
11.5 2 11.5 2 11.5 2
Strengthening Predominantly Black
   Institutions
10.8   10.8   10.8  
Strengthening Predominantly Black
   Institutions (mandatory)
15.0 1 15.0 1 15.0 1
Strengthening Asian American and Native
  American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions
3.6   3.6   3.6  
Strengthening Asian American and Native
  American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions (mandatory)
5.0 1 5.0 1 5.0 1
Strengthening Native American-serving
  nontribal institutions
3.6   3.6   3.6  
Strengthening Native American-serving
  nontribal institutions (mandatory)
5.0 1 5.0 1 5.0 1
Minority Science and Engineering
  Improvement
9.5   9.5   9.5  
     Total
651.3
 
651.3
 
651.3
 
 
        Discretionary 484.8   484.8   484.8  
        Mandatory 166.5   166.5   166.5  

   1These funds are not part of the fiscal year 2012 budget request, but are mandatory appropriations provided under the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) within the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152).
   2These funds are mandatory appropriations provided under Title VIII, Part AA, Section 897 of the HEA.

The request for Title III maintains support for institutions that serve large percentages of minority and disadvantaged students. Title III funding, which is awarded both competitively and by a formula that directs aid to specified institutions, helps provide equal educational opportunity and strong academic programs for these students and enhances the financial stability of the institutions that serve them. Funds may be used to plan, develop, and implement activities that support faculty development; funds and administrative management; development and improvement of academic programs; joint use of libraries and laboratories; construction, maintenance, and renovation of instructional facilities; student services; and endowment funds.

Strengthening Institutions supports institutions that provide educational opportunities to low-income and minority students. This funding level would support 195 non-competing continuation grants and would enable the Department to award 22 new individual development grants.

Strengthening Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) supports 32 Tribal Colleges and Universities located primarily in remote areas not served by other postsecondary education institutions. These institutions offer a broad range of degree and vocational certificate programs to students for whom these educational opportunities would otherwise be geographically and culturally inaccessible. TCCUs also would benefit from $30 million in mandatory funds provided by SAFRA in fiscal year 2012.

Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions program supports institutions with undergraduate enrollments that are at least 20 percent Alaska Native, and at least 10 percent Native Hawaiian students, respectively. The request would fund 22 non-competing continuation grants and 2 new individual development and renovation grants for these institutions, which typically are located in remote areas not served by other institutions. The Department also will use $15 million in fiscal year 2012 mandatory funds to award 8 new 2-year renovation grants and 3 non-competing continuation grants.

Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities supports any accredited, legally authorized HBCU that was established prior to 1964 and whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans. Fiscal year 2012 funding would support 96 HBCUs.

Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions supports 24 institutions with schools of law, medical schools, or other graduate programs. In 2012, SAFRA would provide $85 million in mandatory funding for HBCUs.

Predominantly Black Institutions are primarily urban and rural 2-year colleges that have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 40 percent Black Americans and that serve at least 50 percent low-income or first-generation college students. The request would support a third year of funding for 23 PBI grantees. In addition, SAFRA makes available $15 million in mandatory funds in 2012 for continuation grants for 25 PBIs.

Strengthening Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions supports institutions with undergraduate enrollments that are at least 10 percent Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander. This funding level would support 10 non-competing continuation grants for institutions serving this diverse population. In addition, SAFRA will make available mandatory funding of $5 million to support 10 non-competing continuation awards for these institutions.

Strengthening Native American-serving, Nontribal Institutions supports institutions that are not designated as TCCUs, yet enroll at least 10 percent Native American students and serve at least 50 percent low-income students. The discretionary request would support 9 non-competing continuation awards and an additional $5 million in mandatory funds provided by SAFRA will support 11 non-competing continuation grants.

The Minority Science and Engineering Improvement program would fund 15 new competitive and 36 non-competing continuation grants that support improvement in science and engineering education at predominantly minority institutions and increase the participation of underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, in scientific and technological careers.

Aid for Hispanic-Serving Institutions
(B.A. in millions)

  2010   2011 CR   2012
Request
 
 
Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions $117.4   $117.4   $117.4  
Mandatory Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions $100.0 1 $100.0 1 $100.0 1
Promoting Postbaccalaureate
  Opportunities for Hispanic Americans
       
     (discretionary) 10.5   10.5   10.5  
     (mandatory) 11.5 2 11.5 2 11.5 2
     Total
239.4
 
239.4
 
239.4
 
 
        Discretionary 127.9   127.9   127.9  
        Mandatory 111.5   111.5   111.5  

   1 These funds are not part of the fiscal year 2012 budget request, but are mandatory appropriations provided under the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) within the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152).
   2 These funds are mandatory appropriations provided under Title VIII, Part AA, Section 898 of the HEA.

The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) 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. In 2012, $117.4 million in discretionary funding would support 36 new awards and 159 non- competing continuation awards, while $100 million in mandatory funds would support 97 new awards under the HIS Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Articulation program.

The Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans program provides funds to eligible HSIs that offer a postbaccalaureate certificate or postbaccalaureate degree- granting program. The program is designed to help Hispanic Americans gain entry into and succeed in graduate study, a level of education in which they are underrepresented. In 2012, discretionary funding would support 20 non-competing continuation awards, while $11.5 million in mandatory funding would support an additional 22 non-competing continuation awards.

Hawkins Centers of Excellence

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $40.0

The Hawkins Centers of Excellence program is designed to increase the number of effective minority educators by expanding and reforming teacher education programs at minority-serving institutions (MSIs). This newly funded program would make competitive awards of at least $500,000 annually for up to 5 years to eligible institutions of higher education to establish Centers of Excellence in teacher education. Increasing the number of effective minority teachers for high-need schools is a key strategy for closing the achievement gap between minority students and their white peers.

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

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
Domestic Programs $108.4 $108.4 $108.4
Overseas Programs 15.6 15.6 15.6
Institute for International Public Policy 1.9 1.9 1.9
Total
125.9

125.9

125.9

The 14 International Education and Foreign Language Studies 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 national security interests. The Administration intends to use funding more strategically in 2012 by focusing on activities in institutions serving underrepresented populations and providing more opportunities for teacher training.

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

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
First in the World $122.8
Comprehensive Program $27.4 $20.1
International Consortia 10.3 12.4 8.0
Special Focus Competitions 4.8
Earmarks 101.5
Other programs 19.3 19.3 17.8
Unallocated 101.5
Other 0.9 1.4 1.4
Total
159.4

159.4

150.0

FIPSE awards competitive grants to support exemplary, locally developed projects that are models for innovative reform and improvement in postsecondary education. The 2012 request would provide almost $123 million for the first year of the First in the World initiative, which would apply the lessons of the successful Investing in Innovation (i3) program to the challenge of improving college completion, particularly for minority and low-income students. First in the World would provide "venture capital" to encourage innovation approaches to improving college completion, research support to build the evidence of effectiveness needed to identify successful strategies, and resources to scale up and disseminate strategies we already know are successful.

The overall request represents a decrease of $9.4 million because of the elimination of funding for earmarks and other small programs funded but not authorized under FIPSE, but an increase of $93 million in the amount available for competitive grants compared to the 2011 CR level.

Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and Technical Institutions

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $8.2 $8.2 $8.2

The request would fund awards to the two tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical institutions that meet the program's eligibility requirements—United Tribes Technical College and Navajo Technical College—to fund instructional and student support services, as well as institutional support and capital expenditures.

Special Programs for Migrant Students

  2008 2010 2011 CR
Request
 
B.A. in millions $36.7 $36.7 $36.7

Special Programs for Migrant Students include the High School Equivalency Program (HEP), which funds competitively selected projects to help low-income migrant and seasonal farm workers gain high school diplomas or equivalency certificates, and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which makes competitive grants to provide stipends and special services, such as tutoring and counseling, to migrant students who are in their first year of college. The 2012 request would support approximately 46 HEP projects and 40 CAMP projects, as well as outreach, technical assistance and professional development activities.

Federal TRIO Programs
(B.A. in millions)

  2010   2011 CR   2012
Request
 
 
Talent Search $141.6   $142.1   $142.1  
Upward Bound 257.2   257.5   324.9  
Veterans Upward Bound 13.6   13.6   13.6  
Upward Bound Math-Science 34.9   35.0   35.0  
Educational Opportunity Centers 46.7   47.0   47.0  
Student Support Services 302.5   301.2   300.6  
McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement 47.5   47.4   47.5  
Staff Training 3.6   3.6   3.6  
Evaluation 1.5   1.5   1.5  
Administration/Peer Review 4.0   4.3   4.3  
Upward Bound (mandatory) 57.0 1 57.0 1 2
Total
910.1
 
910.1
 
920.1
 

   1Mandatory funds are made available by section 402C(g) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
   2The authorization for mandatory funds expires September 30, 2011.

The request for an additional $67 million in discretionary funding for TRIO, which represents a $10 million increase over the 2011 CR combined discretionary and mandatory funding level, would enable the Department to increase its support for the Upward Bound program, which will conduct a new competition in fiscal year 2012. The overall request would provide funding for approximately 2,988 TRIO projects serving middle school, high school, and college students and adults while also supporting Staff Training grants, evaluation, and administration for the TRIO programs.

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $323.2 $323.2 $323.2

GEAR UP provides funds to States and partnerships for early college preparation and awareness activities to help low-income elementary and secondary school students prepare for and pursue postsecondary education. Several features of GEAR UP, including targeting entire grades of students, partnering with local organizations and businesses, and matching Federal funds with local contributions, allow projects to serve large numbers of students. The request maintains funding at the 2011 CR level and would serve approximately 756,000 middle and high school students in fiscal year 2012.

Scholarships and Fellowships
(B.A. in millions)

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
Graduate Assistance in Areas
  of National Need (GAANN)
$31.0 $31.0 $40.7
Thurgood Marshall Legal Education Opportunity 3.0 3.0 3.0

GAANN provides fellowships, through competitive grants to postsecondary institutions, to graduate students with superior ability and high 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 2012 request includes the consolidation of funding from the Javits fellowship program and would support 909 fellowships.

The Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity program provides low-income, minority, or disadvantaged secondary school and college students with the information, preparation, and financial assistance they need to gain access to and complete law school study and win admission to law practice. The Administration is proposing that the funds for this program be awarded competitively in 2012.

Child Care Access Means Parents in School

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $16.0 $16.0 $16.0

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 2012 request would support 137 existing projects.

GPRA Data/HEA Program Evaluation

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $0.6 $0.6 $0.6

The request would support the collection and analysis of performance data and the evaluation of Higher Education Act programs that either lack funding set-asides to conduct these activities or where such set-asides are not sufficient to cover the costs of the activities.

Academic Facilities
(B.A. in millions)

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
HBCU Capital Financing Program $20.6 $20.6 $20.6
CHAFL Federal Administration 0.5 0.5 0.5

These programs support the construction, reconstruction, and renovation of academic facilities at institutions of higher education. The request for the HBCU Capital Financing Program would support the management and servicing of loan guarantees on previously issued loans, and includes $20.2 million in loan subsidy that would allow the program to guarantee $368.0 million in loans in 2012. Funds also would be used to continue technical assistance services to help HBCUs to increase their fiscal stability and improve their access to capital markets. The Administration is seeking legislative authority to change the pooled escrow requirement and to raise the current limits on total loan authority and the authority for loans to public versus private HBCUs.

Funding for CHAFL Federal Administration is used solely to manage and service existing portfolios of facilities loans and grants made in prior years.

Howard University
(B.A. in millions)

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
Howard University Hospital $28.9 $28.9 $28.9
General Support 206.0 206.0 206.0
Total
235.0

235.0

235.0

The 2012 request would maintain support for Howard University's academic programs, research programs, construction activities, and the Howard University Hospital. Howard University has played a historic role in providing access to postsecondary educational opportunities for students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, especially African-Americans. The request includes $3.6 million for Howard University's endowment. The direct Federal appropriation accounts for approximately 45 percent of Howard University's operating costs.

Student Financial Assistance  Table of contents  Institute of Education Sciences

For further information contact the ED Budget Service.

This page last modified—February 14, 2011 (mjj).