Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success

Frequently Asked Questions

 

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1. What is the purpose of the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (CEVSS) Program?
2. Who is eligible to apply for the CEVSS program?
3. Will pre-application technical assistance (TA) webinars be provided to potential applicants?
4. How does an institution submit an application for the FY 2024 competition?
5. When is the deadline for submitting an application for the FY 2024 competition?
6. What happens if your application is submitted after the deadline?
7. What is the estimated range of awards?
8. What is the total project period for an award?
9. What are the funding priorities of the FY 2024 competition?
10. How do I indicate my responses to the priorities in my application?
11. What are allowable uses of funds under the CEVSS program?
12. Are indirect costs allowable under the CEVSS program?
13. Is there a cost matching requirement under the CEVSS program?
14. Is subgranting allowed?
15. Where can I find resources for developing a logic model?
16. Should applicants mark "Demonstrates a Rationale" when completing the Evidence Form (OMB No. 1894-0001)?
17. What is the page limit for the logic model?
18. Is there software available that can help IHEs build a logic model?
19. How are applicants notified?
20. What are the reporting requirements for grantees?
21. What are the performance measures used to evaluate the grantees' successes?

1. What is the purpose of the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (CEVSS) Program?
 

This program encourages model programs to support veteran student success in postsecondary education by coordinating services to address the academic, financial, physical, and social needs of veteran students.

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2. Who is eligible to apply for the CEVSS program?
 

Institutions of Higher Education.

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3. Will pre-application technical assistance (TA) webinars be provided to potential applicants?
 

Yes. The pre-application technical assistance webinar will be held on June 20, 2024, at 2:00pm EST. Please visit the CEVSS Program website at https://www2.ed.gov/programs/cevss/index.html.

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4. How does an institution submit an application for the FY 2024 competition?
 

All applications should be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov. In addition, applicants are required to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045), which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.

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5. When is the deadline for submitting an application for the FY 2024 competition?
 

The deadline for the FY 2024 competition is July 29, 2024, at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time.

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6. What happens if your application is submitted after the deadline? 
 

We will notify you that we will not consider the application.

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7. What is the estimated range of awards?
 

The estimated range is $650,000 to $750,000.

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8. What is the total project period for an award?
 

36 months.

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9. What are the funding priorities of the FY 2024 competition?
 

This competition includes one absolute priority and three competitive preference priorities. The absolute priority is for projects that a) Establish a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success on the campus of the institution to provide a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services for veteran students; b) Establish a veteran student support team, including representatives from the offices of the institution responsible for admissions, registration, financial aid, veterans benefits, academic advising, student health, personal or mental health counseling, career advising, disabilities services, and any other office of the institution that provides support to veteran students on campus; c) Provide a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the model program; d) Monitor the rates of veteran student enrollment, persistence, and completion; and e) Develop a plan to sustain the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success after the grant period.

The three competitive preference priorities are 1) Meeting Student Social, Emotional, and Academic Needs, 2) Promoting Equity in Student Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities, and 3) Increasing Postsecondary Education Access, Affordability, Completion, and Post-Enrollment Success. The applicant must address the absolute priority to be considered for funding. An applicant may address none or up to three of the competitive preference priorities and can be awarded up to an additional 12 points. More information about the priorities can be found in the Federal Register :: Applications for New Awards; Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program.

Competitive Preference Priority 1: Meeting Student Social, Emotional, and Academic Needs (up to 5 points).

Projects that are designed to improve students' social, emotional, academic, and career development, with a focus on underserved students, through developing and supporting educator and school capacity to support social and emotional learning and development that is trauma-informed, such as addressing exposure to community-based violence and trauma specific to military- or veteran-connected students.

Competitive Preference Priority 2: Promoting Equity in Student Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities (2 points).

Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the project will be implemented by one of the following entities:
 

1. Community colleges;
2. Historically Black colleges and universities;
3. Tribal Colleges and Universities; or
4. Minority-serving institutions.

Competitive Preference Priority 3: Increasing Postsecondary Education Access, Affordability, Completion, and Post-Enrollment Success (up to 5 points).

Projects that are designed to increase postsecondary access, affordability, completion, and success for underserved students by supporting the development and implementation of student success programs that integrate multiple comprehensive and evidence-based services or initiatives, such as academic advising, structured/guided pathways, career services, credit-bearing academic undergraduate courses focused on career, and programs to meet basic needs, such as housing, childcare and transportation, student financial aid, and access to technological devices.

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10. How do I indicate my responses to the priorities in my application?
 

This information should be contained within your application narrative. The application narrative should include responses to the selection criteria, the absolute priorities, and the competitive preference priorities, if addressed. The recommended page limit for the application narrative is 50 pages.

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11. What are allowable uses of funds under the CEVSS program?
 

In addition to the required activities in Absolute Priority 1, additional allowable activities include:
 

1. Outreach and recruitment of such students.
2. Supportive instructional services for such students, which may include--
   1. personal, academic, and career counseling, as an ongoing part of the program;
   2. tutoring and academic skill-building instruction assistance, as needed; and
   3. assistance with special admissions and transfer of credit from previous postsecondary education or experience.
3. Assistance in obtaining student financial aid.
4. Housing support for veteran students living in institutional facilities and commuting veteran students.
5. Cultural events, academic programs, orientation programs, and other activities designed to ease the transition to campus life for veteran students.
6. Support for veteran student organizations and veteran student support groups on campus.
7. Coordination of academic advising and admissions counseling with military bases and national guard units in the area; and
8. Other support services the institution determines to be necessary to ensure the success of veterans in achieving educational and career goals.

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12. Are indirect costs allowable under the CEVSS program?
 

This program uses an unrestricted indirect cost rate. For more information regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please see www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html.

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13. Is there a cost matching requirement under the CEVSS program?
 

No, this competition does not require cost sharing or matching.

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14. Is subgranting allowed?
 

No, subgranting is not allowed.

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15. Where can I find resources for developing a logic model?
 

In developing logic models, applicants may want to use resources such as the Regional Educational Laboratory Program's (REL Pacific) Education Logic Model Application, available at https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp. Other sources include: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014025.pdf, https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014007.pdf, and https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/pdf/REL_2015057.pdf.

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16. Should applicants mark "Demonstrates a Rationale" when completing the Evidence Form (OMB No. 1894-0001)?
 

Yes, it should be marked if you meet the standard. "Demonstrates a rationale" means a key project component included in the project's logic model is informed by research or evaluation findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve relevant outcomes. To receive the maximum points under the Quality of the Project Design criterion, your project must demonstrate a rationale.

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17. What is the page limit for the logic model?
 

It is recommended that the logic model be limited to one page.

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18. Is there software available that can help IHEs build a logic model?
 

Yes, the Education Logic Model (ELM) application is a downloadable, browser-based application that will help you build a logic model by answering a series of questions.

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19. How are applicants notified?
 

All applicants (ineligible, unsuccessful, and successful) will be notified by email.

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20. What are the reporting requirements for grantees?
 

If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual performance report each year that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information. At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information. You will be required to submit both annual and final performance reports using the Higher Education Programs: Institutional Service Grant Database. This online system collects narratives and data about funded projects to help program officers determine if a grantee is making substantial progress toward meeting approved project objectives. The database is accessible at: HTTPS://HEPIS.ed.gov/.

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21. What are the performance measures used to evaluate the grantees' successes?
 

The performance measures for this grant program are 1) the extent to which the project is institutionalized at the end of the project period; and 2) the extent to which funded projects increase enrollment, persistence, and completion rates of veteran students at their institutions.

If funded, you will be asked to collect and report data from your project on steps taken toward achieving these goals. Applicants to this competition are advised to include the performance indicators in conceptualizing the design, implementation, and evaluation of the proposed project. These indicators are related to some of the review criteria discussed in this application package, and it is, therefore, important to the success of your application that you address them. The assessment of these performance indicators, along with measures of goals and objectives specific to your project design, are to be part of the project evaluation plan.

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