PURPOSE Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965Strengthening Developing Institutions-provides support to institutions of higher education possessing the desire and the potential to make a significant contribution to the Nation's resources. The act recognizes that these institutions find it difficult to reach their full capability or development because of financial and other limitations in resources. The primary mission of title III, therefore, is to assist developing colleges, qualifying within the definition of the act, in strengthening their academic, administrative, and student services programs so that they may participate adequately in the higher education community. Title III support is in the form of grants for cooperative arrangements and for National Teaching Fellowships. As defined in the act, cooperation may be among developing institutions, between developing institutions and stronger colleges and universities, and between developing institutions and business and industrial organizations. In a broad sense, the cooperative arrangements have as their primary objective the strengthening of developing institutions by improving their administration, instruction, or student services. National Teaching Fellowships are awarded to outstanding graduate students and junior faculty members of colleges and universities to teach at developing institutions. HOW TITLE III OPERATES INSTITUTIONAL APPLICATION A developing institution takes the initial step by applying to the Division of College Support, where the responsibility for the operation of this program is assigned. The application must be accompanied by a narrative presenting the following information: 1. The institution's own concept of its desire and potential for greater strength in academic accomplishment. 2. An authenticated statement of a firm cooperative arrangement with another institution or institutions, or with the educational resources of business and industry. 3. Evidence of financial need. 4. An interpretation of its isolation from the main currents of academic life. 5. A comprehensive proposal of a cooperative program which clearly sets forth all essential aspects and involvements including a budgetary estimate of the cost. ELIGIBILITY To qualify for assistance, the institution must be accredited or be certified by its regional accrediting agency as making satisfactory progress toward accreditation. It must be in compliance with the antidiscrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act. It may not include programs designed to prepare students to become ministers or teachers of theology. The institution must have offered a bachelor's degree for the five preceding academic years. A twoyear institution must have offered, for a like period of time, a program acceptable for full credit towards such a degree, or a two-year program in engineering, mathematics, or the physical or biological sciences designed to prepare the student to work as a technician and at a semi-professional level in engineering, scientific, or other technological fields which require the understanding and application of basic engineering, scientific, or mathematical principles of knowledge. COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS In applying for financial support for a cooperative arrangement, the developing institution submits the application. Two or more developing institutions may band together with or without the cooperation of an established institution. The applicant must have a signed commitment from its cooperating partner or partners. The Commissioner awards the grant to the developing institution rather than to the assisting institution or agency, and he expects the developing institution to fulfill the goals set forth in the proposal. The cooperating agency may be another college or university, a business organization, or an agency judged capable of contributing to the improvement of the academic program, administrative performance, student services, and faculty scholarship and research. The use of regularly available services of a business or of an educational association, the purchase of a firm's equipment, or the retainer services of a consultant at his usual fee does not constitute a cooperative arrangement within the context of title III. A cooperative arrangement should reflect a depth of involvement of sufficient duration to represent a significant effort to achieve relatively permanent qualitative results in the academic performance of the developing institution. NATIONAL TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS A developing institution may apply for National Teaching Fellowships to be awarded to highly qualified graduate students and junior faculty members of established colleges and universities so that they may teach at developing institutions. Such fellowships may be included in a cooperative arrangement, or may be proposed unilaterally by a developing institution. Each fellowship carries a maximum Federal stipend of $6,500 a year plus $400 for each eligible dependent. This program is a means of bringing faculty members to the developing institutions which identify a special need for them and nominate candidates to serve in the areas of need. National Teaching Fellowships are not available to faculty members of developing institutions to pursue advanced studies, degrees, or research. FUND RESTRICTIONS Categories of expenditures may include: (1) salaries, wages, and stipends; (2) travel and relocation expense; (3) tuition and fees; (4) administrative costs: (5) equipment (see below): (6) supplies, books, printing, instructional materials: (7) rental of space, and other expenditures which can be justified as necessary to the effective implementation of a proposed program. EQUIPMENT Proposals must be program-oriented rather than equipment-oriented. Only equipment that is indispensable to the project will be approved for purchase. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES Certain general commitments are required of an institution receiving a grant: (1) it must agree to use the grant to supplement funds which will normally be used for the same purpose, and in no case to supplant these funds (2) it must provide adequate fiscal controls, accounting, and reports of program expenditures including any non-Federal share stipulated in the proposal; (3) it must make progress reports evaluating the effectiveness of the program in achieving the stated purposes. HOW TO APPLY UNDER TITLE III For application forms and other information, you may write to: Developing Institutions Branch Division of College Support, BHE Office of Education Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Applications must be postmarked not later than December 15, 1966, for consideration in fiscal year 1967. SOME EXAMPLES OF COOPERATIVE Grants may be used for programs such as the following: 1. Faculty or student exchanges of sufficient length and involvement to strengthen and enrich academic life. Distinguished scholars from established institutions who will serve as faculty members for a year or more at a developing institution. |