Higher Education Challenge Grants Program
Funds colleges and universities with graduate-degree capacity in food and agricultural sciences to strengthen curricula, faculty, scientific instrumentation, and student recruitment and retention, including veterinary medicine education.
⚑ Award funds institutional capacity building rather than research projects. · Eligible applicants must be land-grant institutions or other accredited colleges/universities with demonstrable capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences and confer a graduate degree in at least one such discipline. · Individuals are not eligible. · Subawards to otherwise ineligible organizations are allowed when necessary for project conduct.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 31 weak | outside portfolio topics; social/behavioral work is minor; funds training education, not research (capped) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 25 weak | prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 25 weak | technical depth: minor; funds training education (capped) |
Description
The purpose of HEC, under assistance listing 10.217, is to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, and student recruitment and retention. The HEC program is focused on developing and improving formal master’s or doctorate degree-level food and agricultural sciences education and first professional degree-level education in veterinary medicine, such as a doctorate in veterinary medicine (DVM).
Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements Land-grant Institutions and other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences and confer a graduate degree in at least one discipline or area of food and agricultural sciences are eligible to apply. Institutions offering degrees should be accredited by an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are eligible. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply, provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. Individuals are not eligible to apply for these grants to support their own graduate education.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Angela Tatum Policy Specialist <grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · USDA NIFA conventions SEE A USDA EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — USDA NIFA's document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.