INITIATIVES FOR MINORITY STUDENTS: BRIDGES TO THE FUTURE NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 9, March 6, 1992 RFA: GM-92-02 P.T. 44, FF Keywords: Educational Instruction Programs Biomedical Research Training National Institute of General Medical Sciences Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 1, 1992 Application Receipt Date: May 12, 1992 PURPOSE The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and the Office of Minority Programs (OMP), National Institutes of Health (NIH), solicit applications for two new initiatives aimed at increasing the number of underrepresented minorities entering careers in biomedical research. The programs target two different underrepresented minority student populations, those in terminal Master of Science (M.S.) degree programs and those in two-year junior or community colleges, since these have been identified as two key transition points for students considering research careers. These initiatives seek to broaden and expand existing programs and to encourage the development of new and innovative approaches to improve the academic competitiveness of underrepresented minority students graduating from these programs, thereby facilitating their transition into the next stage towards careers in biomedical research. For purposes of this announcement, underrepresented minority students are individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group that has been determined by the grantee institution to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research. Nationally, individuals who have been found to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research include, but are not limited to, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Awards under this RFA will use the institutional education project (R25) grant. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. The total project period for applications submitted in response to the present RFA may not exceed two years. This RFA is a one-time solicitation. Future unsolicited competing applications will not be accepted. Institutions may apply for either or both programs; however, separate applications for each program are required. The program must be identified clearly on the face page of the application in item 1. FUNDS AVAILABLE The Fiscal Year 1992 appropriation provides $2,000,000 for these initiatives. NIH staff anticipate making six to ten 2-year awards using multi-year funding. Requested direct costs are not to exceed $300,000 for the two-year period. Indirect costs will be paid at 8 percent of the direct costs minus appropriate exclusions. OBJECTIVES Program #1: Transition From Master's Degree to Ph.D. Programs This program seeks to promote the expansion and enhancement of existing transitional activities between those institutions that offer the M.S. degree as the terminal academic degree in the sciences and that have significant enrollments of underrepresented minority students and research universities with doctoral-degree (Ph.D.) programs. The objective is to facilitate the transition of minority students into science Ph.D. programs when they complete the M.S. degrees. Students receiving the M.S. degree in one field of science may pursue the Ph.D. in a different field if the Ph.D. is in an area of science related to biomedical research. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by domestic, private and public, institutions that have existing educational programs aimed at helping students move from M.S. programs into Ph.D. programs. The existing programs need not have been developed specifically to target underrepresented minority graduates or science majors. State and local systems of higher education with existing transitional programs may also be eligible to apply. However, applicants from such organizations should talk with the Grants Management Officer identified at the end of this announcement about special issues concerning PHS grants to governments. A program must include a partnership between at least two institutions: one that offers the M.S. degree as the terminal degree in the sciences and that has a significant enrollment of underrepresented minorities, and one research university providing Ph.D. degree programs in areas relevant to the biomedical sciences. However, the application may involve a consortium of several colleges and universities, and may include several institutions within a single state system. One participating institution or a single system of higher education must be designated as the grantee institution and must submit the application. Proposals must include subcontracts or formal collaborative agreements with all other participating institutions. An institution offering both the M.S. and the Ph.D. degrees may not use funds from this program for graduates of its own M.S. degree programs to enter its own Ph.D. programs, even if the student is changing fields or moving from one department, school, or college to another. The program seeks to promote and enhance partnerships BETWEEN institutions. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Collaborative agreements should take the form that best fits the needs and situations of the institutions involved. The challenge for the project director, with the help of the other participants, is to design an expanded and enhanced partnership that will focus attention and adequate resources to the M.S. institutions to enhance the academic competitiveness of their M.S. graduates. The applicant must describe the existing transition program and explain how it would be altered to meet the needs of this initiative. The nature and extent of underrepresented minority student participation must be thoroughly delineated. The applicant should also describe the M.S. institution's success in training M.S. students in the sciences, including information on the numbers of minority students receiving the M.S. and data on subsequent careers or education of their graduates. Institutions with NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional training grants and/or Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) Grants must define the relationship between those programs and this transition program. They must delineate how this initiative will influence their partnerships with the other participants and the manner in which underrepresented minority graduate students will interact with the NRSA and/or MBRS program(s). In addition, modifications to existing "bridge" programs must be described with special attention to the needs and special requirements of the underrepresented minority student body. They may include, but are not limited to, the following elements: o providing research opportunities for M.S. students at the Ph.D. institution or in private industrial laboratories; students may receive compensation for these activities; o establishing a mentoring program for M.S. students with faculty at the Ph.D. institution; o strengthening the research capability of the M.S.-granting college (e.g., by faculty research collaborations, joint seminar programs); o enhancing the curriculum of the M.S. institution (e.g., special courses, seminars); o students from either institution taking classes at the other institution; o guaranteeing acceptance into the participating Ph.D. program(s) for students completing the M.S. program; o academic counseling for M.S. students, with a particular focus on encouraging students to pursue research careers in the biomedical sciences. It is an expectation of NIGMS and OMP that students who enter Ph.D. programs as a result of this enhancement program will receive support, if needed, while progressing satisfactorily in Ph.D. research training programs. Applicants should describe the type(s) of support that would be available to such students. Additional requirements are detailed below. Program #2: Transition From Two-year Colleges to Institutions Awarding the Baccalaureate Degree This program is designed to refine and extend existing "bridge" programs that facilitate the transfer of students at two-year colleges with significant enrollments of underrepresented minority students into colleges with baccalaureate degree programs in the sciences. The goal is to increase the number of underrepresented minority students who graduate with Bachelor of Science (or equivalent) degrees in the sciences related to biomedicine. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by domestic, private and public, institutions with existing educational programs aimed at helping students move from two-year colleges into B.S. degree programs, although the existing programs need not specifically target underrepresented minorities or science majors. State and local systems of higher education with existing transitional programs may also be eligible to apply. However, applicants from such organizations should talk with the Grants Management Officer identified at the end of this announcement about special issues concerning PHS grants to governments. Programs must include at least two institutions: one college or university offering the B.S. degree (or equivalent) in areas of science relevant to biomedical research, and one two-year institution with a significant enrollment of underrepresented minority students. However, the program may include a consortium of several two-year and baccalaureate institutions, and may include several institutions within a single state system. One baccalaureate-granting institution or a single system of higher education must be designated as the grantee institution and must submit the application. Proposals must include formal collaborative agreements or subcontracts with all other participating institutions. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Collaborative agreements should foster partnerships that best fit the needs and situations of the institutions involved. The challenge for the program director, with the help of the other participants, is to design a program that focuses attention and adequate resources to help the two-year institution enhance the academic competitiveness of its graduates. The application must include a description of the existing transition program and describe how the program will be modified to accommodate the goals of this initiative. The nature and extent of underrepresented minority student participation must be thoroughly delineated. Colleges with NIH funding through the Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) and/or the Minority Access to Research Career (MARC) programs must define the relationship between those programs and this transition program. They must delineate how this enhancement program will influence their partnerships with the other participants and the manner in which underrepresented minority students in the transition program will interact with the MBRS and/or MARC programs. In addition, these existing "bridge" programs must be modified as needed to meet the special requirements of underrepresented minority students interested in science. They may include, but are not limited to, the following elements: o providing laboratory research experiences at the baccalaureate institution for students enrolled in the two-year institution; students may receive compensation for these activities; o establishing a mentoring program with faculty at the baccalaureate institution; o providing research opportunities at the baccalaureate institution for faculty of the two-year college; o enriching the curriculum at the two-year institution (e.g., special science courses); o enabling students from the two-year institution to take courses and/or participate in seminar programs at the baccalaureate college; o developing visiting lectureships at the two-year college by science faculty from the baccalaureate institution; o developing courses at the two-year college jointly taught by faculty of both institutions; o guaranteeing acceptance as juniors into the participating baccalaureate program(s) for students who participated successfully in the enhancement program; o academic counseling (e.g., guidance in course selection, tracking and providing assistance to students who express and interest or show special aptitude for science); o additional enrichment activities, such as tutoring, to enhance the student's transition to the baccalaureate college; o other innovative plans to coordinate these programs. Additional requirements are detailed below. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BOTH PROGRAMS Allowable Costs If appropriate, the budget request may be divided into two phases: a planning phase with its attendant budget for the enhancement, expansion, and modification of the existing partnership program; and an implementation phase with its attendant budget. The planning phase costs should be minimal and may include such items as compensation for release time for faculty and administrators for each of the participating institutions and travel between the participating institutions. This phase of the project should not exceed a period of one year. The implementation phase may include the costs of administering and coordinating the partnership programs within and between each of the participants. Compensation for student participation in research experiences may take the form of salaries, fringe benefits and/or tuition waivers for students and salary compensation for release time for faculty participating in research projects. Costs related to curriculum enhancement may also be requested. Reporting Requirements A progress report will be required at the end of the planning phase (if any) or at the end of the first year, whichever is shorter. A final report will be required 90 days after the termination date of the award and must include a Statement of Appointment Form (form 2271) for each student participant and a report of the educational benefits to each student of the partnership program. During the planning phase or first year of the award, program directors should develop plans for following the subsequent careers and educational achievements of the participating students, which will be used as part of the evaluation of the effectiveness of these initiatives. The progress report should include a description of these plans. During or after the project period, program directors will be asked to share information and experiences and help evaluate the effectiveness of the programs. OMP and/or NIGMS may convene a meeting of program directors to discuss these programs. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are requested to submit by April 1, 1992, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed plan, the name, address, and telephone number of the program director, the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA. Applicants should indicate the specific program(s) (Program 1: M.S. to Ph.D. Transition or Program 2: Two-year to Four-year Transition) to which they intend to apply. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of applications. It allows NIH staff to estimate the potential review workload and to avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to: Americo Rivera, Jr., Ph.D. National Institute of General Medical Sciences Westwood Building, Room 909 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7001 FAX: (301) 402-0019 APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) is to be used in applying for these grants. These forms are available at most institutional business offices; from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research Grants, NIH, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone (301) 496-7441; and from the NIGMS program administrator named below. The RFA label in the PHS 398 application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application. Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not reach the review committee in time for review. In addition, the RFA number and title must be typed on line 2A of the face page form, the "YES" box must be marked, and "R25" typed in 2B. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the Checklist, and three photocopies of the signed application in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must also be sent to Dr. Americo Rivera, Jr. at the address given below. Applications must be received by May 12, 1992. Applications arriving after that date will be returned to the applicant. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by NIH program staff. Incomplete and/or unresponsive applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Those applications that are complete and responsive will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria stated below for scientific and technical merit by appropriate peer review groups in the Division of Research Grants (DRG). The second level of review will be provided by the National Advisory General Medical Sciences Council. Review criteria: o qualifications and experience of the Principal Investigator and staff to carry out the proposed program; o appropriateness of the existing transition program and of the plans to modify or expand this program to meet the goals of the solicitation; o availability of significant numbers of underrepresented minority students in the participating science department(s) who are interested in studying further in biomedical and health-related fields; o evidence of underrepresented minority students progressing to higher education in the sciences; o budget and cost-effectiveness of the project including appropriateness to the scope of the program, benefit to the students, number of students involved, and responsible and prudent senior personnel costs; o evidence of institutional commitment, for each institution, and strength of the collaborative efforts between institutions to foster professional development of underrepresented minority faculty and to train underrepresented minority students in the biomedical sciences; o appropriateness of the administrative plan for managing the proposed program, including adequacy of space and other institutional resources; AWARD CRITERIA The anticipated date of award is September 30, 1992. Award decisions will be based on the technical merit of the applications based on the review criteria, the geographical distribution of the awardee institutions, and diversity of underrepresented minority student participants. Awards can be made only to institutions with financial management systems and management capabilities that are acceptable under PHS policy. Awards will be administered under the PHS Grants Policy Statement. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to the program administrator: Americo Rivera, Jr., Ph.D. National Institute of General Medical Sciences Westwood Building, Room 909 5333 Westbard Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7001 Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Carol Tippery Grants Management Officer National Institute of General Medical Sciences Westwood Building, Room 953 5333 Westbard Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7746 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS Awards are authorized under the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A, (Sections 301 and 405, as amended, 42 USC 241 and 284) and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52, 45 CFR Part 74 and 45 CFR Part 92. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. .
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