Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Program CFDA 84.031S | Apply Online

Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Program (CFDA 84.031S) FAQs

1) What is the Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Program (CFDA 84.031S)?

The Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Program (CFDA 84.031S) is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. It is intended to help eligible Hispanic Serving Institutions strengthen their capacity to serve Hispanic students by expanding educational opportunities and improving academic outcomes, while also enhancing academic offerings, program quality, and long-term institutional stability.

2) What is the central goal of this grant program?

The central goal is to expand educational opportunities and improve academic outcomes for Hispanic students. In practice, the program supports campus-level improvements designed to strengthen retention, progression, completion, and transfer outcomes for Hispanic and other low-income students served by the institution.

3) Who administers this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

4) What type of funding opportunity is this?

This opportunity is categorized as a grant under the Education funding activity category, and it is identified as a discretionary grant opportunity.

5) For the FY 2009 competition, how many awards and how much total funding were anticipated?

For the FY 2009 competition referenced in the notice, the Department anticipated making about 29 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $16,914,300.

6) What was the maximum individual award amount listed for the FY 2009 competition?

Individual awards could be as high as $700,000.

7) Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?

Yes. The listing indicates there is a cost sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity.

8) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include public and state controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, but only if they meet the statutory and regulatory definition of an eligible Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) for this program.

9) What does an institution need to be considered an eligible HSI for this program?

To qualify as an eligible HSI for this program, the institution must meet multiple requirements, including accreditation/preaccreditation, state authorization to operate or offer certain degree programs, designation as an eligible institution based on enrolling needy students and having low educational and general expenditures per FTE undergraduate student, and meeting a minimum Hispanic undergraduate FTE enrollment threshold.

10) What accreditation requirement applies?

The institution must be accredited or preaccredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency that the Secretary recognizes as a reliable authority on educational quality.

11) What state authorization requirement applies?

The institution must be legally authorized by the state where it is located to operate as a junior college or to offer an educational program leading to a bachelor’s degree.

12) What does it mean to be designated as an eligible institution based on needy students and expenditures?

The institution must be designated as an eligible institution by demonstrating it enrolls needy students (as described in 34 CFR 606.3) and has low average educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student (as described in 34 CFR 606.4).

13) What is the Hispanic enrollment threshold for HSI eligibility in this program?

A core HSI threshold applies: the institution must have at least 25 percent Hispanic undergraduate FTE enrollment, measured at the end of the award year immediately preceding the date of application.

14) For this FY 2009 cycle, what date should the Hispanic undergraduate FTE enrollment figure be based on?

For this cycle, the notice clarifies that the enrollment figure should be based on the student count closest to, but not after, September 30, 2008 (since September 30 marks the end of the prior federal fiscal year used for the determination).

15) What grant types are available under this program?

The grant types available include new Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants.

16) What kinds of activities does the notice highlight as allowable or emphasized?

While the synopsis does not list specific project designs, it emphasizes institutional development efforts that improve educational attainment for Hispanic students and strengthen institutional capacity and stability. It also references statutory updates expanding the kinds of activities institutions may propose, including improvements to student services and other strategies aligned to the program goals.

17) Does the program support activities related to student services and retention?

Yes. Amendments referenced in the notice recognize activities to improve student services, including innovative and customized instruction designed to retain students and move them into core courses.

18) Are transfer-focused activities like articulation agreements addressed?

Yes. The notice references articulation agreements and student support efforts that facilitate transfer from 2-year to 4-year institutions.

19) Are financial literacy or counseling services mentioned as recognized activities?

Yes. The notice references education or counseling services plus financial information intended to improve students’ or families’ financial and economic literacy.

20) Does the notice mention technology-enabled instruction or support?

Yes. The notice reflects a terminology update, using “distance education technologies” in place of “distance learning academic instruction capabilities,” indicating that technology-enabled instruction and support can be part of allowable institutional strengthening strategies when aligned to program goals.

21) How were applications required to be submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through the Department’s e-Grants system using e-Application (via http://e-grants.ed.gov).

22) Could an applicant submit an application by email?

No. The notice stresses that applicants may not submit an application by emailing an electronic copy to the Department.

23) What does the notice say about entering application information into the system?

The notice stresses that applicants enter source data directly into the online system, which saves information into a database.

24) Where should applicants look for the full official requirements and controlling details?

The synopsis repeatedly points readers back to the official Federal Register application notice for full requirements, including eligibility details, pre-application and submission requirements, performance measures, priorities, and program contacts. The Federal Register version is described as the controlling document.

25) What were the key dates for the FY 2009 competition listed in the notice?

Applications were made available on May 15, 2009. The deadline for transmittal was June 15, 2009. The program record was archived on July 15, 2009.

26) Who should be contacted for technical access issues with e-Grants/e-Application?

The systems administrator contact listed for technical access issues is Julius Cotton at 202-245-6140 or julius.cotton@ed.gov.

27) Who should be contacted for program questions?

The program manager contact listed for program questions is Carnisia M. Proctor at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC (telephone 202-502-7606).

28) Which regulations are referenced for HSI eligibility, and where are they located?

The notice points to the relevant HSI eligibility regulations in 34 CFR 606.2 through 606.5 and provides a federal website link where those regulations can be accessed.

29) Does the notice caution anything about relying on the CFR text?

Yes. The notice cautions that the CFR text may not fully reflect later statutory changes described in the synopsis.