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Grantee Voices From the Field
Fall 2020 Newsletter
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I hope you are all off to a good school year. It is my privilege to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education at a crucial and unprecedented moment in higher education. The Department remains committed to helping each of you support students across the United States in their pursuit of education. In my previous job, my organization was a recipient of a large OPE grant under the GEAR UP program. I know firsthand how frustrating the federal grantmaking process can be for the community, and we have taken several significant steps to try to improve our processes to better serve our grantees. Below are a few changes and initiatives we have undertaken to help you navigate the pandemic. |
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As you all know, the CARES Act provided the Department with over $12 billion in funds to support institutions of higher education and students. The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) has obligated almost all of the appropriated funds and continues to work to provide guidance on the allowable uses of funds and on how institutions should report how they have used grant funds. Deputy Assistant Secretary Chris McCaghren and Director of Higher Education Programs Dr. Linda Byrd Johnson are also working collaboratively to assist grantees experiencing difficulties as a result of the pandemic. Please stay in contact with your designated program officer or visit the OPE CARES Act website to learn more.
In past years, grantees have repeatedly shared their frustration with the presentation of information on the Department’s website. In response to these complaints, we have improved and revamped the website to make it easier to navigate and locate important guidance information. Please visit the website regularly to check for new and updated guidance information.
3) Increased Staffing
With the passage of the CARES Act, OPE has issued nearly three times more grants in FY 2020 than we did in FY 2019. This has put a tremendous strain on our staff to handle the enormous increase in workload. In response, we have hired 15 additional staff members who will help provide administration and technical assistance to grantees that have received funds under the CARES Act. Each new staff member has a strong background in education and public service. They are trained to support you along this journey, and we look forward to building strong teams to reduce the burden when managing the increased workload.
An Inspiring Academic Year
I am confident that the 2020-2021 academic year will be one of the most extraordinary that the higher education community has ever faced. The challenges are unprecedented, and they demand innovative thinking and creative solutions. The Department remains committed to helping you navigate these unprecedented times, so that we can help all students succeed.
With my best wishes,
Robert L. King
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
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Written by Jennifer Padgett, U.S. Department of Education
The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) led by MSEIP Director Dr. Bernadette Hence and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) – Information Directorate, in Rome, N.Y., recently launched a pioneering partnership to sponsor a 10-week virtual, paid, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) internship and fellowship program.
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The MSEIP is a competitive, discretionary STEM grant that supports expanding the scientific and technological capacity of the United States to build global competitiveness by increasing the number of minority graduates in STEM fields.
The MSEIP-AFRL partnership helps build pathways to engage faculty and students and strengthen the STEM capacity of Minority Serving Institutions.
This results-driven program highlights ED’s commitment to supporting underrepresented minority scientists, engineers, and technical experts. This partnership model can be expanded to benefit more students and minority institutions. To that end, ED is working with AFRL to develop further research opportunities at other facilities.
“The Administration is focused on making sure each and every student has access to the education opportunities they need to reach their full potential,” said Secretary DeVos. “All too often, minority students lack access to STEM education and are underrepresented in STEM jobs. That’s why this grant program is so important. It provides HBCUs and other MSIs the opportunity to expand and enhance their STEM offerings so their students can be prepared for the science and technology jobs of today and tomorrow.”
Through this summer’s partnership, the students, all of whom received stipends, were matched directly with practicing Air Force scientists, creating a mentoring relationship. “Before beginning the internship, I was concerned about how it would contribute to my journey to becoming an astrophysicist,” said intern Iyana Clemente, a rising senior at Tennessee State University. “Shortly after, I began to see that this was not only an internship but an opportunity to grow as a person and scientist. I’ve learned many valuable lessons that will help me professionally as well as personally. My mentor and teammates have exposed me to a whole new field of study that I never thought I’d be interested in. Not only has this internship taught me many things but has also opened doors for me in the future.” This successful program is already growing legs! Of the 20 participants, 10 will be continuing their internships into the fall semester, with an opportunity to renew for the spring semester as well.
Congratulations to all of the participants!
 HBCU MSEIP 2020 Interns
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Vanessa Gomez is a new employee in OPE’s Policy, Planning, and Innovation division. Her responsibilities include providing guidance and support to financial aid programs, such as the Pell Grant, direct loans, and the work study programs.
Vanessa is a first-generation college student who received the Pell Grant and participated in the Work-Study program. She also is a Returned U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer who served in China. Vanessa shares, “My time volunteering in China taught me to be approachable and proactively demonstrate to others that I care. People don’t open up unless they feel heard and respected, and, once I had that ‘guanxi’ (relationship) with my students and community members, I gained insightful perspectives about China and its people.”
Vanessa thinks it’s important to consider different students’ perspectives to ensure those most impacted by the Federal Pell Grants receive the support that they need.
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Ongoing Opportunities to Serve as an OPE Peer Reviewer
The Department has announced opportunities for individuals to participate in its peer review process by reviewing applications for competitive grant funding. Learn how to become a peer reviewer by clicking here: US Department of Education Peer Review Opportunities.
The 2020 Grantee Satisfaction Survey is Live Until Nov. 13
The Department invites you to participate in the 2020 Grantee Satisfaction Survey. Grantees may share their experiences about their interactions with Department program staff, communications, technical assistance, and grant processes. The survey data collected is used to improve the delivery of services to our grantee community. Contact your U.S. Department program officer to learn more about the 2020 Grantee Satisfaction Survey.
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Email photos, stories, updates and other news to OPE's Management and Support Unit, at Sariane.leigh@ed.gov or call 202-453-7768
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