The purpose of the Strengthening Institutions Program is to provide grants to eligible institutions of higher education to improve their academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability in order to increase their self-sufficiency and strengthen their capacity to make a substantial contribution to the higher education resources of the Nation.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, an institution of higher education is eligible to receive a grant under the Strengthening Institutions Program if—

(1) It has an enrollment of needy students as described in § 607.3(a), unless the Secretary waives this requirement under § 607.3(b);

(2) It has low average educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent undergraduate student as described in § 607.4(a), unless the Secretary waives this requirement under § 607.4(c).

(3) It is legally authorized by the State in which it is located to be a junior college or to provide an educational program for which it awards a bachelor's degree; and

(4) It is accredited or preaccredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association that the Secretary has determined to be a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training offered.

(b) A branch campus of an institution of higher education, if the institution as a whole meets the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) through (4) of this section, is eligible to receive a grant under the Strengthening Institutions Program even if, by itself, it does not satisfy the requirements of paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) of this section, although the branch must meet the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.

(c) For the purpose of paragraphs (e)(2) and (f)(2) of this section, an institution's enrollment consists of a head count of its entire student body.

(d) A tribal college or university may receive a grant authorized under section 316 of the HEA if—

(1) It satisfies the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, other than § 607.2(a)(3), and

(2)(i) It meets the definition of the term “tribally controlled college or university” in section 2 of the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978; or

(ii) It is listed in the Equity in Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994.

(e) An Alaska Native-serving institution may receive a grant under section 317 of the HEA if—

(1) It satisfies the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and

(2) It has, at the time of application, an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 20 percent Alaska Native students.

(f) A Native Hawaiian-serving institution may receive a grant authorized under section 317 of the HEA if—

(1) It satisfies the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and

(2) It has, at the time of application, an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent Native Hawaiian students.

(g)(1) An institution that qualifies for a grant under the Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program (34 CFR part 608) or the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program (34 CFR part 606) and receives a grant under either of these programs for a particular fiscal year is not eligible to receive a grant under this part for the same fiscal year.

(2) A tribal college or university that receives a grant under section 316 of the HEA or an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian-serving institution that receives a grant under section 317 of the HEA may not concurrently receive other grant funds under the Strengthening Institutions Program, Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, or Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions Program.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, for the purpose of § 607.2(a)(1), an applicant institution has an enrollment of needy students if in the base year—

(1) At least 50 percent of its degree students received student financial assistance under one or more of the following programs: Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, College Work-Study, and Perkins Loan; or

(2) The percentage of its undergraduate degree students who were enrolled on at least a half-time basis and received Pell Grants exceeded the median percentage of undergraduate degree students who were enrolled on at least a half-time basis and received Pell Grants at comparable institutions that offer similar instruction.

(b) The Secretary may waive the requirement contained in paragraph (a) of this section if the institution demonstrates that—

(1) The State provides more than 30 percent of the institution's budget and the institution charges not more than $99.00 for tuition and fees for an academic year;

(2) At least 30 percent of the students served by the institution in the base year were students from low-income families;

(3) The institution substantially increases the higher education opportunities for low-income students who are also educationally disadvantaged, underrepresented in postsecondary education, or minority students;

(4) The institution substantially increases the higher education opportunities for individuals who reside in an area that is not included in a “metropolitan statistical area” as defined by the Office of Management and Budget and who are unserved by other postsecondary institutions;

(5) The institution is located on or within 50 miles of an Indian reservation, or a substantial population of Indians and the institution will, if granted the waiver, substantially increase higher education opportunities for American Indians;

(6) It is a tribal college or university; or

(7) The institution will, if granted the waiver, substantially increase the higher education opportunities for Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders, including Native Hawaiians.

(c) For the purpose of paragraph (b) of this section, the Secretary considers “low-income” to be an amount which does not exceed 150 percent of the amount equal to the poverty level as established by the United States Bureau of the Census.

(d) Each year, the Secretary notifies prospective applicants through a notice in the Federal Register of the low-income figures.

(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, for the purpose of § 6072(a)(2), an applicant institution's average educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent undergraduate student in the base year must be less than the average educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent undergraduate student of comparable institutions that offer similar institution in that year.

(2) For the purpose of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the Secretary determines the average educational and general expenditure per FTE undergraduate student for institutions with graduate students that do not differentiate between graduate and undergraduate E&G expenditures by discounting the graduate enrollment using a factor of 2.5 times the number of graduate students.

(b) Each year, the Secretary notifies prospective applicants through a notice in the Federal Register of the average educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent undergraduate student at comparable institutions that offer similar instruction.

(c) The Secretary may waive the requirement contained in paragraph (a) of this section, if the Secretary determines, based upon persuasive evidence provided by the institution, that—

(1) The institution's failure to satisfy the criteria in paragraph (a) of this section was due to factors which, if used in determining compliance with those criteria, distorted that determination; and

(2) The institution's designation as an eligible institution under this part is otherwise consistent with the purposes of this part.

(d) For the purpose of paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the Secretary considers that the following factors may distort an institution's educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent undergraduate student—

(1) Low student enrollment;

(2) Location of the institution in an unusually high cost-of-living area;

(3) High energy costs;

(4) An increase in State funding that was part of a desegregation plan for higher education; or

(5) Operation of high cost professional schools such as medical or dental schools.

An institution shall apply to the Secretary to be designated an eligible institution under the Strengthening Institutions Program by submitting an application to the Secretary in the form, manner and time established by the Secretary. The application must contain—

(a) The information necessary for the Secretary to determine whether the institution satisfies the requirements of §§ 607.2, 607.3(a) and 607.4(a);

(b) Any waiver request under §§ 607.3(b) and 607.4(c); and

(c) Information or explanations justifying any requested waiver.

The following regulations apply to the Strengthening Institutions Program:

(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) as follows:

(1) [Reserved]

(2) 34 CFR part 75 (Direct Grant Programs), except 34 CFR 75.128(a)(2) and 75.129(a) in the case of applications for cooperative arrangements.

(3) 34 CFR part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department Regulations).

(4) 34 CFR part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of Education Programs and Activities).

(5) 34 CFR part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying).

(6) [Reserved]

(7) 34 CFR part 86 (Drug-Free Schools and Campuses).

(b) The regulations in this part 607.

(c)(1) 2 CFR part 180 (OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)), as adopted at 2 CFR part 3485; and

(2) 2 CFR part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards), as adopted at 2 CFR part 3474.

(a) Definitions in EDGAR. The following terms that apply to the Institutional Aid Programs are defined in 34 CFR 77.1:

(b) The following term used in this part is defined in section 312 of the HEA:

(c) The following terms used in this part are defined in section 316 of the HEA:

(e) The following definitions also apply to this part:

Accredited means the status of public recognition which a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association grants to an institution which meets certain established qualifications and educational standards.

Activity means an action that is incorporated into an implementation plan designed to meet one or more objectives. An activity is a part of a project and has its own budget that is approved to carry out the objectives of that subpart.

Base year means the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which an institution seeks a grant under this part.

Branch campus means a unit of a college or university that is geographically apart from the main campus of the college or university and independent of that main campus. The Secretary considers a unit of a college or university to be independent of the main campus if the unit—

(1) Is permanent in nature;

(2) Offers courses for credit and programs leading to an associate or bachelor's degree; and

(3) Is autonomous to the extent that it has—

(i) Its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization; and

(ii) Its own budgetary and hiring authority.

Comparable institutions that offer similar instruction means institutions that are being compared with an applicant institution and that fall within one of the following four categories—

(1) Public junior or community colleges;

(2) Private nonprofit junior or community colleges;

(3) Public institutions that offer an educational program for which they offer a bachelor's degree; or

(4) Private nonprofit institutions that offer an educational program for which they offer a bachelor's degree.

Cooperative arrangement means an arrangement to carry out allowable grant activities between an institution eligible to receive a grant under this part and another eligible or ineligible institution of higher education, under which the resources of the cooperating institutions are combined and shared to better achieve the purposes of this part and avoid costly duplication of effort.

Degree student means a student who enrolls at an institution for the purpose of obtaining the degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential offered by that institution.

Developmental program and services means new or improved programs and services, beyond those regularly budgeted, specifically designed to improve the self sufficiency of the school.

Educational and general expenditures means the total amount expended by an institution of higher education for instruction, research, public service, academic support (including library expenditures), student services, institutional support, scholarships and fellowships, operation and maintenance expenditures for the physical plant, and any mandatory transfers which the institution is required to pay by law.

Educationally disadvantaged means a college student who requires special services and assistance to enable them to succeed in higher education. The phrase includes, but is not limited to, students who come from—

(1) Economically disadvantaged families;

(2) Limited English proficiency families;

(3) Migrant worker families; or

(4) Families in which one or both of their parents have dropped out of secondary school.

Federal Pell Grant Program means the grant program authorized by title IV-A-1 of the HEA.

Federal Perkins Loan Program, formerly called the National Direct Student Loan Program, means the loan program authorized by title IV-E of the HEA.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant Program means the grant program authorized by title IV-A-3 of the HEA.

Federal Work-Study Program means the part-time employment program authorized under title IV-C of the HEA.

Full-time equivalent students means the sum of the number of students enrolled full-time at an institution, plus the full-time equivalent of the number of students enrolled part time (determined on the basis of the quotient of the sum of the credit hours of all part-time students divided by 12) at such institution.

HEA means the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

Hispanic student means a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

Institution of higher education means an educational institution defined in section 101 of the HEA.

Junior or community college means an institution of higher education—

(1) That admits as regular students persons who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the institution is located and who have the ability to benefit from the training offered by the institution;

(2) That does not provide an educational program for which it awards a bachelor's degree (or an equivalent degree); and

(3) That—

(i) Provides an educational program of not less than 2 years that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, or

(ii) Offers a 2-year program in engineering, mathematics, or the physical or biological sciences, designed to prepare a student to work as a technician or at the semiprofessional level in engineering, scientific, or other technological fields requiring the understanding and application of basic engineering, scientific, or mathematical principles of knowledge.

Low-income individual means an individual from a family whose taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of an amount equal to the poverty level determined by using criteria of poverty established by the Bureau of Census.

Minority student means a student who is Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian-American, Black (African-American), Hispanic American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander.

Nationally recognized accrediting agency or association means an accrediting agency or association that the Secretary has recognized to accredit or preaccredit a particular category of institution in accordance with the provisions contained in 34 CFR part 603. The Secretary periodically publishes a list of those nationally recognized accrediting agencies and associations in the Federal Register.

Operational programs and services means the regular, ongoing budgeted programs and services at an institution.

Preaccredited means a status that a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, recognized by the Secretary to grant that status, has accorded an unaccredited institution that is progressing toward accreditation within a reasonable period of time.

Project means all the funded activities under a grant.

Self-sufficiency means the point at which an institution is able to survive without continued funding under the Strengthening Institutions Program.

Underrepresented means proportionate representation as measured by degree recipients, that is less than the proportionate representation in the general population—

(1) As indicated by—

(i) The most current edition of the Department's Digest of Educational Statistics;

(ii) The National Research Council's Doctorate Recipients from United States Universities; or

(iii) Other standard statistical references, as announced annually in the Federal Register notice inviting applications for new awards under this program; or

(2) As documented by national survey data submitted to and accepted by the Secretary on a case-by-case basis.

(a) A comprehensive development plan is an institution's strategy for achieving growth and self-sufficiency by strengthening its—

(1) Academic programs;

(2) Institutional management; and

(3) Fiscal stability.

(b) The comprehensive development plan must include the following:

(1) An analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, and significant problems of the institution's academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability.

(2) A delineation of the institution's goals for its academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability, based on the outcomes of the analysis described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

(3) Measurable objectives related to reaching each goal and timeframes for achieving the objectives.

(4) Methods and resources that will be used to institutionalize practices and improvements developed under the proposed project.

(5) For a grant under section 316 of the HEA to a tribal college or university, its five-year plan for improving its services to Indian students, increasing the rates at which Indian secondary school students enroll in higher education, and increasing overall postsecondary retention rates for Indian students.

(6) For a grant under section 317 of the HEA to an Alaska Native-serving institution or to a Native Hawaiian-serving institution, its five-year plan for improving its services to Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian students, respectively.

(a)(1) Under this part, the Secretary may award planning grants and two types of development grants, individual development grants and cooperative arrangement development grants.

(2) Planning grants may be awarded for a period not to exceed one year.

(3) Either type of development grant may be awarded for a period of five years.

(b)(1) An institution that received an individual development grant of five years may not subsequently receive another individual development grant for a period of two years from the date on which the five-year grant period terminates.

(2) A cooperative arrangement grant is not considered to be an individual development grant under paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

(a) Planning grants. Under a planning grant, a grantee shall formulate—

(1) A comprehensive development plan described in § 607.8; and

(2) An application for a development grant.

(b) Development grants—allowable activities. Under a development grant, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, a grantee shall carry out activities that implement its comprehensive development plan and hold promise for strengthening the institution. Activities that may be carried out include, but are not limited to—

(1) Faculty exchanges, faculty fellowships, and faculty development that provide faculty with the skills and knowledge needed to—

(i) Develop academic support services, including advising and mentoring students;

(ii) Develop academic programs or methodology, including computer-assisted instruction, that strengthen the academic quality of the institution; or

(iii) Acquire terminal degrees that are required to obtain or retain accreditation of an academic program or department;

(2) Funds and administrative management that will improve the institution's ability to—

(i) Manage financial resources in an efficient and effective manner; and

(ii) Collect, access, and use information about the institution's operations for improved decisionmaking;

(3) Developing and improving academic programs that enable the institution to—

(i) Develop new academic programs or new program options that show promise for increased student enrollment;

(ii) Provide new technology or methodology to increase student success and retention or to retain accreditation; or

(iii) Improve curriculum or methodology for existing academic programs to stabilize or increase student enrollment;

(4) Acquiring equipment for use in strengthening management and academic programs to achieve objectives such as those described in paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section;

(5) Establishing or increasing the joint use of facilities such as libraries and laboratories to—

(i) Eliminate the distance and high cost associated with providing academic programs and academic support; or

(ii) Provide clinical experience that is part of an approved academic program at off-campus locations;

(6) Developing or improving student services to provide—

(i) New or improved methods to deliver student services, including counseling, tutoring, and instruction in basic skills; or

(ii) Improved strategies to train student services personnel;

(7) Payment of any portion of the salary of a dean, with proper justification, to fill a position under the project such as project coordinator or activity director. For purposes of this paragraph, proper justification includes evidence that the position entitled “Dean” is not one that has college-wide administrative authority and responsibility;

(8) Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;

(9) Construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other instructional facilities, including the integration of computer technology into institutional facilities to create smart buildings;

(10) Establishing or improving a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector;

(11) Establishing or improving an endowment fund, provided a grantee uses no more than 20 percent of its grant funds for this purpose and at least matches those grant funds with non-Federal funds;

(12) Creating or improving facilities for Internet or other distance learning academic instruction capabilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services;

(13) For grants authorized under section 316 of the HEA to tribal colleges or universities—

(i) Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;

(ii) Construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services;

(iii) Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist in attaining advanced degrees in their field of instruction;

(iv) Curriculum development and academic instruction;

(v) Purchase of library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program materials;

(vi) Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;

(vii) Joint use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries; and

(viii) Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support services designed to improve academic services;

(ix) Academic instruction in disciplines in which Indians are underrepresented;

(x) Establishing or improving a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from the alumni and the private sector;

(xi) Establishing or enhancing a program of teacher education designed to qualify students to teach in elementary schools or secondary schools, with a particular emphasis on teaching Indian children and youth, that shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher certification;

(xii) Establishing community outreach programs that encourage Indian elementary school and secondary school students to develop the academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary education; and

(xiii) Establishing or improving an endowment fund, provided a grantee uses no more than 20 percent of its grant funds for this purpose and at least matches those grant funds with non-Federal funds; or

(14) For grants authorized under section 317 of the HEA to Alaska Native-serving institutions and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions—

(i) Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;

(ii) Renovation and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities;

(iii) Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist in attaining advanced degrees in the faculty's field of instruction;

(iv) Curriculum development and academic instruction;

(v) Purchase of library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials;

(vi) Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;

(vii) Joint use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries;

(viii) Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support services.

(c) Development grants—unallowable activities. A grantee may not carry out the following activities or pay the following costs under a development grant:

(1) Activities that are not included in the grantee's approved application.

(2) Activities that are inconsistent with any State plan for higher education that is applicable to the institution, including, but not limited to, a State plan for desegregation of higher education.

(3) Activities or services that constitute religious instruction, religious worship, or proselytization.

(4) Activities provided by a school or department of divinity. For the purpose of this provision, a “school or department of divinity” means an institution, or a department of an institution, whose program is solely to prepare students to become ministers of religion or to enter into some other religious vocation.

(5) Developing or improving non-degree or non-credit courses other than basic skills development courses.

(6) Developing or improving community-based or community services programs, unless the program provides academic-related experiences or academic credit toward a degree for degree students, or unless it is an outreach program that encourages Indian elementary school and secondary school students to develop the academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary education.

(7) Purchase of standard office equipment, such as furniture, file cabinets, bookcases, typewriters, or word processors.

(8) Payment of any portion of the salary of a president, vice president, or equivalent officer who has college-wide administrative authority and responsibility at an institution to fill a position under the grant such as project coordinator or activity director.

(9) Costs of organized fund-raising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions.

(10) Costs of student recruitment such as advertisements, literature, and college fairs.

(11) Services to high school students, unless they are part of a program to encourage Indian students to develop the academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary education.

(12) Instruction in the institution's standard courses as indicated in the institution's catalog.

(13) Costs for health and fitness programs, transportation, and day care services.

(14) Student activities such as entertainment, cultural, or social enrichment programs, publications, social clubs, or associations.

(15) Activities that are operational in nature rather than developmental in nature.

(d) Endowment funds. If a grantee uses part of its grant funds to establish or increase an endowment fund under paragraphs (b)(11) or (b)(13)(xiii) of this section, it must comply with the provisions of §§ 628.3, 628.6, 628.10 and 628.41 through 628.47 of this chapter with regard to the use of those funds, except—

(1) The definition of the term “endowment fund income” in § 628.6 of this chapter does not apply. For the purposes of this paragraph (d), “endowment fund income” means an amount equal to the total value of the fund, including fund appreciation and retained interest and dividends, minus the endowment fund corpus.

(2) Instead of the requirement in § 628.10(a) of this chapter, the grantee institution must match each dollar of Federal grant funds used to establish or increase an endowment fund with one dollar of non-Federal funds; and

(3) Instead of the requirements in § 628.41(a)(3) through (a)(5) and the introductory text in § 628.41(b) and § 628.41(b)(2) and (b)(3) of this chapter, if a grantee institution decides to use any of its grant funds for endowment purposes, it must match those grant funds immediately with non-Federal funds when it places those funds into its endowment fund.