Overview
The Distance Education Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) program strengthens the capacity of institutions of higher education in insular areas to carry out resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences through distance education technology. Projects funded by the DEG program support the creation, adaptation, and adoption of learning materials and teaching strategies to operationalize best practices for student learning. DEG-funded projects must also focus on imparting both technical knowledge as well as employability skills like communication, teamwork, and problem solving.
DEG projects can support:
- Acquisition of equipment, instrumentation, networking capability, hardware and software, digital network technology, and infrastructure necessary to teach students and teachers about technology to support distance education
- Development and enhancement of educational services (including faculty development) to prepare students or faculty seeking a degree or certificate
- Provide teacher education, library and media specialist training, and preschool and teacher aide certification to individuals who seek to acquire or enhance technology skills in order to use technology in the classroom or instructional processes
- Implementation of a joint project to provide education regarding technology in the classroom with a local educational agency, community-based organization, national nonprofit organization, or business; or provide leadership development to administrators, board members, and faculty of eligible institutions with institutional responsibility for technology education
Eligibility
Eligible institutions include institutions of higher education located in an insular area and that have a demonstrable capacity to carry out teaching and Extension programs in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. All public or non-profit 2-year and 4-year accredited institutions of higher education that offer certificate/degree programs in food and agricultural sciences and are located in an insular area are eligible.
The eight insular areas are as follows:
- American Samoa
- The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- The Federated States of Micronesia
- Guam
- The Republic of the Marshall Islands
- The Republic of Palau
- The United States Virgin Islands
