Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program CFDA Number 84.200A | Apply Online

GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) Program FAQs

1) What is the GAANN Program (CFDA 84.200A)?

The Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE). It is designed to strengthen graduate education in fields the federal government identifies as areas of national need by supporting graduate fellowships through eligible academic departments and programs.

2) Who receives GAANN grant funds: students or departments?

GAANN funds are awarded to eligible academic departments and programs at institutions of higher education (IHEs), not directly to individual students. Departments that receive GAANN grants then use the funds to provide graduate fellowships to eligible students.

3) What is the purpose of GAANN in practical terms?

In practical terms, GAANN is meant to build capacity in key disciplines by helping departments recruit and support high-performing graduate students who might otherwise be unable to afford advanced study.

4) Who is eligible to apply for GAANN funding?

Eligibility is focused on academic departments (not entire institutions as a whole). An eligible applicant is any academic department of an IHE that:

• Offers a course of study leading to a graduate degree in an area of national need; and
• Has been in existence for at least four years at the time of application.

5) Can an entire university apply, or only a department?

Based on the opportunity description provided, the eligible applicant is an academic department of an IHE rather than the institution as a whole.

6) What types of students can be supported with GAANN fellowships?

Departments use GAANN funds to provide graduate fellowships to students who:

• Have strong academic records,
• Can demonstrate financial need, and
• Intend to pursue the highest degree available in their course of study at that institution (typically doctoral study where applicable).

7) Do fellows have to pursue a specific degree level?

Fellows are expected to intend to pursue the highest degree available in their course of study at the institution. Where applicable, this is typically doctoral study.

8) What is the "area of national need" requirement?

The eligible department must offer a course of study leading to a graduate degree in a field the federal government considers an area of national need. The summary describes this requirement but indicates that the official requirements and definitions are contained in the formal Federal Register notice.

9) Is there an option for a joint application with another institution?

Yes. The notice allows a joint application option in which an eligible degree-granting academic department may apply together with one or more eligible non-degree-granting institutions.

10) What conditions apply to joint applications with non-degree-granting institutions?

Non-degree-granting partners must have formal arrangements to support doctoral dissertation research with one or more degree-granting institutions. This joint structure is intended to broaden research support and training opportunities for doctoral candidates where collaboration across institutions is important.

11) How many awards were anticipated for this competition cycle?

For this competition cycle, the program anticipated making about 125 awards.

12) What was the estimated total funding amount for this cycle?

The estimated total funding amount listed for this cycle was $23,629,000.

13) Was there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement was listed in the summary. Applicants were not required to provide a specified institutional match as a condition of receiving funds.

14) How were applications required to be submitted?

Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the downloadable application package associated with the CFDA number.

15) How do applicants find the application package on Grants.gov?

The notice included a specific instruction to search using "84.200" (without the alpha suffix) rather than "84.200A" when locating the package on Grants.gov.

16) What were the key dates for this competition cycle?

The opportunity was posted on April 1, 2015, applications were available the same day, and the deadline for transmittal was May 29, 2015.

17) What does "deadline for transmittal" mean in this context?

The summary uses the term "deadline for transmittal" to identify the date by which applications had to be submitted via Grants.gov for this competition cycle (May 29, 2015).

18) Where should applicants look for the official rules and requirements?

The synopsis emphasizes that the funding opportunity description is only a summary. The official requirements, definitions, selection criteria, and application instructions are contained in the formal Federal Register notice. Applicants are expected to rely on the Federal Register notice as the authoritative source.

19) Who can applicants contact for Grants.gov technical assistance?

Applicants needing technical assistance were directed to the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

20) Who can applicants contact with program or application questions at the Department of Education?

The listing provides agency contact points within the U.S. Department of Education, including:

• Joyce Mays, Management Analyst: 202-245-6122, joyce.mays@ed.gov
• Program Manager Rebecca Ell: 202-502-7779