24 May There’s More to Higher Education Grants Than Research Funding by Julie Assel, GPC
If you work under the assumption that education grants are just for funding university-level research, you’re in for a pleasant surprise, especially if you need funding for other purposes in higher education. A variety of societal benefits stem from students attending higher education institutions, including innovation, deeper collective understanding, and a workforce with the skills needed to support themselves and their families.
Higher education grants are written most often for funding projects or programs designed for:
- Community betterment
- Increasing enrollment in higher education institutions
- Helping students be successful in higher education classes
Many of the college and university programs from which society in general most benefits from cannot be sustained through tuition and fees alone. That is where higher education grants come in.
Funding to support higher education goals aimed at bettering an institution’s community, as well as the community at large, can be found through federal and foundation grants. For example:
- Department of Health and Human Services supports social services
- National Endowment for the Arts supports the arts and humanities
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration supports mental health and substance abuse initiatives
- Health Resources and Services Administration supports health
Beyond federal grants, there are local foundation funders that are a good source of funding for higher education grants focused on community betterment.
Encouraging Students to Study in the Country’s Areas of Need
Higher education grants are available also to undeserved and disadvantaged populations to increase their enrollment in specific majors. These majors, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as professions like nursing and behavioral health, have been determined as areas of need in our nation. College grants like these commonly are funded by federal agencies like the National Science Foundation, the Health Resources and Services Administration and other agencies, such as National Health Services Corps, Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM), Robert Noyce STEM Education, Behavioral Health (BHWET), and Nursing Workforce Development.
Preparing Students for University-Level Academic Success
Not all students are prepared for the rigor of college classes. To increase the likelihood of these students’ success, the federal government also provides grants like the Department of Education’s Title III and Title V, as well as the National Science Foundation’s Improvement Undergraduate Science Education (IUSE).
Community betterment and helping students be successful in their college endeavors are the most common foundation grants for higher education. Over the years, Assel Grant Services has worked with institutions across the country to find and apply for a variety of educational grants. Contact us to talk about the college grants your institution and students could possibly receive.
GPC Competency 1: Knowledge of how to research, identify, and match funding resources to meet specific needs. Skill 6: Identify fundable programs and projects for specific organizations.