The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act, ARRA) will add significantly to university grants programs through increased funding to research, education and community service projects via such agencies as the Department of Education, National Science Foundation (NSF), and National Institutes of Health (NIH), among others.
“Everyone I have spoken with in Washington, at professional associations, and among U.S. colleges and universities is optimistic on the funding side,” explained John Carfora, Executive Director of the Office for Research and Sponsored Projects. “There will also be a great deal of pressure on grants.gov while colleges and universities apply for stimulus money, so it’s especially important for PIs to apply as early as possible. Clearly, we will be able to offer you the best service if you include us in your proposal process early.”
A White House memo presenting initial instructions for the Stimulus Bill was released several weeks ago, and complete information on the Recovery Act is available online. Grants.gov has posted a list of agency sites dedicated to the Recovery Act.
Many universities and research organizations have set up excellent websites and other resources listing information related to Recovery Act Funding, including:
The University of South Carolina (database)
San Diego State University (website)
Columbia University (graphic organizer)
Department of Education
$130 billion will go to education, including an additional $97 billion to the U.S. Department of Education. This funding will be passed down both as formula and competitive grant programs.
One highlight of education funding for universities is the Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program, appropriated $100 million, which far surpasses the previous funding level of $36.6 million. Two new aspects of this program include an emphasis on teacher residency in teacher preparation programs and the training of rural education leaders.
On March 19, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) held a webinar on the upcoming Teacher Quality Partnership Grant competition. Download this presentation at the AACTE website.
The initial announcement for the Teacher Quality Partnership Grant competition is located at Grants.gov.
There will also be additional funding for TEACH grants, and increased support for various forms of student financial aid. For more information on education funding in the Recovery Act, see AACTE, or the U.S. Department of Education website.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
The NSF will use $2 billion to fund projects already submitted that it was previously unable to support, as well as the Math and Science Partnership program ($25 million), the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program ($60 million), the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction Account ($400 million), the Academic Research Infrastructure (ARI) program ($200 million) and the Science Masters program, ($15 million).
RFPs for the ARI and Science Masters Program will be posted Spring 09. An additional competition will held in Spring 09 for the Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) ($300 million). The NSF has a website dedicated to the ARRA with further information.
In a recent memo (Notice No. 131), Arden Bement, the Director of the NSF, indicated that Recovery Act grants will be awarded in standard durations of 5 years and that funding of new Principal Investigators and high-risk, high-return research will be top priorities.
"The high expectations embodied in the Recovery Act acknowledge the contributions that NSF and its partners in the research and education community have made to the economy and welfare of the nation over the past six decades. This partnership is one of the nation’s greatest strengths, and we look forward to working with you as we continue to pursue the promise of science and engineering and meet the goals of the Recovery Act for securing the nation’s future," wrote Bement.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The NIH will receive an added $10.4 billion and is reported looking to fund shorter terms projects, especially those that are found “beaker-ready.”
Gardiner Harris and Kenneth Chang of the New York Times report that the acting director of the National Institutes of Health begged university administrators to avoid applying for stimulus money unless the universities had programs set and ready to go.
“It would be the height of embarrassment,” the Dr. Raynard S. Kington, said, “if we give these grants and find out that institutions are not spending them to hire people and make purchases and advance the science the way they’re designed to do.”
In response to the Recovery Act, the NIH has presented the New Bioethics Challenge Grants, new review criteria, scoring system for behavioral and biomedical research and suspended the appeals process. For more information, please see Notice Number NOT-OD-09-054.
Proposals for the New Bioethics Challenge Grants are due April 27, 2009.
For more information, see the NIH response to the Recovery Act.
Other items of interest:
Background: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Wikipedia)
Recovery Act Funded Projects
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
California Economic Recovery
U.S. Conference of Mayors
Narrative compiled from the following sources:
Basken, P. February 25, 2009 “NSF and NIH Differ Over How to Pay Out Stimulus Money,” in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Gardiner Harris and Kenneth Chang February 23, 2009 “Beaker-Ready Projects? Colleges Have Quite a Few” in the New York Times.
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) webinar, “A New Administration + A New Congress = New Opportunities” February 26, 2009.
Recovery Act of 2009: NIH Review Criteria, Scoring System, and Suspension of Appeals Process, Notice Number: NOT-OD-09-054, issued by the NIH March 4, 2009. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-054.html
Bement, Jr, Arden L., Notice No. 131, Important Notice to Presidents of Universities and Colleges and Heads of Other National Science Foundation Awardee Organizations, Subject: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/issuances/in131.pdf
NCURA Research Administrator listserv.