§1862o–13 Professional science master’s degree programs

Summary

The Director must create a clearinghouse with 4-year colleges (including graduate schools and departments), industries, and federal agencies that hire science-trained workers. The clearinghouse will collect and share program ideas and practices used in successful professional science master’s (PSM) and other advanced STEM degree programs. Colleges that are making PSM programs can use the clearinghouse. The Director must also give grants to 4-year colleges to start or improve PSM programs that focus on practical training and job preparation in high-need fields and can link with employers. Colleges must apply in the way the Director requires and include: a description of the PSM program; how it will prepare workers for high-need fields; how much non-Federal funding (including private industry) will support it; and a promise to encourage students to apply for all Federal aid, including graduate fellowships and student aid under Titles IV and VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Preference will go to colleges in States with low rates of graduate degrees that show success meeting local employer needs (for example, by offering internships) or to colleges that get more than two-thirds of their program funding from non-Federal sources. Up to 200 colleges may receive grants. Grants last one 3-year term and can be renewed once for up to 2 more years. Before the grant program starts, the Director must set performance benchmarks with partners. Each year the Director must evaluate every funded program, cut off further funding for programs that fail the benchmarks, and report to Congress within 180 days after each evaluation with the results and recommendations.