Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004090
Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004090
- 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 27, 2012 and posted on Dec 27, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 1, 2013. (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 $750,000.00 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 and agricultural 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, either as direct applicants or as parties to a consortium agreement.
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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) under CFDA 10.322. Its core purpose is to strengthen the capacity of colleges and universities located in U.S. Insular Areas to deliver strong food and agricultural sciences education by using distance education technology. In practical terms, the program is meant to help eligible institutions expand or improve resident instruction, curriculum development, and teaching programs in agriculture-related fields by leveraging online learning tools, telecommunications, and other technology-enabled approaches that can overcome geographic isolation and limited local instructional resources.
The funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA RIGP 004090) was offered as a discretionary grant program, with awards made through a competitive process. The estimated total funding available for the cycle reflected in the announcement was $750,000, and the maximum award amount (award ceiling) was also listed as $750,000, with no stated minimum award (award floor of $0). The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can be significant for institutions in Insular Areas that may have limited access to non-federal funds or face higher operational costs.
Eligibility was restricted to an "Eligible Institution" as defined in the announcement. Specifically, applicants had to be institutions of higher education as defined in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) that are located in an Insular Area and that can demonstrate capacity to conduct teaching and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences. The announcement further notes that individual land-grant colleges and universities, as well as other institutions that have obtained land-grant status through federal legislation and are located in Insular Areas, are automatically eligible to receive awards under DEG. Those institutions may apply directly or participate as part of a consortium arrangement, which can allow multiple organizations to combine expertise and infrastructure to deliver stronger distance education offerings.
From an applicant perspective, the program sits at the intersection of agriculture and education, with its activity category labeled "Agriculture Education." Projects supported by DEG generally align with improving formal postsecondary education in agricultural sciences, meaning proposals would typically focus on expanding access to agricultural courses and programs, improving instructional quality, and modernizing curriculum delivery through distance learning. While the announcement summary does not list specific project types, the stated purpose implies allowable activities could include developing online or hybrid coursework in agricultural disciplines, upgrading distance-learning platforms and classroom connectivity, creating digital instructional materials and laboratory simulations, training faculty to effectively teach using distance education tools, and building collaborative course-sharing models across institutions to broaden course availability for students.
The timeline shown in the source data indicates the opportunity was posted on December 27, 2012, with an original and current closing date of March 1, 2013, and an archive date of March 31, 2013. For assistance, NIFA provided a help desk contact for difficulties accessing the full announcement electronically (NIFA Help Desk, 202-401-5048, business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The notice also indicates there was a point of contact for questions related to preparing application content, though the specific name or details are not included in the text provided.
Overall, DEG is designed to address the unique challenges that Insular Area institutions often face, such as limited local specialized faculty, fewer upper-division course offerings, higher costs of bringing in expertise, and infrastructure constraints. By focusing funds on distance education capacity in food and agricultural sciences, the program aims to help these institutions deliver more robust, modern, and accessible agricultural education that supports local workforce development, food systems resilience, and long-term regional capacity in agriculture and related sciences.
Distance Education Grants Program (DEG) for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas - 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 discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.322. It is designed to strengthen the ability of eligible colleges and universities in U.S. Insular Areas to deliver high-quality food and agricultural sciences education using distance education technology.
What is the main purpose of the DEG program?
The core purpose is to strengthen institutional capacity to deliver strong food and agricultural sciences education by leveraging distance education tools, telecommunications, and other technology-enabled approaches. In practical terms, the program aims to help institutions overcome challenges like geographic isolation and limited local instructional resources by expanding or improving instruction, curriculum development, and teaching programs in agriculture-related fields.
Which federal agency administers this grant opportunity?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 10.322.
What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number provided is USDA NIFA RIGP 004090.
Is this grant awarded competitively or by formula?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant program, with awards made through a competitive process.
How much total funding was estimated to be available for this cycle?
The estimated total funding available for the cycle reflected in the announcement was $750,000.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed was $750,000.
Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No minimum award amount was stated. The award floor was listed as $0.
Does the DEG program require cost sharing or matching funds?
No. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility was restricted to an "Eligible Institution" as defined in the announcement. Applicants had to be institutions of higher education (as defined in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) that are located in an Insular Area and that can demonstrate capacity to conduct teaching and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences.
Are land-grant institutions in Insular Areas automatically eligible?
Yes. The announcement notes that individual land-grant colleges and universities, as well as other institutions that have obtained land-grant status through federal legislation and are located in Insular Areas, are automatically eligible to receive awards under DEG.
Can eligible institutions apply as part of a consortium?
Yes. Automatically eligible land-grant institutions may apply directly or participate as part of a consortium arrangement. A consortium can allow multiple organizations to combine expertise and infrastructure to deliver stronger distance education offerings.
What is the activity category for this grant program?
The activity category is labeled "Agriculture Education."
What kinds of projects does DEG support?
While the announcement summary does not list specific project types, the stated purpose implies projects generally focus on improving postsecondary education in food and agricultural sciences through distance education. Examples of implied activities include developing online or hybrid agricultural coursework, upgrading distance-learning platforms and classroom connectivity, creating digital instructional materials and laboratory simulations, training faculty to teach effectively using distance education tools, and building collaborative course-sharing models across institutions to broaden course availability.
How does the program address challenges unique to Insular Area institutions?
The program is designed to help address challenges such as limited local specialized faculty, fewer upper-division course offerings, higher costs of bringing in expertise, and infrastructure constraints. By investing in distance education capacity, the program aims to improve access to robust, modern agricultural education despite geographic isolation.
What outcomes is the DEG program intended to support?
Based on the stated goals, DEG is intended to help institutions deliver more robust and accessible agricultural education that supports local workforce development, strengthens food systems resilience, and builds long-term regional capacity in agriculture and related sciences.
When was this opportunity posted?
The timeline indicates the opportunity was posted on December 27, 2012.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date shown was March 1, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date shown was March 31, 2013.
Who can applicants contact for help accessing the full announcement electronically?
NIFA provided a help desk contact for difficulties accessing the full announcement electronically: NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048.
What were the NIFA Help Desk hours of operation?
The help desk hours were Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Is there a program contact for questions about preparing application content?
The notice indicates there was a point of contact for questions related to preparing application content, but the specific name or contact details are not included in the information provided here.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA RIGP 004090) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program Apply for USDA NIFA NLGCA 004248 Funding Number: USDA NIFA NLGCA 004248 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 004338 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEP 004338 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $262,500 |
| Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program Apply for USDA NIFA HEMS 004337 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEMS 004337 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004414 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004414 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $110,000 |
| Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004413 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004413 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| 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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