Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research; Hispanic-Serving Institutions Work Study Program Notice of Funding AvailabilityFY 1996

SUMMARY: This notice invites applications from certain institutions of

higher education (i.e., public and private non-profit Hispanic-Serving

community colleges) for grants under the Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Work Study Program (HSI-WSP), to assist economically disadvantaged and

minority students participating in work study programs. The HSI-WSP

program was created through an earmarking of funds under the Community

Development Work Study Program. This notice announces the availability

of up to $3 million in grants from FY 1996 appropriations to fund the

HSI-WSP.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 2, 1996.

DATES: Applications must be physically received by the Office of

University Partnerships, in care of the Division of Budget, Contracts,

and Program Control, in Room 8230, Department of Housing and Urban

Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410, by 4:30 p.m.

Eastern Time on December 11, 1996. Facsimiles will not be accepted.

This deadline is firm as to date, hour, and place. In the interest of

fairness to all competing applicants, the Department will treat as

ineligible for consideration any application that is received after the

deadline. Applicants should take this practice into account and make

early submissions of their materials to avoid any risk of loss of

eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays or other delivery-

related problems. Applicants hand-delivering applications are advised

that considerable delays may occur in attempting to enter the building

because of security procedures.

ADDRESSES: Because of the limited number of institutions eligible to

apply for the HSI-WSP, the Department will be sending an application

kit directly to the President of each eligible institution, without

requiring institutions to request them. Application kits may also be

obtained by written request from the following address: HUD USER, ATTN:

Hispanic-Serving Institutions Work Study Program, P.O. Box 6091,

Rockville, MD 20850. Requests for application kits may be faxed to:

301-251-5767 (this is not a toll-free number). Such requests must

include the applicant's name, mailing address (including zip code),

telephone number (including area code), and must refer to ``Document

FR-4105.'' In addition, the application kit is available on the

Internet from the Office of University Partnerships Clearinghouse. The

Clearinghouse can be accessed from the World Wide Web at: http://

oup.aspensys.com:89; or from a Gopher Server at: gopher://

oup.aspensys.com:77.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Karadbil, Office of University

Partnerships, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh

Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410; telephone (202) 708-1537, extension

218. The TTY number for the hearing impaired is (202) 708-1455. (These

are not toll-free numbers.) The Federal Information Relay Service toll

free number is 800-877-8339. Ms. Karadbil can also be reached via the

Internet at [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

``The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban

Development and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996'' (Public

Law 104-134) appropriated funds for HUD's Community Development Work

Study Program (CDWSP). The Conference Report, H. Rep. 104-384, dated

December 6, 1995, which serves as guidance for that statute, earmarked

funds for a new community development work study program for Hispanic-

Serving Institutions (HSIs) as part of the existing CDWSP. HUD has

determined that this Report provides sufficient legal basis for

establishing the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Work Study Program (HSI-

WSP).

CDWSP was created through section 501(b)(2) of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-242, enacted on

February 5, 1987), which added a new Section 107(c) to the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301, et seq.). Under

CDWSP regulations, HUD is authorized to provide grants to institutions

of higher education, either directly or through area-wide planning

organizations (APOs) or States, for the purpose of providing assistance

to economically disadvantaged and minority students, including students

with disabilities, who participate in community development work study

programs and are enrolled in full-time graduate programs in community

or economic development, community planning, or community management.

While the statute creating CDWSP authorized funding for students

enrolled in eligible undergraduate or graduate programs, a recently

issued regulation has limited that program to graduate programs. HSI-

WSP is subject to the same statutory requirements applicable to the

CDWSP. For the HSI-WSP, however, eligibility will be limited to two-

year public or private non-profit institutions of higher education,

designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions by the U.S. Department of

Education (see Appendix A). It should be noted that while the term

``undergraduate'' was never construed under CDWSP to include two-year

institutions of higher education, the U.S. Department of Education

includes these institutions in its definition of ``undergraduate.''

B. Purpose of Notice

This notice announces the requirements that will govern the use of

funds earmarked for HSI-WSP for fiscal year 1996. HUD believes good

cause exists for making these requirements effective for fiscal year

1996 without prior public comment, because the failure to make these

requirements effective immediately would prevent the use of HSI-WSP

funds during the 1996-1997 school year. The time period remaining

before the end of the 1996-1997 school year will not allow HUD to

publish proposed requirements, respond to public comments, publish a

notice containing revised requirements, select recipients, and permit

the recipients to bring their programs into operation. Today's notice

will make funds available to recipients at the earliest possible date

(i.e., the second semester of the 1996-1997 school year). Elsewhere in

today's issue of the Federal Register, HUD is publishing a notice of

proposed rulemaking for the HSI-WSP, based on the requirements of this

NOFA. The notice of proposed rulemaking incorporates this NOFA by

reference, states HUD's intention to use the requirements contained in

this NOFA as the basis for a final rule amending 24 CFR part 570, and

invites public comment on the announced requirements that will be used

in subsequent funding rounds.

This notice also solicits applications for the $3 million in

funding available for HSI-WSP grants. The applications requirements and

deadlines are set forth in sections XIV. through XVII. of the program

description below.

[[Page 51567]]

C. HSI-WSP Program Description

I. Applicability and Objectives

Under the HSI-WSP, HUD will make grants to certain public and

private non-profit HSIs of higher education for the purpose of

providing assistance to economically disadvantaged and minority

students who participate in a work study program while enrolled in

full-time community college programs in community building, and to

provide entry to pre-professional careers in these fields.

II. Eligible Institutions

Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.

1059c(b)(1)) defines an HSI generally as an eligible institution of

education that has an enrollment of undergraduate full-time students

that is at least 25 percent Hispanic; in which not less than 50 percent

of the Hispanic students are low-income individuals (i.e., their

families' taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150

percent of the poverty level) who are first generation college

students; and in which another 25 percent of the Hispanic students are

either low-income individuals or first generation college students. The

Department will use this definition to determine eligibility for the

HSI-WSP. Further, the U.S. Department of Education has issued a list of

all institutions meeting this definition. A list of the community

colleges on this list appears as Appendix A to this Notice of Funding

Availability. Only institutions on this list, or subsequently added to

the U.S. Department of Education's list of qualified HSI's, prior to

the application deadline, are eligible to apply for HSI-WSP funds under

this Notice.

The Department has decided to limit eligibility under the HSI-WSP

to community colleges for several reasons. There are currently 200

institutions of higher education certified by the U.S. Department of

Education as ``Hispanic-Serving.'' Of this number 60 are universities,

24 are four-year colleges, 27 are two-year proprietary, i.e., for-

profit, colleges, and 89 are public or private non-profit community

colleges. Hispanic-Serving universities are already eligible for the

CDWSP and there is no compelling reason to make them eligible for both

programs. Because community colleges are not eligible for the CDWSP,

their students are not able to partake of the benefits the program has

to offer. Hispanic-Serving four-year colleges are not to be eligible

under this NOFA, nor under the new final rule for the CDWSP. Creating a

program which makes community colleges and four-year colleges and

universities all eligible would mean two sets of policies and

requirements because of the very different nature of the educational

programs they provide. Undue complexity would be created for the

benefit of just a few institutions. The Department has also limited

eligibility to community colleges because it believes it is important

to encourage and assist their previously under-served disadvantaged

student population to gain entry to pre-professional community building

career paths. Increasing access to these career paths will not only

benefit the students, but also the communities in which they live and

will work.

The Department has decided to limit the program to non-profit two-

year institutions of higher education because it does not believe that

for-profit institutions should benefit from this program.

Areawide planning organizations (APOs) and States will not be

eligible to apply for the HSI-WSP because the Department wishes to

minimize the complexity of implementing a new program. With regard to

the proposed rule published elsewhere in today's Federal Register, the

Department requests comments on whether and under what circumstances,

Hispanic-Serving community colleges could benefit from the eligibility

of APOs and States.

III. Eligible Community Building Academic Programs

The statute authorizing the Community Development Work Study

Program requires that participating students be enrolled in a full-time

program in ``community or economic development, community planning, or

community management.'' The regulation governing the CDWSP (at 24 CFR

part 570.415) construes this statutory language rather narrowly and

specifies such academic disciplines as public administration, public

policy, urban economics, urban management, or urban planning. However,

because community colleges usually do not offer courses in these

specific fields of study, it is necessary for the HSI-WSP to encompass

a wider range of academic programs.

Accordingly, this notice uses the terms ``community building

associate degree program'' and ``community building academic program''

to reference the types of academic programs encompassed in the

statutory phrase ``community or economic development, community

planning, or community management,'' being construed broadly for

purposes of the HSI-WSP. For the HSI-WSP, a community building

associate degree program will encompass not only academic programs

authorized under the CDWSP, but also other fields that promote

community building or community or social services. For example,

administration of justice, child development, and human services would

all be eligible community building associate degree programs, while

natural sciences, computer sciences, mathematics, accounting,

electronics, engineering, and the humanities (such as English or

history) would not.

IV. Eligible Work Experiences

Work experiences under the HSI-WSP must complement the field of

study the student is pursuing. For example, a student pursuing a degree

in child development might work in a day care center, or a student

pursuing a degree in the administration of justice might work with

parole officers. Students are expected to work 12-20 hours a week

during the academic year and 35-40 hours a week during the summer.

V. Eligible Students

All students must be economically disadvantaged, regardless of

whether they are members of a minority group. While the program is

restricted to eligible Hispanic-Serving Institutions, the program may

not be restricted to Hispanic students nor provide any preferential

treatment in the selection of students based on race or ethnicity.

Students must be attending the institution on a full-time basis, as

defined by that institution, and pursuing an eligible community

building associate degree. Students must have attained no more than

half of the credits required for their degree at the time they first

receive assistance under this program. If a student's participation

terminates, the student may not be replaced; the grant will be reduced

by the amount of unused funds allotted for that student.

Students are required to maintain a satisfactory level of

performance, defined for this purpose as a B average. However, with

regard to the proposed rule published elsewhere in today's Federal

Register, because some community colleges provide only pass/fail

grades, comments are requested on whether this definition is

appropriate or what definition should be substituted for it.

VI. Amount of Assistance to a Student

Unlike the CDWSP, the amount of assistance that can be provided to

a

[[Page 51568]]

student will be a lump sum, allowing the institution to determine how

much will be used for various eligible expenditures. The maximum amount

that may be provided per student is $13,200 a year, for two years.

Eligible expenditures are limited to tuition and fees, a work stipend,

books, and an allowance of $1,000 per student per year to cover the

cost of the institution's administration of the program. While HUD will

not set a maximum on how much can be spent for each eligible

expenditure, except for the administrative allowance, the institution

must be able to document that the amounts paid are based on usual

student expenditures for that institution and that it has actually paid

that amount to the student.

VII. Number of Students Assisted

The minimum number of students that may be assisted is three per

participating institution of higher education and the maximum is ten

students per participating institution of higher education.

VIII. Graduation Rates

The CDWSP regulations require that, in order for institutions of

higher education to be eligible for funding competitions under that

program, a 50-percent rate of graduation for students participating in

that program be maintained. The regulations also include the rate of

graduation from previous CDWSPs as a selection criterion. It is

important to select institutions that are providing a high-quality

education and other services that will ensure that their students

graduate. However, because the HSI-WSP has no previous track

experience, it is unclear whether such a threshold requirement and/or a

selection criterion are appropriate. Since no previous rates of

graduation will be available for the first funding round, this notice

specifies no such threshold requirement or selection criterion.

However, with regard to the proposed rule published elsewhere in

today's Federal Register, the Department solicits comments on whether

such a threshold requirement and/or selection criterion should be

included in the final rule for the program, as well as how these should

be applied.

IX. Definitions

The following definitions apply to HSI-WSP:

Applicant means a public or private non-profit institution of

higher education that offers two year degree programs and qualifies as

a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Community building means community and economic development,

community planning, community management, land use, and housing

activities.

Community building associate degree program or academic program

means the undergraduate associate degree program whose purpose and

focus is to educate students in community building. The terms

``community building academic program'' or ``academic program'' refer

to the types of academic programs encompassed in the statutory phrase

``community or economic development, community planning or community

management.'' However, this statutory language is being construed

broadly for the HSI-WSP to include but not be limited to associate

degree programs in community and economic development, community

planning, community management, public administration, public policy,

urban economics, urban management, urban planning, and related fields

of study. Related fields of study that promote community building, such

as administration of justice, child development, and human services are

eligible, while fields such as natural sciences, computer sciences,

mathematics, accounting, electronics, engineering, and the humanities

(such as English or history) would not.

Community building field means any of the fields of study eligible

under a community building academic program.

Economically disadvantaged and minority students means students who

satisfy all applicable guidelines established at the participating

institution of higher education to measure financial need for academic

scholarship or loan assistance, including, but not limited to, students

who are Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific

Islands, and including students with disabilities.

Hispanic-Serving Institution is an institution of higher education

that the U.S. Department of Education has determined meets the criteria

set out at 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(1), including the following: an

institution that has an enrollment of undergraduate full-time students

that is at least 25 percent Hispanic; in which not less than 50 percent

of the Hispanic students are low-income individuals (i.e., 150 percent

of the poverty level) who are first generation college students and

another 25 percent are either low-income individuals or first

generation college students. The U.S. Department of Education has

determined the eligibility of specific institutions and has issued a

list of institutions meeting this definition. A list of the community

colleges on this list appears as Appendix A of this NOFA. Only

institutions on this list, or subsequently added to the U.S. Department

of Education's list prior to the application deadline, are eligible to

apply for HSI-WSP funds under this Notice.

HSI-WSP means the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Work Study Program.

Institution of higher education means a public or private non-

profit educational institution that offers two-year associate degrees

in a community building academic program and that is accredited by an

accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary of

Education.

Recipient means an approved applicant that executes a grant

agreement with HUD.

Student means a person attending an institution of higher education

on a full-time basis, as defined by that institution and pursuing an

eligible community building degree. Students must have attained no more

than half of the credits required for their degree at the time they

first receive assistance under HSI-WSP.

Student with disabilities means a student who meets the definition

of a ``person with disabilities'' in the Americans with Disabilities

Act of 1990.

X. Assistance Provided

(a) Types of assistance available.

HUD provides funding in the form of grants to recipients who make

assistance available to eligible students. Grants are provided to cover

the costs of student assistance and for an administrative allowance.

(b) Student assistance.

Grant funds may be provided to students in the form of student

stipends, tuition support, and additional support.

(1) Student stipend. The amount of the student stipend should be

based on the hourly rate for initial entry positions in the community

building field and the number of hours worked by the student at the

work placement assignment. The hourly rate should be sufficiently high

to allow the student to earn the full stipend, as determined by the

recipient, without working over 20 hours per week during the school

year and 40 hours per week during the summer.

(2) Tuition support. The amount of tuition support may not exceed

the tuition and required fees charged at the participating institution

of higher education.

(3) Additional support. The recipient may provide additional

support for books and for travel related to the academic program or

work placement assignment. Costs associated with reasonable

accommodations for students

[[Page 51569]]

with disabilities including, but not limited to, interpreters for the

deaf/hard of hearing, special equipment, and braille materials are

eligible under this category.

(c) Administrative allowance.

HUD provides an allowance to recipients to cover the administrative

costs of the program. The administrative allowance is $1,000 per year

for each student participating in the program; however no more than 20

percent of the grant may be used for planning and program

administrative costs. The maximum amount that can be provided for each

student is $13,200 a year, including $1,000 for the administrative

allowance. HUD will not set a maximum on how much should be spent for

each eligible expenditure, aside from the $1,000 limit on

administrative costs. However, the institution must be able to document

that the amounts paid are based on usual student expenditures for that

institution and that it has actually paid that amount to the student.

(d) Number of students assisted.

The minimum number of students that may be assisted is three

students per participating institution of higher education. The maximum

number of students that may be assisted is ten students per

participating institution of higher education.

XI. Recipient Eligibility and Responsibilities

(a) Recipient eligibility.

Hispanic-Serving Institutions of higher education offering

undergraduate two-year associate degrees in a community building

associate degree program are eligible for assistance under the HSI-WSP.

(b) Recipient responsibilities.

The recipient is responsible for administering the program, for

compliance with all program requirements, and for coordination of

program activities carried out by the work placement agencies. The

recipient must:

(1) Recruit and select students for participation in the HSI-WSP.

The recipient shall establish recruitment procedures that identify

eligible economically disadvantaged and minority students pursuing

careers in community building, and make them aware of the availability

of assistance opportunities. While the program is restricted to HSIs,

the recipient may neither restrict the program to any particular

minority group or groups nor provide any preferential treatment in the

selection of students based on race or ethnicity. Students must be

selected before the beginning of the semester for which funding is

being provided. If a student's participation terminates, the student

may not be replaced; the grant will be reduced by the amount of unused

funds allotted for that student.

(2) Provide the educational component for participating students.

(3) Recruit and select work placement agencies, and negotiate and

execute an agreement covering each work placement assignment.

(4) Refer participating students to work placement agencies and

assist students in the selection of work placement assignments.

(5) Assign sufficient staff to administer and supervise the program

on a day-to-day basis.

(6) Encourage participating students to obtain post-graduation

employment with a unit of State or local government, APO, Indian tribe

or nonprofit organization engaged in community building.

(7) Maintain records by racial and ethnic categories for each

economically disadvantaged and minority student participating in the

HSI-WSP.

(8) Keep such records and make such reports as HUD may require.

(9) Comply with all other applicable Federal requirements.

XII. Work Placement Agencies Eligibility and Responsibilities

(a) Work placement agency eligibility.

To be eligible to participate in the HSI-WSP, the work placement

agency must be an agency of a State or local government, an areawide

planning organization, an Indian tribe, or a private nonprofit

organization involved in community building activities.

(b) Work placement agency responsibilities.

Work placement agencies must:

(1) Provide practical experience and training in the community

building field to participating students through work placement

assignments.

(2) Consult with the institution of higher education to ensure that

the student's work placement assignment provides the requisite

experience and training to meet the required number of work hours

specified in the student work placement agreement.

(3) Provide a sufficient number of work placement assignments to

provide participating students with a wide choice of work experience.

(4) Require each student to devote 12-20 hours per week during the

regular school year, and 35-40 hours a week during the summer, to the

work placement assignment. Work placement agencies may provide

flexibility in the work period, if such a schedule is consistent with

the requirements of the student's academic program. However, a

participating student may receive a stipend payment only during the

period when the student is placed with the work placement agency.

(5) Comply with all other applicable Federal requirements.

(6) Maintain such records as HUD may require.

XIII. Student Eligibility, Selection, and Responsibilities

(a) Student eligibility.

Students apply directly to recipients receiving grants under the

HSI-WSP. To be eligible for the HSI-WSP, the student:

(1) Must satisfy all applicable guidelines established at the

participating institution of higher education to measure financial need

for academic scholarship or loan assistance.

(2) Must be a full-time student enrolled in a community building

associate degree program at the participating institution of higher

education. The student must have attained no more than 50 percent of

the credits required for his/her degree at the time the student first

receives assistance under this program.

(3) Must demonstrate an ability to maintain a satisfactory level of

performance in a community building associate degree program (i.e.,

maintain a B average, as defined by the institution) and in work

placement assignments, and comply with the professional standards set

by the recipient and the work placement agencies.

(4) May not have previously participated in the HSI-WSP.

(b) Student selection.

In selecting among the eligible students, the recipient must

consider the extent to which each student has demonstrated:

(1) Financial need under the applicable guidelines established at

the institution of higher education;

(2) An interest in, and commitment to, a career in community

building;

(3) The ability to satisfactorily complete the academic and work

placement responsibilities under the HSI-WSP.

(c) Student responsibilities.

Participating students must:

(1) Enroll or be enrolled in a two-year community building

associate degree program. A student's academic and work placement

responsibilities include: Full-time enrollment in an approved academic

program; maintenance of a satisfactory level of performance in the

community building associate degree program and in work placement

assignments; and compliance with the professional conduct standards

[[Page 51570]]

set by the recipient and by the work placement agency. A satisfactory

level of academic performance consists of maintaining a B average, as

defined by the institution. A student's participation in the HSI-WSP

shall be terminated for failure to meet these responsibilities and

standards. If the student's participation is terminated, the student is

ineligible for further HSI-WSP assistance.

(2) Agree to make a good-faith effort to obtain post-graduation

employment in community building with a unit of State or local

government, an APO, an Indian tribe, or a non-profit organization.

However, if the student does not obtain such employment, the student is

not required to repay the assistance received.

XIV. Application Process

HUD has developed an application package describing the information

that applicants for HSI-WSP assistance must submit. The application due

date is December 11, 1996. Because of the limited number of

institutions eligible to apply for the HSI-WSP, the Department will be

sending an application kit directly to the President of each eligible

institution, without requiring institutions to request them. A list of

the eligible institutions appears in Appendix A of this NOFA.

Application kits may also be obtained by written request from the

following address: HUD USER, ATTN: Hispanic-Serving Institutions Work

Study Program, P.O. Box 6091, Rockville, MD 20850. Requests for

application kits may be faxed to: 301-251-5767 (this is not a toll-free

number). Such requests must include the applicant's name, mailing

address (including zip code), telephone number (including area code),

and must refer to ``Document FR-4105.'' In addition, the application

kit is available on the Internet from the Office of University

Partnerships Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse can be accessed from the

World Wide Web at: http://oup.aspensys.com:89; or from a Gopher Server

at: gopher://oup.aspensys.com:77.

XV. Submitting Applications and Deadline Date and Time

Applications for funding under this NOFA must be complete and must

be physically received in the place designated in the application kit

for receipt, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on December 11, 1996. Facsimiles

will not be accepted. The deadline date and time will be firm as to

date, hour, and place. In the interest of fairness to all competing

applicants, the Department will treat as ineligible for consideration

any application that is received after the deadline. Applicants should

take this practice into account and make early submission of their

materials to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility brought about by

unanticipated delays or other delivery related problems. Applicants

hand-delivering applications are advised that considerable delays may

occur in attempting to enter the building because of security

procedures.

XVI. Selection Process

The selection process for applications under the HSI-WSP consists

of a threshold review, rating of eligible applications, and final

selection.

(a) Threshold. To be eligible for rating and ranking, an applicant

must meet all of the following threshold requirements:

(1) The application must be filed in the application form

prescribed by HUD and physically received at the appropriate location

by the required due date;

(2) The applicant must demonstrate that it is an HSI;

(3) The applicant must demonstrate that it is eligible to

participate; and

(4) The applicant must demonstrate that it has the required

academic programs to carry out its activities under the HSI-WSP.

(b) Rating. All applications that meet the threshold requirements

will be rated according to the following selection factors.

1. Quality of the Academic Program (40 points)--In rating this

factor, HUD will evaluate: (i) the quality of the academic program in

terms of community building course offerings and academic requirements

for students, including its appropriateness to prepare students for

careers in community building fields (25 points); and

(ii) the qualifications of the faculty members and the percentage

of time they will teach in the academic program and the qualifications

of the academic supervisor to direct and manage the program (15

points).

2. Quality of the Proposed Student Work Placement Assignments (20

points)--In rating this factor, HUD will evaluate the extent to which

the participating students will receive a sufficient number and variety

of work placement assignments that will provide practical and useful

experience and further the participating students' preparation for

professional careers in community building.

3. Likelihood of Fostering Students' Permanent Post-Graduation

Employment in Community Building (10 points)--In rating this factor,

HUD will evaluate the extent to which the institution's educational

program (based on past experience), including the assistance it

provides to its students in finding post graduation permanent

employment, has led directly and immediately to career opportunities in

community building fields.

4. Effectiveness of Program Administration (20 points)--In rating

this factor, HUD will evaluate: (i) the degree to which the Program

Director has clear responsibility, ample percentage of time, and

sufficient institutional or academic authority to coordinate the

overall administration of the program; and (ii) the adequacy of the

applicant's plan for placing students in work placement assignments and

keeping track of students during the two-year academic period and work

placement assignments.

5. Demonstrated Commitment of the Applicant to Meeting Economically

Disadvantaged and Minority Students' Needs (10 points)--In rating this

factor, HUD will evaluate the extent to which the applicant's

recruitment activities, special education programs, and other means,

including the provision of reasonable accommodations for students with

disabilities, demonstrates an active, aggressive, and imaginative

effort to identify, attract, and retain qualified minorities and

economically disadvantaged students, including students with

disabilities; and the extent to which the HSI-WSP award will not result

in a decrease in the amount of the institution's own financial support

available for minority and economically disadvantaged students,

including students with disabilities, in the academic areas or the

institution as a whole.

(c) Corrections to Deficient Applications. After the submission

deadline date, HUD will screen each application to determine whether it

is complete. If an application lacks certain technical items or

contains a technical error, such as an incorrect signatory, HUD will

notify the applicant in writing that it has 14 calendar days from the

date of HUD's written notification to cure the technical deficiency. If

the applicant fails to submit the missing material within the 14-day

cure period, HUD may disqualify the application.

This 14-day cure period applies only to non-substantive

deficiencies or errors. Any deficiency capable of cure will involve

only items not necessary for HUD to assess the merits of an application

against the factors specified in this NOFA. Substantive deficiencies or

errors may not be corrected.

(d) Final selection. All applications that are rated will be rank

ordered based on their total scores on the selection factors.

Applications will be considered for selection based on their rank

order.

[[Page 51571]]

HUD may make awards out of rank order to achieve geographic diversity,

and may provide assistance to support a number of students that is less

than the number requested under an application in order to provide

assistance to as many highly ranked applications as possible.

If there is a tie in the point scores of two applications, the rank

order will be determined by the applicants' scores on selection factor

(1). The application with the most points on selection factor (1) will

be given the higher rank. If there is still a tie, the rank order will

be determined by the applicants' scores on selection factor (5). The

application with the most points for selection factor (5) will be given

the higher rank.

XVII. Application Content

Applicants must complete and submit applications in accordance with

instructions contained in the application kit. The following is a

checklist of the application content that will be specified in the

application kit:

(a) Transmittal letter, identifying the agency accrediting the

institutions of higher education on whose behalf the application is

filed and further stating that such accrediting agency(ies) are

recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The transmittal letter

should also include the name, address, phone number, facsimile number

and e-mail address (if any) of the person responsible for administering

the program.

(b) A completed and signed Standard Form 424, Application For

Federal Assistance.

(c) Abstract.

(d) Table of Contents.

(e) Proposal narrative statement addressing the factors for award.

(f) Sample copy of student/recipient binding agreement.

(g) Sample copy of recipient/student work placement agreement.

(h) Management/Workplan.

(i) Resumes of key staff and faculty.

(k) Budget for the program.

(l) Audit/financial management system information.

(m) Certification by IPA or cognizant audit agency of applicant's

financial management system.

(n) Drug-Free Workplace Certification.

(o) Disclosure of Lobbying Activities on SF-LLL, if applicable.

XVIII. Agreements

(a) Grant agreement

The responsibilities of the recipient under the HSI-WSP will be

incorporated in a grant agreement executed by HUD and the recipient.

(b) Student agreement

The recipient and each participating student must execute a written

agreement incorporating their mutual responsibilities under the HSI-

WSP. The agreement must be executed before the student can be enrolled

in the program. A student's participation in the HSI-WSP shall be

terminated for failure to meet the responsibilities and standards in

the agreement.

(c) Work placement assignment agreement

The recipient, the student, and the work placement agency must

execute a written agreement covering each work placement assignment.

The agreement must address the responsibilities of each of the parties,

the educational objectives, the nature of the supervision, the

standards of evaluation, and the student's time commitments under the

work placement assignment.

XIX. Grant Administration

(a) Initial obligation of funds.

When HUD selects an application for funding, HUD will obligate

funds to cover the amount of the approved grant. The term of the award

will be for two calendar years, unless subsequently altered by HUD at

its discretion for good cause.

(b) Disbursement

Recipients will receive grant payments by direct deposit. If that

is not possible, grant payments will be made by U.S. Treasury checks.

(c) Deobligation

HUD may deobligate amounts for grants if proposed activities are

not begun or completed within a reasonable period of time after

selection.

XX. Other Federal Requirements

(a) Applicability of part 570

The HSI-WSP shall be subject to the policies and procedures set

forth in subparts A, K, and O of 24 CFR part 570, as applicable, except

as modified or limited under the provisions of this Notice. The

provisions of subparts C and J of part 570 shall not apply to the HSI-

WSP.

(b) Uniform Administrative requirements

Recipients under the HSI-WSP shall comply with the requirements and

standards of OMB Circular No. A-22, ``Cost Principles for Educational

Institutions.'' Recipients that are private institutions of higher

education shall comply with OMB Circular A-133, ``Non-Federal Audit

Requirements for Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit

Institutions,'' which is implemented at 24 CFR part 45. Recipients that

are public institutions of higher education shall comply with OMB

Circular A-128, ``Non-Federal Audit Requirements for State and Local

Governments,'' which is implemented at 24 CFR part 44. Audits shall be

conducted annually. In addition, all recipients under the HSI-WSP shall

comply with the provisions of OMB Circular A-110, ``Uniform

Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions

of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations,''

which is implemented at 24 CFR part 84. OMB Circular A-110 shall apply

to recipients in its entirety.

Other Matters

Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities

The use of funds awarded under this NOFA is subject to the

disclosure requirements and prohibitions of Section 319 of the

Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for

Fiscal Year 1990 (31 U.S.C. 1352) and the HUD implementing regulations

at 24 CFR Part 87. These authorities prohibit recipients of federal

contracts, grants or loans from using appropriated funds for lobbying

the Executive or Legislative Branches of the Federal Government in

connection with a specific contract, grant or loan. The prohibition

also covers the awarding of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements

or loans unless the recipient has made an acceptable certification

regarding lobbying. Under 24 CFR Part 87, applicants, recipients and

subrecipients of assistance exceeding $100,000 must certify that no

federal funds have been or will be spent on lobbying activities in

connection with the assistance. Required Reporting. A certification is

required at the time application for funds is made that Federally

appropriated funds are not being or have not been used in violation of

section 319 and the disclosure will be made of payments for lobbying

with other than federally appropriated funds. Also, there is a standard

disclosure form, SF-LLL, ``Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying'', which

must be use to disclose lobbying with other than Federally appropriated

funds at the time of application.

1. Information Collection Requirements.

The information collection requirements contained in this NOFA have

been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in

accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-

3520), and assigned OMB control number 2528-0182. An agency may not

conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a

collection of

[[Page 51572]]

information unless the collection displays a valid control number.

2. Federalism Impact

The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a)

of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that the policies

and procedures contained in this notice will not have substantial

direct effects on States or their political subdivisions, or the

relationship between the Federal Government and the States, or on the

distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of

government. This notice merely invites applications from certain

institutions of higher education for grants under the Hispanic-Serving

Institutions Work Study Program. As a result, the notice is not subject

to review under the Order.

3. Impact on the Family.

The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under Executive

Order 12606, The Family, has determined that this notice will likely

have a beneficial impact on family formation, maintenance, and general

well-being. This notice invites applications from certain institutions

of higher education for grants under the Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Work Study Program. Accordingly, since the impact on the family is

beneficial, no further review is considered necessary.

4. Accountability in the Provision of HUD Assistance.

Section 102 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development

Reform Act of 1989 (HUD Reform Act) and the final rule codified at 24

CFR part 4, subpart A, published on April 1, 1996 (61 FR 1448), contain

a number of provisions that are designed to ensure greater

accountability and integrity in the provision of certain types of

assistance administered by HUD. On January 14, 1992, HUD published, at

57 FR 1942, a notice that also provides information on the

implementation of section 102. The documentation, public access, and

disclosure requirements of section 102 are applicable to assistance

awarded under this NOFA as follows:

Documentation and public access requirements. HUD will ensure that

documentation and other information regarding each application

submitted pursuant to this NOFA are sufficient to indicate the basis

upon which assistance was provided or denied. This material, including

any letters of support, will be made available for public inspection

for a five-year period beginning not less than 30 days after the award

of the assistance. Material will be made available in accordance with

the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and HUD's implementing

regulations at 24 CFR part 15. In addition, HUD will include the

recipients of assistance pursuant to this NOFA in its Federal Register

notice of all recipients of HUD assistance awarded on a competitive

basis.

Disclosures. HUD will make available to the public for five years

all applicant disclosure reports (HUD Form 2880) submitted in

connection with this NOFA. Update reports (also Form 2880) will be made

available along with the applicant disclosure reports, but in no case

for a period less than three years. All reports--both applicant

disclosures and updates--will be made available in accordance with the

Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and HUD's implementing

regulations at 24 CFR part 15.

5. Prohibition Against Advance Information on Funding Decisions.

HUD's regulation implementing section 103 of the HUD Reform Act,

codified as 24 CFR part 4, applies to the funding competition announced

today. The requirements of the rule continue to apply until the

announcement of the selection of successful applicants.

HUD employees involved in the review of applications and in the

making of funding decisions are restrained by part 4 from providing

advance information to any person (other than persons authorized to

receive such information) concerning funding decisions, or from

otherwise giving any applicant an unfair competitive advantage. Persons

who apply for assistance in this competition should confine their

inquiries to the subject areas permitted under 24 CFR part 4.

Applicants or employees who have ethics related questions should

contact the HUD Office of Ethics (202) 708-3815 (voice), (202) 708-1112

(TTY). (These are not toll-free numbers.) For HUD employees who have

specific program questions, the employee should contact the appropriate

Field Office Counsel or Headquarters Counsel for the program to which

the question pertains.

6. Environmental Impact.

In accordance with 24 CFR 50.20(b) of the HUD regulations, the

policies and procedures contained in this NOFA relate only to training

grants and technical assistance and, therefore, are categorically

excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy

Act.

7. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance program.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 14.513.

Dated: August 28, 1996.

Michael A. Stegman,

Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.

Appendix A--Hispanic-Serving Community Colleges (As Designated by

the U.S. Department of Education)

Source: 1993 Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS) of

the U.S. Department of Education

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State Institution

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AZ.............................. Arizona Western College.

AZ.............................. Central Arizona College.

AZ.............................. Cochise College.

AZ.............................. Pima Community College.

AZ.............................. South Mountain Community College.

CA.............................. Bakersfield College.

CA.............................. Cerritos College.

CA.............................. Chaffey Community College.

CA.............................. Citrus College.

CA.............................. College of the Desert.

CA.............................. College of the Sequioas.

CA.............................. Compton Community College.

CA.............................. Don Bosco Technical Institute.

CA.............................. East Los Angeles College.

CA.............................. Evergreen Valley College.

CA.............................. Fresno City College.

CA.............................. Gavilan College.

CA.............................. Hartnell College.

CA.............................. Imperial Valley College.

CA.............................. Kelsey-Jenney Business College.

CA.............................. Kings River Community College.

CA.............................. Los Angeles City College.

CA.............................. Los Angeles Harbor College.

CA.............................. Los Angeles Mission College.

CA.............................. Los Angeles Southwest College.

CA.............................. Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

CA.............................. Los Angeles Valley College.

CA.............................. Merced College.

CA.............................. Mount San Antonio College.

CA.............................. Fullerton College.

CA.............................. Oxnard College.

CA.............................. Palo Verde College.

CA.............................. Pasadena City College.

CA.............................. Porterville College.

CA.............................. Rancho Santiago College.

CA.............................. Rio Hondo College.

CA.............................. San Bernardino Valley College.

CA.............................. San Diego City College.

CA.............................. San Jose City College.

CA.............................. Skyline College.

CA.............................. Southwestern College.

CA.............................. West Hills Community College.

CO.............................. Community College of Denver.

CO.............................. Otero Junior College.

CO.............................. Pueblo Community College.

CO.............................. Trinidad State Junior College.

FL.............................. Miami-Dade Community College/North

Campus (Main).

FL.............................. Miami-Dade Community College/Homestead

College.

FL.............................. Miami-Dade Community College/Wolfson

Campus.

IL.............................. City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S

Truman College.

IL.............................. City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X

College.

IL.............................. City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J.

Daley College.

IL.............................. City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright

College.

[[Page 51573]]

IL.............................. Lexington Institute of Hospitality

Careers.

IL.............................. MacCormac Junior College.

IL.............................. Morton College.

IL.............................. Saint Augustine College.

NJ.............................. Hudson County Community College.

NJ.............................. Passaic County Community College.

NM.............................. Albuquerque Technical Vocational

Institute.

NM.............................. Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell

Campus.

NM.............................. New Mexico State University-Carlsbad

Campus.

NM.............................. New Mexico State University-Dona Ana

Campus.

NM.............................. New Mexico State University-Grants

Campus.

NM.............................. Northern New Mexico Community College.

NM.............................. Santa Fe Community College.

NM.............................. University of New Mexico-Los Alamos

Campus.

NM.............................. University of New Mexico-Valencia

Campus.

NY.............................. CUNY Bronx Community College.

NY.............................. CUNY Hostos Community College.

NY.............................. CUNY F.H. La Guardia Community

College.

PR.............................. Collegio Tecnologico Del Municipio de

San Juan.

PR.............................. Collegio Universitario Del Este.

PR.............................. University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla

Regional College.

PR.............................. University of Puerto Rico-Carolina

Regional College.

PR.............................. University of Puerto Rico-La Montana

Regional College.

TX.............................. Bee County College.

TX.............................. Del Mar College.

TX.............................. El Paso Community College.

TX.............................. Laredo Community College.

TX.............................. Odessa Community College.

TX.............................. Palo Alto College.

TX.............................. San Antonio College.

TX.............................. Southwest Texas Junior College.

TX.............................. St. Philips College.

TX.............................. Texas Southmost College.

TX.............................. Texas State Technical College-

Harlingen.

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[FR Doc. 96-25053 Filed 10-1-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4210-62-P