Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 006950
The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program is a competitive grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that supports projects aimed at improving higher education in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (often referred to as the FANH sciences). It is designed for institutions that want to tackle a real educational need that matters beyond a single campus, whether that need is state, regional, national, or even international in scope. In practice, the program is looking for strong, clearly defined education-focused problems and solutions that can demonstrate measurable improvements in teaching, learning, training, or educational capacity in areas connected to agriculture and related sciences.
A central theme of the HEC program is innovation with a purpose. Proposed projects are expected to use creative or non-traditional approaches rather than simply expanding existing activities in a routine way. The intent is to fund efforts that can become models other institutions can adopt or adapt, meaning the project should be designed with transferability in mind. A successful proposal typically does more than solve a local issue; it produces methods, tools, curricula, partnerships, or evidence-based strategies that others in the higher education and agricultural education community can replicate.
Another major emphasis is collaboration and relationship-building. The program encourages projects that strengthen working relationships within the university science and education community and also promote meaningful partnerships between universities and the private sector. This could include collaborations with industry, nonprofits, government partners, or other external organizations that can contribute expertise, facilities, data, experiential learning placements, or additional resources. The idea is to enhance program quality and stretch available resources by building networks that improve educational outcomes and strengthen the broader ecosystem supporting agricultural and food systems education.
The HEC program also prioritizes lasting impact. Funded projects are expected to generate benefits that extend beyond the grant period and beyond the period of USDA support. This generally means planning for sustainability, such as embedding new curricula into degree programs, creating durable instructional materials and platforms, building long-term partnerships, training faculty in methods that continue to be used, or establishing structures that persist after funding ends. Reviewers typically want to see that the project will not disappear when the budget ends and that the results will continue to serve students, educators, and institutions.
Eligibility is focused on institutions of higher education with the capacity to teach in the FANH sciences, and applicants must meet the specific Eligible Institution/Organization definition outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA), referenced as Appendix III in the announcement. Applications may be submitted by U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one FANH-related discipline. Land-grant institutions are specifically included, including land-grant institutions in the Insular Areas. The program also welcomes colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments, provided they can demonstrate the capacity to carry out teaching in food and agricultural sciences, along with other institutions that can show a similar teaching capacity in these fields. In short, the program is open to a range of higher education institutions, but all must align with the FANH educational mission and satisfy the RFA eligibility criteria.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is a discretionary grant program administered by USDA NIFA under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA CGP 006950 and CFDA (Assistance Listing) 10.217. The original closing date listed for this specific announcement cycle was April 2, 2020, and the maximum award amount (award ceiling) was $750,000. The announcement was created on September 24, 2019.Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 006950
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.217.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-09-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-04-02. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program FAQs
What is the Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program?
The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program is a competitive grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports projects that improve higher education in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH sciences).
What kinds of projects does HEC fund?
HEC funds projects that address clearly defined, education-focused problems and propose solutions that lead to measurable improvements in teaching, learning, training, or overall educational capacity in FANH-related areas.
Does the educational need have to be bigger than one campus?
Yes. The program is designed for institutions tackling educational needs that matter beyond a single campus. The need may be state, regional, national, or even international in scope.
What does HEC mean by "innovation with a purpose"?
The program expects proposals to use creative or non-traditional approaches. It is not intended to simply expand existing activities in a routine way; it is meant to support purposeful innovation tied to a strong problem statement and measurable educational outcomes.
Are projects expected to be transferable or replicable?
Yes. A central goal is to fund efforts that can become models other institutions can adopt or adapt. Projects should be designed with transferability in mind and ideally produce methods, tools, curricula, partnerships, or evidence-based strategies that others can replicate.
What role does collaboration play in HEC projects?
Collaboration is a major emphasis. The program encourages projects that strengthen working relationships within the university science and education community and promote meaningful partnerships between universities and the private sector.
Who can institutions partner with under this program?
The opportunity describes partnerships that may include industry, nonprofits, government partners, or other external organizations. These partners can contribute expertise, facilities, data, experiential learning placements, or other resources that enhance program quality and extend available resources.
Does HEC require planning for long-term impact?
Yes. Funded projects are expected to generate benefits beyond the grant period and beyond the period of USDA support. Reviewers typically look for sustainability planning so the work continues after funding ends.
What are examples of sustainability approaches mentioned for HEC projects?
The program description points to approaches such as embedding new curricula into degree programs, creating durable instructional materials or platforms, building long-term partnerships, training faculty in methods that continue to be used, or establishing structures that persist after the grant period.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is focused on institutions of higher education that can teach in the FANH sciences and that meet the Eligible Institution/Organization definition in the Request for Applications (RFA), referenced as Appendix III in the announcement.
What types of colleges and universities can submit applications?
Applications may be submitted by U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one FANH-related discipline.
Are land-grant institutions eligible?
Yes. Land-grant institutions are specifically included, including land-grant institutions in the Insular Areas.
Are institutions with significant minority enrollments eligible?
Yes, the program welcomes colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments, as long as they can demonstrate the capacity to carry out teaching in food and agricultural sciences and meet the RFA eligibility criteria.
What does "FANH sciences" refer to in this opportunity?
In this announcement, FANH sciences refers to food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences.
Is this a competitive grant or a formula/entitlement program?
It is a competitive grant opportunity.
Which federal agency administers this program?
This is a discretionary grant program administered by USDA NIFA (the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this HEC announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA NIFA CGP 006950.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number?
The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number provided is 10.217.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling) for this cycle?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed for this specific announcement cycle was $750,000.
When was this announcement created?
The announcement was created on September 24, 2019.
What was the original closing date for this announcement cycle?
The original closing date listed for this cycle was April 2, 2020.
Where are the official eligibility requirements defined?
The official eligibility requirements are defined in the Request for Applications (RFA), under the Eligible Institution/Organization definition referenced as Appendix III in the announcement.
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| Regional Food System Partnerships Apply for USDA AMS TM RFSP G 20 0009 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM RFSP G 20 0009 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA TCRGP 007272 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TCRGP 007272 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 007332 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SCRI 007332 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Community Food Projects Program Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 007312 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CFP 007312 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program (FASLP) Apply for USDA NIFA FASLP 007292 Funding Number: USDA NIFA FASLP 007292 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $225,000 |
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