Office of Postsecondary Education Overview Information Fulbright Hays Group Projects Abroad Program CFDA 84.021A | Apply Online

Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program (CFDA 84.021A) - FAQs

What is the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program?

The Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program (CFDA 84.021A) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education. It supports short-term overseas projects intended to strengthen modern foreign language and area studies in the United States.

What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The central aim is to fund group-based international experiences that combine training, research, and curriculum development. The intent is for participants to work together on a shared academic and educational focus and bring back concrete instructional and scholarly benefits to U.S. classrooms and institutions.

What kinds of projects does the program typically fund?

Typical projects include overseas seminars, group study or research trips, and structured curriculum development activities. These projects are designed to produce outputs that can be used broadly in the United States, such as improved course materials and new or revised curricula.

Does this program fund individual travel or individual research projects?

No. A key feature of the program is that it funds projects involving groups of teachers, students, and faculty rather than individual travel or isolated research. The emphasis is on building shared expertise and producing broadly useful educational outcomes.

Who are the participants usually involved in a GPA project?

Projects are described as group-based and may involve teachers, students, and faculty working together as a group on a shared focus while engaging in overseas, immersive activities.

What are examples of expected benefits or deliverables from a funded project?

The opportunity highlights expected benefits such as improved course materials, new or revised curricula, stronger institutional capacity in language and area studies, and deeper knowledge of specific world regions and cultures that can be translated into better instruction and learning in the United States.

Why does the program emphasize overseas and immersive experiences?

Because projects are overseas and immersive, they are meant to provide firsthand exposure and academic engagement. The expectation is that participants translate those experiences into stronger teaching, learning, and curriculum back in the United States.

What agency administers this grant?

The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education.

What is the CFDA number and how should applicants search for the application package?

The opportunity references CFDA 84.021A and instructs applicants to search for CFDA number 84.021 on Grants.gov without including the letter suffix when searching.

When was this funding opportunity posted and when were applications due?

The opportunity was posted on August 15, 2008, with applications available the same day. The submission deadline was September 26, 2008.

How many awards were anticipated for this cycle?

The program anticipated making about 30 awards for this funding cycle.

What was the estimated total funding amount for this cycle?

The estimated total funding amount listed for this cycle was $2,353,370.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed for this opportunity. Based on the information provided, applicants were not required to provide matching funds as a condition of receiving an award.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, state departments of education, private nonprofit educational organizations, and consortia made up of these entities. The listing also notes public and state controlled institutions of higher education as eligible applicants.

Can a consortium apply?

Yes. Consortia made up of eligible entities (such as institutions of higher education, state departments of education, and private nonprofit educational organizations) are included as eligible applicants.

How must applications be submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the downloadable application package associated with CFDA 84.021. Applicants were expected to complete the package offline and upload it through the Grants.gov portal.

Can applications be submitted by email?

No. The notice explicitly states that submissions could not be sent by email and instead had to be uploaded via Grants.gov.

Where can applicants get technical help with Grants.gov?

Technical support was provided through the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 and support@grants.gov.

Is the funding opportunity description itself the official, controlling guidance?

No. The notice emphasizes that the description provided is only a synopsis. The controlling, official requirements and details are those published in the Federal Register, which applicants were directed to consult for authoritative guidance.

Where should applicants look for official eligibility rules, selection criteria, and allowable activities?

Applicants were directed to the Federal Register for the official requirements, including eligibility rules, selection criteria, allowable activities, and application instructions.

Who are the program and administrative contacts listed for this opportunity?

The announcement listed Joyce Mays (Management Analyst, 202-245-6122, joyce.mays@ed.gov) and Program Manager Michelle Guilfoil at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC (telephone 202-502-7625).