Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 011716
The Distance Education Grants (DEG) Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas is a competitive grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.322. It is designed to help colleges and universities in U.S.-affiliated insular areas strengthen their ability to deliver high-quality instruction and curriculum in the food and agricultural sciences by using distance education technology. In practical terms, the program is meant to expand and improve how insular-area institutions teach agriculture-related subjects when geography, limited local resources, and connectivity challenges can make traditional delivery difficult.
The core goal of the DEG program is capacity-building for resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching in food and agricultural sciences, with distance education as the main lever for improvement. Funded projects are expected to support the creation, adaptation, or adoption of learning materials and teaching strategies that put well-established, evidence-based practices for student learning into day-to-day use. That can include developing new online modules, modernizing existing course materials for remote delivery, adopting proven digital platforms or instructional models, and training faculty to implement effective distance teaching methods. Importantly, DEG projects are not only about technical subject-matter training; they must also intentionally build employability skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem solving, alongside the agricultural and related scientific content.
Eligibility is focused on accredited public or nonprofit two-year and four-year institutions of higher education that offer certificates or degrees in food and agricultural sciences and are located in one of the specified insular areas. For program purposes, an eligible institution must meet the Higher Education Act definition (section 101(a)) and demonstrate capacity to conduct teaching and Extension programs in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Institutions with Land-grant status located in insular areas are automatically eligible to apply as direct applicants, including Land-grant colleges and universities and other institutions that received Land-grant status through federal legislation.
The program specifically serves eight insular areas: American Samoa; the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; the Federated States of Micronesia; Guam; the Republic of the Marshall Islands; the Republic of Palau; and the United States Virgin Islands. The opportunity also clarifies how branch campuses can qualify. Branch institutions within a state university system that are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions may apply as their own eligible entities. In addition, an independent branch campus of an institution may apply if it meets the eligibility definition and is geographically separate from the main campus, permanent, offers for-credit courses leading to associate or bachelor’s degrees, and operates with meaningful autonomy (including its own faculty/administrative structure and its own budget and hiring authority).
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 011716). The posted award ceiling is $200,000, and NIFA expects to make about five awards. The original closing date listed for applications is June 15, 2026. Overall, the program is geared toward helping insular-area institutions expand access to agriculture and food-system education through stronger online and hybrid instruction, while ensuring students gain both the technical competencies and the workplace-ready skills needed to succeed in agricultural and related careers.Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 011716
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.322.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Distance Education Grants (DEG) Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas: FAQs
What is the Distance Education Grants (DEG) Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas?
The Distance Education Grants (DEG) Program is a competitive grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports colleges and universities in U.S.-affiliated insular areas as they strengthen their ability to deliver high-quality instruction and curriculum in the food and agricultural sciences using distance education technology.
Which federal agency administers this grant?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number provided is 10.322.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA NIFA RIGP 011716.
Is this a competitive or non-competitive grant?
This is a competitive grant opportunity.
What type of grant is it?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant.
What is the main purpose of the DEG Program?
The core purpose is capacity-building for resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences, with distance education serving as the primary approach for improving how instruction is delivered.
Why is the program focused on distance education in insular areas?
The program is intended to expand and improve agriculture-related teaching in locations where geography, limited local resources, and connectivity challenges can make traditional instructional delivery difficult.
What kinds of activities or projects does the DEG Program support?
Funded projects are expected to support the creation, adaptation, or adoption of learning materials and teaching strategies that bring well-established, evidence-based practices for student learning into routine instructional use. Examples mentioned include developing new online modules, modernizing existing course materials for remote delivery, adopting proven digital platforms or instructional models, and training faculty to use effective distance teaching methods.
Does the program require the use of evidence-based teaching practices?
Yes. Projects are expected to use well-established, evidence-based practices for student learning and put them into day-to-day instructional practice.
Is the DEG Program only focused on technical agriculture training?
No. Projects must intentionally build employability skills alongside agricultural and related scientific content. Examples of employability skills listed include communication, teamwork, and problem solving.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is focused on accredited public or nonprofit two-year and four-year institutions of higher education located in one of the specified insular areas that offer certificates or degrees in food and agricultural sciences.
What institutional definition must an applicant meet to be eligible?
For program purposes, an eligible institution must meet the Higher Education Act definition (section 101(a)) and demonstrate capacity to conduct teaching and Extension programs in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences.
Are Land-grant institutions in insular areas eligible?
Yes. Institutions with Land-grant status located in insular areas are automatically eligible to apply as direct applicants, including Land-grant colleges and universities and other institutions that received Land-grant status through federal legislation.
Which insular areas are served by this program?
The program specifically serves eight insular areas: American Samoa; the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; the Federated States of Micronesia; Guam; the Republic of the Marshall Islands; the Republic of Palau; and the United States Virgin Islands.
Can a branch campus apply separately from a main campus?
Yes, under certain conditions. Branch institutions within a state university system that are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions may apply as their own eligible entities.
What conditions allow an independent branch campus to apply?
An independent branch campus may apply if it meets the eligibility definition and is geographically separate from the main campus, permanent, offers for-credit courses leading to associate or bachelor’s degrees, and operates with meaningful autonomy. The opportunity notes autonomy may include having its own faculty/administrative structure and its own budget and hiring authority.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The posted award ceiling is $200,000.
How many awards does NIFA expect to make?
NIFA expects to make about five awards.
What is the application closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is June 15, 2026.
What outcomes is the program trying to achieve for students?
The program is geared toward expanding access to agriculture and food-system education through stronger online and hybrid instruction, while ensuring students gain both technical competencies and workplace-ready employability skills.
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