Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program

Applications must be submitted by February 4, 2011.

The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program is a NIFA-administered competitive grants program focused on improving formal, postsecondary-level agricultural sciences education. Guided by critical societal issues laid out in the "New Biology for the 21st Century" report, as well as the five, compelling NIFA Priority Areas, HEC-funded projects provide funding to eligible applicants to help ensure a competent, qualified and diverse workforce to serve the food and agricultural sciences system. The five NIFA Priority Areas are: (1) Global Food Security and Hunger; (2) Climate Change; (3) Sustainable Energy; (4) Childhood Obesity; and, (5) Food Safety. At the same time, HEC-funded projects improve the economic health and viability of rural communities through the development of degree programs emphasizing new and emerging employment opportunities. Finally, HEC projects focus on the national challenge to increase the number and diversity (i.e., having an agricultural sciences workforce representative of the Nation's population) of students entering other food and agriculture-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Therefore, applications submitted to this grants program must state how the funded project will address the two HECA Grant Program Goals: (1) To increase the number and diversity of students who will pursue and complete a postsecondary degree in the food and agricultural sciences, and for FY 2011, encourage study in areas that contribute to any of the five NIFA Priority Areas; and, (2) To enhance the quality of secondary and postsecondary instruction in order to help meet current and future national food and agricultural sciences workplace needs. HEC-funded activities could include, but are not limited to, developing, evaluating, and disseminating: (1) Educational materials for any postsecondary-level course, laboratory, or related curricula that encourage study in areas that contribute to any of the five NIFA Priority Areas; (2) Instructional delivery methods to improve student retention of academic content; and/or (3) Professional development approaches to improve the capacity of faculty and teaching assistants to provide effective and updated instruction.

History of Funds:

In FY10, approximately $5.2 million was made available to fund multiple projects under this program.

Average Award:

Varies

Program Guidance: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/pdfs/11_hec.pdf

Contact Information:

Name: Mr. P. Gregory Smith, National Education Program Leader

Department: Higher Education Programs

Street: STOP 2251

1400 Independence Ave, SW

City: Washington

Zip: 20250-2251

Email: HEC@nifa.usda.gov

Fax: (202) 720-2030