The Department of Education recently announced the availability of three new grant opportunities for colleges and universities to apply for to assist in a range of student-centered programs and initiatives. 

The three new opportunities include grants for Title VI International Education programs, programs for rural students, and for initiatives to help with basic needs for students.  Here is a summary of each:

• The Title VI awards are for new Centers for International Business Education, which provide educational and professional instruction on business techniques, foreign language, culture, and trade for students, faculty and local businesses to have a regional center for global excellence. About $4.5 million is available, with priority points given to those with business or professional association partnerships, and with Minority-Serving Institution or community college collaborations. Grant applications are due December 16, 2021.  
• The grant funding opportunity for rural students will provide $9,900,000 through the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program. This program is specifically designed to improve rates of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through the development of high-quality career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations. Absolute priority points will be given to eligible institutions with projects that increase postsecondary access, affordability, success, and completion for rural students. Competitive preference priority points will be given to institutions that: 1) support increasing access to technology; and 2) strengthen the development of career pathways for rural students to in-demand industry sectors in partnership with organizations in the region.  Applications are due December 6, 2021.
• The Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students program will award $4.9 million in competitive grants to eligible community colleges that are Minority-Serving Institutions, as well as all Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities. These three categories of institutions include eligible private, nonprofit colleges. Priority points will be given to applications designed to strengthen coordination among local, state and federal programs for systemic improvement to providing two or more basic needs (food assistance, housing, transportation, health support, childcare, or technology). Priority points will also be given for meeting social, emotional, and academic needs of students. Applications are due December 6, 2021.