The Collaborative Training Grants Program

Collaborative Training Grants

Proposal Guidelines

Proposals Due July 14, 2006

Funded by the United States Department of State ■ Administered by NAFSA

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The Collaborative Training Grants Program

Program Goals and Objectives

The Collaborative Training Grants (CTG) Program provides grant awards up to $15,000 for the development and implementation of innovative international education training activities and/or products.

Funded training projects:

·  sensitize U.S. campuses and their respective communities to the needs of students from Arabic-speaking countries;

·  help U.S. institutions of higher education and international education-related non-profit organizations provide training for international educators, faculty, staff, volunteers, and community members who work with international and/or U.S. study abroad students;

·  enable participants involved in funded activities to develop and sustain successful international education programs on their campuses/communities; and

·  require collaborative efforts among institutions in the same city or state, across states, or among campus offices, organizations, and departments on aspects of project planning, delivery, and implementation.

Funded training projects should also equip participants with skills and resources to meet one or more of the following objectives.

·  Assist international educators in internationalizing their campuses.

·  Increase the visibility of international education and exchanges through training activities. NAFSA encourages activities during International Education Week, but training activities can be held at any time of year.

·  Develop innovative international education training products such as digital, audiovisual, or print resources, training curricula, and workshop models that will serve as learning tools for international educators.

·  Implement laws and regulations affecting international exchanges.

·  Increase the number of U.S. students studying abroad.

·  Increase the involvement of international students and scholars with the U.S. institutions and local communities where they study and live.

·  Help U.S. institutions recruit and retain international students and scholars.

The Collaborative Training Grants program is designed to be flexible and fund a variety of training activities and/or products. Funded projects might include a region-wide workshop that focuses on an Arabic-speaking country or world region, a campus-based seminar to help international educators understand the difficulty of being in a new culture, or the development of a manual to help institutions learn how to identify partners for new exchanges.

Collaborative Training grants are made available through funding from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended.

Eligibility Requirements

I. Purpose of Collaborative Training Grants

A.  Eligible projects are those that reflect the goals and objectives of the Collaborative Training Grants Program (see page 1). These projects must involve collaborative efforts in planning, delivery and implementation of the project among institutions in the same city or state, across states, or among campus offices, organizations, and departments and they should serve as models for adaptation and replication in other settings. Projects may be for the development and implementation of new initiatives or for substantive improvements to existing activities.

B.  Collaborative Training Grants are not awarded for accredited courses, the development of academic, credit-bearing curriculum, or basic services of an institution.

II. Eligible Applicants

A.  Institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations in the U.S. and U.S. territories are eligible to apply. (For example: international student and U.S. study abroad campus offices, career planning offices, residence hall programs, health and counseling services, disabled student services, faculty departments, consortia, international education related non-profit organizations.)

B.  Grants are not awarded to individuals.

C.  Grants are not awarded to K-12 institutions or for-profit organizations.

D.  Grants are not awarded to student-based programs. The proposed program participants or resource recipients should be professionals, community members, faculty, or volunteers, including part-time staff, who work with international students and/or U.S. study abroad students in higher education organizations/institutions.

E.  NAFSA membership is not required.

III. Project Requirements

A.  All projects must be completed and grant funds spent by October 31, 2007. Project final reports must be submitted to NAFSA no later than 30 days after the end date of the project.

B.  Grant requests must not exceed $15,000.

C.  All grant funds must be spent in the U.S. or U.S. territories.

D.  If more than one office within an institution is collaborating on the proposed project, one office must be designated as the lead office. The lead office is responsible for all correspondence with NAFSA. If the project is funded, the lead office will be responsible for submitting all narrative and financial reports.

E.  If more than one institution is collaborating on the proposed project, one institution must be designated as the lead institution. The lead institution is responsible for all correspondence with NAFSA. If the project is funded, the lead institution will be responsible for submitting all narrative and financial reports.

F.  The lead office at an institution/organization cannot receive more than one CTG grant. The lead office at an institution/organization may only submit one CTG proposal.

G.  Only one CTG Program grant can be awarded for a single project. Multiple collaborating offices/institutions can not apply for multiple grants to fund the same project. However, the collaborating offices/institutions/organizations may submit a proposal for a separate project as a lead office/institution/organization.

H.  Grant funds cannot be used retroactively. Proposed projects must have start dates no sooner than October 1, 2006 to allow for proposal review.

Grant Deadline

The deadline for the 2006 Collaborative Training Grant proposals is July 14, 2006.

Grant Criteria and Review

NAFSA staff members screen all proposals for eligibility. Proposals that do not adhere to CTG Program eligibility requirements and submission guidelines will be deemed ineligible for review by the Collaborative Training Grants Program Task Force. Eligible proposals are sent to the CTG Program Task Force for review and final decisions.

The Collaborative Training Grants Program Task Force evaluates proposals using the following criteria:

·  training is developed around sensitizing U.S. campuses and their respective communities to the needs
of students from Arabic-speaking countries

·  demonstrated collaboration among institutions or departments/offices within an institution;

·  clear identification of knowledge and skills to be developed through the training grant;

·  clearly stated and well conceived project objectives that adhere to the goals and objectives of the CTG Program and that meet the demonstrated needs of the applicant institution(s)/organization(s);

·  the presentation of substantive, sustainable, high-impact activities;

·  the on-going impact of funded projects on participating institutions after the grant period has ended (for example, through the replication of funded activities, follow-on activities, and/or the use of funded products/materials);

·  activities that link the training of individual project participants to larger campus internationalization projects, so that the training benefits the entire institution, not only the individuals participating in funded activities; and

·  well developed project evaluation plan and strong evaluation tools.

The CTG Program Task Force is made up of NAFSA members. The task force seeks to award grants to a diverse group of institutions. Applicants should carefully review all application guidelines, criteria, and funding restrictions prior to the submission of their proposals.

Proposal Format and Contents

Proposals must include the following components. Proposals must be assembled in the order given, using the same Roman numerals (I through VII) within the body of the proposal.

I.  Application Cover Sheet

·  This form must be completed and used as the cover sheet for the original and each of the seven copies of your proposal.

·  This form must be typed.

·  The project director from the lead institution will be listed in the NAFSA database as the primary contact person on the project.

·  Projects cannot begin before October 1, 2006. Projects must be completed and funds spent by October 31, 2007.

·  If more than one institution is collaborating on the proposed project, complete the cover sheet AND the “Additional Information” form (Page 2 of the Application form). The cover sheet should list information about the lead institution and the “Additional Information” form should list information about all collaborating institutions and cumulative totals related to student population and project participants. The “Additional Information” form should be attached to all copies of the proposal.

II.  Profiles of Collaborating Institutions/Organizations

·  This section can be no longer than ONE double-sided, double-spaced page.

·  The profile should include information about the lead office or institution/organization as well as information about any offices and/or institutions/organizations that will be collaborating on the project.

·  Please define the relationship among collaborating partners.

III.  Narrative

·  The font size within the narrative MUST be a minimum of 11 point.

·  The narrative must be double-spaced, double-sided, and paginated.

·  The narrative section of the proposal can be a maximum of four pages (eight sides) in length.

·  Use the LETTERED headings below within the body of the narrative. The bulleted items should be addressed, if applicable to the proposed project, but should NOT be given separate headings. The bulleted items are listed to help applicants write complete and descriptive proposals.

A. Project Objectives

·  Describe the overall goal(s) and expected outcomes of proposed training activities.

·  Outline project objectives and include a narrative explanation of how those objectives will assist the applicant institution(s) to address the specific needs/interests of participants on the campus and in the community.

·  Explain how the proposed training activities address a demonstrated need. If a needs assessment was conducted, describe the assessment participants, the survey or method used, and the results.

·  Explain how planned activities will accomplish the stated objectives.

·  Explain the long-term benefits to the participants, institution(s), and community.

B. Description of Planned Activities

·  Describe planned training activities and identify the audience/trainees, including what participants are expected to gain or learn and what is planned to facilitate the learning process.

·  If developing a training product, describe the purpose of the product, its content, intended audience, and format.

·  If applicable, include a draft of the training curriculum including information to be covered and additional resources/support to be provided to participants.

·  If applicable, include a draft training schedule.

·  Include a realistic timeline for the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of the project. Please note that projects must be completed and funds spent by October 31, 2007.

C. Project Management and Participation

·  Explain which office/institution will lead project activities and describe planned collaboration with project partners in other offices/institutions.

·  Describe the qualifications of the project coordinator(s)/organizer(s)/speaker(s)/trainer(s).

·  Describe the project participants/audience.

·  If applicable, describe how the proposed training activities will be advertised to potential participants.

·  Explain how participants will be selected to take part in proposed activities.

D. Evaluation

·  Describe the program evaluation plan.

·  Describe how the success of the program will be measured.

·  Attach a sample evaluation instrument(s) in Section VI

E. Continuation/Follow-on Activities

·  Explain how the funded activities will impact participating offices/institutions after grant funding has ended.

·  Explain if and how the project will continue after the expenditure of grant funding.

·  Describe any follow-on activities that will take place after the grant-funded activities have ended.

·  If developing a training product, describe how that product will be shared or distributed.

·  Describe any plans to share project findings, materials, or products with a larger audience (at applicant institution(s), at a conference, on a Web site, etc.).

IV.  Project Budget

A. Budget Narrative

·  See page 6 for budget guidelines and restrictions.

·  Budget narrative should be no longer than one double-sided, double-spaced page in length.

·  Explain why grant funds are being requested.

·  Describe and justify each item for which grant funds are requested. Be certain that all items listed in the budget are related to proposed activities described in Section III of the proposal.

·  Provide evidence of financial and participatory support from the institution, the community, and the participants (in-kind and cash contributions must be included in the budget).

B. Four-Column Budget

·  Budgets must be submitted in the four-column format illustrated below.

·  Include the cash contribution column, even if all cost sharing is in the form of in-kind contributions.

·  Be certain that all budget rows and columns are totaled correctly. Proposals with mathematical errors will be deemed ineligible for review by the Collaborative Training Grants Program Task Force.

·  Be certain that all items listed in the budget are related to proposed activities described in Section III of the proposal.

·  All items requiring support should be included in the budget, not just items to be funded by the grant.

·  Budget should reflect any cost-share from collaborating institutions/offices.

SAMPLE BUDGET:

Item / Amount Requested from NAFSA / Amount of In-kind Contributions / Amount of Cash Contributions
Project coordinator
6 hours per week x 15 weeks x $25 per hour + 30% fringe benefits / $0 / $2,925 (International Center) / $0
Graduate Assistant
20 hours per week x 15 weeks x $10 per hour / $2,000 / $1,000 (International Center) / $0
Presenter Travel and Lodging
Train ticket at $200 and 2 nights lodging at $150/night / $300 / $0 / $200 (Donated by local travel agent.)
Presenter Honoraria
1 day at $600 / $350 / $0 / $250 (Grant from the University Fund)
Refreshments
$200 per training session x 2 sessions / $150 / $250 (Catering Services) / $0
Training Facilities Rental
$500 room fee and $350 for audio/visual equipment / $350 / $500 (Facilities Department) / $0
Printing of Training Manuals for 35 Participants
35 manuals at $12 each / $420 / $0 / $0
TOTAL / $3,570 / $4,675 / $450

Budget Guidelines and Restrictions

1.  All expenses must be justified in the proposal.

2.  Proposals must demonstrate at least 100% cost sharing (i.e. if requesting $4,000 from NAFSA, in-kind and cash contributions from participants, campus sources, and/or community sources must equal at least $4,000.) Specify sources of support for each item as illustrated above.

·  In-kind contributions: the donation of goods and/or services to the project budget. A contribution of equipment, supplies, or other tangible resources as distinguished from a cash contribution. Staff time spent on a project and donations of the use of space are also in-kind contributions.