Government Relations / DOE Update-December 2011

Governmental Relations Update: 

Governmental Relations Update COE Board Meeting – December 2011

Government Relations Update: 

Government Relations Update Several Scenarios at work: December 16 Deadline 12-13 Appropriations Annually 9 have not been passed Operating on CR Friday December 16…what could happen: Short Term CR – Very Likely Long Term CR – Extend FY 2012 Decision till January/February Mini Onmibus Regular Omnibus: Till October 2012 (COE Preference) Putting Pressure on White House to DEFEND 2012 Request: TRIO 920.1 mil dollars Administration has not been diligent in defending 2012 request

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Con. Gwen Moore and Con. Laura Delauro have been meeting to persuade Delauro to become a TRIO Champion Very successful Mr. Rehberg has been recommending level funding Delauro is putting pressure on Rehberg Rehberg lost clout in party Rogers is driving the appropriations Con. Danny Davis – Ways and Means Committee – support TRIO One of highest priority of Congressional Black Caucus

IMMEDIATE ACTION ALERT FOR FY 2012 APPROPRIATIONS: 

IMMEDIATE ACTION ALERT FOR FY 2012 APPROPRIATIONS Game could be decided within a week Would know what funding levels are for 2012 THE WEEK OF 11-15: SAEOPPIANS, EVERONE PLEASE MAKE CALLS TO FOLLOWING PEOPLE ABOUT FUNDING OF TRIO ACCORDING TO E-MAIL SENT. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) – 202-225-3315 Richard Shelby (R-AL) – 202-224-5744 Harold Rogers (R-KY) – 202-225-4601 SC - WE NEED YOU TO LEVERAGE YOUR POWER AND INFLUENCE TO GET TO JIM CLYBURN. AL - WE NEED YOU TO LEVERAGE YOUR POWER AND INFLUENCE TO GET TO RICHARD SHELBY. KY - WE NEED YOU TO LEVERAGE YOUR POWER AND INFLUENCE TO GET TO HAROLD ROGERS.

FY 2013 Appropriations: 

FY 2013 Appropriations FOCUS: RESTORE STUDENTS LOST Have lost about 107,000 students since 2005 To recoup, appropriations would need to be at 1.03 billion dollars Have lost more students under Obama than any other administration

FINANCIAL AID LOOMING CHANGES: 

FINANCIAL AID LOOMING CHANGES Pell Grant Eligibility: reducing number of semesters eligible from 18 to 12 Introducing stricter criteria for financial aid eligibility

Department of Education Update: 

Department of Education Update Dr. Debra Saunders-White Deputy Assistant Secretary Higher Education Programs

General Comments: 

General Comments “Education is the Cornerstone of the President’s Strategy” Currently U.S. stands at 12 th place (dropped from 9 th place) Focus is moving toward Post-Secondary Education (College Completion) Many have criticized Secretary Duncan on being a K-12 Secretary Putting together a Robust Request for FY 2013 Appropriations Department is losing 18 people to retirement / buyout New Grant Opportunity Coming – First In The World – Winter 2012 Department is putting together Task Force regarding College Completion Made up of Practitioners, Faculty, Researchers, and Policy Makers If you have recommendations of persons, please contact Tracy Lyons

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Looking at better evaluation of TRIO Programs From compliance questions to best practices questions Department will engage community about suggestions (Could cause changes in APR) Anticipate hearing more about summer employment being offered to TRIO Participants Dr. Mitchem raised concerns about the competition between summer employment and participation in Upward Bound.

McNair: 

McNair

McNair: 

McNair Public comment on McNair will begin in approximately 2 weeks Competitive Preferences Productivity (2 points) STEM (10 points) Focus of moving toward majority STEM based students. Currently only 50% of McNair programs focus on STEM outcomes. No known due date

Veterans Upward Bound: 

Veterans Upward Bound Pre-Application workshop in January - Will be held in AL No known due date

Educational Opportunity Centers: 

Educational Opportunity Centers No movement on funding through U.S. Department of Labor/ Workforce Development NO NEW MONEY

Student Support Services: 

Student Support Services No update on SSS APR

Upward Bound Math/Science: 

Upward Bound Math/Science No New Information

Upward Bound: 

Upward Bound

Upward Bound: 

Upward Bound Largest College Access Program in the Department 530 Comments before comment period 150 Comments after comment period Most about funding model (83%) Final Notice will keep the 3-tiered approach of the funding model. Couldn’t find data to support keeping old model. New Model can serve more students and put more money in UB (more programs can be funded) Significant removal in Performance Measures Tracking Math/Science placement – only done once Tracking through Graduation Post-Secondary Credits Obtained

Upward Bound: 

Upward Bound SCHEDULE

Upward Bound Schedule: 

Upward Bound Schedule Prepared to go to Federal Public Registry Tuesday or Wednesday of Next Week Anticipated Awards no later than May 15 2 Months worth of reading – 1200 Application Estimated / 980 Awards Estimated Closing Date will likely be January 30, 2012 DON’T FORGET YOUR INSTITUTION MUST REGISTER FOR GRANTS.GOV REMEMBER APPROVAL PROCESS TIMELINE/GUIDELINES FOR YOUR INSTITUTION No information on CCRAA Upward Bound Programs

Grant Evaluators : 

Grant Evaluators Department is revamping training of readers Ensuring that readers understand the complexities of Upward Bound and appropriate use of technology Also that grants start with zero points and you add points Will also have people in the Department who will be reading as well Concerns raised about readers understanding ambitious and attainable, as it relates to objectives Issues with last 3 competitions with grantees earning ZERO points on Objective section Could not be in funding band or appeal

Lessons learned with the Funding Band: 

Lessons learned with the Funding Band If you request a re-read, application will be rescored. Score can be higher or lower Department must also determine if the re-read is justified or warranted

Office of Inspector General: 

Office of Inspector General Released a report that alleges UB. TS, GEAR-UP is ineffective Duplication of services OPE (formerly TRIO Division) sent a rebuttal defending the TRIO programs as effective

IMPORTANT COE MESSAGE FOR UB: 

IMPORTANT COE MESSAGE FOR UB Department is secretly hoping that projects that serve students at a cost of $5000 or more will either not apply or only apply for $250,000. COE will offer webinars for those programs above $4500/student cost to help in grant approach