Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Higher Education Programs (HEP): Institutional Service: Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Program (Part A), Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.031W | ED GRANTS 071425 002

FAQs: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Program, Part A (ALN 84.031W - Native Hawaiian)

1. What is this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), under the Higher Education Programs (HEP) umbrella. It is called the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Program, Part A. The Native Hawaiian-serving competition is identified as Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.031W (within 84.031).

2. What is the purpose of the ANNH Program?

The overall purpose is capacity-building. The program funds eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) so they can improve and expand their ability to serve Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students. In practical terms, it supports planning, developing, or implementing institutional strengthening activities that promote student success and strengthen the institution.

3. Who is the administering office and what type of grant is it?

The grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE). It is a discretionary grant competition.

4. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is ED GRANTS 071425 002.

5. When was the opportunity posted and what is the deadline?

The opportunity was posted on July 14, 2025. The original closing date is August 13, 2025.

6. How many awards does the competition expect to make?

The competition snapshot indicates an expectation of 13 awards.

7. What Assistance Listing Number (ALN) applies to this competition?

The opportunity is associated with ALN/CFDA 84.031, and the Native Hawaiian-serving competition is identified specifically as 84.031W.

8. What types of institutions are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is tied to the Higher Education Act (HEA), title III, part A. Applicants must meet the standard title III, part A institutional eligibility framework and must also meet the ANNH student enrollment threshold requirements (Alaska Native-serving or Native Hawaiian-serving, depending on which category the institution is applying under).

9. What are the baseline title III, part A institutional eligibility requirements mentioned?

Based on the information provided, an institution must:

• Be accredited or preaccredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency that the U.S. Department of Education recognizes as a reliable authority on educational quality.
• Be legally authorized by its state to operate as a junior or community college or to provide educational programs leading to a bachelors degree.
• Demonstrate enrollment of needy students (as defined in 34 CFR 607.3).
• Demonstrate low average educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student (as defined in 34 CFR 607.4).

10. What student enrollment thresholds apply for ANNH eligibility?

Beyond the baseline title III, part A requirements, applicants must certify that they meet the applicable undergraduate enrollment threshold:

• At least 20 percent undergraduate Alaska Native enrollment for an Alaska Native-serving institution.
• At least 10 percent undergraduate Native Hawaiian enrollment for a Native Hawaiian-serving institution.

11. How does an institution certify its Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian enrollment threshold?

The certification must be made using the required assurance form included in the application package. The form must be signed by an authorized institutional official and submitted with the application.

12. Can an institution simply self-declare eligibility when applying?

No. The Department runs a formal designation process for eligible institutions. Only institutions that the Department determines to be eligible (or that receive a waiver through the established waiver process) may apply.

13. Where is the FY 2025 designation and waiver process announced?

For FY 2025, the designation and waiver process was announced in the Federal Register on March 6, 2025 (90 FR 11408).

14. What guidance should applicants follow for application rules and submission logistics?

Applicants are expected to rely on the official Federal Register application notice for complete rules, required forms, priorities, performance measures, and submission requirements. Applicants should also follow the Department of Education Common Instructions for discretionary grant programs (published December 23, 2024, 89 FR 104528) for application logistics, including where and how to submit.

15. What are the two main grant application types mentioned in this competition?

The competition references two application types:

• Individual Development Grant
• Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant

16. How many Individual Development Grant applications can an eligible IHE submit?

An eligible IHE may submit only one Individual Development Grant application.

17. Can the same institution also apply for a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant?

Yes. The same eligible IHE may also submit a separate application for a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant.

18. Can an institution receive both an Individual Development Grant and a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant in the same fiscal year?

Yes. It is possible for both types of grants to be awarded to the same institution in the same fiscal year.

19. For cooperative arrangement projects, who must be eligible?

For cooperative arrangement projects, the lead applicant must be an eligible institution. Partner organizations do not have to be eligible institutions.

20. Can institutions that already hold ANNH grants still participate in cooperative projects?

Yes. Institutions that already hold an Individual Development Grant or a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant can still participate in additional cooperative projects as partners.

21. Are there restrictions on applying for another Individual Development Grant if an institution is a current ANNH Part A Individual Development grantee?

Yes. Current ANNH Part A Individual Development Grant grantees generally may not apply for another Individual Development Grant in this competition unless their current grant ends on September 30, 2025.

22. How does ANNH funding interact with the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program (title V)?

The notice emphasizes a key restriction: if an institution is already an HSI Program grantee, it may not simultaneously receive a grant under any HEA title III, part A program, including ANNH. This restriction is rooted in 20 U.S.C. 1101d.

23. Can a current title III, part A or title V grantee give up an existing grant to receive ANNH funding?

No. The Department notes that a current title III, part A or title V grantee cannot relinquish an existing grant just to receive ANNH funding (referenced in 34 CFR 607.2(g)(1)).

24. If an institution is an eligible HSI but not currently funded under title III, part A or title V, can it apply?

Based on the information provided: yes. An institution that is an eligible HSI but not currently funded under title III, part A or title V may apply to the programs it qualifies for and also be considered for HSI. However, even if selected, it may ultimately receive only one grant under the one-grant-at-a-time rule described in 34 CFR 607.2(g)(1).

25. Is the award ceiling (maximum award amount) included in the provided information?

No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided excerpt. Applicants would need to consult the official Federal Register notice for maximum award amounts.

26. Does the provided information state the project period or whether matching funds are required?

No. The excerpt states that applicants would need to consult the official Federal Register notice for project periods, any required match (if any), and the detailed selection criteria that will drive scoring and award decisions.

27. Where should applicants look for priorities, performance measures, required forms, and full submission requirements?

Applicants should use the official Federal Register application notice as the authoritative source for the complete rules, required forms, priorities, performance measures, and submission requirements, and use the Department of Education Common Instructions (89 FR 104528) for application logistics.