This is a two-year grant to begin July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2026.

The target population for this grant includes academic affairs administrative teams, Centers for Teaching and Learning, and faculty at community colleges who either are currently teaching a HIP embedded course or faculty who desire to embed a HIP into their course. A proposal to scale the adoption and use of HIPs in academic pathways must illustrate evidence that opportunities for HIPs within the academic pathway is limited and/or that re-design efforts will address faculty adoption of building courses with HIPs.

Self-study data on the institutionalization of the particular HIP at that campus should be used to justify the institutional program design or campus initiative and/or redesign of any courses to ADD a particular HIP. Courses that have existing HIPs embedded, will need to complete the self-assessment tool created by the Office of Student Success and use the results to justify what funds are needed to address equity gaps that exist in the course. Proposals must clearly demonstrate the redesign of courses will include some scaling component, either internally to multiple sections of the same course or externally to similar courses at other institutions.

Grant proposals accepted until May 6, 2024.

An external review committee will evaluate and score all proposals to advise on funding decisions and priorities.

Required Orientation

All grants that are funded will be required to attend an orientation with the Vice Chancellor for Student Success before receiving an initial payment. The orientation will cover expectations and requirements for the grant.

Funding decisions announced by May 31, 2024.

First initial payment (50%) will be sent upon successful execution of all grant award and agreement documents between TBR and the institution. Final payment for all remaining expenses is sent upon successful execution of the proposal activities and a final report is submitted through the grant portal. 

Interim reports are due no later than June 1, 2025.

Final reports are due no later than June 1, 2026.

Funding for Student Engagement Retention and Success grants is contingent upon sufficient state appropriations.

Program Overview

Applications are being sought for the Student Engagement Retention and Success (SERS) grant program. The grant program focuses on initiatives that 1) further the system and institution's Strategic Plan, which includes an emphasis on fulfilling TBR’s open access mission; 2) have the potential to significantly increase and/or impact access and success outcomes for traditionally under-served or otherwise legally permissible targeted populations ; 3) have the potential to significantly impact campus climate and the closure of student success gaps in retention, graduation, or other metrics.  

As an open access system, we serve all students regardless of background or what life challenges and circumstances led them to pursue education and training from TBR. 

Many students we serve face barriers to access and completion. TBR is committed to confronting and addressing those barriers where they exist. TBR tries to assist each student achieve success, whether that is a credential, successful transfer, workforce readiness or other goals. 

Application Timeline: 

Application Submission Deadline: April 29, 2024 

Notice of award decisions: May 24, 2024  

Grant Program Timeline: The grant period will be from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 

Program Scope and Eligibility 

SERS grants are available for new or existing services or programs 1) further the system and institution's Strategic Plan, which includes an emphasis on fulfilling TBR’s open access mission; 2) have the potential to significantly increase and/or impact access and success outcomes for traditionally under-served or otherwise legally permissible targeted populations ; 3) have the potential to significantly impact campus climate and the closure of student success gaps in retention, graduation, or other metrics.. The grant programs should align with and/or support the campus or system's overarching student success goal(s) as well as the goals and objectives identified in any campus or system operational plans (i.e., Strategic Plan, ATD action plan, SEM plan, Drive to 55, etc.). SERS grants are available to fund programs or projects that confront and address barriers to access and/or completion where they exist to assist each student to achieve success.

This program is open to TBR Colleges and Tennessee's six LGIs. 

Program Description 

These grants are intended to allow for the implementation of new or innovative means and methods to enhance interventions outside of the classroom that directly impact barriers to students success. Applications will not be accepted for the following programs:

• Any program currently funded by a Success & Innovation (formerly A&D) block grant; 
• Any program currently receiving funding through an existing SERS grant; 
• Any request to change or update the curriculum or create courses 

Requirements

Program Goals and Objectives
  Applications must specifically identify the specific issue (or issues) to be addressed and identify the specific barrier(s) to student success (see the description above for examples). Applications that are overly vague or broad in reach or scope are not likely to be funded.

Sustainability 

Program proposals must include sustainability plans. Grants are designed to provide short-term funds to augment or supplement campus funding (non-Success & Innovation (formerly A&D) funding) for campus services or programs - not to substitute for ongoing funding from the institution. It is expected that programs with promising or successful outcomes will be scaled up, where appropriate, and will be eligible for institutional funding to ensure sustainability.

Funding/Budget Information
            The maximum funding amount for the grant is $50,000. Ineligible costs include: 

• Purchase of furniture, equipment (including technology such as computers), or software that does not primarily benefit current year program participants. 
• Speaker fees or honorariums, unless such fees are part of a broader workshop/seminar or training program; 
• Scholarships and tuition/maintenance fee costs; 
• Funds for campus personnel, unless specifically authorized in the grant award notice. 
• Costs to supplement salaries or operating budgets from existing programs. 

Indirect costs, while not prohibited, are discouraged. Including indirect costs will make the application less competitive as the grant funds are intended to directly influence student success, engagement, and retention.

Third Party Contracts
    If the grant proposal is contingent on contracting with a 3rd party to provide goods or services a copy of the draft contract must be included with the proposal. Grant approval will be contingent upon full execution of the contract prior to the time the goods/services were anticipated to be delivered in the proposal timeline. Failure to comply with the contract requirements in a timely manner, may result in the grant being rescinded, and any funds paid to the grantee should be returned.

Program Oversight
    The lead institution must be a TBR community college, TN College of Applied Technology or TN Locally Governed Institution, and there must be on project director. An individual may serve as the project director for only one awarded grant each year.

Please be sure to consult with your institution's grant office (if applicable) and follow all processes and procedures.
 

Post-Award Requirements 

Non-compliance with any post-award requirements may result in withholding of additional funds and denial of future grant applications. 

Program revisions 

Any proposed changes to the scope of services provided, barrier(s) addressed, activities project manager or project timeline must be submitted via this TBR grants portal (Amendment Request form). Substantive changes may result in reduced funding or revocation of program approval. 

Budget revisions 

Reallocations between line items of less than $2,000.00 may be made at the discretion of the institution but must be reflected in the mid-term or final report budget. Prior approval is required for budget reallocations between line items of $2,000.00 or more. Requests must be submitted using the Amendment Request Form via the TBR grants portal. 

Extensions 

Requests for extensions must be submitted using the form in the TBR grants portal no later than April 30, 2025. Requests for extensions beyond the end of the calendar year 2025 are not typically approved. 

Mid-Year Report 

A mid-year report is due on February 2, 2025 and must be submitted via the mid-year report form in the TBR grants portal. 

Final Report 

A final report must be submitted by September 1, 2025 using the final report form in the TBR grants portal. The final payment installment will reflect payment for outstanding actual expenditures.  

Disbursement of funds 

Institutions will receive grant funds in three (3) installments: 

• 1/3 (one-third) of the grant total will be transferred in July 2024; 
• 1/3 (one-third) of the project costs will be transferred upon receipt and acceptance of the February 2, 2025, mid-term project report (see Post-Award Requirements); 
• Remaining actual expenditures will be reimbursed after receipt and acceptance of the September 1, 2025, final report (see Post-Award Requirements). 

Supporting Information and Assistance

For more information on submitting the application as well as technical helps, please watch this video: https://youtu.be/3ul1KT22mAE 

To download a template of the application, click the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n8xcBxbhZpl8QG90pxDn_dSqhuVXsQ-N/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108979648002788853563&rtpof=true&sd=true

**Please note the application must still be completed in the grant portal. Do not attach the template**

Open-house office hours style sessions will be available for questions about the grant these will be held at the following times by clicking on the links below. 

(all times central)

March 20 at 9am

March 20 at 1pm

March 28 at 9am

March 28 at 1pm

April 11 at 9am

April 11 at 1pm

April 18 at 9am

April 18 at 1pm

Please email completionsupport@tbr.edu to receive the invitation to your calendar.