Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Alaska Native-Serving Institutions Program CFDA Number 84.031R | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the OPE Alaska Native-Serving Institutions Program (CFDA 84.031R)?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education (ED), administered through the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE). Its purpose is to strengthen colleges and universities that serve significant populations of Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students by supporting activities that build institutional capacity and improve how the institution serves these students.

2) What is the main goal of this grant?

The program is designed to help eligible institutions plan, develop, implement, and sustain improvements that increase the institution's overall capacity to serve Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students more effectively. The focus is on capacity-building efforts that can expand educational opportunity, bolster student success, and improve the institution's ability to meet community and workforce needs connected to these populations.

3) Who is the sponsoring agency for this opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the program is associated with the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE).

4) What types of institutions are eligible to apply?

Eligibility centers on institutions of higher education (IHEs) that meet specific undergraduate enrollment thresholds tied to Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian student representation. The official Federal Register notice provides the controlling eligibility definitions and documentation requirements.

5) What are the undergraduate enrollment thresholds for eligibility?

To qualify, an institution must have an undergraduate student body that is either:

• At least 20 percent Alaska Native, or
• At least 10 percent Native Hawaiian.

6) Where can applicants find the official eligibility rules and requirements?

The opportunity description emphasizes that the official, controlling guidance is provided in the Federal Register application notice. Applicants are expected to consult the Federal Register for exact definitions, required documentation, program constraints, and other mandatory requirements.

7) What kinds of activities can grant funds support?

The opportunity references authorized uses of funds described in section 317(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). While the summary does not list specific line-item activities, it describes the overall intent as supporting institutional capacity-building efforts. Examples of the general types of improvements mentioned include strengthening academic offerings, improving student support services, building administrative and data capacity, enhancing facilities and instructional resources, and other initiatives that help the institution serve Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students more effectively over time.

8) Is this grant intended for one-time events or short-term projects?

The description emphasizes capacity expansion and sustained improvement. The theme is not a single event or narrow project, but efforts that improve the way an institution operates and serves students over time.

9) How much funding is available per award?

The award ceiling listed in the posting is $500,000.

10) How many awards does the program expect to make?

The posting indicates that approximately 3 awards were anticipated under this competition.

11) What is the funding opportunity number for this competition?

The funding opportunity number is ED GRANTS 022616 003.

12) What is the CFDA number, and why does it matter for finding the application package?

The opportunity is identified as CFDA 84.031R, but the instructions state that applicants should search in Grants.gov using the base CFDA number without the alphabetic suffix. That means searching for "84.031" (not "84.031R") to locate the correct Grants.gov application package.

13) How must applications be submitted?

Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the governmentwide "Apply" function. Applicants are expected to download the application package, complete it offline, and upload it back into Grants.gov for submission.

14) Can an application be submitted by email?

No. The notice is explicit that applications cannot be submitted by email.

15) What are the key dates listed in the opportunity posting?

The posting date and creation date are both February 26, 2016. The application deadline (original and current) is April 26, 2016.

16) What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category listed in the posting is Education.

17) Is the brief description in the posting the full set of rules for the competition?

No. The description repeatedly states that the text provided is only a synopsis. The complete and authoritative rules, requirements, priorities, submission instructions, performance measures, and contact information are found in the official Federal Register notice.

18) What should applicants review in the Federal Register before applying?

According to the posting, applicants should review the Federal Register notice for essential items such as pre-application and application requirements, submission instructions, performance measures, priorities, and program contact information, along with any detailed eligibility definitions and constraints that govern the competition.

19) Where is the Federal Register notice available?

The posting indicates that the Federal Register can be accessed online and directs readers there for the complete, controlling guidance for the competition.

20) What is the overall purpose behind directing funds to institutions meeting the enrollment thresholds?

The intent described is to direct federal support to campuses where Alaska Native and/or Native Hawaiian students represent a meaningful share of the undergraduate community, so that targeted investments can measurably improve services, programs, and student outcomes for those populations.