A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Biennial Evaluation Report - FY 93-94

Chapter 513

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education

(CFDA No. 84.116)

I. Program Profile

Legislation: Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, Title X, Part A, Sections 1001-1004, 1011 and Title XI, Part B, Sections 1121-1122 (20 U.S.C. 1135-1135a-3, 1135a-11 and 1137, 1137a) (expires September 30, 1997).

Purpose: To provide grants to support innovative projects that will encourage the reform and improvement of postsecondary education and student participation in community service projects.

Funding History

Fiscal Year	Appropriation	Fiscal Year	Appropriation
1973	$10,000,000	1987	$13,700,000
1975	11,500,000	1988	13,117,000
1980	13,500,000	1989	13,310,000
1981	13,500,000	1990	13,183,000
1982	11,520,000	1991	16,103,000
1983	11,710,000	1992	16,463,000
1984	11,710,000	1993	28,220,000 1/
1985	12,710,000	1994	17,372,000
1986	12,163,000

1/ This includes funds that were directed by Congress to be spent through programs authorized elsewhere in the HEA: (1) $3,472,000 for the Eisenhower Leadership Program (Title X Part D); (2) $4,960,000 for Early Childhood Education and Violence Counseling (Title V, Part F, Subpart 5); and (3) $2,480,000 for Minority Teacher Recruitment (Title V, Part E, Subpart 2).

II. Program Information and Analysis

Performance Indicators

The following chart summarizes four of the main FIPSE performance objectives and indicators for FY 1993:

FIPSE Objectives and Performance Indicators: FY 1993

FIPSE Objectives	Performance Indicators
Overall Objective: To support the reform, innovation, and improvement of postsecondary education and provide equal educational opportunity for all.
a. To support projects that improve student access and retention in high quality educational programs.	Approximately 20 percent of FY 1993 grants focus on access and retention issues.
b. To continue to support the objectives of Goals 2000 Educate America.	Approximately 50 percent of current grants focus on National Goals 3, 4 and 5.
c. To support the National Service objectives through further development of FIPSE's Community Service Program.	Seventeen new Community Service grants were made. A cluster of community service research projects received initial funding.
d. To provide educators with timely, high quality information about effective practice.	Released second "Lessons Learned" report for higher education audiences, and reprinted the first "Lessons Learned." Four projects were funded with the primary function of disseminating information on practices that have been proven effective through evaluations.

Services

In FY 1993, FIPSE made awards under three programs. The main program was called the Comprehensive program; the other two were: (1) the Targeted Competitions, and (2) Innovative Projects for Student Community Service.

In FY 1993, the Comprehensive program supported 189 grants on a wide range of issues, including curriculum reform, access and retention, assessment of academic program quality, faculty development, teacher training, graduate and professional education, international education, education for a changing economy, and educational technology. Funding for the program was $13,453,000.

In FY 1993, there were two Targeted Competitions. The first was Leadership in Science and the Humanities, which was a joint grant competition funded at $500,000 with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation and FIPSE. The second was a U.S./European Exchange program funded at $1,618,000. Eligible entities included 2- and 4-year colleges and universities (accredited and nonaccredited), community organizations, libraries, museums, nonprofit trade and technical schools, unions, consortia, student groups, local government agencies, nonprofit corporations, and associations.

In FY 1993, there was also a noncompetitive continuation of a Special Focus Competition on College-School Partnerships. ($301,000). There were 17 new grants and 8 continuation grants awarded under the Innovative Projects for Student Community Service program in FY 1993 ($1,436,000). This program encouraged student participation in community service activities, including literacy projects.

The remaining FIPSE funds were directed by Congress to be spent through programs authorized elsewhere in the HEA 1992: $3,472,000 for the Eisenhower Leadership Program; $4,960,000 for Early Childhood Education; and $2,480,000 for Minority Teacher Recruitment.

Program Administration

FIPSE grants are awarded through a competitive process. Applications are reviewed by FIPSE staff and external reviewers from the higher education community.

Annual invitational priorities are set by FIPSE with the advice of the FIPSE National Advisory Board. The FY 1993 award priorities for the Comprehensive program were curriculum reform, improving the educational climate on campus, reducing racial tension, international education, combining subject mastery with teaching technique in teacher education, assessment of learning, and financial reforms and their effects on quality and access, education and the economy, and new applications of technology.

Outcomes

An evaluation of outcomes is required of all grantees as part of their final reports. An analysis of these evaluations is conducted annually, and information on the most promising outcomes is included in a subsequent issue of a FIPSE report titled Lessons Learned.

Management Improvement Strategies

FIPSE has begun a number of initiatives to achieve improved project monitoring and enhanced program accountability. These include tighter final report procedures with stronger project evaluation designs, new approaches to the reporting of successful outcomes, and an improved automated data processing system for monitoring the financial status of grants.

III. Sources of Information

Program files.
Surveys of funded projects.
Lessons Learned, Volume 1 and Lessons Learned, Volume 2. The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education prepared these publications which draw on information from final reports of projects and from questionnaires of grantees. Volume 1, which includes projects finished by 1988, was released in fall 1990; Volume II, which includes projects that finished during 1988-1991, was released in September 1993.

IV. Planned Studies

During FY 1994, FIPSE will develop plans for a program evaluation, which will occur during FY 1995. This evaluation will address: (1) evidence of FIPSE program accomplishments; (2) benefits to grant recipients (improvement of teaching and learning for faculty and students); (3) diffusion of successful practices to other sites; and (4) contributions to knowledge development in postsecondary education.

V. Contacts for Further Information

Program Operations:: Preston Forbes, (202) 708-5750
Program Studies:: Elizabeth Eisner, (202) 401-0182

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