2024 ED Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) - UCI Proposal Development Resources

This resource is for UCI faculty and staff developing the 2024 U.S. Education Department (ED) Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) application.

Applications are due at ED Monday, June 24.  Please note!  SPA will need to have your proposal five business days before ED's due date: June 17.

For Research Development assistance, please contact:

General questions: Beth Riley, briley@uci.edu; Yerga Meharenna, ymeharen@uci.edu

Engineering: Helen Lee, helen.lee@uci.edu 

Physical Sciences: Lori Greene, legreene@uci.edu

Budget: Kartik Yadav, k.yadav@uci.edu

Technical (this wiki): Greg Ruth, gruth@uci.edu

A. Important Links and Information:

ED GAANN website: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/gaann/applicant.html

Application and directions found on grants.gov (ED-GRANTS-042424-003): https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=GAANN

ED information session, 05/08/2024, at 10:30 Pacific time. Zoom link available on GAANN website. 

UCI Office of Institutional Research Student data (for institution and School level; departmental information can be requested from Grad Division or departmental staff): https://www.oir.uci.edu/Data-Hub/index.php under "Student Enrollment."

Compilation of 2012 GAANN reviews (PDF)

• ED is making available ~$20,479,535 for 60 new awards ranging from $112,102 to $448,408, and a guidance on average of $336,306 (6 federally funded fellowships) per year. Applicants may request 2 to 8 federally funded fellowships of up to $37,000 stipend + $19,051 allowance each per year. There is still an additional 25% cost share, which is provided by UCI Grad Division.

• The amount of a grant to an academic department may not be less than $100,000 and may not be more than $750,000 in a fiscal year.

• A project must provide fellowships in one or more of the following areas of national need:

• Computer and Information Sciences: Computer and Information Sciences General; Computer Programming; Information Sciences and Systems; Computer Systems Analysis; Computer Science.

• Education: Bilingual/Bicultural Education; Special Education; Student Counseling and Personnel Services; Teaching English as a Second Language/Foreign Language.

• Engineering: Engineering, General; Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering; Agricultural Engineering; Architectural Engineering; Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering; Ceramic Sciences and Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Civil Engineering; Computer Engineering; Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering; Engineering Mechanics; Engineering Physics; Engineering Science; Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering; Geological Engineering; Geophysical Engineering; Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering; Materials Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Metallurgical Engineering; Mining and Mineral Engineering; Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering; Nuclear Engineering; Ocean Engineering; Petroleum Engineering; Systems Engineering; Textile Sciences and Engineering; Engineering Design; Engineering/Industrial Management; Materials Science; Polymer/Plastics Engineering.

• Biological Sciences/Life Sciences: Biology, General; Biochemistry and Biophysics; Botany; Cell and Molecular Biology; Microbiology/Bacteriology; Miscellaneous Biological Specializations; Zoology.

• Mathematics: Mathematics; Applied Mathematics; Mathematic Statistics.

• Physical Sciences: Physical Sciences, General; Astronomy; Astrophysics; Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology; Chemistry; Geological and Related Sciences; Miscellaneous Physical Sciences; Physics.

• Psychology: Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics; Community Psychology; Counseling Psychology; Developmental and Child Psychology; Experimental Psychology; Industrial and Organizational Psychology; Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology; Social Psychology; School Psychology.

• Interdisciplinary means a course of study that involves academic fields in two or more disciplines.

• Multidisciplinary means an application that requests fellowships for more than a single academic department in areas of national need designated as priorities in this competition.

• Eligible Applicants: (a) Any academic department of an IHE that provides a course of study that— (i) Leads to a graduate degree in an area of national need; and (ii) Has been in existence for at least four years at the time of an application for a grant under this competition. (b) An academic department of an IHE that–(i) Satisfies the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and (ii) Submits a joint application with one or more eligible non-degree-granting institutions that have formal arrangements for the support of doctoral dissertation research with one or more degree-granting institutions.

• For ED, Minority means Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian-American, Black (African-American), Hispanic American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander (please note that Asian-Americans are not considered underrepresented minorities).

ED Priorities:

• Absolute priority: Projects must provide fellowships for programs that lead to either a master’s degree or doctoral degree, whichever is the highest degree awarded in the area of need at the institution.

• Competitive preference priorities:

• Invitational priority: Projects to increase the number of low-income students in grad fellowships (no extra points awarded). For this priority, "low-income student" means a student who would otherwise be eligible to receive a Maximum Pell Grant for the award year in which the determination is made, except that the student is enrolled in graduate study.  See criteria for Maximum Pell Grant eligibility in the Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility section of the 2024-2025 Federal Student Aid Handbook.

Note about competitive preference and invitational priorities: In ED’s May 8 GAANN information session, the program officer suggested that since there isn’t a place in the guidelines where we can address the low-income priority, we can address it in section A, on meeting the purposes of the program, or in the recruitment plan. Asantha pointed out that the fact that UCI is an HSI is buried deep in the document, in section G.2. I suggest that we follow the program officer’s advice, and raise the issue as a competitive preference in meeting the purposes of the program. It also would make sense to raise the issue in the abstract.

B. Official Documents from ED:

Full Instructions (67 pages) (GAANN 2024 ED Instructions 042924.docx) (Includes notice inviting applications)

C. Budget (updated 05/15/2024)

6 Fellows (0 non CA residents) Requested + 1 Institutional Fellow; 25% cost share only 

• Internal UCI budget spreadsheet (GAANN 2024 Budget Internal 6 fellows plus 1 051224.xlsx)

• GAANN 2021 Budget Template 6 Fellows + 1 (GAANN 2024 budget form 051524.docx)

• Boilerplate Text - Section I (GAANN 2024 Budget Justification Template Final 051224.docx)
  
  

-- If you would like to add non-residents to this, please have the Department/School additionally cost share the tuition. The academic year tuition rates per non resident fellow are the following: The 2024-25 rate is $15,102. Estimates for 2025-26 and 2026-27 are $16,159 and $17,290, respectively. Please check back for subsequent years.

D. Documents Needed:

This is a standard proposal. SPA's 5-day deadline is 8 a.m. June 17, 2024. Please note that ED recommends "that you submit your application several days before the deadline." SPA is always very busy, so we highly recommend getting this one in early and even submitting early!

Submitted to ED

Please note that ED's online application portal is called Workspace, with instructions available at https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview.html.  You can download and work on forms from Workspace, or upload PDF documents to it.  SPA will submit your proposal through Workspace.  For help with this tool, please contact Jonathan Lew at SPA, email jlew@uci.edu. 

1) SF 424 Form (includes the ED Supplemental Information Form) (from Workspace)

2) Abstract (attach in ED Abstract Form, from Workspace):

The abstract should include a short summary covering the designated area(s) of national need.  The abstract should include the following information:

3) Project Narrative (attach pdf in Project Narrative Attachment form, from Workspace) (GAANN 2024 Proposal Template Final 061024.docx). Address the selection criteria below and following formatting (double-spaced; 12pt font; note that incorrectly formatted proposals will not be penalized); and length requirements of 40 pages for single- or interdisciplinary projects, or 40 pages for each academic department for multidisciplinary projects. You can include an optional table of contents, with a length limit of 2 pages (this is in addition to the narrative page limit). See section D. below

4) Curriculum Vitae (CV) (attach pdf in Other Attachment form) - no more than two (2) pages per faculty member; 12pt font (all faculty CV’s must be uploaded in a single attachment);

     a) CV Template

     b) UPDATED CV of Evaluators (Adrienne Celaya, Elizabeth Svoboda, Katie Golden, and Kyle Mcgrath; Blackstone Research & Evaluation) (GAANN 2024 Evaluators CV 05172024.pdf)

5) Course listing (attach pdf in Other Attachment form)

6) Letters of commitment (attach pdf in Other Attachment form)

     a) UPDATED 6/3/2024 Letter from the Chancellor (optional) - Overall Institutional commitment letter - Research Development staff will take care of this (GAANN 2024 Chancellor's Letter Signed 052424.pdf)   

     b) UPDATED Letter from Dean Hayes committing the mandatory 25% cost share (GAANN 2024 Grad Division Support Let Template Updated 052224.docx). Please use the template provided and send the updated letter to Yerga Meharenna (ymeharen@uci.edu).

     c) UPDATED Letter from Dean Hayes committing to funding the evaluator; attached is the signed letter. (GAANN 2024 GD Evaluation commitment 052224 - signed.pdf)

     d) If you are getting additional support from your School/Department, please include a letter from your School Dean/Department Chair.

     e) UPDATED Letter from Evaluator (optional) (GAANN 2024 Evaluator’s Commitment Letter 051724.pdf)

7) Bibliography (attach in Other Attachment form)

8) One additional optional appendix relevant to the support of the proposal, not to exceed five (5) pages (attach in Other Attachment form) (e.g., List of key faculty and technical staff; extra data such as admission and enrollment data; evaluation table(s) if need extra room in narrative; statement of teaching goals; Orientation/TA training/safety training schedule; Information about prior GAANN fellows).

9) UPDATED GAANN Statutory Assurances (attach pdf in Other Attachment form) (GAANN 2024 Statutory Assurances Form 052124.pdf)

10) GAANN Budget Spreadsheet(s) Form (attach pdf in Other Attachment form) (See Internal Budget Spreadsheet in Section C above)

11) Assurances and Certifications

     a) New for 2024, ED has updated the GEPA 427 Form to have four questions.  The new GEPA form is available at https://sites.ed.gov/idea/files/Grants-Part-C-GEPA-Section-427-Form.pdf. The instructions for filling it out are available at https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/gepa-section-427-instructions-for-application-packages.pdf. I understand the form's new format as being designed to discourage the use of boilerplate. That said, Question #1 appears to address primarily institutional policies. You may answer it by adding the following: (Example GEPA statement). The other three questions address potential barriers to inclusion, and are specific to your project. Per the GEPA instructions, please note that you may refer to or repeat parts of your proposal to answer these questions.

     b) Grants.gov Lobbying Form (ED-80-0013) (signed by the Officer when submitting the application through Grants.gov)

     c) Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (please add N/A since there is nothing to disclose)

Internal UCI only

1) Internal Budget Spreadsheet (See Internal Budget Spreadsheet in Section C above)

E. Selection Criteria and Available Corresponding Boilerplate Text:

Your applications are reviewed using the following criteria (out of 100 points):

(a) Meeting the purposes of the program. (7 Points) 

     (1) The applicant's general and specific objectives for the project are realistic and measurable;

     (2) The applicant's objectives for the project seek to sustain and enhance the capacity for teaching and research at the institution and at State, regional, or national levels;

     (3) The applicant's objectives seek to institute policies and procedures to ensure the enrollment of talented graduate students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds; and (See GAANN proposal template, D.3 above)

     (4) The applicant's objectives seek to institute policies and procedures to ensure that it will award fellowships to individuals who satisfy the requirements of §648.40.

(b) Extent of need for the project. (5 Points)  (the extent to which a grant under the program is needed by the academic department)

     (1) How the applicant identified the problems that form the specific needs of the project;

     (2) The specific problems to be resolved by successful realization of the goals and objectives of the project; and

     (3) How increasing the number of fellowships will meet the specific and general objectives of the project.

(c) Quality of the graduate academic program. (20 Points)   (quality of the current graduate academic program)

     (1) The course offerings and academic requirements for the graduate program;

     (2) The qualifications of the faculty, including education, research interest, publications, teaching ability, and accessibility to graduate students;

     (3) The focus and capacity for research; and

     (4) Any other evidence the applicant deems appropriate to demonstrate the quality of its academic program.

(d) Quality of the supervised teaching experience. (10 Points)   (quality of the teaching experience the applicant plans to provide fellows under this program) (UPDATE See GAANN proposal template, D.3 above)

     (1) Provides each fellow with the required supervised training in instruction;

     (2) Provides adequate instruction on effective teaching techniques;

     (3) Provides extensive supervision of each fellow's teaching performance; and

     (4) Provides adequate and appropriate evaluation of the fellow's teaching performance.

(e) Recruitment plan. (5 Points)  

     (1) How the applicant plans to identify, recruit, and retain students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in the academic program for which fellowships are sought; (See GAANN proposal template, D.3 above)

     (2) How the applicant plans to identify eligible students for fellowships;

     (3) The past success of the academic department in enrolling talented graduate students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds; and

     (4) The past success of the academic department in enrolling talented graduate students for its academic program.

(f) Project administration. (8 Points) 

     (1) How the applicant will select fellows, including how the applicant will ensure that project participants who are otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, or disabling condition;

     (2) How the applicant proposes to monitor whether a fellow is making satisfactory progress toward the degree for which the fellowship has been awarded;

     (3) How the applicant proposes to identify and meet the academic needs of fellows;

     (4) How the applicant proposes to maintain enrollment of graduate students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds; and (See GAANN proposal template, D.3 above)
     (5) The extent to which the policies and procedures the applicant proposes to institute for administering the project are likely to ensure efficient and effective project implementation, including assistance to and oversight of the project director. (See GAANN proposal template, D.3 above)

(g) Institutional commitment. (15 Points)

     (1) The applicant will provide, from any funds available to it, sufficient funds to support the financial needs of the fellows if the funds made available under the program are insufficient;

     (2) The institution's social and academic environment is supportive of the academic success of students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds on the applicant's campus; (See GAANN proposal template, D.3 above)

     (3) Students receiving fellowships under this program will receive stipend support for the time necessary to complete their courses of study, but in no case longer than 5 years; and

     (4) The applicant demonstrates a financial commitment, including the nature and amount of the institutional matching contribution, and other institutional commitments that are likely to ensure the continuation of project activities for a significant period of time following the period in which the project receives Federal financial assistance.

(h) Quality of key personnel. (5 Points)  

     (1) The qualifications of the project director;

     (2) The qualifications of other key personnel to be used in the project;

     (3) The time commitment of key personnel, including the project director, to the project; and

     (4) How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, or disabling condition, except pursuant to a lawful affirmative action plan. (See GAANN proposal template, D.3 above)

(i) Budget. (5 Points) (Boilerplate Text; see Section C above)

     (1) The applicant shows a clear understanding of the acceptable uses of program funds; and

     (2) The costs of the project are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project.

(j) Evaluation plan. (15 Points) (See GAANN proposal template, D.3 above)

     (1) Relate to the specific goals and measurable objectives of the project;

     (2) Assess the effect of the project on the students receiving fellowships under this program, including the effect on persons of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, genders, and ages, and on persons with disabilities who are served by the project;

     (3) List both process and product evaluation questions for each project activity and outcome, including those of the management plan;

     (4) Describe both the process and product evaluation measures for each project activity and outcome;

     (5) Describe the data collection procedures, instruments, and schedules for effective data collection;

     (6) Describe how the applicant will analyze and report the data so that it can make adjustments and improvements on a regular basis; and

     (7) Include a time-line chart that relates key evaluation processes and benchmarks to other project component processes and benchmarks.

(k) Adequacy of resources. (5 Points)   (the resources that the applicant makes available to graduate students receiving fellowships under this program, including facilities, equipment, and supplies.)

F. ED goals and performance indicators for the GAANN Program: (See GAANN Instructions, p. 48)

Goal 1: Promote equity in student access to educational resources, opportunities, and inclusive environments.

Goal 2: Support a diverse and talented educator workforce and professional growth to strengthen student learning.

Goal 3: Meet students’ social, emotional, and academic needs.

Goal 4: Increase postsecondary value by focusing on equity-conscious strategies to address access to high-quality institutions, affordability, completion, post-enrollment success, and support for inclusive institutions.

Goal 5: Enhance the Department’s internal capacity to optimize the delivery of its mission.

The specific goal for the GAANN program is “to increase the number of persons trained at the highest academic level” in the areas of national need. The performance indicators for the GAANN program are:

(1.1) Graduate school completion: the percentage of GAANN fellows completing the terminal degree in the designated areas of national need.

(1.2) Time to completion: the median of time to completion of Master’s and Doctoral degrees for GAANN students.

(1.3) Employment: the percentage of GAANN fellows who have placements in faculty or professional positions in the area of their studies within one year of completing the degree.

(1.4) Efficiency Measure: the cost per successful outcome, where success is defined as terminal program graduate completion.

G. Formatting Requirements:

• A “page” is “8.5x11,” on one side only, with 1” margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.  Page numbers and an identifier may be within 1” margin.

• Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the project narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions.  Charts, tables, figures, and graphs in the project narrative may be single-spaced and will count toward the page limit.

• Applicants may use one of the following fonts:  Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New or Arial. An application that does not strictly adhere to formatting recommendations will not be penalized.

• Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).  However, you may use a 10 point font in charts, tables, figures, graphs, footnotes, and endnotes.

• You must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) read-only, non-modifiable format.  Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file.  If you upload a file type other than a read-only, non-modifiable PDF or submit a password-protected file, DOED will not review that material.
  
  
  

Project Narrative Page Limits:

• Single and Inter-Disciplinary project narratives must be no more than 40 pages.

  • An inter-disciplinary application must request funding for a single proposed program of study that involves academic fields in two or more disciplines. 

• Multi-disciplinary project narratives, as defined below, must be no more than 40 pages for each academic department included in the proposal.

  • A multi-disciplinary application must request funding for two or more academic departments in areas of national need designated as priorities by the Secretary that are independent and unrelated to one another.

  • Applicants must abide by the definition of multi-disciplinary when applying page limits                                   

Note:  Each page on which there are words will be counted as one full page.

Note:  Applicants have the option of including a Table of Contents.  However, this document must not be longer than two (2) pages.  The formatting should be the same as listed above in the “Formatting Requirements.”  

Previous GAAN Years (for reference)

2021 GAAN 2021 Files

2018 GAAN 2018 Files

2015 GAAN 2015 Files

Open

 

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