Postsecondary Student Success Grant Application Now Live, APLU Encourages Members to Apply

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) posted a Notice Inviting Applications for the Postsecondary Student Success Program, a federal program aimed at improving retention and college completion through evidence-based practices. Eligible applicants must apply by September 25 for four-year grants ranging from $2 million to $8 million to equitably improve postsecondary student outcomes.  

APLU strongly encourages eligible members to consider the grant opportunity, including public systems of institutions and Title III and Title V eligible institutions. APLU has curated resources for institutions interested in applying to the awards.

This year, ED has expanded eligibility to include:

• Public systems of institutions
• Higher Education Act (HEA) Title III and V eligible institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, and others eligible for the Strengthening Institutions Program
• States in partnerships with Title III and V eligible institutions
• Nonprofits that are not institutions of higher education (IHEs) or associated with an IHE, in partnership with Title III and V eligible institutions

Resources for potential applicants include:

• Tuesday, July 25: APLU Workshop #1, Demystifying Evidence-Based Student Success (video above | APLU Presentation – Georgia State University’s Tim Renick presentation)
• APLU Resource: Evidence-Based Student Success Intervention Design Guide.
• Thursday, August 10, 3:00-4:30 PM ET: APLU Workshop #2, Effective Program Design and Evaluation

• The Department of Education’s Preapplication Technical Assistance Webinar.

Award tiers will be based on the level of evidence:

• Early-phase (Absolute Priority 1: Applications that Demonstrate a Rationale)—$2,000,000–$4,000,000 for 48 months (estimated 5-8 awards)

• Mid-phase/Expansion (Absolute Priority 2: Applicants that Demonstrate Moderate Evidence, “Mid-phase” or Strong Evidence, “Expansion”)—$6,000,000–$8,000,000 for 48 months (estimated 3-4 awards)

If you applied for the previous round of FIPSE Postsecondary Student Success funding, APLU wants to hear from you! Share your experience here: https://forms.office.com/r/JYdRUedMA5  

This information will support our advocacy efforts with members of Congress as we seek to demonstrate the need for greater and continued funding for student success at the federal level.

We are pleased that Congress’s appropriation for the program increased from $5 million in FY22 to $45 million in FY23.