Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Program | Apply Online

Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program (OPE) - FAQs

1) What is the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program?

The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education intended to strengthen Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). In practical terms, it supports projects that help HSIs serve Hispanic students more effectively while also improving institutional capacity and stability.

2) What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The central purpose is to expand educational opportunities for Hispanic students and improve their academic attainment, while building the long-term capacity of the institutions that educate a large share of Hispanic college students. The program emphasizes both student outcomes (such as persistence and completion) and institutional improvements (such as stronger academic offerings and higher program quality).

3) What types of results is the program trying to achieve?

Based on the program description provided, the program aims to support efforts that improve student outcomes (including persistence and completion of postsecondary degrees) and strengthen the institution itself through enhancements to academic offerings, improvements in program quality, and increased institutional stability.

4) Which federal agency administers this opportunity?

This opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Education through the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE).

5) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is ED-GRANTS-032015-001.

6) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The associated CFDA number is 84.031. The notice also indicates the HSI competition is often referenced as 84.031S, but applicants were instructed to search Grants.gov using 84.031 (without the letter suffix) to locate the application package.

7) What activity category does this funding fall under?

The opportunity is listed under the Education activity category.

8) What program area does this opportunity belong to?

It is part of the Higher Education Institutional Aid area.

9) When was this opportunity posted and when did applications become available?

The opportunity was posted on March 20, 2015, and applications were available starting March 20, 2015. The creation date listed is March 23, 2015.

10) What was the application deadline?

The deadline for transmittal of applications was May 19, 2015.

11) Is this opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was archived on August 18, 2015.

12) How many awards were anticipated?

The program anticipated 87 awards.

13) What was the estimated total funding amount for the competition?

The estimated total funding amount was $52,287,473.

14) What was the expected award size (minimum and maximum)?

Individual awards were expected to range from $525,000 (floor) to $650,000 (ceiling).

15) Was cost-sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement was indicated in the information provided. Applicants were not required to provide a formal match as a condition of the award under this notice.

16) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to qualifying institutions of higher education. The listing specifies public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as eligible applicants, and more broadly references eligible Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) as the target grantee type. The program is intended for institutions that meet the federal definition of an HSI.

17) What kinds of institutions is the program designed to support?

The program is designed to support Hispanic Serving Institutions that are positioned to use funds to strengthen programs, services, and institutional capacity in ways that measurably benefit Hispanic students and improve completion-related outcomes. The description also notes benefits to other low-income students served by these campuses.

18) How were applications submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the governmentwide "Apply" process.

19) How did applicants find the correct application package on Grants.gov?

Applicants were instructed to locate the downloadable application package by searching the CFDA number without the letter suffix. Specifically, they should search for 84.031 rather than 84.031S.

20) Who could applicants contact for Grants.gov submission or technical issues?

For technical submission issues, Grants.gov support was available via 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

21) Who were the Department of Education contacts for program questions?

For program-specific questions or difficulty accessing the full announcement, the notice provided Department of Education contacts: Joyce Mays (202-245-6122, joyce.mays@ed.gov) and Carnisia Proctor (202-502-7606).

22) What source should applicants rely on for official requirements like eligibility rules and selection criteria?

For authoritative eligibility rules, required application components, selection criteria, and other binding requirements, the notice emphasizes that applicants must rely on the official Federal Register application notice rather than the synopsis.

23) What is the practical focus of projects funded under this program?

The description emphasizes projects that strengthen institutions and improve how they serve Hispanic students, including efforts that enhance academic offerings, raise program quality, and promote institutional stability so more students persist and complete degrees.