42 U.S.C. § 1862p–7: STEM industry internship…

Summary

The Director can give competitive, reviewed grants to colleges or groups of colleges to set up or grow partnerships with local or regional private companies and industry groups. The goal is to give undergraduate STEM students internships that connect what they learn in class with real work. Grants may include internships in the manufacturing sector. Grant money can pay for hands-on learning, industry-related courses and teaching materials, outreach to high schools, student mentorships with partners, and work to raise career awareness. The Director must favor colleges that work closely with local businesses and regional manufacturing transfer centers. The Foundation must reach out to rural schools and companies. Partnerships must provide a 50 percent non‑Federal cost share. Federal funds cannot pay student stipends unless private partners match 75 percent, and cannot pay private companies except colleges. Not less than 3 years after January 4, 2011, the Director must report to Congress on awards, students served, effects on jobs, and the students’ economic and ethnic breakdown.

Title 42, §1862p–7

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

(a)In general

The Director may award grants, on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to institutions of higher education, or consortia thereof, to establish or expand partnerships with local or regional private sector entities, for the purpose of providing undergraduate students with integrated internship experiences that connect private sector internship experiences with the students’ STEM coursework. The partnerships may also include industry or professional associations.

(b)Internship program

The grants awarded under subsection (a) may include internship programs in the manufacturing sector.

(c)Use of grant funds

Grants under this section may be used—

(1)to develop and implement hands-on learning opportunities;

(2)to develop curricula and instructional materials related to industry, including the manufacturing sector;

(3)to perform outreach to secondary schools;

(4)to develop mentorship programs for students with partner organizations; and

(5)to conduct activities to support awareness of career opportunities and skill requirements.

(d)Priority

In awarding grants under this section, the Director shall give priority to institutions of higher education or consortia thereof that demonstrate significant outreach to and coordination with local or regional private sector entities and Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology established by section 278k(a) of title 15 in developing academic courses designed to provide students with the skills or certifications necessary for employment in local or regional companies.

The Foundation shall conduct outreach to institutions of higher education and private sector entities in rural areas to encourage those entities to participate in partnerships under this section.

(d)2 Cost-share

The Director shall require a 50 percent non-Federal cost-share from partnerships established or expanded under this section.

(e)Restriction

No Federal funds provided under this section may be used—

(1)for the purpose of providing stipends or compensation to students for private sector internships unless private sector entities match 75 percent of such funding; or

(2)as payment or reimbursement to private sector entities, except for institutions of higher education.

(f)Report

Not less than 3 years after January 4, 2011, the Director shall submit a report to Congress on the number and total value of awards made under this section, the number of students affected by those awards, any evidence of the effect of those awards on workforce preparation and jobs placement for participating students, and an economic and ethnic breakdown of the participating students.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 278k of title 15, referred to in subsec. (d), was amended generally by Pub. L. 114–329, title V, § 501(b), Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 3023, and, as so amended, relates to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership. 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.

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–7 Stem Industry Internship Programs