FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DOS - 669 - Advisory Committee for the Studies of Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Advisory Committee for the Studies of Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union	Agency Name	Department of State
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	669
Original Establishment Date	11/21/1983	Committee Status	Administratively Inactive
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	Unlimited
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Designated Federal Officer
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Mr.
Current Charter Date	4/15/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*
Date Of Renewal Charter	4/15/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	22 U.S.C. § 4503.	Designated Federal Officer Email*
Effective Date Of Authority*	11/21/1983
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Grant Review Committee

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The purpose of the committee is to make funding and policy recommendations to the Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR/ACE), which will result in a balanced program of research and training on issues related to the countries of Eastern Europe and the independent states of the former Soviet Union. Those recommendations broaden the U.S. knowledge base and have a direct impact on the processes of political, economic, and social change in these countries. Scholars regularly brief government analysts and policy makers on their experiences after completing Title VIII-funded onsite research. Title VIII scholars travel to Eastern Europe and Eurasia independently and not in association with the U.S. Government, allowing them to develop contacts outside of those officials in U.S. Embassies typically cultivate in the states in which they are stationed. The Department also benefits quickly and directly from the on-the-ground perspectives title VIII scholars present at Analytic Exchanges held at the State Department. They expound on policy relevant issues concerning Eurasia and Central and Eastern Europe. The European Affairs Bureau's Office of Assistance Coordination (EUR/ACE) disseminates the research they present to the federal interagency and intelligence community. We may give recommendations to the grantees about how they manage their programs. One Committee informal recommendation to the program officer included using the Notice of Funding Opportunity to have applicants explain why their proposals are distinct or original.
How is membership balanced?*	The advisory committee, the chair of which will be determined by EUR/ACE, will be comprised of six members, each with a single vote. Majority vote rules in all committee deliberations. The committee is legislatively-mandated to include four Federal Agencies and two private umbrella organizations active in the Russian, Eurasian and East and Central European fields and the U.S. academic community. Since its establishment in FY 1983, the Secretary or INR Assistant Secretary have accepted all recommendations offered by the committee. However, authority to manage this program has been transferred to the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs effective June 27, 2025, per authorization from the Director of State Department's Office of Foreign Assistance, Jeremy Lewin. EUR/ACE will take over these responsibilities from INR/AO, which was "sunsetted," and terminated, effective July 11, 2025.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The advisory committee reviews applications received in the national competition and makes recommendations to the EUR Senior Bureau Official regarding grant recipients and levels of awards. Grantees selected are disclosed during the Committee's annual public meeting which is open to the public. The Advisory meets once per year to review applications and a second time that same year to announce them at the public meeting.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	Members of the advisory committee represent federal agencies and organizations, which are actively involved in following and analyzing events in the countries of Eurasia and East and Central Europe. Since the committee includes public and private members, it serves the interests of policy makers and scholars in the private sector that focus on the countries of the region. The public-private composition of the committee ensures that the mandate for a balanced national research and training program is met, addressing the interests of the academic, business, and nongovernmental communities, as well as U.S. policy makers. The committee is very adept at assessing which proposals may or may not meet Title VIII goals. For example, the committee can assess if a grantee is going to overly spend on personnel costs and determine how much funding will actually go to programming. They can assess if researchers will grow through their participation in the Title VIII program.
Why close or partially close meetings?	NA
Recommendation Remarks	The Advisory Committee recommends grant policies for the advancement of the objectives of Title VIII. In proposing recipients for grants under Title VIII, the Advisory Committee gives the highest priority to national organizations with an interest and expertise in conducting research and training concerning the countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and in disseminating the results of such research. In making its recommendations, the Advisory Committee aims for the development of a stable, long-term research and training program. The duties of the Advisory Committee are advisory only. Timothy Duvall resigned as a member of the Advisory Committee.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	Yes	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	Yes
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	Yes
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	Approves annual request for proposals, which includes priority regions and emergent issues.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	Yes
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	14
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	8
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	The Committee recommended eight organizations for an award.
Number Of Recommendations*	325	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	Each year the advisory committee reviews an average of 10-15 grant proposals. This reporting year the committee reviewed 14 proposals. The advisory committee reviews all submitted proposals and subsequently makes recommendations to the Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research. Since 1985, the advisory committee has made 325 recommendations.	Access Agency Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	100.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	NA	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	NA	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	The annual Notification of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcement is published on http://grants.gov and https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants/. The advisory committee's annual public meeting is published in the Federal Register. Title VIII is also accessible through the INR public website. The program officer has a dedicated Title VIII email address: TitleVIII@state.gov. However, this address will be transferred to EUR/ACE in the months following following that office's undertaking of Title VIII duties and obligations.
Agency Feedback Comment*	EUR/ACE will provide the advisory committee with feedback regarding the EUR Senior Bureau Official's disposition towards the committee's recommendations. Public is welcome to file a FOIA request for feedback, except where 10B Advisory Commission documents permit otherwise. In 2024, four of six unsuccessful applicants discussed their applications with the program officer.	Narrative Description*	The purpose of the Title VIII advisory committee is to make funding recommendations to the Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR), which will sustain a balanced program of research and training in the U.S. on the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the independent states of the former Soviet Union. Note: effective June 27, 2025, the Department’s Foreign Assistance Bureau transferred management responsibilities to EUR the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), which had managed the program since its inception in 1983. In 2024, the committee met this goal by reviewing 14 grant applications submitted under the 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Program for Study of Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII). After careful review and public deliberation, the committee recommended to the Assistant Secretary of State eight (8) national organizations and universities in the Russian, Eurasian, and East and Central European fields to receive grants for advanced graduate and language training and postdoctoral research on the countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. In August 2024, the Acting Assistant Secretary for INR accepted those recommendations without revision. Active Title VIII grants currently support almost 200 graduate students and scholars throughout the U.S., expanding the body of knowledge about those countries and strengthening the pool of expertise available for service to the USG. The advisory committee's recommendations enable the U.S. to have a direct impact on and first-hand knowledge of the processes of political, economic, and social change in these countries. As a direct result of Title VIII funding, U.S. scholars can conduct field research and in-country language training. These scholars regularly brief government analysts and policy makers on their research products and in-country experiences. Title VIII scholars frequently travel to the countries of Eastern Europe and Eurasia and obtain a fresh, on-the-ground, perspective that they can share with analysts and policymakers from the Department of State and the interagency. When circumstances allow (e.g., when the program officer meets existing implementers), the grantees can be advised what courses of action they should or should not pursue. For example, in one instance, the program will see seven scholars researching the Black Sea geopolitical area, in lieu of four during each of the past two years. In another example, the program officer accepted an explanation written by one grantee to instruct move from in-person language instruction to 100 percent online language instruction. Reason: another grantee is doing this successfully and can reach out to students who cannot sit for the class in person but can learn online.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$0.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$0.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$0.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$0.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$0.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$0.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs	$0.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$0.00
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	7/18/2025 5:06 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	0.00	Est Cost Remarks	0
Cost Remarks	Committee did not convene in 2025. All awards were suspended, terminated, and reactivated with three exceptions during FY25. One grantee, the Wilson Center/Kennan Institute, was disallowed from administering federal awards. The Committee chairperson retired. A committee member from the Department of Education was dismissed. The Department of Education is a statutory member of the committee. Unfortunately, emails to the dismissed committee member and to the Department of Education's Inspector General were not answered. Responsibility for administering Title VIII was transferred from INR/AO (sunsetted on 7/11/25) to EUR/ACE effective June 27, 2025.

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