Foreword

We are very pleased to share with you this guide to understanding the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). It is perhaps the most far-reaching of the initiatives introduced by President Clinton and Congress to reform the way the Federal government does business. These efforts are all intended to make government more customer-focused, more cost-effective, more service-oriented, and more accountable to the American public.

We in the office of Higher Education Programs (HEP), and indeed staff within all government agencies, are undertaking a long-term process to change our focus from activities generated and resources expended to results achieved. To do this effectively, we must develop plans to operate more efficiently to achieve our missions, set performance goals for ourselves and our programs, measure how well these goals are achieved, and make the results available to Congress and to our constituents. This is significantly different from the operational focus of the past which measured success merely by the number of grants awarded and the number of students served. To demonstrate and document program effectiveness clearly, we must collaborate throughout the grant cycle on critical activities that are designed to achieve and document the goals for which our programs were established and funded. The Government Performance and Results Act drives this collaboration for accountability.

This booklet is intended to strengthen your understanding of the Act, and to invite dialogue about what our respective roles and expectations are in fulfilling its requirements. It would not have been possible without the leadership of Dr. Lawrence P. Grayson, Director of Program Monitoring and Information Technology, and the assistance of the Center for Strategic Management, Inc. I am especially encouraged, also, by the interest, cooperation and enthusiasm of our other service directors who administer such program areas as TRIO, Title III, and Graduate and International Education. We all have a vested interest in linking the results of our work in the Department and your work in the field to long-term improvements in higher education.

As you use this guide, there will be some questions for which we will not have ready answers, but we'll find them for you! Be sure that we have an unwavering commitment to seeking out the most accurate and comprehensive responses and keeping you well-informed as we all tread these new waters.

Claudio R. Prieto
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Higher Education Programs
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[Title Page]

[Introduction]