NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS PROGRAM FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND AREA STUDIES

• Citation: 34 CFR Part 656
• Sections: 15

§ 656.1 What is the purpose of the National Resource Centers Program?

(a) Under the National Resource Centers Program for Foreign Language and Areas Studies (National Resource Centers Program), the Secretary awards grants to institutions of higher education and consortia of institutions to establish, strengthen, and operate comprehensive and undergraduate Centers that act cooperatively as national resources for—

(1) Teaching of modern foreign languages, especially less commonly taught languages;

(2) Instruction in fields of study needed to provide full understanding of areas, regions, or countries in which such languages are commonly used;

(3) Research and training in international studies and the international and foreign language aspects of professional and other fields of study; and

(4) Instruction and research on issues in world affairs that concern one or more countries.

(b) Through the activities described in paragraph (a) of this section, the National Resource Centers Program contributes to the purposes of the programs authorized by part A of title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, listed in § 655.5(a).

§ 656.2 What entities are eligible to receive a grant?

(a) An institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education is eligible to receive a grant under this part as either a comprehensive Center or undergraduate Center.

(b) An institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education that is a current recipient of a grant under this part as either a comprehensive Center or undergraduate Center is eligible to receive an additional grant under this part for special purposes related to library collections, outreach, and summer institutes, as described in § 656.4.

§ 656.3 What defines a comprehensive or undergraduate National Resource Center?

(a) A Center's area of focus for research, teaching, training, instruction, and project activities must be aligned with both of the following requirements:

(1) The area of focus must be a geographic world area or a geographically designated region that spans multiple world areas.

(2) Research, teaching, training, and instruction in specific languages, countries, regions, societies, or other units of analysis related to the area of focus described in this paragraph (1) must be conducted at the institution.

(b) A comprehensive Center is an administrative unit of an eligible institution of higher education that independently or through collaboration with other administrative units—

(1) Provides intensive modern foreign language training, especially for less commonly taught languages, in the Center's area of focus;

(2) Contributes significantly to the national interest in advanced research and scholarship in the Center's area of focus;

(3) Employs a critical mass of scholars in diverse disciplines related to the Center's area of focus;

(4) Maintains important library collections related to the Center's area of focus;

(5) Makes training available in language and area studies in the Center's area of focus, to graduate, postgraduate, and undergraduate students;

(6) Addresses national needs for modern foreign language and area studies expertise and knowledge, including through, but not limited to, the placement of students into postgraduate employment, education, or training in areas of need; and

(7) Disseminates information about the Center's area of focus to audiences in the United States.

(c) An undergraduate Center independently or through collaboration with other administrative units—

(1) Teaches modern foreign languages, especially less commonly taught languages, related to the Center's area of focus;

(2) Prepares undergraduate students to matriculate into advanced modern foreign language and area studies programs and professional school programs;

(3) Incorporates substantial content related to the Center's area of focus into baccalaureate degree programs;

(4) Engages in research and curriculum development designed to broaden knowledge and expertise related to the Center's area of focus;

(5) Employs faculty with strong language, area, and international studies credentials related to the Center's area of focus;

(6) Maintains library holdings sufficient to support high-quality training and instruction in the Center's area of focus for undergraduate students;

(7) Makes training related to the Center's area of focus available predominantly to undergraduate students in support of the objectives of a undergraduate education;

(8) Addresses national needs for language and area studies expertise and knowledge, including through, but not limited to, the placement of undergraduate students into postgraduate employment, education, or training in areas of need; and

(9) Disseminates information about the Center's area of focus to audiences in the United States.

§ 656.4 For what special purposes may a Center receive an additional grant under this part?

The Secretary may make additional special purpose grants to Centers for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) Linkage or outreach between foreign language, area studies, and other international fields and professional schools and colleges.

(b) Linkage or outreach with 2- and 4-year colleges and universities.

(c) Linkage or outreach between or among—

(1) Postsecondary programs or departments in foreign language, area studies, or other international fields; and

(2) State educational agencies or local educational agencies.

(d) Partnerships or programs of linkage and outreach with departments or agencies of Federal and State governments, including Federal or State scholarship programs for students in related areas.

(e) Linkage or outreach with the news media, business, professional, or trade associations.

(f) Summer institutes in area studies, foreign language, or other international fields designed to carry out the activities in paragraphs (a), (b), (d), and (e) of this section.

(g) Maintenance of important library collections.

§ 656.5 What regulations apply to this program?

The following regulations apply to this program:

(a) The regulations in 34 CFR part 655.

(b) The regulations in this part 656.

§ 656.6 What definitions apply to this program?

The following definitions apply to this part:

(a) The definitions in 34 CFR part 655.

(b) The following definitions, unless otherwise specified:

Critical mass of scholars means a concentration of modern foreign language and area studies faculty, researchers, and other similar personnel associated with a Center who collectively make significant contributions in a field of area studies because of their expertise and are distinguished by their training in many different academic disciplines in addition to their active engagement in interdisciplinary initiatives related to the Center's area of focus. The following are examples of other factors that may be considered in determining whether there is a critical mass of scholars:

(i) Whether instruction in many foreign languages is offered.

(ii) Whether specialized area studies or language instruction is regularly offered.

(iii) The number of graduate student research projects (dissertations, theses, or equivalents) supervised.

(iv) The degree of collaboration with international partners.

(v) Participation in professional activities or consultations with partners outside academia.

(vi) Professional awards and honors.

(vii) Roles in professional associations.

(viii) Activities funded by external grants.

(ix) The number of scholars relative to all similarly qualified individuals in the United States.

Institution means an institution of higher education, as defined in 34 CFR part 655. References to an institution include all institutions of higher education that operate as a consortium under this part.

National Resource Center (Center) means an administrative unit within an institution of higher education that is a grantee under this part that coordinates educational initiatives related to an area of focus as described in § 656.3(a) at that institution or for a consortium of institutions through direct access to faculty, staff, administrators, students, library collections and other research collections, and other educational resources that support research, training, and instruction in various academic disciplines, professional fields, and languages.

§ 656.7 Severability.

If any provision of this part or its application to any person, act, or practice is held invalid, the remainder of the part or the application of its provisions to any other person, act, or practice will not be affected thereby.

§ 656.10 How does an institution submit a grant application?

The application notice published in the Federal Register explains how to apply for a new grant under this part.

§ 656.11 What assurances and other information must an applicant include in an application?

(a) Each institution of higher education, including each member of a consortium, applying for a grant under this part must provide all of the following:

(1) An explanation of how the activities funded by the grant will reflect diverse perspectives, as defined in part 655, and a wide range of views and generate debate on world regions and international affairs.

(2) A description of how the applicant will encourage government service in areas of national need, as identified by the Secretary, as well as in areas of need in the education, business, and nonprofit sectors.

(b) An applicant must submit an Applicant Profile Form, as described in the application package.

(c) An applicant must submit a description of the applicant's policy regarding non-discriminatory hiring practices.

(d) An applicant must submit a description of the applicant's travel policies, if such policies exist, or a statement that such policies do not exist.

(e) Each consortium applying for an award under this part must submit a group agreement (consortium agreement) that addresses the required elements of 34 CFR 75.128 and describes a rationale for the formation of the consortium.

§ 656.20 How does the Secretary select applications for funding?

(a) The Secretary evaluates an application for a comprehensive Center under the criteria contained in § 656.21, and for an undergraduate Center under the criteria contained in § 656.22. The Secretary evaluates applications for additional special purpose grants to Centers under the criteria contained in § 656.23.

(b) The Secretary informs applicants of the maximum possible score for each criterion in the application package or in a notice published in the Federal Register .

(c) The Secretary makes grant awards using a peer review process. Applications that share the same or similar area of focus, as declared by each applicant under § 656.3(a), are grouped together for purposes of review. Each application is reviewed for excellence based on the applicable criteria referenced in paragraph (a) of this section. Applications are then ranked within each group that shares the same or similar area of focus.

(d) The Secretary may determine a minimum total score required to demonstrate a sufficient degree of excellence to qualify for a grant under this part.

(e) If insufficient money is available to fund all applications demonstrating a sufficient degree of excellence as determined under paragraphs (a), (c), and (d) of this section, the Secretary considers the degree to which priorities derived from the consultation on areas of national need or established under the provisions of § 656.24 and relating to specific countries, world areas, or languages are served when selecting applications for funding and determining the amount of a grant.

§ 656.21 What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate an application for a comprehensive Center?

The Secretary evaluates an application for a comprehensive Center on the basis of the criteria in this section.

(a) Center scope, personnel, and operations. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the proposed Center's area of focus meets the requirements in § 656.3(a).

(2) The extent to which the project director and other individuals, including relevant staff and faculty, are qualified to administer the proposed Center and oversee the implementation of project activities, including the degree to which they engage in ongoing professional development activities relevant to their roles at the proposed Center.

(3) The adequacy of governance and oversight arrangements for the proposed Center, including the extent to which faculty from a variety of academic units participate in administration and oversee outreach activities, and, for a consortium, the extent to which the consortium agreement demonstrates commitment to a common objective.

(4) The extent to which the institution provides or will provide financial, administrative, and other support for the operation of the proposed Center at a level sufficient to enable the administration of the proposed project and coordination of educational initiatives in the proposed Center's area of focus.

(b) Quality of existing academic programs. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the institution makes high-quality training, especially integrated interdisciplinary training in modern foreign languages and area studies, appropriate to the applicant's area of focus, available in the curricula for graduate, professional, and undergraduate students in a wide variety of educational programs.

(2) The extent to which the institution routinely provides language instruction, including intensive language instruction, relevant to the applicant's area of focus at multiple levels, as well as the degree to which these offerings represent distinctive commitments to depth or breadth.

(3) The extent to which qualified experts at the institution provide modern foreign language instruction in the applicant's area of focus, as well as the degree to which this instruction utilizes stated performance goals for functional foreign language use and the degree to which stated performance goals are met or are likely to be met by students.

(4) The extent to which the institution employs a critical mass of scholars in the applicant's area of focus, including the degree to which the institution employs enough qualified tenured and tenure-track faculty with teaching and advising responsibilities to enable the applicant to carry out interdisciplinary instructional and training programs supported by sufficient depth and breadth of course offerings in the applicant's area of focus.

(c) Impact of existing activities and resources. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the applicant, affiliated faculty, and institutional partners contribute significantly to the national interest in advanced research and scholarship related to the applicant's area of focus.

(2) The extent to which the institution's library holdings (print and non-print, physical and digital, English and foreign language) and other research collections are important library collections in the applicant's area of focus that support advanced training and research, including the degree to which holdings are made available to researchers throughout the United States, the degree to which collections include unique or rare resources, and the degree to which the collections are managed by experts in the applicant's area of focus with appropriate professional training.

(3) The extent to which the applicant, including affiliated faculty and institutional partners, generates information about the applicant's area of focus, disseminates this information to various audiences in the United States, and effectively engages those audiences through sustained outreach activities at the regional and national levels that respond to the diverse needs of, for example, elementary and secondary schools, State educational agencies, postsecondary institutions, nonprofit organizations, businesses, the media, and Federal agencies.

(4) The extent to which the applicant's activities address national needs related to language and area studies expertise and knowledge, including, but not limited to, the applicant's record in placing students into post-graduate employment, education, or training in areas of national need related to language and area studies knowledge.

(d) Project design and rationale. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the intended outcomes of the proposed project are clearly specified, are possible to achieve within the project period, and address specific gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities related to the Center's area of focus, the purpose of the National Resource Centers Program described in § 656.1, and the comprehensive type of Center described in § 656.3(b).

(2) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to contribute to meeting national needs related to language and area studies expertise and knowledge, including, but not limited to, by the proposed project's intended outcomes and other stated efforts related to increasing the number of students that go into post-graduate employment, education, or training in areas of national need.

(3) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build academic and/or institutional capacity in the Center's area of focus and sustain results beyond the project period.

(4) The extent to which the proposed project will reflect diverse perspectives, as defined in part 655, and a wide range of views and generate debate on world regions and international affairs.

(e) Project planning and budget. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which all proposed activities are adequately described relative to their contribution to the proposed project's intended outcomes.

(2) The extent to which all proposed activities are of high quality, including the degree to which they align with the purpose of the National Resource Centers program described in § 656.1, the comprehensive type of Center described in § 656.3(b), and the proposed project's intended outcomes.

(3) The extent to which the proposed timeline of activities and other application materials, such as letters of support, demonstrate the feasibility of completing proposed activities during the project period.

(4) The extent to which all costs are itemized in the budget narrative and the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.

(f) Quality of project evaluation. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the proposed project.

(2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving the proposed project's intended outcomes.

(3) The qualifications, including relevant training, experience, and independence, of the evaluator(s).

§ 656.22 What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate an application for an undergraduate Center?

The Secretary evaluates an application for an undergraduate Center on the basis of the criteria in this section.

(a) Center scope, personnel, and operations. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the proposed Center's area of focus meets the requirements in § 656.3(a).

(2) The extent to which the project director and other individuals, including relevant staff and faculty, are qualified to administer the proposed Center and oversee the implementation of project activities, including the degree to which they engage in ongoing professional development activities relevant to their roles at the proposed Center.

(3) The adequacy of governance and oversight arrangements for the proposed Center, including the extent to which faculty from a variety of academic units participate in administration and oversee outreach activities, and, for a consortium, the extent to which the consortium agreement demonstrates commitment to a common objective.

(4) The extent to which the institution provides or will provide financial, administrative, and other support for the operation of the proposed Center at a level sufficient to enable the administration of the proposed project and coordination of educational initiatives in the proposed Center's area of focus.

(b) Quality of existing academic programs. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the institution makes high-quality training, especially integrated interdisciplinary training in modern foreign language and area or international studies, appropriate to the applicant's area of focus, available in educational programs for undergraduate students.

(2) The extent to which the institution routinely provides language instruction relevant to the applicant's area of focus, as well as the degree to which these offerings represent distinctive commitments to depth or breadth of coverage.

(3) The extent to which qualified experts at the institution provide modern foreign language instruction in the applicant's area of focus, as well as the degree to which this instruction utilizes stated performance goals for functional foreign language use and the degree to which stated performance goals are met or are likely to be met by undergraduate students.

(4) The extent to which the institution employs faculty with strong language, area, and international studies credentials related to the applicant's area of focus, including the degree to which the institution employs enough qualified tenured and tenure-track faculty with teaching and advising responsibilities, to enable the applicant to carry out instructional and training programs supported by sufficient depth and breadth of course offerings for undergraduate students in the applicant's area of focus.

(c) Impact of existing activities and resources. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the applicant would contribute to the formation of a diverse network of undergraduate Centers through the training of undergraduate students who matriculate into advanced language and area studies programs and professional school programs related to the applicant's area of focus, especially through, but not limited to, innovative curriculum design, linkages with other institutions of higher education or organizations, requirements for student research or study abroad, support for relevant internship or other co-curricular opportunities, or specialized advising.

(2) The extent to which the institution's library holdings (print and non-print, physical and digital, English and foreign language), other research collections, and staffing support high-quality undergraduate training in the applicant's area of focus through the provision of basic reference works, journals, and works in translation but do not constitute an important library collection in the applicant's area of focus.

(3) The extent to which the applicant, including affiliated faculty and institutional partners, generates information about the applicant's area of focus, disseminates this information to various audiences in the United States, and effectively engages those audiences through sustained outreach activities at the regional and national levels that respond to the diverse needs of, for example, elementary and secondary schools, State educational agencies, postsecondary institutions, nonprofit organizations, businesses, the media, and Federal agencies.

(4) The extent to which the applicant's activities address national needs related to language and area studies expertise and knowledge, including, but not limited to, the applicant's record in placing undergraduate students into post-graduate employment, education, or training in areas of national need related to language and area studies knowledge, including into education and training at a variety of other institutions.

(d) Project design and rationale. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the intended outcomes of the proposed project are clearly specified, possible to achieve within the project period, and address specific gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities related to the Center's area of focus, the purpose of the National Resource Centers program described in § 656.1, and the undergraduate type of Center described in § 656.3(c).

(2) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to contribute to meeting national needs related to language and area studies expertise and knowledge, including, but not limited to, by the proposed project's intended outcomes and other stated efforts related to increasing the number of undergraduate students that go into post-graduate employment, education, or training in areas of national need.

(3) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build academic and/or institutional capacity in the Center's area of focus and sustain results beyond the project period.

(4) The extent to which the proposed project will reflect diverse perspectives, as defined in part 655, and a wide range of views and generate debate on world regions and international affairs.

(e) Project planning and budget. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which all proposed activities are adequately described relative to their contribution to the proposed project's intended outcomes.

(2) The extent to which all proposed activities are of high quality, including the degree to which they align with the purpose of the National Resource Centers program as described in § 656.1, the undergraduate type of Center described in § 656.3(c), and the proposed project's intended outcomes.

(3) The extent to which the proposed timeline of activities and other application materials, such as letters of support, demonstrate the feasibility of completing proposed activities during the project period.

(4) The extent to which all costs are itemized in the budget narrative and the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.

(f) Quality of project evaluation. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the proposed project.

(2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving the proposed project's intended outcomes.

(3) The qualifications, including relevant training, experience, and independence, of the evaluator(s).

§ 656.23 What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate an application for an additional special purpose grant to a Center?

The Secretary evaluates an application for an additional special purpose grant for a Center on the basis of one or more of the criteria in this section.

(a) Project design and rationale. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the project aligns with the Center's approved area of focus under § 656.3(a) and proposes at least one type of activity described in § 656.4(a)-(g).

(2) The extent to which the intended outcomes of the proposed project are clearly specified, possible to achieve within the project period, and address specific gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities related to the Center's area of focus, the purpose of the National Resource Centers program described in § 656.1, and the appropriate type of Center described in § 656.3(b)-(c).

(3) The extent to which the project is likely to contribute to meeting national needs related to language and area studies knowledge or expertise.

(4) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build academic and/or institutional capacity and sustain results beyond the project period.

(b) Project planning and budget. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which all proposed activities are adequately described relative to their contribution to the proposed project's intended outcomes.

(2) The extent to which all proposed activities are of high quality, including the degree to which they align with the purpose of the National Resource Centers program as described in § 656.1, the appropriate type of Center described in § 656.3(b)-(c), and the proposed project's intended outcomes.

(3) The extent to which the proposed timeline of activities and other application materials, such as letters of support, demonstrate the feasibility of completing proposed activities during the project period.

(4) The extent to which all costs are itemized in the budget narrative and the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.

(c) Key personnel and project operations. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or both of the following:

(1) The extent to which project personnel are qualified to oversee and carry out the proposed project.

(2) The adequacy of staffing, governance, and oversight arrangements, and, for a consortium, the extent to which the consortium agreement demonstrates commitment to a common objective.

(d) Quality of project evaluation. The Secretary reviews each application to determine one or more of the following:

(1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the proposed project.

(2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving the proposed project's intended outcomes.

(3) The qualifications, including relevant training, experience, and independence, of the evaluator(s).

§ 656.24 What priorities may the Secretary establish?

(a) The Secretary may select one or more of the following funding priorities:

(1) Specific world areas, countries, or societies.

(2) Instruction of specific modern foreign languages.

(3) Modern foreign language instruction at a specific level or degree of intensity, such as intermediate or advanced language instruction or instruction at an intensity of 10 clock hours or more per week.

(4) Specific areas of national need for expertise in foreign languages and world areas derived from the consultation with Federal agencies on areas of national need.

(5) Specific area of focus, such as a world area or a portion of a world area ( e.g., a single country or society) in addition to a specific topic ( e.g., economic cooperation, cybersecurity, energy, climate change, translation, genocide prevention, or migration).

(b) The Secretary may select one or more of the activities listed in § 656.4 or § 656.30(a) as a funding priority.

(c) The Secretary announces any priorities in the application notice published in the Federal Register .

§ 656.30 What activities and costs are allowable?

(a) Allowable activities and costs. Except as provided under paragraph (b) of this section, a grant awarded under this part may be used to pay all or part of the cost of establishing, strengthening, or operating a comprehensive or undergraduate Center including, but not limited to, the cost of the following:

(1) Supporting instructors of the less commonly taught languages related to the Center's area of focus.

(2) Creating, expanding, or improving opportunities for the formal study of the less commonly taught languages related to the Center's area of focus.

(3) Creating or operating summer institutes in the United States or abroad designed to provide modern foreign language and area training in the Center's area of focus.

(4) Cooperating with other Centers to conduct projects that address issues of world, regional, cross-regional, international, or global importance.

(5) Bringing visiting scholars and faculty to the Center to teach, conduct research, or participate in conferences or workshops.

(6) Disseminating information about the Center's area of focus to various audiences in the United States through domestic outreach activities involving, for example, elementary and secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, businesses, and the media.

(7) Funding library acquisitions, the maintenance of library collections, or efforts to enhance access to library collections related to the Center's area of focus.

(8) Establishing and maintaining linkages with overseas institutions of higher education, alumni, and other organizations that may contribute to the teaching and research of the Center's area of focus.

(9) Creating, obtaining, modifying, or improving access to teaching and research materials related to the Center's area of focus.

(10) Creating, expanding, or improving activities or teaching materials that are intended to increase modern foreign language proficiency related to the Center's area of focus among students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

(11) Conducting projects that encourage and prepare students to seek employment relevant to the Center's area of focus in areas of national need.

(12) Planning or developing curriculum related to the Center's area of focus.

(13) Engaging in professional development of the Center's faculty and staff.

(14) Funding salaries and travel for faculty and staff related to the Center's area of focus.

(b) Limitations. The following are limitations on allowable activities and costs:

(1) Equipment costs exceeding 10 percent of the grant are not allowable.

(2) Undergraduate student travel is only allowable if grantees have received prior approval by the Secretary for the associated costs and the travel is made in conjunction with a formal program of supervised study in the Center's area of focus.

(3) Grant funds may not be used to supplant funds normally used by grantees for purposes of this part.

(4) The following limitations on compensation paid to personnel apply to each award under this part:

(i) Project director. (A) Personnel costs and other related costs, including the cost of fringe benefits, associated with compensation for the project director are not allowable if such compensation only reflects the administrative tasks ordinarily associated with the role.

(B) Personnel costs and other related costs, including the cost of fringe benefits, associated with compensation for the project director are allowable with the Secretary's prior approval if such compensation is directly tied to the implementation of an approved project activity that requires the project director's expertise.

(ii) Instructors of less commonly taught languages. Personnel costs and other costs, including the cost of fringe benefits, related to the compensation of individuals directly engaged in the instruction of a less commonly taught language are allowable up to 100 percent of the actual costs associated with approved project activities.

(iii) Other project personnel. Personnel costs and other costs, including the costs of fringe benefits, related to the compensation of project personnel who are not described in paragraph (b)(4)(i) or (ii) of this section are allowable up to 50 percent of the costs for a full-time equivalent position.

(5) Costs for international travel are only allowable if a Center has obtained prior approval from the Secretary.

(6) Activities must be relevant to the Center's area of focus and the type of Center (comprehensive or undergraduate).

(7) An undergraduate Center's project and related activities must predominantly benefit the instruction and training of undergraduate students.