Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Higher Education Programs (HEP): Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.047V | ED GRANTS 042622 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 042622 001

The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Education under the Federal TRIO Programs. Listed under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.047V (Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 042622 001), this competition specifically invites applications for Veterans Upward Bound projects, which are one of three grant types under the broader Upward Bound (UB) umbrella (the others being standard UB and UB Math and Science, which are competed through separate notices). The central aim of VUB is to help military veterans successfully transition into postsecondary education by building the academic readiness, confidence, and practical skills needed for college admission, persistence, and completion.

At its core, the VUB program funds projects that prepare, motivate, and assist eligible veterans in strengthening foundational academic abilities and other competencies that directly affect college success. While traditional Upward Bound focuses on supporting students through secondary education into college, Veterans Upward Bound is tailored to the needs of adults with military backgrounds, including veterans who may be returning to education after time away from school. Funded projects are expected to offer structured supports that address common barriers veterans face when re-entering an academic environment, such as skill refreshers, navigating admissions and financial aid, and adjusting to college-level expectations.

Program requirements and allowable activities are tied to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Grantees must provide services required in sections 402C(b) and (c) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-13(b), (c)), and they may provide additional permissible services described in section 402C(d) (20 U.S.C. 1070a-13(d)). In practice, this means an applicant must design a project that clearly delivers the required TRIO-style supports for veteran participants and aligns proposed activities with what the statute allows. The official Federal Register notice is the controlling document for the competition, including the precise service expectations, participant eligibility rules, application content requirements, performance measures, and any competitive priorities.

A wide range of organizations are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education); and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses). The listing also notes an "Others" category with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the full notice, so applicants that do not fit neatly into the listed types would need to confirm eligibility in the official application notice.

For this particular cycle, applications were made available April 26, 2022, with a deadline to submit applications by June 10, 2022, and an intergovernmental review deadline of August 9, 2022. The opportunity anticipated about 60 awards, with an award ceiling of $287,537. As with most discretionary Department of Education competitions, the notice emphasizes that applicants must follow the Department's required submission procedures and formatting rules, including those described in the Department's Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 27, 2021), which governs key points like how to obtain and submit an application and what standard federal requirements apply.

Applicants seeking authoritative guidance are directed to the Federal Register publication for the full program details, since the summary is only a synopsis. The notice also provides program contacts at the Department of Education for questions: Kenneth Foushee (Kenneth.Foushee@ed.gov, 202-453-7417) and Dana Foreman (Dana.Foreman@ed.gov, 202-453-7396), both located at 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4260.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Higher Education Programs (HEP): Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.047V" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.047.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 26, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 10, 2022 Applications Available April 26, 2022. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications June 10, 2022. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review August 9, 2022. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Kenneth Foushee, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 2C221, Washington, DC 20202-4260. Telephone (202) 453-7417. Email Kenneth.Foushee@ed.gov.or Dana Foreman, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 2C142, Washington, DC 20202-4260. Telephone (202) 453-7396. Email Dana.Foreman@ed.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $287,537.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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