Part E—Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program
subpart 1—minority science and engineering improvement program
Editorial Notes
Codification
§1067. Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) It is incumbent on the Federal Government to support the technological and economic competitiveness of the United States by improving and expanding the scientific and technological capacity of the United States. More and better prepared scientists, engineers, and technical experts are needed to improve and expand such capacity.
(2) As the Nation's population becomes more diverse, it is important that the educational and training needs of all Americans are met. Underrepresentation of minorities in science and technological fields diminishes our Nation's competitiveness by impairing the quantity of well prepared scientists, engineers, and technical experts in these fields.
(3) Despite significant limitations in resources, minority institutions provide an important educational opportunity for minority students, particularly in science and engineering fields. Aid to minority institutions is a good way to address the underrepresentation of minorities in science and technological fields.
(4) There is a strong Federal interest in improving science and engineering programs at minority institutions as such programs lag behind in program offerings and in student enrollment compared to such programs at other institutions of higher education.
(
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 1067,
Another prior section 1067,
Another prior section 1067,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in
§1067a. Purpose; authority
(a) Congressional declaration of purpose
It is the purpose of this subpart to continue the authority of the Department to operate the Minority Institutions Science Improvement Program created under
(b) Grant authority
The Secretary shall, in accordance with the provisions of this subpart, carry out a program of making grants to institutions of higher education that are designed to effect long-range improvement in science and engineering education at predominantly minority institutions and to increase the participation of underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, in scientific and technological careers.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Prior Provisions
A prior section 351 of
Amendments
2009—Subsec. (a).
1992—Subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2009 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Amendment by
§1067b. Grant recipient selection
(a) Establishment of criteria
Grants under this subpart shall be awarded on the basis of criteria established by the Secretary by regulations.
(b) Priorities to be given in criteria
In establishing criteria under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants which have not previously received funding from the Minority Institutions Science Improvement Program and to previous grantees with a proven record of success, as well as to applications that contribute to achieving balance among projects with respect to geographic region, academic discipline, and project type.
(c) Required criteria
In establishing criteria under subsection (a), the Secretary may consider the following selection criteria in making grants:
(1) plan of operation;
(2) quality of key personnel;
(3) budget and cost effectiveness;
(4) evaluation plan;
(5) adequacy of resources;
(6) identification of need for the project;
(7) potential institutional impact of the project;
(8) institutional commitment to the project;
(9) expected outcomes; and
(10) scientific and educational value of the proposed project.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Prior Provisions
A prior section 352 of
§1067c. Use of funds
(a) Types of grants
Funds appropriated to carry out this subpart may be made available as—
(1) institutional grants (as defined in
(2) cooperative grants (as defined in
(3) design projects (as defined in
(4) special projects (as defined in
(b) Authorized uses for each type of grant
(1) The authorized uses of funds made available as institutional grants include (but are not limited to)—
(A) faculty development programs; or
(B) development of curriculum materials.
(2) The authorized uses of funds made available as cooperative grants include (but are not limited to)—
(A) assisting institutions in sharing facilities and personnel;
(B) disseminating information about established programs in science and engineering;
(C) supporting cooperative efforts to strengthen the institutions' science and engineering programs; or
(D) carrying out a combination of any of the activities in subparagraphs (A) through (C).
(3) The authorized uses of funds made available as design projects include (but are not limited to)—
(A) developing planning, management, and evaluation systems; or
(B) developing plans for initiating scientific research and for improving institutions' capabilities for such activities.
Funds used for design project grants may not be used to pay more than 50 percent of the salaries during any academic year of faculty members involved in the project.
(4) The authorized uses of funds made available as special projects include (but are not limited to)—
(A) advanced science seminars;
(B) science faculty workshops and conferences;
(C) faculty training to develop specific science research or education skills;
(D) research in science education;
(E) programs for visiting scientists;
(F) preparation of films or audio-visual materials in science;
(G) development of learning experiences in science beyond those normally available to minority undergraduate students;
(H) development of pre-college enrichment activities in science; or
(I) any other activities designed to address specific barriers to the entry of minorities into science.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Prior Provisions
A prior section 353 of
Amendments
1998—Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (a)(2).
Subsec. (a)(3).
Subsec. (a)(4).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Amendment by
§1067d. Repealed. Pub. L. 111–39, title III, §302, July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1938
Section,
Section was formerly classified to
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of Repeal
Repeal effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of
subpart 2—programs in stem fields
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior subpart 2, consisting of sections 1067g to 1067l, was redesignated subpart 3 of this part by
§1067e. YES partnerships grant program
(a) Grant program authorized
Subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out this subpart, the Secretary shall make grants to eligible partnerships (as described in subsection (f)) to support the engagement of underrepresented minority youth and youth who are low-income individuals (as such term is defined in
(b) Minimum grant amount
A grant awarded to a partnership under this subpart shall be for an amount that is not less than $500,000.
(c) Duration
A grant awarded under this subpart shall be for a period of five years.
(d) Non-Federal matching share required
A partnership receiving a grant under this subpart shall provide, from non-Federal sources, in cash or in-kind, an amount equal to 50 percent of the costs of the project supported by such grant.
(e) Distribution of grants
In awarding grants under this subpart, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, the projects funded under this subpart are located in diverse geographic regions of the United States.
(f) Eligible partnerships
Notwithstanding the general eligibility provision in
(
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 355 of
Amendments
2009—Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2009 Amendment
Amendment by
§1067e–1. Promotion of entry into STEM fields
(a) Authority to contract, subject to appropriations
The Secretary is authorized to enter into a contract with a firm with a demonstrated record of success in advertising to implement a campaign to expand the population of qualified individuals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (referred to in this section as "STEM fields") by encouraging young Americans to enter such fields.
(b) Design of campaign
The campaign under this section shall be designed to enhance the image of education and professions in the STEM fields and promote participation in the STEM fields, and may include—
(1) monitoring trends in youths' attitudes toward pursuing education and professions in the STEM fields and their propensity toward entering the STEM fields;
(2) determining what factors contribute to encouraging and discouraging Americans from pursuing study in STEM fields and entering the STEM fields professionally;
(3) determining what specific factors limit the participation of groups currently underrepresented in STEM fields, including Latinos, African-Americans, and women; and
(4) drawing from the market research performed under this section and implementing an advertising campaign to encourage young Americans to take up studies in STEM fields, beginning at an early age.
(c) Required components
The campaign under this section shall—
(1) include components that focus tailored messages on appropriate age groups, starting with elementary school students; and
(2) link participation in the STEM fields to the concept of service to one's country, so that young people will be encouraged to enter the STEM fields in order fulfill the obligation to be of service to their country.
(d) Priority
The campaign under this section shall hold as a high priority making specific appeals to Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, students with disabilities, and women, who are currently underrepresented in the STEM fields, in order to increase their numbers in the STEM fields, and shall tailor recruitment efforts to each specific group.
(e) Use of variety of media
The campaign under this section shall make use of a variety of media, with an emphasis on television advertising, to reach its intended audience.
(f) Teaching
The campaign under this section shall include a narrowly focused effort to attract current professionals in the STEM fields, through advertising in mediums likely to reach that specific group, into teaching in a STEM field in elementary schools and secondary schools.
(
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 356 of
§1067e–2. Evaluation and accountability plan
The Secretary shall develop an evaluation and accountability plan for projects funded under this subpart. Such plan shall include, if the Secretary determines that it is practical, an objective measure of the impact of such projects, such as a measure of whether underrepresented minority student enrollment in courses related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics increases at the secondary and postsecondary levels.
(
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 357 of
subpart 3—administrative and general provisions
Editorial Notes
Codification
§1067g. Eligibility for grants
Eligibility to receive grants under this part is limited to—
(1) public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education that—
(A) award baccalaureate degrees; and
(B) are minority institutions;
(2) public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that—
(A) award associate degrees; and
(B) are minority institutions that—
(i) have a curriculum that includes science or engineering subjects; and
(ii) enter into a partnership with public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees in science and engineering;
(3) nonprofit science-oriented organizations, professional scientific societies, and institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees, that—
(A) provide a needed service to a group of minority institutions; or
(B) provide in-service training for project directors, scientists, and engineers from minority institutions;
(4) consortia of organizations, that provide needed services to one or more minority institutions, the membership of which may include—
(A) public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education which have a curriculum in science or engineering;
(B) institutions of higher education that have a graduate or professional program in science or engineering;
(C) research laboratories of, or under contract with, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, or the National Institutes of Health;
(D) relevant offices of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, and National Institute of Standards and Technology;
(E) quasi-governmental entities that have a significant scientific or engineering mission; or
(F) institutions of higher education that have State-sponsored centers for research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; or
(5) only with respect to grants under subpart 2, partnerships of organizations, the membership of which shall include—
(A) at least one institution of higher education eligible for assistance under this subchapter or subchapter V;
(B) at least one high-need local educational agency (as defined in
(C) at least two community organizations or entities, such as businesses, professional associations, community-based organizations, philanthropic organizations, or State agencies.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Amendments
2008—Par. (3)(B).
Par. (4)(A).
Par. (4)(C).
Par. (4)(D).
Par. (4)(F).
Par. (5).
1998—
"(1) public and private nonprofit institutions that are minority institutions (as defined in
"(2) nonprofit science-oriented organizations, professional scientific societies, and all nonprofit, accredited colleges and universities which provide a needed service to a group of eligible minority institutions or which provide in-service training for project directors, scientists, and engineers from eligible minority institutions."
Par. (1).
Par. (2).
Par. (3).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Amendment by
§1067h. Grant application
(a) Submission and contents of applications
An eligible applicant (as determined under
(1) a program of activities for carrying out one or more of the purposes described in
(2) such other policies, procedures, and assurances as the Secretary may require by regulation.
(b) Approval based on likelihood of progress
The Secretary shall approve an application only if the Secretary determines that the application sets forth a program of activities which are likely to make substantial progress toward achieving the purposes of this part.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Amendments
1998—Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Amendment by
§1067i. Cross program and cross agency cooperation
The Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Programs shall cooperate and consult with other programs within the Department and within Federal, State, and private agencies which carry out programs to improve the quality of science, mathematics, and engineering education.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Amendments
1992—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Amendment by
§1067j. Administrative provisions
(a) Technical staff
The Secretary shall appoint, without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service, not less than 2 technical employees with appropriate scientific and educational background to administer the programs under this part who may be paid without regard to the provisions of
(b) Procedures for grant review
The Secretary shall establish procedures for reviewing and evaluating grants and contracts made or entered into under such programs. Procedures for reviewing grant applications, based on the peer review system, or contracts for financial assistance under this subchapter may not be subject to any review outside of officials responsible for the administration of the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Programs.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
§1067k. Definitions
For the purpose of this part—
(1) The term "accredited" means currently certified by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or making satisfactory progress toward achieving accreditation.
(2) The term "minority" means American Indian, Alaskan Native, Black (not of Hispanic origin), Hispanic (including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin), Pacific Islander or other ethnic group underrepresented in science and engineering.
(3) The term "minority institution" means an institution of higher education whose enrollment of a single minority or a combination of minorities (as defined in paragraph (2)) exceeds 50 percent of the total enrollment. The Secretary shall verify this information from the data on enrollments in the higher education general information surveys (HEGIS) furnished by the institution to the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education.
(4) The term "science" means, for the purpose of this program, the biological, engineering, mathematical, physical, behavioral, and social sciences, and history and philosophy of science; also included are interdisciplinary fields which are comprised of overlapping areas among two or more sciences.
(5) The term "underrepresented in science and engineering" means a minority group whose number of scientists and engineers per 10,000 population of that group is substantially below the comparable figure for scientists and engineers who are white and not of Hispanic origin.
(6) The term "institutional grant" means a grant that supports the implementation of a comprehensive science improvement plan, which may include any combination of activities for improving the preparation of minority students for careers in science.
(7) The term "cooperative grant" means a grant that assists groups of nonprofit accredited colleges and universities to work together to conduct a science improvement program.
(8) The term "design projects" means projects that assist minority institutions that do not have their own appropriate resources or personnel to plan and develop long-range science improvement programs.
(9) The term "special projects" means—
(A) a special project grant to a minority institution which supports activities that—
(i) improve the quality of training in science and engineering at minority institutions; or
(ii) enhance the minority institutions' general scientific research capabilities; or
(B) a special project grant to any eligible applicant which supports activities that—
(i) provide a needed service to a group of eligible minority institutions; or
(ii) provide in-service training for project directors, scientists, and engineers from eligible minority institutions.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Amendments
2008—Par. (9)(A).
1998—Par. (4).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Amendment by
§1067l. Repealed. Pub. L. 105–244, title III, §301(a)(8), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1636
Section,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of Repeal
Repeal effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in