Bentley University

BENTLEY UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONAL RELIEF FUND

CARES ACT INITIAL FUNDING

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: BROADENING THE FUSION OF STEM AND BUSINESS CURRICULA IN UNDERGRADUATE SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION

RUI: THE ROLE OF ECOLOGICAL MEMORY IN NEARSHORE SEAGRASS BEDS AFFECTED BY MULTIPLE STRESSORS

BENTLEY UNIVERSITY FY24 CONGRESSIONAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING

RUI: EDGE PERCEPTION IN TOUCH: THEORIES, EXPLORATORY PROCEDURES, AND MULTIMODALITY -THIS PROJECT AT A PRIMARLY UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTION WILL ADDRESS THE IMPORTANT, BUT STILL LITTLE UNDERSTOOD QUESTION OF HOW WE PERCEIVE AND IDENTIFY OBJECTS BY TOUCH. MORE SPECIFICALLY, IT DEALS WITH HOW THE HAND AND FINGERTIPS INTERACT WITH SURFACES, EDGES, AND VIBRATIONS. UNDERSTANDING HOW WE PROCESS AND INTERPRET THE INFORMATION WE GET FROM TOUCHING OBJECTS IS INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT IN MANY HIGH-TECH ARENAS, SUCH AS IMPROVING ASSISTIVE DEVICES OR VIRTUAL SIMULATIONS FOR TRAINING PEOPLE TO REPAIR OR MAINTAIN COMPLEX PRODUCTS, INCLUDING AIRPLANES AND HEAVY MACHINERY. RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT WILL BROADEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF TOUCH RECEPTORS IN THE FINGERTIPS AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THEIR SIGNALS ARE PROCESSED AND INTEGRATED, WHICH LEADS TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF GRASPING, SLIDING, AND OBJECT HANDLING. THE PROJECT WILL INVESTIGATE TOUCH PROCESSING BY PRESENTING COMPUTER-CONTROLLED STIMULI TO THE FINGERTIPS OF ADULT HUMAN SUBJECTS AND ANALYZING THEIR REPORTED SENSATIONS UNDER DEFINED CONDITIONS. THE INVESTIGATOR IS ON THE FACULTY OF A PRIMARILY UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTION AND WILL PROVIDE 12 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WITH MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPERIENCE IN COGNITIVE SCIENCE, IMPROVING THEIR RESEARCH AND SCIENCE SKILLS, AND ALLOWING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH A WIDER SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL ADDRESS FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTERPRETATION OF MECHANORECEPTOR AND NERVE FIBER ACTIVATION BEYOND FREQUENCY THRESHOLDS USING EDGE PERCEPTION AS A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE HUMANS DAILY TOUCH MULTIPLE OBJECTS THAT INCLUDE EDGES AND RIDGES. THE STUDY HAS THREE AIMS: 1) TO COMPARE THE RESPONSES OF RECEPTORS TO DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES OF VIBRATION IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE PERCEPTUAL MECHANISMS BEHIND TACTILE EDGE PERCEPTION; 2) TO IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF MOTOR ACTION IN AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO EDGE PERCEPTION; AND 3) TO CONSIDER THE ROLE OF OTHER SENSES (HEARING AND SEEING) IN TACTILE EDGE PERCEPTION. THESE EXPERIMENTS WILL ADVANCE OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WAYS DIFFERENT TOUCH RECEPTORS RESPOND TO EDGES AND CONTOURS, HOW THESE RESPONSES MIGHT BE PROCESSED AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE PERIPHERAL AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, AND THE ROLE OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE MOVEMENT AND INPUT FROM OTHER SENSORY SYSTEMS IN INTERPRETING TOUCH PERCEPTION. THE RESEARCH ALSO HAS IMPORTANT APPLICATIONS IN TOUCH INTERFACES, ROBOTICS, AND TOOLS FOR THE VISUALLY CHALLENGED. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

DESIGN AND EVALUATION METHODOLOGIES FOR ENHANCING ERP SYSTEM USABILITY

OPEN GRANT COMPETITION - PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM

THE HUMANITIES IN A BUSINESS UNIVERSITY

THE PERFORMANCE EFFECTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE INNOVATIONS--IT ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN CHANGES IN US STATE GOVERNMENTS

E. U. - US ATLANTIS PROGRAM

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR EFFECTIVE INTERORGANIZATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE INFRASTRUCTURES

BENTLEY UNIVERSITY CAMPUS SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM

US-BRAZIL HIGHER EDUCATION CONSORTIA PROGRAM

COVID-19 VACCINE UPTAKE AND RISK MITIGATION BEHAVIORS: UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUST - PROJECT SUMMARY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS UNFOLDED AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF DIMINISHED PUBLIC TRUST IN KEY SOCIAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS. THIS EROSION OF TRUST IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT UNDERMINES INDIVIDUAL ADHERENCE TO KEY PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS (E.G., VACCINATION, MASK WEARING, PHYSICAL DISTANCING) WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO MANAGING THE COVID-19 CRISIS AS WELL AS FUTURE PANDEMICS. WHILE AN EMERGING SUB-STREAM OF LITERATURE HAS BEGUN TO UNPACK THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRUST AND RISK-AVERTING BEHAVIOR, VERY LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRUST IN LARGER SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS (E.G., PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES, GOVERNMENT, THE HEALTH CARE AGENCIES AND THE BROADER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM) AND INDIVIDUAL HEALTH BEHAVIOR FOR THE U.S. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO LEVERAGE LONGITUDINAL DATA COLLECTED OVER THE COURSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO PROVIDE THE MOST ROBUST ASSESSMENT TO DATE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRUST AND INDIVIDUAL ADHERENCE TO KEY PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS ACROSS SPACE AND TIME. THE RATIONALE FOR THIS PROJECT IS THAT TRUST IS A KEY DETERMINANT OF NOT ONLY EFFECTIVE COVID-19 MITIGATION BUT ALSO THE MITIGATION OF FUTURE DISEASE OUTBREAKS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THREE SPECIFIC AIMS: (1) ESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL TRUST IN SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS ON THEIR VACCINE INTENTIONS AND VACCINE UPTAKE. (2) ESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL TRUST IN SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS ON THEIR ADHERENCE TO PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS OR NON-PHARMACEUTICAL INTERVENTIONS (NPIS), INCLUDING MASK WEARING, PHYSICAL DISTANCING, AND SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDERS. (3) ASSESS HOW DISPARITIES IN TRUST, SPATIALLY AND ACROSS SUB-POPULATIONS (RACE/ETHNICITY, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS, POLITICAL PREFERENCE), MAP ONTO DISPARITIES IN COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES AND RISK-MITIGATING EFFORTS. THIS PROJECT IS INNOVATIVE BECAUSE IT (A) LEVERAGES A UNIQUE LONGITUDINAL DATASET TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE FIRST CAUSAL EFFECTS ON THE LINK BETWEEN TRUST AND A VARIETY OF RISK MITIGATING BEHAVIORS (E.G., VACCINATION, MASK WEARING, PHYSICAL DISTANCING) AND (B) UTILIZES A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN TO BOTH QUANTITATIVELY AND QUALITATIVELY ASSESS VARIATION IN TRUST ACROSS TIME AS OPPOSED TO MERELY RELYING ON STATIC INDICATORS OF TRUST AND OTHER KEY VARIABLES. THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT WILL (A) UNCOVER THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRUST AND RISK MITIGATION BEHAVIORS, A CRITICAL DETERMINANT OF INDIVIDUAL ADHERENCE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS, (B) HELP IDENTIFY PATHWAYS FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC TRUST IN KEY SOCIAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, IN TURN HELPING POLICYMAKERS AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS TO BETTER PREPARE FOR FUTURE COVID-19 WAVES AND PANDEMIC, AND (C) INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MITIGATING THE TRUST-GAP BETWEEN RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS.

RAPID: PARTISANSHIP, TRUST, AND VACCINE HESITANCY: IMPACTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION ON COVID-19 RISK MANAGEMENT

SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN STUDENT LEADERS IN EDUCATION

VALUES AND VALUE FOR DESIGNING SMART COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS

SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN STUDENT LEADERS

RAPID: EASING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS: HOW VARIATION IN STATE POLICY AND PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING STRATEGIES IMPACT RISK PERCEPTIONS AND BEHAVIORS ACROSS TIME

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: PATHWAYS PROJECT - ENHANCING CLIMATE CHANGE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN BROADCAST METEOROLOGISTS AND VIEWING AUDIENCES

SCC-PG: IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY FOR THE HOMELESS WITH ANALYTICS AND PROCESS MODELING - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING

LURCH: SOFTWARE FOR TEACHING MATHEMATICAL PROOFS

INTEGRATING EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE EDUCATION INTO A BUSINESS CURRICULUM USING TECHNOLOGY ENHANCED LEARNING

RUI: EXPLORING THE ALGEBRAIC GEOMETRY OF MATROIDS

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: CONSTRAINING THE TIMING AND RATE OF SOUTHEASTERN LAURENTIDE ICE SHEET THINNING DURING THE LAST DEGLACIATION WITH COSMOGENIC

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

GOALI: OPTIMIZATION OF THE MARKETING MIX IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY, WITH A VIEW TO REDUCING CONSUMER COSTS

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

BIG DATA, BIG DECISIONS: A WORKSHOP FOR A RESEARCH AGENDA ON THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE IMPLICATIONS OF BIG DATA

EXPLORING THE STATUS OF EDUCATION FOR DATA SCIENCE

WORKSHOP: DOCTORAL CONSORTIUM AT THE ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT ANNUAL MEETING 2023 -THIS GRANT SUPPORTS TRAVEL OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY 25 DISSERTATION-STAGE STUDENTS AT U.S. INSTITUTIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERNATIONAL DOCTORAL CONSORTIUM WITH DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH FACULTY. THE COMMUNICATION, AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, AND ORGANIZATION (CTO) DOCTORAL CONSORTIUM AT THE 2023 ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT (AOM) CONVENTION IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, WILL CONSIST OF ONE AND A HALF DAYS OF TALKS AND INTERACTIONS AMONG STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS. THE CTO DOCTORAL CONSORTIUM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH FEEDBACK ON THEIR WORK FROM OTHER STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS, ALLOWING THEM TO ENHANCE THEIR OWN DISSERTATION RESEARCH PROPOSALS. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY OF THE BUSINESS SUB-DISCIPLINES AND COMMUNITIES INVOLVED IN THE AOM CONFERENCE, THE CONSORTIUM WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO ESTABLISH RESEARCH CONNECTIONS BEYOND THEIR OWN DISCIPLINES. CONSEQUENTLY, PARTICIPATION WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENT RESEARCH COMMUNITIES, WHICH WILL FACILITATE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH. THE INTELLECTUAL MERIT OF THIS TRAVEL GRANT IS THAT IT PROVIDES A FORUM FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS TO EXCHANGE INSIGHTS AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK AND GUIDANCE IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE QUALITY OF THEIR DISSERTATION RESEARCH, AND ITS BROADER IMPACT LIES IN FACILITATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING A GREATER AWARENESS OF ONGOING CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH IN THE FIELDS OF ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION SYSTEMS, AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH INTO THE IMPACT AND ROLE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

WORKSHOP: SUPPORT FOR THE ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS 2020 DOCTORAL CONSORTIUM

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: TESTING LATEST PLEISTOCENE AND HOLOCENE GLACIAL CHRONOLOGIES IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES WITH COSMOGENIC-NUCLIDE AND RADIOCA

TRAVEL: NSF STUDENT TRAVEL GRANT FOR 2024 ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT ANNUAL MEETING (AOM) -THIS GRANT WILL SUPPORT TRAVEL FOR DISSERTATION-STAGE STUDENTS AT U.S. INSTITUTIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNICATION, AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, AND ORGANIZATION (CTO) DOCTORAL CONSORTIUM AT THE 2024 ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT (AOM) CONVENTION IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. THE DOCTORAL CONSORTIUM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH FEEDBACK ON THEIR WORK FROM OTHER STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS, ALLOWING THEM TO ENHANCE THEIR OWN DISSERTATION RESEARCH PROPOSALS. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY OF THE BUSINESS SUB-DISCIPLINES AND COMMUNITIES INVOLVED IN THE AOM CONFERENCE, THE CONSORTIUM WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO ESTABLISH RESEARCH CONNECTIONS BEYOND THEIR OWN DISCIPLINES. CONSEQUENTLY, PARTICIPATION WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENT RESEARCH COMMUNITIES, WHICH WILL FACILITATE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH. THIS TRAVEL FUNDING WILL ALLOW STUDENTS WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE SUPPORT TO ATTEND THE CONSORTIUM. ABOUT 15 STUDENTS WILL BE SELECTED, CHOSEN TO SPAN A RANGE OF DISCIPLINES AND TOPIC AREAS THAT CTO RESEARCH ADDRESSES, AS WELL AS A RANGE OF INSTITUTIONAL TYPES AND BACKGROUNDS. STUDENTS WHO ARE JUST BEFORE OR AFTER THEIR DISSERTATION PROPOSAL WILL BE PRIORITIZED, AS WELL AS STUDENTS WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED. STUDENTS BE ASSIGNED IN SMALL GROUPS TO FACULTY MENTORS, WITH EACH STUDENT GETTING FEEDBACK FROM BOTH THE MENTOR AND OTHER STUDENT PARTICIPANTS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A CAREER PROFESSIONALIZATION SESSION IN WHICH PANELS WILL DISCUSS PUBLICATION AND REVIEWING, INTERVIEWING, AND ACADEMIC CAREER MANAGEMENT. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

PURPOSE: THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) GRANT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE VITA GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO 1) EXTEND SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN HARDEST TO REACH AREAS BOTH URBAN AND NON-URBAN; 2) INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO FILE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) HEIGHTEN QUALITY CONTROL; 4) ENHANCE TRAINING OF VOLUNTEERS; AND 5) SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE ACCURACY RATE OF RETURNS PREPARED AT VITA SITES. END GOAL/EXPECTED OUTCOMES: VITA GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO 1) FOLLOW EXISTING GUIDANCE GOVERNING VITA SITE OPERATIONS; 2) ENSURE AT LEAST 90% OF RETURNS PREPARED ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE INCOME IS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) THRESHOLDS; 2) FILE ALL ELIGIBLE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) ACHIEVE 100% OF THEIR RETURN PRODUCTION GOALS; 4) BECOME MORE EFFICIENT WITH GRANT FUNDS; AND 5) SHOW INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN RETURN PREPARATION EACH YEAR. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: TAXPAYERS WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE, NATIVE AMERICANS, INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ELDERLY. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND MUST ADHERE TO GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES. BROADBAND: SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES RELATING TO BROADBAND USAGE ARE NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

JOINT ATTENTION AND INTERSUBJECTIVITY: DEVELOPMENTS IN DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY, COGNITIVE SCIENCE, AND PHILOSOPHY OF MIND

PURPOSE: THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) GRANT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE VITA GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO 1) EXTEND SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN HARDEST TO REACH AREAS BOTH URBAN AND NON-URBAN; 2) INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO FILE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) HEIGHTEN QUALITY CONTROL; 4) ENHANCE TRAINING OF VOLUNTEERS; AND 5) SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE ACCURACY RATE OF RETURNS PREPARED AT VITA SITES. END GOAL/EXPECTED OUTCOMES: VITA GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO 1) FOLLOW EXISTING GUIDANCE GOVERNING VITA SITE OPERATIONS; 2) ENSURE AT LEAST 90% OF RETURNS PREPARED ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE INCOME IS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) THRESHOLDS; 2) FILE ALL ELIGIBLE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) ACHIEVE 100% OF THEIR RETURN PRODUCTION GOALS; 4) BECOME MORE EFFICIENT WITH GRANT FUNDS; AND 5) SHOW INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN RETURN PREPARATION EACH YEAR. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: TAXPAYERS WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE, NATIVE AMERICANS, INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ELDERLY. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND MUST ADHERE TO GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES. BROADBAND: SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES RELATING TO BROADBAND USAGE ARE NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

PURPOSE: THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) GRANT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE VITA GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO 1) EXTEND SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN HARDEST TO REACH AREAS BOTH URBAN AND NON-URBAN; 2) INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO FILE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) HEIGHTEN QUALITY CONTROL; 4) ENHANCE TRAINING OF VOLUNTEERS; AND 5) SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE ACCURACY RATE OF RETURNS PREPARED AT VITA SITES. END GOAL/EXPECTED OUTCOMES: VITA GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO 1) FOLLOW EXISTING GUIDANCE GOVERNING VITA SITE OPERATIONS; 2) ENSURE AT LEAST 90% OF RETURNS PREPARED ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE INCOME IS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) THRESHOLDS; 2) FILE ALL ELIGIBLE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) ACHIEVE 100% OF THEIR RETURN PRODUCTION GOALS; 4) BECOME MORE EFFICIENT WITH GRANT FUNDS; AND 5) SHOW INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN RETURN PREPARATION EACH YEAR. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: TAXPAYERS WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE, NATIVE AMERICANS, INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ELDERLY. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND MUST ADHERE TO GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES. BROADBAND: SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES RELATING TO BROADBAND USAGE ARE NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

PURPOSE: THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) GRANT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE VITA GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO 1) EXTEND SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN HARDEST TO REACH AREAS BOTH URBAN AND NON-URBAN; 2) INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO FILE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) HEIGHTEN QUALITY CONTROL; 4) ENHANCE TRAINING OF VOLUNTEERS; AND 5) SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE ACCURACY RATE OF RETURNS PREPARED AT VITA SITES. END GOAL/EXPECTED OUTCOMES: VITA GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO 1) FOLLOW EXISTING GUIDANCE GOVERNING VITA SITE OPERATIONS; 2) ENSURE AT LEAST 90% OF RETURNS PREPARED ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE INCOME IS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) THRESHOLDS; 2) FILE ALL ELIGIBLE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) ACHIEVE 100% OF THEIR RETURN PRODUCTION GOALS; 4) BECOME MORE EFFICIENT WITH GRANT FUNDS; AND 5) SHOW INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN RETURN PREPARATION EACH YEAR. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: TAXPAYERS WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE, NATIVE AMERICANS, INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ELDERLY. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND MUST ADHERE TO GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES. BROADBAND: SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES RELATING TO BROADBAND USAGE ARE NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

CNS CORE: SMALL: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: HEECMA: A HYBRID ELASTIC EDGE-CLOUD APPLICATION MANAGEMENT ARCHITECTURE

THE PURPOSE OF THE LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC LITC GRANT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO, 1. A CLINICAL PROGRAM AT AN ACCREDITED LAW, BUSINESS, OR ACCOUNTING SCHOOL IN WHICH STUDENTS REPRESENT LOW-INCOME TAXPAYERS IN CONTROVERSIES ARISING UNDER IRC 7526. 2. AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501C AND EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER SECTION 501A THROUGH REPRESENTATION OF TAXPAYERS OR REFERRAL OF TAXPAYERS TO QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE LITC PROGRAM, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AWARDS GRANTS SO THAT GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TAX REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OR OTHER TRIBUNAL ON FEDERAL TAX MATTERS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON VARIOUS TAX TOPICS AND ADVOCACY ON TAX ISSUES IMPACTING THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES. END GOAL AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES, THE LITC PROGRAM AWARDS GRANTS TO, 1. OPEN NEW AND WORK PREVIOUSLY OPENED REPRESENTATION CASES. 2. CONSULT WITH TAXPAYERS ON THEIR SPECIFIC TAX ISSUE. 3. CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 4. MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT TO TAX ADMINISTRATION BY ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS TO IRS ADMINISTRATION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES, TAXPAYERS WITH INCOMES THAT DO NOT EXCEED 250 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND TAXPAYERS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH ADVANCED APPROVAL BY THE LITC PROGRAM OFFICE, SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY BROADBAND ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. 5. REASON FOR MODIFICATION IF SHOWING A POSITIVE AMOUNT IS AN OBLIGATION FOR THE YEAR THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D., IF SHOWING A NEGATIVE AMOUNT IT IS A DE-OBLIGATION OR A RETURN OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D.