Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004413
Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004413
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.322 Distance Education Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 23, 2013 and posted on Dec 23, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 7, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $750,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $70,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may only be submitted by an Eligible Institution. For the purposes of the DEG grants program, an eligible institution means an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1995 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), that is located in an Insular Area and that has a demonstrable capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences. Individual Land grant colleges and universities, and other institutions that have secured Land grant status through Federal legislation, and which are located in Insular Areas are automatically eligible for awards under the DEG grants program. The eight insular areas are the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) is a competitive grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to strengthen higher education capacity in the insular areas by expanding and improving distance education in the food and agricultural sciences. The program is designed to help eligible colleges and universities enhance resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching programs by using distance education technologies, with an emphasis on improving formal, postsecondary agricultural sciences education. In practice, this means supporting projects that modernize or extend how agricultural science coursework and instruction are delivered to students who may face geographic isolation, limited local course availability, or infrastructure constraints that make traditional in-person delivery difficult.
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA RIGP 004413; CFDA 10.322) falls under the Agriculture Education activity category and uses the standard grant funding instrument. It was posted on December 23, 2013, with an application closing date of March 7, 2014, and it was later archived on April 6, 2014. While the dates indicate this particular notice is historical, the summary details capture how the program is structured and what it aims to achieve: increasing instructional reach and quality in agriculture-related higher education programs across eligible insular jurisdictions through distance learning tools and systems.
Funding for the program was estimated at a total of $750,000. Individual awards were capped at $70,000 (award ceiling), and the stated minimum award amount was $0 (award floor), which typically signals that award sizes may vary and that the agency retains discretion depending on the final selection slate and availability of funds. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers barriers for institutions with limited discretionary resources and makes it easier to propose projects focused on instructional delivery, course development, faculty training, learning platforms, and related distance education needs without having to commit institutional match dollars.
Eligibility is limited to an "Eligible Institution" as defined in the announcement. Specifically, applicants must be institutions of higher education, as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), that are located in an insular area and have a demonstrable capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Land-grant colleges and universities (including those granted land-grant status through federal legislation) located in insular areas are automatically eligible. The eight insular areas explicitly listed are the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This geographic and institutional targeting reflects the program goal of building sustained educational capacity where distance and limited local resources can constrain access to specialized agricultural science training.
The core purpose of DEG is capacity building through technology-enabled education. Projects under this program are generally expected to improve the institution’s ability to deliver high-quality agricultural science instruction at the postsecondary level using distance education approaches. That can include developing or upgrading online and hybrid courses, improving instructional design and digital content for agriculture curricula, implementing or enhancing learning management systems and related tools, training faculty in effective distance teaching methods, and improving connectivity or other practical components that enable consistent and effective delivery to students. The overarching intent is not simply to purchase technology, but to use distance education strategically to strengthen academic programs, increase student access to agricultural coursework, and improve the quality and consistency of instruction in disciplines tied to food and agriculture.
For applicant support, the notice lists the NIFA Help Desk as the contact point for difficulty accessing the full announcement, with a phone number of 202-401-5048 and business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays. The announcement also notes that questions related to preparing application content could be directed through the channels provided in the full solicitation, reinforcing that applicants were expected to follow NIFA’s competitive grants procedures and any proposal formatting, submission, and review requirements specified in the complete program materials.
Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) - FAQs
What is the Distance Education Grants Program (DEG)?
The Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) is a competitive grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is intended to strengthen higher education capacity in insular areas by expanding and improving distance education in the food and agricultural sciences.
What is the main purpose of DEG funding?
The program supports capacity building through technology-enabled education. Its focus is on improving formal, postsecondary agricultural sciences education by enhancing resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching programs using distance education technologies.
What kind of institutions is the program designed to help?
The program is designed to help eligible colleges and universities in insular areas improve their ability to deliver high-quality agricultural science instruction at the postsecondary level through distance education approaches.
Which agency administers this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by USDA NIFA (the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
Is this a competitive grant or a formula allocation?
It is a competitive grant opportunity.
What is the funding instrument used for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses the standard grant funding instrument.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The notice places this opportunity under the Agriculture Education activity category.
What are the identifying numbers for this opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA RIGP 004413, and the CFDA number is 10.322.
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The notice was posted on December 23, 2013. The application closing date was March 7, 2014. The opportunity was archived on April 6, 2014.
Is this notice current or historical?
Based on the dates provided (including the archived date), this particular notice is historical. The summary describes the program structure and goals as presented in that notice.
How much total funding was estimated for the program?
Total estimated program funding was $750,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $70,000 per award.
What was the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor was stated as $0, indicating award amounts could vary and that final award sizes were subject to agency discretion and available funds.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to an "Eligible Institution" as defined in the announcement. Applicants must be institutions of higher education (as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) that are located in an insular area and have a demonstrable capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences.
Are land-grant institutions in insular areas eligible?
Yes. Land-grant colleges and universities (including those granted land-grant status through federal legislation) located in insular areas are automatically eligible.
Which insular areas are specifically listed as eligible locations?
The eight insular areas explicitly listed are the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
What does the program aim to improve for students?
The program aims to expand access and improve instructional reach and quality, particularly for students who face geographic isolation, limited local course availability, or infrastructure constraints that can make traditional in-person instruction difficult.
What types of projects does DEG generally support?
The program supports projects that expand or improve distance education in agricultural sciences. Examples described in the notice include developing or upgrading online and hybrid courses, improving instructional design and digital content for agriculture curricula, implementing or enhancing learning management systems and related tools, training faculty in effective distance teaching methods, and improving connectivity or other practical components needed for consistent delivery.
Does the program focus only on purchasing technology?
No. The intent is not simply to buy technology, but to use distance education strategically to strengthen academic programs, increase access to agricultural coursework, and improve the quality and consistency of instruction.
What educational level is emphasized by this program?
The notice emphasizes improving formal, postsecondary agricultural sciences education.
What academic disciplines are in scope for supported instruction?
The program targets instruction in disciplines tied to food and agriculture and is linked to teaching and extension capacity in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences.
What should applicants do if they cannot access the full announcement?
The notice directs applicants to contact the NIFA Help Desk for difficulty accessing the full announcement.
How can someone contact the NIFA Help Desk?
The phone number provided is 202-401-5048.
What are the NIFA Help Desk hours?
The help desk hours listed are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Where should questions about preparing application content be directed?
The notice indicates that questions about preparing application content could be directed through the channels provided in the full solicitation, and that applicants were expected to follow NIFA competitive grants procedures and the formatting, submission, and review requirements in the complete program materials.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA RIGP 004413) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 004425 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 004425 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 004424 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SAECP 004424 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Children, Youth, and Families At Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Community Projects Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004490 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 004490 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $175,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) Apply for USDA CSREES RIGP 002074 Funding Number: USDA CSREES RIGP 002074 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $745,000 |
| Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Apply for USDA CSREES SAECP 002584 Funding Number: USDA CSREES SAECP 002584 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 002644 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 002644 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 002673 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 002673 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Alaska Native Serving and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH) Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 002819 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 002819 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) and Distance Education Grants for Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 002820 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 002820 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 003378 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 003378 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 003393 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 003393 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $860,000 |
| Distance Education Grants for Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 003396 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 003396 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $720,000 |
| Alaska Native Serving and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 003407 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 003407 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Food And Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 003435 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEP 003435 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $262,500 |
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