Grant Administration

The Board administers a variety of state and federal grant programs that provide financial assistance to public and non-public higher education institutions, with each program playing a significant role in advancing The Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success. The Board’s grant programs provide opportunities for colleges and universities to extend and supplement services to students through projects funded under a variety of programs.  The Board awards grants only to Illinois colleges and universities, not directly to students.  For information about grant and scholarship opportunities for students, please visit the College Zone web-site administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) at:  http://www.collegezone.com/studentzone/416_1302.htm or call them by phone at 800.899.ISAC (4722). A list of potential external grant sources is available at http://www.ibhe.org/Grants/PDF/ExternalGrantSources.pdf

Funded in Fiscal Year 2012:

• Grow Your Own Teacher Education
  The goal of the Grow Your Own Teacher Education (GYO) Initiative is to recruit and prepare parent and community leaders and paraeducators statewide to become effective teachers 1) in hard‑to‑staff schools serving a substantial percentage of low-income students, and 2) in hard‑to‑staff teaching positions in schools serving a substantial percentage of low-income students.  The GYO Initiative is new to the IBHE.  Prior to fiscal year 2011, the GYO Initiative was funded and administered by the Illinois State Board of Education.
  
  
• Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Program (DFI)
  The Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Program (DFI) was established by the Illinois General Assembly and signed as Public Act 093-0862 on August 4, 2004. This act combines the Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Program (ICEOP) and the Illinois Minority Graduate Incentive Program (IMGIP) into a single fellowship program. The purpose of DFI is to increase the number of underrepresented faculty and staff in Illinois institutions of higher education and higher education governing boards.
  
  
• Illinois Cooperative Work Study Program
  The Illinois Cooperative Work Study Program provides grants to both public and independent colleges and universities and is designed to enhance public-private sector partnerships, expand internship opportunities, reduce student reliance on loans, encourage permanent employment of Illinois graduates in Illinois, and provide links between academic programs and employment. (Competitive program)



• No Child Left Behind (NCLB) - Improving Teacher Quality State Grant Program
  The "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001" (NCLB) amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). This Act, signed into law on January 8, 2002, places significant emphasis on assisting schools and school districts in increasing the academic achievement of all students by improving teacher and principal quality and ensuring that all teachers are highly qualified.



• Independent Colleges Capital Program
  The Independent Colleges Capital Program (ICCAP) was created in 2009 as part of the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program. ICCAP provides private not-for-profit colleges and universities in Illinois with financial assistance for capital projects (Public Act 96-37, Section 25).  This multi-year grant program uses a distribution formula based entirely on the fall 2008 student enrollment numbers.  The formula provides a base grant and an FTE (full-time equivalent) grant for each eligible institution.  Institutions must certify the eligibility of the institution, the determination of credit hours using the methodology provided, and the use of funds only for eligible Capital Projects.  Grant funds will be distributed as the proceeds of Build Illinois bond sales become available to the IBHE.
  
  
• The Nurse Educator Fellowship Program
  The purpose of the Nurse Educator Fellowship Program is to ensure the retention of well-qualified nursing faculty at institutions of higher learning that award degrees in nursing. Awards will be used to supplement the salaries of the nursing faculty selected for the Fellowship. Participation in this program is open to Illinois institutions of higher learning with a nursing program approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Nominations must be certified by the institution's Chief Nursing Administrator.



• The Nursing School Grant Program
  The purpose of the Nursing School Grant Program is to increase the number of registered nurses graduating from Illinois institutions of higher learning. The Nursing School Grant Program will award grants in 2 categories: Expansion Grants and Improvement Grants. Eligible nursing programs include Associate Degrees in Nursing (ADN), Registered Nursing to Baccalaureate Degree Completion Programs (RN-BSN), and Baccalaureate Degrees in Nursing (BSN). Programs must meet accreditation requirements and other eligibility criteria. Expansion grants and Improvement grants shall be determined in a competitive process and will be awarded on the basis of NCLEX-RN pass rates and other performance criteria. Expansion Grant funds may be used to hire faculty, develop new programs and increase classroom space to expand capacity. Improvement grant awards will be much smaller award amounts and may be used to purchase classroom materials, increase academic support services, or make curriculum modifications to increase retention and licensing exam pass rates.
  
  
• General Grants
  General Grants are direct appropriations to the BHE necessary to implement state and Board policies.