Nursing Innovation Grant

Transcription

1 Nursing Innovation Grant Supported by investment proceeds from the Permanent Fund for Higher Education Nursing, Allied Health and Other Health-Related Programs Conference on Partnerships in Nursing Education We Can Do It Together Deadline for Applications February 8, 2008 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board P. O. Box Austin, Texas Published July 2007

2 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Board) Robert W. Shepard, Chairman Neal W. Adams, Vice Chairman Lorraine Perryman, Secretary of the Board Laurie Bricker Paul Foster Fred W. Heldenfels IV Joe B. Hinton George Louis McWilliams Elaine Mendoza Nancy R. Neal Lyn Bracewell Phillips Curtis Ransom A.W. Whit Riter, III Harlingen Bedford Odessa Houston El Paso San Marcos Crawford Texarkana San Antonio Lubbock Bastrop Dallas Tyler Board Mission The mission of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is to provide the Legislature advice and comprehensive planning capability for higher education, to coordinate the effective delivery of higher education, to efficiently administer assigned statewide programs, and to advance higher education for the people of Texas. Board Philosophy The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will promote access to quality higher education across the state with the conviction that access without quality is mediocrity and that quality without access is unacceptable. The Board will be open, ethical, responsive, and committed to public service. The Board will approach its work with a sense of purpose and responsibility to the people of Texas and is committed to the best use of public monies. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board does not discriminate on the basis The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services.

3 Conference on Partnerships in Nursing Education We Can Do It Together Table of Contents Pages I. Summary of Grant Program 1-4 Program Overview Tentative Program Schedule II. Instructions 5-12 Definitions of Key Terms Document Format and Submission Standards Cost-sharing Indirect Costs Budget Restrictions Other Grant Restrictions/Conditions Subcontracts with the Grantee Institution Instructions For Completing the Application Forms III. Evaluation of Applications General Selection Criteria Five-Step Grant Award Process Appendices Application Forms 1-7

4 This packet contains instructions and forms for submitting a grant application to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board s (Board) Nursing Innovation Grant Conference on Partnerships competition (NIG-COP). To be considered for the NIG-COP grant, institutions must submit applications to the Board as specified in these instructions and in any other instructions that the Board may distribute before the submission deadline. Electronic copies of these instructions and forms can be found at the Board s website at Program Overview Name General Purpose of NIG Nursing Innovation Grant COP To provide funding to eligible institutions that propose to address the shortage of registered nurses (RNs) by developing new activities and projects that will promote innovation in the education of initial RNlicensure students and of faculty who would teach in initial RN-licensure programs. NIG Authority Eligible Institutions Texas Education Code, (f) and (g). Public institutions of higher education, private or independent institutions of higher education and hospitals that have an initial RN-licensure program with initial or full approval status from the Texas Board of Nursing on February 8, Partnership Conference The Board is seeking through this grant competition an eligible institution to plan and host a two-day statewide conference in Spring 2009 on intercollegiate (including diploma programs) and hospital partnerships in nursing education. In consultation with the Board, the eligible institution would be responsible for all aspect of planning, promoting and conducting the conference. The major goals of the conference are to: (1) present findings on intercollegiate and hospital partnerships that have increased enrollment capacity and graduation rates in initial RNlicensure programs; (2) provide opportunities for nursing faculty and hospital personnel to learn and discuss new ideas for implementing and sustaining these partnerships and related issues in a collegial and engaging environment; and (3) foster collaboration among all levels of nursing education. 1

5 Required Elements of the Conference The conference shall: General Logistics Be held in a hotel or conference facility that will accommodate approximately 250 attendees; Be scheduled between February 1, 2009 and April 30, 2009 and not conflict with other major conferences, holidays, and Spring Break; Require a two-day conference registration fee not to exceed $ per person; and Qualify participants for continuing education credit, either through the eligible institution or other sponsoring entity such as the Texas Nurses Association. Program Design Have at least one general session to provide an overview of successful partnerships that have increased enrollment capacity and graduation rates in initial RN-licensure programs. (Minimum 1 hr.); Have five concurrent breakout sessions for nursing faculty and hospital personnel to discuss issues of and plans for partnering initiatives (Minimum 2 hrs.); and Have a nationally-known keynote speaker discuss one broader or several narrower topics concerning creative partnerships among nursing programs and hospitals. Preferred Elements of the Conference The eligible institution should partner with, or have a steering committee with at least one representative from a nursing program that offers another level of initial RN-licensure and one representative from a hospital. The conference program should include: o o o o juried presentations from faculty at nursing programs in Texas; invited presentations from other individuals in Texas and from individuals in other states; exploration of related issues such as nurse educator preparation for practicing nurses, work-based nursing education, and the use of course and curriculum redesign and instructional technology to increase enrollment capacity and graduation rates; and interactive and social activities to promote discussion and collaboration among attendees. Hiring a professional conference planner is highly recommended. 2

6 General Selection Criteria Competitive. Designed to award the grant to an eligible institution that offers the best overall value to the state. Selection criteria shall be based primarily on the qualifications and past experience of the eligible institution and any partner in planning and conducting similar events, how well the proposed content of the conference meets the goals and elements stated in the grant application instructions, the proposed location of the conference, the cost of the conference, and cost-sharing provided by the eligible institution and/or benefactor. Grant Period The grant begins March 7, 2008 (tentative date of contracts) and ends May 31, Grant Award One grant will be awarded. Approximately $95,000 in NIG funds is available for the conference. Grant Payments In three payments in September 2008, March 2009, and June 2009). Reporting Requirements The grantee institution shall submit four reports: two oral reports on September 5, 2008 and January 26, 2009, a written conference report on June 1, 2009, and a final written financial statement on August 1, Carryover Funds At the Board s discretion, unencumbered funds may carry over from one fiscal year to another within the grant period. Unencumbered funds may not carry over beyond the grant period except as specified under Unspent Funds. Unspent Funds After the grant period ends, the eligible institution shall reimburse the Board for any unspent funds from the NIG grant and registration fees. The eligible institution may retain any unspent funds earned from exhibitor fees or sponsorships unless otherwise specified in an agreement between the institution and any exhibitor or sponsor. Application Deadline More Information Applications must be received in paper format in the Department of Instruction and Academic Affairs at the Board s Office at 1200 E. Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas, by 5 p.m., February 8, 2008 to be considered for funding. Contact Ms. Chris Fowler, program director in the Department of Instruction and Academic Affairs at 512/ or by at Chris.Fowler@thecb.state.tx.us 3

7 Tentative Program Schedule February 8, 2008 February 13, 2008 February 29, 2008 March 7, 2008 Applications are due. Applications are distributed to peer reviewers. Commissioner announces grant award. Contract is signed. 4

8 Definitions of Key Terms Board -- The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Commissioner -- The Commissioner of Higher Education. Eligible or grantee institution -- Public institutions of higher education, private or independent institutions of higher education and hospitals that have an initial RN-licensure program with initial or full approval status from the Texas Board of Nursing on February 8, Grant period -- The grant period is from March 7, 2008 (tentative date of the contract) to May 31, Project Director -- The principal educator responsible for planning, and conducting the student success conference. The person shall be a full-time nursing faculty member or program administrator at the eligible institution. One additional co-project director may be named from the eligible institution if that person has similar academic qualifications and faculty status as the project director and shares responsibility for the project. Document Format and Submission Standards Writing Style Write clearly and concisely. Avoid jargon and terms not commonly known. Write for a nurse educator or public health professional who is generalist in nursing or nursing education. Spell out terms the first time with abbreviations in parentheses. Format Use 8 ½ x 11 white paper with 11- or 12-point type. Stay within the margins on form pages. For Form 2: Description of Services and Qualifications, use 1" side and top margins on continuation pages. Number pages on Form 2. Adhere to page limits under Instructions For Completing the Application Forms, pages Order Forms as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, followed by letters of support, and then, appendices. Staple all pages of the application in the upper left corner. Copies Submit 1 signed original and 4 copies of the application. 5

9 Number of Submissions An eligible institution may submit only one application for the NIG-COP grant competition. A project director may receive only one NIG grant during the biennium. Submit to: Deadline Ms. Chris Fowler, Program Director Department of Instruction and Academic Affairs Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board U.S. Mail Mail Service Delivery P.O. Box or E. Anderson Lane Austin, TX Austin, TX Applications must be received in paper format in the Department of Instruction and Academic Affairs at the Board s Office at 1200 E. Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas, by 5 p.m., February 8, 2008 to be considered for funding. Cost-sharing Institutions may report other sources of support for the student success conference on Form 1, Line 4b. Form 5, Box H and Form 6, Box H. An institution that reports a significant commitment of Costsharing for the project will receive points in the review process. Eligible institutions may include all costs (including in-kind contributions) in any amount reported as Cost-sharing, except indirect costs. Indirect Costs Indirect costs may be included in the NIG-COP budget in an amount not to exceed 5 percent of total direct costs. Budget Restrictions Institutions may include all reasonable costs in the proposed project director s NIG budget with a few exceptions. The following kinds of costs shall not be included in the proposed budget: Capital equipment. Construction or remodeling of facilities. Foreign travel. Indirect costs that exceed more than 5 percent of the total direct costs of the NIG budget. Salaries or other stipends that are calculated at a higher pay rate than that which an individual (or similar position) normally receives. (Costs for staffing should reflect salaries of the eligible institution appropriate to the tasks that will be performed, and the length and time spent on the project.) Tuition and fees for nursing students. Salary incentives and salary increases (routine or otherwise) for faculty and staff. Cell phones. Parking fees. 6

10 The following kinds of costs shall not be charged to the grant award without prior approval from the Board: Domestic travel not specifically identified in the approved grant application. Salaries and fringe benefits for positions other than those positions specifically identified in the approved grant application. Budget transfers across Budget Categories A, B, C, and D that exceed cumulatively 25 percent of the total award during the grant period. Other Grant Restrictions/Conditions The Board and the grantee institution shall agree to the following restrictions and conditions. The Board: may visit the grantee institution to review the project director s activities, and the institution s financial records for the grant; may suspend or terminate the grant if the institution fails to comply with the terms of the contract or if the project director leaves the institution without a suitable replacement approved by the Board; and shall not be held liable in the event of damages to persons or property which may occur in the course of activities conducted as a result of the grant. The grantee institution shall: ensure that all personnel associated with the grant abide by all state and federal regulations for academic activities. Institutions should review the application with legal counsel before submitting applications; ensure that all personnel associated with the grant abide by the institution s intellectual property policy; ensure that no person is excluded from participation in, denied benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under the grant on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religious affiliation, disability or gender; have a financial management system that provides appropriate review and approval of expenditures of grant funds and monitoring of project performance. The institution shall have its financial records and other materials pertinent to the grant available for review and audit by the Board, the State Auditor and other auditors for a period of three years following the end of the grant period; notify the Board of any potential conflicts of interest that arise prior to or during the grant period; notify the Board of any change in approval status from the Texas Board of Nursing; notify the Board if the project director leaves the grantee institution or otherwise relinquishes active direction of the project; expend funds in accordance with Budget Restrictions, pages 6-7. Subcontractors shall abide by the same restrictions; request Board approval of fund transfers across Budget Categories A, B, C, and D that exceed cumulatively 25 percent of the total award during the grant period; receive three grant payments from the Board; present two oral reports on September 5, 2008 and January 26, 2009, and submit a conference report on June 1, 2009, and a final financial statement on August 1, 2009; 7

11 The grantee institution shall: (cont.) return all unexpended funds to the Board within 60 days of the expiration of the grant; return or pay back the grant funding if the State of Texas is required to return funds as a result of federal legislation regarding the subject matter of the case styled, The State of Texas v. The American Tobacco Co., et al., No.5-96CB-91, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas; and acknowledge Board support on conference-related activities by including language to that effect on related publications and other materials. Sample language: This material is based upon work supported by the Nursing, Allied Health and Other Health-related Education Grant Program, a grant program funded by proceeds from the State s Tobacco Lawsuit Settlement and administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Subcontracts with the Grantee Institution After the grant awards are announced, any subcontractor(s), must sign a contract(s) with the grantee institution. The services described in the contract must be consistent with those stated in the grant application and outlined in the final conference program. Each contract shall state that the subcontractor agrees to abide by the same grant requirements and conditions as the grantee institution. The grantee institution must file a copy of the subcontract(s) with the Board before NIG- COP funds may be disbursed to the subcontractor(s). Subcontractor(s) must understand that acceptance of State funds under a contract(s) with the grantee institution, as contractor, acts as acceptance of the authority of the State Auditor s Office, or any successor agency, to audit or investigate the expenditure of State funds under the contract(s). The subcontractor(s) must agree to cooperate fully with the State Auditor s Office or its successor, including providing all records requested. The grantee institution, as contractor, must ensure that this clause concerning the authority to audit State funds received indirectly by the subcontractor(s) through the contractor and the requirement to cooperate is included in any subcontract(s) it awards. Instructions For Completing The Application Forms Content for the application forms is explained below in the order in which the forms should be submitted in the application. Applications that exceed the maximum page lengths may not be considered for NIG-COP funding. (Shaded areas on the forms are for Board use only). Form General Description / Specific Instructions 1 Cover Page Maximum Length 1 page Complete all sections of the form except where shaded. Important Points Box 5 and 6. Totals should sum to amount in Box 4a. 8

12 Form General Description / Specific Instructions Maximum Length 1 Cover Page (cont.) 1 page Important Points Boxes 7, 8 and 10. The form must be signed and dated by the project director(s) and the institution s representative for sponsored projects. Box 9. The individual named as the contact person should be able to answer general questions about the application and serves as liaison to the project director on any specific question. Board staff will contact this person first with any questions about the application. 2 Description of Services and Qualifications 8 pages The template for this form should be used for page 1 only. Continuation pages should have 1" margins. Pages should be numbered. Text should be double-spaced in 11- or 12-point type. Please respond to the following 5 questions: (1) What are the major issues or problems in developing and sustaining educational partnerships with other nursing programs and hospitals? (2) How would your plans for the conference address those issues? (3) How would your plans for the conference address the goals and required and preferred elements outlined on pages 1 and 2 of the grant application instructions? (4) What would be anticipated results of the conference and how would those results be used to assist nursing programs in forming partnerships, thereby, increasing enrollment capacity and graduation rates? (5) What experience do you/your institution and any partner(s) have in planning and conducting professional conferences? 3 Proposed Conference Agenda 2 pages Provide a schedule of conference activities (including meals and social events) as it would appear in a conference program. Include as much detail about those activities and activity leaders as possible in the space provided. 9

13 Form General Description / Specific Instructions Maximum Length 4 Timeline 2 pages Provide an outline of the key activities involved in planning, promoting, and conducting the conference in chronological order. Each entry should include: (1) A span of dates for accomplishing the activity; (2) A brief description of the activity and method of delivery; (3) Identification of the entity, person(s) or positions responsible for completing or supervising the activity (often shown in parentheses following the brief description); and (4) The expected outcomes or results. While an eligible institution has some discretion as to which activities to highlight on the timeline, the timeline should have entries for signed agreements with major subcontractors, any significant hires, and reports to and meetings at the Coordinating Board. 5 Budget 1 page This form summarizes costs that the project director should explain in greater detail on Form 6: Budget Detail. Important Points Box G. Total should equal the amount on Form 1, Box 4a. Box H. Total should equal the amount on Form 1, Box 4b. Signatures of the project director and institutional representative are not required at the initial application stage of the grants competition. 6 Budget Detail 4 pages Review Budget Restrictions, pages 6-7, before completing this form. Boxes may be added or deleted on the form under each budget category to conform to the structure of the budget. For example, if most of the budget is in Personnel, additional boxes can be added to explain costs within that category. A bulleted line should represent a specific cost (e.g., the program director s salary) or a major subset of a particular budget category (e.g., secretarial staff salaries). The box below the bulleted line should be used to explain how the cost was calculated and to summarize the function or importance of that expense to the success of the conference. Note: Board staff may cut or reduce budget items that are not adequately explained. 10

14 Form General Description / Specific Instructions Maximum Length 6 Budget Detail (cont.) Important Points 4 pages In determining all costs for the conference, note the length of each fiscal year during the grant period: FY2008: March 2008 August 2008 (6 months) FY2009: September 2008 May 2009 (9 months) Categories A-G. The information should answer the following question: How do the costs in the budget reflect how the project director and other faculty and staff would plan and conduct the conference? Category A. Personnel should include (unless a part of costsharing) a separate bulleted line and box for the salary of the project director. Other faculty and staff may merit a separate bulleted line and box or may be consolidated under a subcategory of salaries (e.g. secretarial support). Fringe benefits may be included in those calculations or reported separately as another subcategory. Salary increases may not be included in the budget. Category B. Travel should include (unless a part of cost-sharing) a separate bulleted line and box for the project director to attend two meetings at the Board s offices in Austin on September 5, 2008 and January 26, Other travel may vary. Category C. Subcontracts should be itemized by contractor or function. Category E. Boxes A, B, C and D in each year should equal the total amount shown in Box E for each year. The sum of Box E for both years should equal the amount on Form 5, Box E. Category G. The sum of Box G for both years should equal the amount on Form 1, Box 4a and Form 5, Box G. Category H. The information should answer the following question: What, if any, costs would the eligible institution, et al., contribute to planning and conducting the conference? These are costs incurred by the institution, other benefactors, and the project director that are not a part of the requested NIG budget. The sum of both years should equal the amount on Form 1, Box 4b, and Form 5, Box H. See Cost-sharing, page 6, for more information about what are permissible costs to this category. Total Funding for Project. The sum of both years should equal the amount on Form 1, Box 4c. 11

15 Form General Description / Specific Instructions Maximum Length 7 Resume Attach a 1- to 2-page resume for each project director as Form 7. The resume does not need to adhere to Format standards, page 5. 2 pages per project director Letter of Support The project director(s) must include a letter of support from the dean/director of the nursing program or the chief academic officer of the institution. The letter must be on the institution s letterhead. Contents also must verify any cost-sharing by the institution to receive full credit in the evaluation process. 2 pages Appendices The appendices do not need to adhere to Format standards, page 5. 6 pages Examples of common appendix materials: Letters of support from benefactors who pledge cost-sharing (Letter is required to receive full credit in the evaluation process.) Additional letters of recommendation and support. Other information that addresses the project director s/institutions qualifications to plan and conduct the conference. Samples of previous conference programs conducted by the institution. 12

16 General Selection Criteria The Board will award grant funding based on a competitive process, designed to provide the best overall value to the state. Selection criteria shall be based primarily on the qualifications and past experience of the eligible institution and any partner in planning and conducting similar events, how well the proposed content of the conference meets the goals and elements stated in the grant application instructions, the proposed location of the conference, the cost of the conference, and the cost-sharing provided by the eligible institution and any other benefactor. Five-Step Grant Award Process 1. Preliminary Screening of Applications. The Board staff will screen applications to determine if all requested information is complete and adheres to application requirements. An application must be received or hand-delivered with proper authorization from the project director(s) and the institution s representative for sponsored projects by 5:00 p.m. before or on February 8, 2007 to qualify for further consideration. Qualified applications will be forwarded to reviewers for evaluation. 2. Review. The Commissioner will select qualified individuals to evaluate the applications. Reviewers shall not evaluate any applications for which they have a conflict of interest. Board staff will provide written instructions and training for peer reviewers. Reviewers will evaluate applications and assign scores based on award criteria. All evaluations and scores of the peer review panel are final and will be based solely on the information provided in the written application. The reviewers will evaluate each application based on criteria established by rule for the Nursing, Allied Health, and Other Health-Related Education Grant Program. Those criteria may be adapted for this grant competition to more effectively judge the merits of proposed applications. Generally, the criteria are: Qualifications and experience. Conference goals and objectives. Conference location. Cost-sharing. Cost effectiveness. 3. Staff Recommendations. Board staff will rank each application based on points assigned by reviewers and recommend a priority ranked list of applications to the Commissioner. 4. Commissioner s Funding Decision. The funding recommendation to the Commissioner will consist of the most highly ranked and recommended applications up to the limit of available funds. In making the funding decision, the Commissioner also may consider state and regional needs and priorities. The funding decision will be based on the written information provided on the application. If available funds are insufficient to fully fund a proposal, staff will negotiate with the applicant to determine if a lesser amount would be acceptable. If the applicant does not agree to the lesser amount, the staff will negotiate with the next applicant on the ranked list. The Commissioner anticipates announcing the grant award by February 29,

17 5. Grant Contract and Payments. The grantee institution shall sign a contract with the Board, agreeing to the grant restrictions and conditions, pages 6-8, and any other requirements of the Board and the State of Texas. The grantee institution shall receive three payments in September 2008, March 2009, and June Unencumbered funds may not carry over beyond the grant period (ending May 31, 2009). 14