Description
The Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) is a competitive grants program focused on improving formal, postsecondary agricultural sciences education. The program aims to strengthen the capacity of institutions of higher education in insular areas to carry out resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences through distance education technology. Key areas of focus include curricula design, materials development, and library resources; faculty preparation and enhancement for teaching; instruction delivery systems; and leadership development.
• The program is open to institutions of higher education located in insular areas, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.
• Eligible institutions must have a demonstrable capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences.
• The program requires a minimum of $30,000 and a maximum of $200,000 in funding per award.
• The project period may range from 36 to 48 months.
• Applicants must submit a detailed application, including a project narrative, project summary, and budget.
• Applications will be evaluated based on criteria such as the potential for advancing quality of education, proposed approach and cooperative linkages, institutional capability and capacity building, key personnel, and budget and cost-effectiveness.