The partner institutions submit this Cooperative Agreement in accordance with their individual strategic plans, missions, goals, and objectives. The Chancellors and constituents of both institutions are committed to the project as described in this document and to its full integration into the institutions’ operations. Institutionalization will be accomplished by incorporating and expanding the Project’s initiatives into the institutions’ existing academic and administrative structures. At both UPRA and UPRH, Title V supported activities will be integrated into the Deanship of Academic Affairs, the Offices of Information Technology and Academic Computation, and the Library, among others.

Funding of this grant is important in order to obtain the resources necessary to continue
UPRA’s and UPRH’s momentum in solving significant problems and weaknesses and in
achieving their goals and objectives while moving toward self-sufficiency. Although the initial
high costs of starting up this Project are currently beyond the institutions’ fiscal means,
implementation strategies have been designed to develop cost-effective measures that can be
sustained on more modest budgets than those required for start-up activities. Strong staff
development and training components will make possible to successfully continue new practices
and improvements both in academia and in student support services. Faculty members who have
been trained and acquired skills in technology will serve as trainers for others. The proposed
activity relies heavily on key internal staff members who will be released from their regular
duties to devote part of their time to the Project. This approach will help to ensure effective
continuation after the grant period ends. Although the institutions are well aware of the financial
and management implications inherent in providing long-term support to this Project, they will
make financial commitments to supplement Title V funds during the grant period in terms of
personnel, fringe benefits, computing resources, office space, utilities, telephone lines, supplies
and other operating expenses. Replacement and/or equipment upgrades will be made
progressively and incorporated into their individual Information Technology Plans. Estimates of
the personnel and equipment costs the institutions will institutionalize the activities follow:

1. UPRA:
a.) Equipment maintenance and upgrades: $5,000 in year two; $10,000 in year three;
$11,500 in years four and five. b) Materials and supplies: $1,000 per year, starting from yearone.
c.) Food services for training activities; $500 per year, starting from year one.
d.) Human resources: UPRA will absorb the following positions at the end of this grant in fiscal year 2011: laboratory technician (25% in grant year 4=$5,826; 100% at end of grant =$24,237/yr + FB); the Student Resource and Academic Support Center (SRA SC) Administrative Assistant ($20,075/yr + FB); and 50% and 50% release time for the SRASC and Faculty Academic Support and Technology Resource Center (FASTRC) Coordinators ($42,112). Total funds for the
institutionalization process (year 6) will be approximately $86,424 + FB in personnel and
$50,000 for materials, supplies, and equipment upgrades and maintenance.

2. UPRH:
a.) Equipment maintenance and upgrades: $5,000 in year two; $10,000 in year three;
$11,500 in years four and five. b) Materials and supplies: $1,000 per year, starting from year
one. c.) Food services for training activities; $500 per year, starting from year one. d.) Human
resources: UPRH will absorb the following positions at the end of this grant in fiscal year 2011:
Assistant librarian ($20,075/year + FB); Mentors Coordinator (25% in grant year 4=$9,944; 100%
at end of grant =$41,366 + FB); and 50% release time for Faculty Resource Center (FRC)
Coordinator ($9,428 + FB). Total funds for the institutionalization process (year 6) will be
approximately $70,869 + FB in personnel and $50,000 for materials, supplies, and equipment
maintenance and upgrades.