42 U.S.C. § 1862p–13: Tribal colleges and…

Summary

The Director must continue a grant program that gives money to tribal colleges and universities (those named in federal higher education law) to strengthen undergraduate STEM education and help Native American students stay in and finish associate’s or bachelor’s STEM degrees. Grants are awarded through a competitive, merit-reviewed process and can pay for things like improving STEM courses and curriculum, training faculty, stipends for undergraduates doing research, lab equipment and materials, and other related activities the Director approves. The Director must also use the program to fund competitive awards that increase Tribal participation in computer science and computational thinking. Those awards can support research and development to add CS courses or degrees, create culturally relevant teaching materials, develop and test distance-learning options, and similar activities. Tribal colleges may partner with other colleges or nonprofits. The Director must coordinate with other federal agencies, and $2,000,000 is authorized each year for fiscal years 2023 through 2027 for this computer science work.

Title 42, §1862p–13

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Director shall continue to support a program to award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to tribal colleges and universities (as defined in section 1059c of title 20, including institutions described in section 1059d of title 20), to enhance the quality of undergraduate STEM education at such institutions and to increase the retention and graduation rates of Native American students pursuing associate’s or baccalaureate degrees in STEM.

(b)Program components

Grants awarded under this section shall support—

(1)activities to improve courses and curriculum in STEM;

(2)faculty development;

(3)stipends for undergraduate students participating in research; and

(4)other activities consistent with subsection (a), as determined by the Director.

(c)Instrumentation

Funding provided under this section may be used for laboratory equipment and materials.

(d)Awards to broaden Tribal College and University student participation in computer science

(1)In general

The Director, as part of the program authorized under this section, shall make awards on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to eligible entities to increase the participation of Tribal populations in computer science and computational thinking education programs to enable students to develop skills and competencies in coding, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration.

(2)Purpose

Awards made under this subsection shall support—

(A)research and development needed to bring computer science and computational thinking courses and degrees to Tribal Colleges or Universities;

(B)research and development of instructional materials needed to integrate computer science and computational thinking into programs that are culturally relevant to students attending Tribal Colleges or Universities;

(C)research, development and evaluation of distance education for computer science and computational thinking courses and degree programs for students attending Tribal Colleges and Universities; and

(D)other activities consistent with the activities described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (b), as determined by the Director.

(3)Partnerships

A Tribal College or University seeking an award under this subsection, or consortia thereof, may partner with an institution of higher education or nonprofit organization with demonstrated expertise in academic program development.

(4)Coordination

In carrying out this subsection, the Director shall consult and cooperate with the programs and policies of other relevant Federal agencies to avoid duplication with and enhance the effectiveness of the program under this subsection.

(5)Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director $2,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 to carry out this subsection.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, also known as the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Reauthorization Act of 2010, and also as part of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2010, and not as part of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–167 added subsec. (d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions For definitions of terms used in this section, see section 2 of Pub. L. 111–358, set out as a note under section 6621 of this title, and section 502 of Pub. L. 111–358, set out as a note under section 1862p of this title.

§1862p–13 Tribal Colleges and Universities Program