Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 006732
The Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) is a competitive federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its central aim is to strengthen the ability of colleges and universities located in U.S. insular areas to deliver high-quality instruction and academic programming in the food and agricultural sciences by using distance education technology. In practical terms, the program is meant to help these institutions build or improve the tools, course delivery methods, and instructional capacity needed to offer stronger postsecondary agricultural education when students and faculty may be separated by geography, limited local resources, or other constraints common to insular settings.
The program focuses on formal, postsecondary education in agriculture and related fields, emphasizing resident instruction, curriculum development, and teaching programs that can be delivered or enhanced through distance education. This generally suggests projects that modernize or expand online, hybrid, or technology-supported instruction, such as developing new distance-delivered courses and degree pathways, improving digital learning content, strengthening teaching methods for remote delivery, or upgrading the educational approaches and systems that support instruction in food and agricultural sciences. Because it is a NIFA competitive program, applications are evaluated against program criteria and compete for funding rather than being awarded automatically or by formula.
Eligibility is restricted. Applications may only be submitted by institutions that meet the program's definition of eligible Institutions of Higher Education in insular areas, and failing to satisfy eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to the application being excluded from review. The notice also clarifies that institutions that receive a DEG award remain eligible to apply again in later years, so prior participation does not disqualify an institution. Likewise, receiving other federal grants under different authorities does not affect an institution's eligibility for DEG, meaning DEG is not limited only to first-time applicants or institutions without other awards.
An additional requirement applies to faculty who receive support for developmental activities under a funded project. Each faculty recipient must qualify as an "eligible participant" under the applicable NIFA administrative rules, with the announcement pointing applicants to 7 CFR 3430 (Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Financial Assistance Programs, General Award Administrative Provisions) for the relevant definitions and conditions. This points to standard federal grant compliance requirements covering participant eligibility and other administrative expectations.
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the agriculture funding activity area and is associated with CFDA number 10.322. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA RIGP 006732, and the original closing date listed in the source data is May 13, 2019, with a creation date of March 18, 2019. The source excerpt does not specify a dollar amount for an award ceiling and does not provide a number for expected awards in the provided fields, so those details would need to be confirmed from the full solicitation or associated NIFA materials for that year.Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 006732
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.322.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-03-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-05-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG)?
The Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) is a competitive federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). The program is intended to strengthen the ability of colleges and universities located in U.S. insular areas to deliver high-quality instruction and academic programming in the food and agricultural sciences through distance education technology.
What is the main purpose of the DEG program?
The central aim is to improve postsecondary education capacity in food and agricultural sciences by helping eligible institutions build or improve tools, course delivery methods, and instructional capacity for distance education. This is especially relevant when students and faculty are separated by geography, have limited local resources, or face other constraints common to insular settings.
Is this a competitive grant or a formula/automatic award?
This is a competitive (discretionary) grant program. Applications are evaluated against program criteria and compete for funding; awards are not automatic and are not distributed by formula.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
The program is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA).
What types of education does the DEG program focus on?
The program focuses on formal, postsecondary education in agriculture and related fields. It emphasizes resident instruction, curriculum development, and teaching programs that can be delivered or enhanced through distance education.
What kinds of projects does the DEG program generally support?
Based on the description provided, projects generally align with modernizing or expanding online, hybrid, or technology-supported instruction in food and agricultural sciences. Examples described include developing new distance-delivered courses and degree pathways, improving digital learning content, strengthening teaching methods for remote delivery, or upgrading educational approaches and systems that support instruction.
Does the program specifically target food and agricultural sciences?
Yes. The stated objective is to strengthen instruction and academic programming in the food and agricultural sciences at eligible institutions located in U.S. insular areas.
Who is eligible to apply for the DEG program?
Eligibility is restricted. Applications may only be submitted by institutions that meet the program's definition of eligible Institutions of Higher Education in insular areas. If an applicant does not satisfy eligibility requirements by the application deadline, the application can be excluded from review.
If an institution has received a DEG award before, can it apply again?
Yes. The notice clarifies that institutions that receive a DEG award remain eligible to apply again in later years. Prior participation does not disqualify an institution.
Does receiving other federal grants affect eligibility for DEG?
No. The description states that receiving other federal grants under different authorities does not affect an institution's eligibility for DEG.
Are there special requirements for faculty supported under a funded project?
Yes. For faculty who receive support for developmental activities under a funded project, each faculty recipient must qualify as an "eligible participant" under applicable NIFA administrative rules. Applicants are directed to 7 CFR 3430 for relevant definitions and conditions.
What regulation is referenced for participant eligibility and administrative requirements?
The opportunity references 7 CFR 3430 (Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Financial Assistance Programs, General Award Administrative Provisions) for definitions and conditions related to eligible participants and standard federal grant administrative expectations.
What is the funding activity area for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized in the agriculture funding activity area.
Is this opportunity considered a discretionary grant?
Yes. It is categorized as a discretionary grant.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program is associated with CFDA number 10.322.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number listed is USDA NIFA RIGP 006732.
What was the closing date listed for this opportunity in the provided information?
The original closing date listed in the provided source data is May 13, 2019.
What was the creation date listed for this opportunity in the provided information?
The creation date listed in the provided source data is March 18, 2019.
Does the provided information include the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
No. The source excerpt provided does not specify a dollar amount for an award ceiling. That detail would need to be confirmed in the full solicitation or associated NIFA materials for that year.
Does the provided information include the expected number of awards?
No. The source excerpt does not provide a number for expected awards in the fields provided. That would need to be confirmed from the full solicitation or associated NIFA materials for that year.
What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
The description indicates that failing to satisfy eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to the application being excluded from review.
Is the program intended to address challenges common to insular settings?
Yes. The description highlights that the program helps institutions address constraints common to insular areas, such as geographic separation and limited local resources, by strengthening distance education technology and instructional capacity.
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