Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 006870
The Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its core aim is to strengthen the ability of colleges and universities located in U.S. insular areas to deliver high-quality food and agricultural sciences education by using distance education technology. In practical terms, the program is designed to help these institutions expand or improve resident instruction, curriculum development, and teaching programs by supporting the tools, systems, and instructional approaches needed to teach students remotely or in technology-enabled formats. The larger policy goal behind the program is to improve formal, postsecondary agricultural sciences education in places where geographic isolation, limited local resources, and infrastructure constraints can make it harder to offer the same breadth of courses and learning experiences that are available on the mainland.
This opportunity is listed as a discretionary USDA NIFA grant under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA RIGP 006870 and is associated with CFDA number 10.322, which places it within federal assistance for agriculture-related education and capacity building. NIFA administers the program as a competitive process, meaning proposals are reviewed against program criteria and only the strongest submissions are funded. The emphasis on distance education reflects an intent to increase access to instruction, modernize how courses are delivered, and help insular-area institutions connect students with updated content, specialized expertise, and educational resources that might otherwise be difficult to provide locally.
Funding for individual awards is capped at $150,000 (the award ceiling), and the program anticipated making around six awards in the cycle reflected in the source data. The opportunity was originally posted on August 29, 2019, and the original application deadline listed was January 23, 2020. While the deadline and number of awards pertain to that specific funding cycle, the summary details capture the general scale and focus of the program: relatively modest awards targeted toward concrete improvements in distance-delivered agricultural education.
Eligibility is summarized in the listing as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which indicates that eligibility is limited and defined by the program guidance rather than being open to the broad categories seen in some federal grants. Based on the title and stated purpose, the intended applicants are Institutions of Higher Education located in eligible U.S. insular areas, typically including territories and affiliated jurisdictions where USDA programs define "insular areas." Applicants generally need to align proposals with institutional capacity building in food and agricultural sciences and demonstrate how distance education technology will be used to enhance instruction, curriculum, and teaching effectiveness.
Overall, DEG is best understood as a targeted education-capacity investment: it supports insular-area higher education institutions in building or upgrading the distance education capability needed to offer stronger agricultural sciences programs. Projects funded under this type of program often center on improving technology-enabled course delivery, expanding course access, strengthening instructional quality, and modernizing curriculum in agriculture and related disciplines, all with the end goal of improving educational outcomes and workforce preparation in food and agricultural sciences.Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 006870
- The Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.322.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 29, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 23, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) - FAQs
What is the Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG)?
DEG is a competitive grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The program supports colleges and universities in U.S. insular areas in strengthening how they deliver food and agricultural sciences education using distance education technology.
What is the main purpose of DEG?
The core aim is to improve the ability of eligible institutions in U.S. insular areas to provide high-quality food and agricultural sciences education by using distance education tools and approaches. In practical terms, it funds improvements that help institutions expand or strengthen instruction, curriculum development, and teaching programs through remote or technology-enabled delivery.
Why does DEG focus on distance education in insular areas?
The program reflects the reality that geographic isolation, limited local resources, and infrastructure constraints can make it harder for insular-area institutions to offer the same breadth of coursework and learning experiences available on the mainland. Distance education is emphasized as a way to increase access, modernize delivery, and connect students with updated content and specialized expertise that might otherwise be difficult to provide locally.
Who runs and administers this grant opportunity?
The program is run by USDA NIFA. NIFA administers the opportunity as a competitive process in which proposals are reviewed against program criteria and only the strongest submissions are selected for funding.
Is this grant competitive or non-competitive?
This is a competitive (discretionary) USDA NIFA grant. Applications are reviewed and scored against program criteria, and funding is awarded to proposals that rank most highly.
What kinds of activities does DEG support?
Based on the program description, DEG supports projects that expand or improve resident instruction, curriculum development, and teaching programs in food and agricultural sciences by funding the tools, systems, and instructional approaches needed for distance or technology-enabled education.
What is the intended impact of funded projects?
The larger policy goal is to improve formal, postsecondary agricultural sciences education in insular areas. Funded projects are meant to strengthen educational outcomes and workforce preparation in food and agricultural sciences by improving course access, instructional quality, and curriculum modernization through distance delivery.
How much funding can an applicant receive?
The award ceiling listed for individual grants is $150,000.
How many awards were expected to be made in the referenced funding cycle?
The source information indicated that approximately six awards were anticipated for that cycle.
What are the key identifiers for this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA RIGP 006870 and is associated with CFDA number 10.322.
When was the opportunity posted and what was the application deadline for the cycle described?
The opportunity was originally posted on August 29, 2019, and the original application deadline listed for that cycle was January 23, 2020.
Does the listed deadline apply to all years of the program?
The dates provided (posting date and deadline) refer to the specific funding cycle described in the source data. The description also notes that these details pertain to that cycle, while the overall program summary reflects the general scale and focus of the program.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is summarized as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which indicates eligibility is limited and defined by the program guidance rather than broad categories. Based on the program title and purpose, the intended applicants are Institutions of Higher Education located in eligible U.S. insular areas (typically territories and affiliated jurisdictions defined as "insular areas" in USDA program context).
Is the grant open to any organization type?
No. The listing indicates eligibility is not broadly open and is instead defined in program guidance. The description points to Institutions of Higher Education in eligible U.S. insular areas as the intended applicant group.
What subject area should proposed projects focus on?
Projects are expected to align with food and agricultural sciences education at the postsecondary level, with an emphasis on strengthening instruction, curriculum, and teaching effectiveness through distance education technology.
What makes this program different from general education technology funding?
DEG is described as a targeted education-capacity investment focused specifically on insular-area higher education institutions and on agriculture-related postsecondary education. The program centers on building or upgrading distance education capability to strengthen agricultural sciences programs, rather than general-purpose technology improvements without an agricultural education focus.
What is meant by "distance education technology" in the context of this program?
The program description frames distance education technology as the tools, systems, and instructional approaches needed to teach students remotely or in technology-enabled formats. The emphasis is on enabling or improving course delivery and instruction through technology.
What overall funding scale should applicants expect?
The summary describes the awards as relatively modest and targeted toward concrete improvements in distance-delivered agricultural education, with a cap of $150,000 per award and an anticipated six awards in the referenced cycle.
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