Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 006325
The Higher Education Challenge Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) (CFDA 10.217) that supports innovative, high-impact education projects in the food and agricultural sciences. The central idea is to fund projects that tackle a clearly defined educational need at the state, regional, national, or even international level, while also pushing beyond standard academic approaches. Funded projects are expected to use creative or non-traditional methods that could realistically be replicated elsewhere, meaning applicants should be thinking not only about solving a local problem but also about developing a model that other institutions can adopt.
A major emphasis of the program is collaboration and relationship-building. Successful proposals should strengthen working connections within the university science and education community and also build meaningful partnerships between universities and the private sector. The intent is to improve educational quality and extend the reach of available resources through cooperation, shared expertise, and complementary contributions. Another defining expectation is sustainability: the program favors projects whose benefits continue after the grant period ends, so applicants should plan for lasting institutional improvements, durable curricula, ongoing partnerships, and outcomes that persist beyond USDA funding.
Eligible applicants include U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer at least a baccalaureate or first professional degree in one or more food and agricultural science disciplines. Land-grant institutions are explicitly eligible, including land-grant colleges and universities in the Insular Areas. The program also welcomes colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments, as long as they can demonstrate the capacity to teach in the food and agricultural sciences, along with other institutions that can similarly demonstrate that capacity. In addition to fitting one of these broad categories, an applicant must meet the specific definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization laid out in the program’s request for applications (RFA).
The eligibility rules also clarify how multi-campus systems are treated. If a branch campus within a state university system (or similar system) is separately accredited as a degree-granting institution, it is treated as a separate institution and can apply and receive awards on its own. In contrast, campuses or branches that are not individually accredited as degree-granting institutions are not treated as separate eligible entities under this program. The program further states that a research foundation maintained by an eligible college or university can qualify as an eligible institution for receiving an award, which can matter for universities that route sponsored projects through affiliated foundations.
Accreditation is a firm requirement: the institution’s accreditation must come from an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Key opportunity details provided include the funding opportunity number USDA NIFA CGP 006325, the activity category of Agriculture, the funding instrument type of Grant, and an original closing date of July 12, 2017 (as listed in the source data). The award ceiling and expected number of awards were not specified in the provided information.Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 006325
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Higher Education Challenge Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.217.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-03-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-07-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (USDA NIFA, CFDA 10.217) - FAQs
What is the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program?
The Higher Education Challenge Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) (CFDA 10.217). It supports innovative, high-impact education projects in the food and agricultural sciences.
What kinds of projects does this program fund?
The program funds education projects that address a clearly defined educational need at a state, regional, national, or international level. Projects are expected to go beyond standard academic approaches and use creative or non-traditional methods.
What is meant by a "clearly defined educational need"?
Based on the program description provided, applicants are expected to identify a specific educational need (not a vague or general goal) and design a project that directly addresses that need. The need can be framed at the state, regional, national, or international scale.
Does the program require innovative or non-traditional approaches?
Yes. A central expectation is that funded projects use creative or non-traditional methods and push beyond standard academic approaches.
Do projects need to be replicable by other institutions?
Yes. Funded projects are expected to be realistically replicable elsewhere. Applicants are encouraged to design projects that not only solve a local problem but also serve as a model other institutions can adopt.
How important is collaboration in this program?
Collaboration and relationship-building are a major emphasis. Successful proposals are expected to strengthen working connections within the university science and education community and also build meaningful partnerships between universities and the private sector.
Are private sector partnerships encouraged?
Yes. The opportunity highlights building partnerships between universities and the private sector as part of improving educational quality and extending the reach of available resources.
What does the program mean by sustainability?
The program favors projects whose benefits continue after the grant period ends. Applicants should plan for lasting institutional improvements, durable curricula, ongoing partnerships, and outcomes that persist beyond USDA funding.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer at least a baccalaureate or first professional degree in one or more food and agricultural science disciplines.
Are land-grant institutions eligible?
Yes. Land-grant institutions are explicitly eligible, including land-grant colleges and universities in the Insular Areas.
Are colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments eligible?
Yes, as long as they can demonstrate the capacity to teach in the food and agricultural sciences and meet the specific eligibility definition in the program's request for applications (RFA).
What does it mean to "demonstrate the capacity to teach in the food and agricultural sciences"?
The information provided indicates that certain institutions (including those with significant minority enrollments and other institutions) must be able to demonstrate capacity to teach in the food and agricultural sciences. The specific criteria for demonstrating capacity are referenced as being defined in the program's RFA.
Do applicants have to meet an additional definition of eligibility beyond being a qualifying college or university?
Yes. In addition to fitting one of the broad eligibility categories described, an applicant must meet the specific definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization as laid out in the program's request for applications (RFA).
How are multi-campus university systems treated for eligibility?
If a branch campus within a state university system (or similar system) is separately accredited as a degree-granting institution, it is treated as a separate institution and can apply and receive awards on its own. Campuses or branches that are not individually accredited as degree-granting institutions are not treated as separate eligible entities under this program.
Can a separately accredited branch campus apply on its own?
Yes. A branch campus that is separately accredited as a degree-granting institution is treated as a separate institution and may apply and receive an award independently.
Can a non-accredited branch campus apply separately from the main campus?
No. Campuses or branches that are not individually accredited as degree-granting institutions are not treated as separate eligible entities for this program.
Can a university-affiliated research foundation receive the award?
Yes. The program states that a research foundation maintained by an eligible college or university can qualify as an eligible institution for receiving an award.
Is accreditation required?
Yes. Accreditation is a firm requirement. The institution's accreditation must come from an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
Who administers this grant program?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 10.217.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number provided is USDA NIFA CGP 006325.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is listed as a Grant.
What is the activity category?
The activity category is Agriculture.
When is (or was) the closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed in the provided information is July 12, 2017.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was not specified in the provided information.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The expected number of awards was not specified in the provided information.
What level can project impact target (state, regional, national, or international)?
The program description indicates that projects may address educational needs at the state, regional, national, or even international level.
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| Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) Apply for USDA NIFA HEMS 006391 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEMS 006391 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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