2015 DOED Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) - UCI Proposal Development Resources

This resource is for UCI faculty and staff developing the 2015 Department of Education (DOED) Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) application.

For Research Development assistance, please contact:

Physical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health, and general questions - Lori Greene, legreene@uci.edu

Biological Sciences and Medicine - Marc Benson, mabenson@uci.edu

Engineering and ICS - Rick Donovan, rpdonova@uci.edu

Nursing, Social Sciences, Social Ecology, and Education - Beth Riley, briley@uci.edu

Humanities - Amanda Swain, ajswain@uci.edu

A. Important Links and Information:

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

Application and directions found on grants.gov (ED-GRANTS-040115-002): www.grants.gov

UCI Office of Institutional Research Student data (for institution and School level; departmental information can be requested from Grad Division or departmental staff): http://www.oir.uci.edu/student-data.html

Compilation of 2012 GAANN reviews (PDF)

• DOED is making available 125 awards with max at $281,754, and a guidance on average of $189,023 per year. The maximum total three-year project period request is $845,262. This equates to 6 full fellows requested per year ($32,000 stipend + $14,959 allowance). There is still an additional 25% cost share, which is provided by UCI Grad Division.

• A project must provide fellowships in one or more of the following areas of national need: Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies; Biological Sciences/Life Sciences; Chemistry; Computer and Information Sciences; Engineering; Foreign Languages; Mathematics; Nursing; Physics; Psychology; and Educational Evaluation, Research, and Statistics. [with inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary applications allowed]

• 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.

• In any application period, an academic department may not submit more than one application for new awards.

• In FY2016 there will be no new competition, but they may make additional awards in FY2016 from the list of unfunded applicants from FY2015 competition.

• For DOED, Minority means Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian-American, Black (African-American), Hispanic American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander. (please note that this is not necessarily under-represented minorities).

B. Official Documents from DOED:

Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for FY 2015 (April 1, 2015) (PDF)

Full Instructions (93 pages) (DOCX)

Application Packet (PDF)

C. Budget (updated 05/12/15)

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

• Internal UCI budget spreadsheet ( XLS)
• GAANN Budget Spreadsheet Form (DOCX)
• Boilerplate Text - Section I (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 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 are $16,159, $17,290 and $18,501, respectively.

D. Documents Needed:

This is a standard proposal. SPA's 5-day deadline is 8am May 21. Please note that the DoED recommends "that you submit your application several days before the deadline." NIH also has several major deadlines at the end of May making SPA very busy, so I highly recommend getting this one in early and even submit early!

Submitted to DOED

1) SF 424 Form (includes the DoED Supplemental Information Form) ( PDF)

2) Abstract (attach in ED Abstract Form, pg. 11 in application packet):

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, pg. 12) - Address the selection criteria below and following formatting (double spaced; 12pt font; correct font and margins; the Project Narrative and use a font that is either 12 point or larger.   and length requirements. 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, pg. 13) - 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) CV of Evaluator (Lisa Kohne) (DOC - 04/21/15)

5) Course listing (attach pdf in Other Attachment form, pg. 13)

6) Letters of commitment (attach pdf in Other Attachment form, pg. 13)

     a) Letter from the Chancellor (optional) - Overall Institutional commitment letter - Research Development staff will take care of this (Signed Official Letter - 05/05/15)   

     b) Letter from Dean Leslie committing the mandatory 25% cost share - The PI must send an individual email to Dean Leslie requesting this letter. Dean Leslie also requests that the mentoring and professional development plan be included in this email.

     c) Letter from VCR Hemminger committing to funding the evaluator - Attached is the draft letter. If you would like to personalize this to your proposal, please send edits to Lori Greene by April 29. A standard signed letter will also be available early May (Signed Official Letter - 05/06/15)

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

     e) Letter from Lisa Kohne (optional) (Signed Official Letter - 05/20/15)

7) Bibliography (attach in Other Attachment form, pg. 13)

8) One additional optional appendix relevant to the support of the proposal, not to exceed five (5) pages. (attach in Other Attachment form, pg. 13) (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) GAANN Statutory Assurances (attach pdf in Other Attachment form, pg. 13) (DOCX)

10) GAANN Budget Spreadsheet(s) Form (attach pdf in Other Attachment form, pg. 13) (Blank document, DOCX) (Example Single Discipline Budget Spreadsheets - 04/15/15 and 04/23/15 - see Section C above)

11) Assurances and Certifications

     a) ED GEPA 427 Form - Add Statement of GEPA requirements (Example GEPA statement - 04/16/15) *Please note: We recommend that you also address the GEPA requirements as they relate to your program in the project narrative.

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

     c) Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B) (include the submitting Officers information in the fields at the bottom of the certification)

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

Internal UCI only

1) Internal Budget Spreadsheet (Example spreadsheets - 04/15/15 and 04/23/15 - see Section C above)

E. Selection Criteria (PDF, DOCX) and Available Corresponding Boilerplate Text (same as 2012 call):

Your are reviewed following 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 (Institutional Boilerplate Text - 04/22/15)

     (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) (TLTC - Boilerplate Text - 03/10/14)

     (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; (Institutional  Boilerplate Text - 04/22/15)

     (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 (Institutional Boilerplate Text - 04/15/15)

     (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. (Institutional Boilerplate Text - see F.4 document)

(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; (Institutional Boilerplate Text - 04/15/15)

     (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. (Institutional Non-Discrimination Policy Statement - Boilerplate Text - 03/10/15)

(i) Budget. (5 Points) (Boilerplate Text - 04/15/15 and 04/23/15 - 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) (Boilerplate Text - 05/11/15)

     (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. DOED goals and performance indicators for the GAANN Program: (PDF)

Goal 1: Postsecondary Education, Career and Technical Education, and Adult Education. Increase college access, affordability, quality, and completion by improving postsecondary education and lifelong learning opportunities for youths and adults.

Goal 2: Elementary and Secondary Education. Improve the elementary and secondary education system’s ability to consistently deliver excellent instruction aligned with rigorous academic standards while providing effective support services to close achievement and opportunity gaps, and ensure all students graduate high school college- and careerready.

Goal 3: Early Learning. Improve the health, social-emotional, and cognitive outcomes for all children from birth through 3rd grade, so that all children, particularly those with high needs, are on track for graduating from high school college- and career-ready.

Goal 4: Equity. Increase educational opportunities for and reduce discrimination against underserved students so that all students are well-positioned to succeed.

Goal 5: Continuous Improvement of the U.S. Education System. Enhance the education system’s ability to continuously improve through better and more widespread use of data, research and evaluation, evidence, transparency, innovation, and technology.

Goal 6: U.S Department of Education Capacity. Improve the organizational capacities of the Department to implement this strategic plan.

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) Enrollment of targeted populations: the percentage of GAANN fellows from traditionally underrepresented groups. 

(1.3) Time-to-Degree: the median time to completion of Master’s and Doctorate degrees for GAANN students.

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 submitted in any other font (including Times Roman and Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
• 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.”  

\/ Below will be a list of attachments you add to this page.