GME Planning Grant RFA



FUNDING OPPORTUNITYTexas Affordable Baccalaureate (TAB) ProgramThe Texas Higher Education Foundation (Foundation) is soliciting proposals from Texas postsecondary institutions to develop and implement new Texas Affordable Baccalaureate (TAB) programs. BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW HYPERLINK "" In 2011, Governor Rick Perry challenged Texas’ higher education institutions to be innovative in the delivery of academic programs and reduce cost and time for students seeking postsecondary education. Responding to this challenge, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board), Texas A&M University-Commerce (TAMU-C), and South Texas College (STC) collaborated on the development of the first TAB Programs. With funding from EDUCAUSE, the partnership developed a BAAS in organizational leadership at TAMU-C, offered exclusively online, and a BAS in organizational leadership at STC, offered in hybrid mode (the lower-division curriculum is online, while the upper-division curriculum includes face-to-face components). In these TAB programs, cost to students is minimal at $750 for each seven-week period that incorporates prior learning assessments (completed prior to program enrollment) and transfer credits (where applicable). Students in both programs complete the modules at their own pace, mastering the content before moving on in their programs. The two institutions graduated their first students in 2015.TAMU-C and STC developed general education competencies, assessments, and other resources with the intent that the content could be replicated and shared with other institutions. By adopting or modifying the general education learning resources developed by the first two TAB programs and utilizing more open educational resources, institutions participating in a statewide expansion of TAB programs can achieve significant cost savings. Expansion of TAB programs supports all four goals of 60x30TX. A greater number of completions will increase the percentage of Texans holding degrees by 2030 and increase the number of graduates annually. By engaging business and industry partners in defining competencies, institutions will focus degrees on identified marketable skills, and by lowering cost and time to degree, TAB programs will decrease educational expenses for students, thereby decreasing their debt load.3967480125730TAB is a degree that:Can be completed in 3 years or less;Costs the student $15,000 or less; andCan be entirely completed by a student without any prior college credits (in three years or less for $15,000 or less).400000TAB is a degree that:Can be completed in 3 years or less;Costs the student $15,000 or less; andCan be entirely completed by a student without any prior college credits (in three years or less for $15,000 or less).In order to meet the attainment and completion goals of 60x30TX, institutions’ programs must appeal not only to students coming directly from high school, but to “nontraditional students,” as well. These adult students represent a significant, under-developed talent pool for the workforce and their communities. Through innovative educational models, institutions can help more students complete an entire academic degree program (starting with zero credits) in three years for $15,000 or less. The purpose of the TAB Program is to increase the availability of affordable baccalaureate programs at additional Texas public and independent higher education institutions; funds will support the planning and development processes. Institutions should be prepared to deliver instruction no later than the semester following one year after receiving funds.It is anticipated (although not required) that requests submitted will propose programs that are competency-based, meaning they are built with an intentional, transparent approach to curricular design using an academic model in which the time it takes to demonstrate learning varies and expectations of what must be learned are held constant.? Students acquire and demonstrate their knowledge and skills by engaging in learning exercises, activities, and experiences that align with clearly defined programmatic outcomes. Students receive proactive guidance and support from faculty and staff. Students earn credentials by demonstrating proficiency or mastery through multiple forms of assessment, often at a personalized pace. Statewide Measures of Effectiveness of the TAB Program:The percentage of TAB students who complete degrees is comparable to or better than the percentage of students who complete degrees in comparable traditional programs, institutions, and fields.The average grades on assessments of identified learning outcomes of TAB students (as collected and reported by the Institute for Competency-Based Education) are equal to or better than the grades of students in comparable traditional coursework in comparable programs, institutions, and fields (as collected and reported by the Coordinating Board).The average credit accrual rate of TAB students is equal to or greater than the average credit accrual rate of students in comparable traditional programs, institutions, and fields within a given semester and/or year.The average credit accrual rate of TAB students with prior experience in traditional education is faster after enrolling in a TAB program than it was prior to enrollment.First-year earnings of TAB program graduates are equal to or greater than those of graduates of comparable programs and institutions in comparable fields and geographic regions.Please contact the Texas Higher Education Foundation @ ExecDirector@ with any questions.PROPOSAL INFORMATION Interested institutions are requested to submit the below information in WORD format to ExecDirector@. (Page Limit = 10 Pages including Project Action Timeline and Budget). Questions? Please email Name and contact information of InstitutionName and contact information of Project DirectorThe existing degree program and CIP code proposed for TAB developmentProject Description The proposed degree program and rationale for choosing it (i.e. employment of graduates, graduation rate of students in existing program, support of faculty for innovation); Partners expected to participate in the project, including the role each would take and the anticipated contribution to project planning and implementation (attach partnership agreements if applicable);Planned collaboration with the Institute for Competency-Based Education at Texas A&M University-Commerce (if proposing a program with competency-based education components);The processes to identify learning outcomes and general competencies within the program and for separately awarding credit for prior learning (if applicable);Instructional delivery methods and student support services, and the technology to be used;Detailed information related to support for the proposed TAB program by leadership and faculty, and how it is aligned with the institution’s mission;Plan for student recruitment;Outcomes by the following measures:Affordability (estimated costs and cost savings to students). Include a model comparing the traditional pathway to the proposed TAB degree pathway,Time-to-degree estimates, andNumber of students to be served in first five years following launch;Identification and qualifications of an individual designated as Project Director, who will guide the project; andThe business model to be employed and how it supports sustainability for five years after the Program Period ends.Project Action Plan and Timeline (template attached)Budget (template attached) and Budget Narrative Funds awarded for TAB development may only be spent on activities related to implementing a TAB degree program. For a list of eligible budget categories, please see the attached Budget Template. There is a minimum one-to-one matching funds requirement for this program. Institutions may match with monetary and/or in-kind contributions. Institutions are prohibited from expending TAB funds on salaries/stipends and benefits that are calculated at a higher pay rate that that which an individual (or similar position) normally receives. No indirect costs are allowed. Texas Affordable Baccalaureate (TAB) Theory of Change ModelAssumptionsResources(Inputs)Strategies(Activities)Products(Outputs)Goals(Outcomes)ImpactReaching the four goals of the state’s strategic plan, 60X30TX, requires innovation, creativity, and flexibility.TAB programs offer the opportunity to Texans to attain high-quality degrees at low-cost.TAB programs incorporate differentiated learning materials through multiple modalities (such as competency-based education) to engage all learner types. CBE programs address common barriers to enrollment and completion through their flexibility and cost structures.TAB will appeal to a range of students, including non-traditional and those with some college credits but no degree. Expertise and Networks?THECB staff?Institute for Competency-Based Education (ICBE)?Existing and new TAB sites leadership, faculty and staffFiscal resourcesContributions from philanthropic groupsRequirement of one-to-one matching funds for start-up programsTechnology?Purchased or upgraded learning management systems, predictive analyticsData and Evaluation?THECB accountability system and institutional data resources?ICBE evaluation supportOngoing training to disseminate information on TAB and CBE program components and development.Solicit program requests to expand TAB statewide.Faculty develop competencies and assessments.Programs modify business systems for competency tracking, state funding, and financial aid purposes.Students enroll in TAB programs, make progress toward, and complete their degrees.Methods of program improvement and evaluation are established and implemented.Measures of learning outcomes, student success, and student outcomes are developed and assessed.Institutions understand the basics of implementing TAB and CBE programs.Interest builds at institutions to develop TAB and CBE programs.TAB programs are awarded grant funding.Replicable curricula and assessments developed by partner institutions’ faculty are available for use by others.Technology expands supporting student success.Institutions are equipped to manage enrollment, financial aid, and funding requests based on competencies.Additional degree programs offered at an estimated cost of no more than $15,000 for a student with no prior credit.Quality evaluation for continuous improvement is conducted.A diverse pool of statewide postsecondary institutions apply for new TAB programs.Institutional capacity improved for future TAB programs.Improvements to CBE model(s) for future programs.Sustainability of TAB achieved through state formula funding and student tuition.TAB graduates will perform as well as or better than those in comparable traditional programs, institutions and fields, on: GPA, credit accrual rate, completion, and first-year earnings.Institutions are able to serve more students through to completion, particularly non-traditional and students with some college credits but no degree.Graduates of CBE programs will demonstrate mastery of skills that align with workforce needs. Students will realize an overall cost-savings under TAB through reduction in time-to-degree and innovative cost-structure, leading to an overall reduction in excess student debt.State will realize an overall cost savings through reduction in time-to degree, shared resources, and workforce enhancement.Attainment of 60x30TX goals.Project Action Plan and Timeline Project Action Plan and Timeline should include:Assumptions of the proposed program;Resources and inputs (personnel, financial, technologies, etc.);The strategies and activities identified in the Project Description section; These should include planning phases for identification of competencies, development of learning materials, enrollment of first cohort students, and projected date of first graduates.Products or outputs of the strategies and activities;Goals or outcomes of the strategies and activities; andAnticipated date of completion for each strategy and activity.AssumptionsResources (Inputs)Strategies (Activities)Products (Outputs)Goals (Outcomes)Anticipated completion dateClick here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Click here to enter text.Budget TemplateAllowable Cost CategoryTAB Program FundsMatching FundsTotal BudgetYear 1Year 2TotalYear 1Year 2Total Personnel Salaries & BenefitsFaculty StipendsTechnologySoftwareServices Related to Technology InfrastructureMaterials & Supplies ConsultantIn-State TravelOther Direct CostsTOTALPlease identify only necessary and reasonable costs limited to the above categories required to develop a TAB degree. Past TAB awards have averaged $180,000. Unallowable costs:Indirect FoodStudent ScholarshipsPlease attach a Budget Narrative providing a justification for proposed expenses. ................
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