Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program

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Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. What is the purpose of the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program (NASNTI)?
  2. Who may apply for NASNTI grants?
  3. Who fits the description of a Native American?
  4. What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds?
  5. Is construction allowed?
  6. How often are competitions held for the NASNTI program?
  7. What is the average annual grant amount?
  8. Is there a wait-out period to apply for the NASNTI programs once the grant period ends?
  9. Can you have a NASNTI Part A grant and a NASNTI Part F grant simultaneously?
  10. Is there a cost-matching requirement?
  11. Can you establish an endowment fund with the NASNTI Program?
  12. What are the reporting requirements for grantees?
  13. What are the requirements for auditing funded projects?

1. What is the purpose of the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program (NASNTI)?

NASNTI Title III, Part A and Part F provides grants and related assistance to Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions to enable these institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals by increasing institutions' self-sufficiency in improving academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability.

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2. Who may apply for NASNTI grants?

Institutions of higher education (IHEs) that have, at the time of application, an enrollment of undergraduate students that is not less than 10 percent Native American students; and are not a tribal college or university (as defined in Section 316 of the Higher Education Act).

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3. Who fits the description of a Native American?

The term "Native American" means an individual who is of a tribe, people or culture that is indigenous to the United States.

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4. What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds?

Grants awarded under this section shall be used for one or more of the following activities:

  • The purchase, rental or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
  • Renovation and improvement in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other instructional facilities;
  • Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist faculty in attaining advanced degrees in the field of instruction;
  • Curriculum development and academic instruction;
  • The purchase of library books, periodicals, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program material;
  • Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
  • The joint use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries;
  • Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student services; and
  • For Part A only, education of counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students or the students’ families.
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5. Is construction allowed?

Construction and maintenance is not an allowable activity under the NASNTI program.

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6. How often are competitions held for the NASNTI program?

Competitions for both Part A and Part F are held annually. The closing dates of the applications are announced in the Federal Register, and the deadline to submit an application is usually 30 days after the program competition is announced.

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7. What is the average annual grant amount?

The average annual amount is $383,000 for individual development grants.

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8. Is there a wait-out period to apply for the NASNTI programs once the grant period ends?

There is no wait-out period to apply for either of the NASNTI programs once your grant period ends. Under Section 313(d) it states that institutions receiving grants under this part are exempted from the two-year wait-out requirement. Therefore, those applicants are eligible to apply for a new grant after their five-year grant period expires.

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9. Can you have a NASNTI Part A grant and a NASNTI Part F grant simultaneously?

Yes. You can apply for and be awarded both a NASNTI Part A and a NASNTI Part F grant simultaneously. Moreover, this applies for all Title III Part A and Part F programs for which your institution qualifies. For example, you can apply for and receive a Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) Title III, Part A grant, and apply for and receive a NASNTI Title III, Part F grant simultaneously; provided you have applied for and was approved for Designation of Eligibility, and meet the qualifications for the Title III, Part A and Part F programs for which you are applying.

However, you cannot have more than one Title III, Part A grant although you can apply for all Title III, Part A Programs for which you qualify, but if you are selected for more than one, you will have to chose the Part A program that you desire.

The same goes for Title III, Part F. You can apply for all Title III, Part F Programs for which you qualify, but if you are selected for more than one, you will have to chose the Part F program that you desire.

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10. Is there a cost-matching requirement?

NASNTI does not require cost sharing.

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11. Can you establish an endowment fund with the NASNTI Program?

NASNTI does not have an endowment component.

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12. What are the reporting requirements for grantees?

NASNTI grantees are required to submit an interim performance report after the first six months of the grant. An annual performance report is due 90 days after each budget period ends.

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13. What are the requirements for auditing funded projects?

Grantees that spend $500,000 or more in combined federal funds (regardless of agency) during fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003, or $300,000 or more in federal funds during fiscal years ended on December 31, 2003 or earlier, are required to have an annual institutional audit. Generally, these audits, referred to as "A-133 audits" or "single audits," review expenditures of federal funds across an entire organization instead of specific costs of individual grants. These audits must be conducted in accordance with "Standards for the Audit of Governmental Organizations, Programs, Activities and Functions," published by the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Independent non-federal auditors selected by the grantee may perform these audits. Grantees that fail to meet the A-133 audit requirement may be designated as high-risk, which may affect future funding.

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Last Modified: 08/15/2011