The U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) long dormant Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) has recently shown signs of life, opening two new pilot competitions. The first, Pilot Program for Cybersecurity Education Technological Upgrades for Community Colleges, supports technology upgrades for community colleges for the purpose of supporting cybersecurity programs. Applicants must be community colleges ready to collaborate with one of the National Science Foundation’s three Advanced Technological Education Centers. Subgrants may be awarded to public or private entities that provide technology or infrastructure services.
ED estimates it will award up to 10 grants averaging about $99,000 to support projects lasting up to 24 months. Applications are due August 29, 2018. For more information, view the Federal Register announcement.
The second program, Open Textbooks Pilot, supports projects at institutions of higher education that create new open textbooks or expand their use of open textbooks while maintaining or improving instruction and student learning outcomes. Projects should demonstrate potential for substantial savings for students through sustainable, expanded use of open textbooks in high-enrollment courses (as defined in this notice) or in programs that prepare individuals for in-demand fields. There are three absolute priorities: 1) eligible applicants must propose to lead a consortium project that includes the expertise and resources of at least three institutions of higher education; 2) applications must address gaps in the open textbook marketplace and bringing solutions to scale; and 3) projects must promote degree completion. There is one optional competitive priority, which GRC strongly recommends applicants address as it provides up to 10 additional points to an application: Using Technology-Based Strategies for Personalized Learning and Continuous Improvement.
Approximately one to three awards are available ranging from $1.5 million to $4.95 million to support projects lasting up to 48 months. Applications are due August 29, 2018. For more information, view the Federal Register announcement.