Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73not60
§2279b Department of Agriculture Educational, Training, and Professional Development Activities
Title 7 › Chapter 55— DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE › § 2279b
Summary
By October 1, 2009, the Secretary of Agriculture must stop running the Graduate School as a government, self-funded training program. The Secretary may use USDA money, staff, and other help to turn the Graduate School into a non‑governmental organization. That help ends either when the change is finished, as the Secretary decides, or on September 30, 2009, whichever comes first. Defined terms: Graduate School — the Department of Agriculture’s Graduate School; Board — the General Administration Board that governs it; Director — the head of the Graduate School; Secretary — the Secretary of Agriculture. Under the Secretary’s general oversight, the Graduate School will run training and education for federal agencies, federal workers, nonprofits, other groups, and the public. It can charge fair fees based on costs and accept gifts, but not from someone who is actively doing procurement with the School or has a direct conflicting interest. Fees and gifts are not federal money and do not go into the U.S. Treasury. The Secretary appoints the Board, which sets policy, hires the Director and officers, and oversees the School. The Director runs day‑to‑day operations under the Board. The Board may let the Director borrow on the School’s credit and invest extra funds. Board members and the Director are not personally responsible for losses to the School’s funds from actions they take in their duties. Employees are not federal employees. The School is not treated as a federal agency for chapter 10 of title 5, sections 552 or 552a of title 5, or chapter 171 of title 28. The School may buy, lease, control, fix, and sell property and make contracts without following many federal property and procurement rules (with certain exceptions). It may use USDA facilities but must pay any costs linked to its operations with its own funds. The School’s financial records must be available to the Comptroller General for audit.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §2279b
Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In this section:
(1)The term “Graduate School” means the Graduate School of the Department of Agriculture.
(2)The term “Board” means the General Administration Board of the Graduate School.
(3)The term “Director” means the Director of the Graduate School.
(4)The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(b)(1)Not later than October 1, 2009, the Secretary of Agriculture shall cease to maintain or operate a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the United States to develop, administer, or provide educational training and professional development activities, including educational activities for Federal agencies, Federal employees, non-profit organizations, other entities, and members of the general public.
(2)(A)The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to use funds available to the Department of Agriculture and such resources of the Department as the Secretary considers appropriate (including the assignment of such employees of the Department as the Secretary considers appropriate) to assist the General Administrative Board of the Graduate School in the conversion of the Graduate School to an entity that is non-governmental and not a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the United States, including such privatization activities not otherwise inconsistent with law or regulation.
(B)The authority under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the earlier of—
(i)the completion of the transition of the Graduate School to an entity that is non-governmental and not a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the United States, as determined by the Secretary; or
(ii)September 30, 2009.
(c)Under the general supervision of the Secretary, the Graduate School shall develop, administer, and provide educational, training, and professional development activities, including educational activities for Federal agencies, Federal employees, nonprofit organizations, other entities, and members of the general public.
(d)(1)The Graduate School may charge and retain fair and reasonable fees for the activities provided by the Graduate School. The amount of the fees shall be based on the cost of the activities to the Graduate School.
(2)(A)The Graduate School may accept, use, hold, dispose, and administer gifts, bequests, and devises of money, securities, and other real or personal property made for the benefit of, or in connection with, the Graduate School.
(B)The Graduate School shall not accept a donation from a person that is actively engaged in a procurement activity with the Graduate School or has an interest that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of an official duty of a member of the Board or an employee of the Graduate School.
(3)Fees collected under paragraph (1) and amounts received under paragraph (2) shall not be considered to be Federal funds and shall not be required to be deposited in the Treasury of the United States.
(e)(1)The Secretary shall appoint a General Administration Board to serve as a governing board for the Graduate School and to supervise and direct the activities of the Graduate School. The Board shall be subject to regulation by the Secretary.
(2)The Board shall—
(A)formulate broad policies in accordance with which the Graduate School shall be administered;
(B)take all steps necessary to ensure that the highest possible educational standards are maintained by the Graduate School;
(C)exercise general supervision over the administration of the Graduate School; and
(D)establish such bylaws, rules, and procedures as may be necessary for the fulfillment of the duties described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).
(3)The Board shall select a Director and such other officers as the Board considers necessary to administer the Graduate School. The Director and other officers shall serve on such terms and perform such duties as the Board may prescribe.
(4)The Director shall be responsible, subject to the supervision and direction of the Board, for carrying out the functions of the Graduate School.
(5)The Board may authorize the Director—
(A)to borrow money on the credit of the Graduate School; and
(B)to invest funds held in excess of the current operating requirements of the Graduate School for purposes of maintaining a reasonable reserve.
(6)The Director and the members of the Board shall not be held personally liable for any loss or damage that may accrue to the funds of the Graduate School as the result of any act or exercise of discretion performed in carrying out their duties under this section.
(f)Employees of the Graduate School are employees of a nonappropriated fund instrumentality and shall not be considered to be Federal employees.
(g)The Graduate School shall not be considered to be a Federal agency for purposes of—
(h)In order to carry out the activities of the Graduate School, the Graduate School may—
(1)acquire real property in the District of Columbia and in other places by lease, purchase, or otherwise;
(2)maintain, enlarge, or remodel any such property;
(3)have sole control of any such property; and
(4)dispose of real and personal property without regard to chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except section 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41.
(i)The Graduate School may enter into contracts without regard to chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except section 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41 or any other law that prescribes procedures for the procurement of property or services by an executive agency.
(j)The Graduate School may use the facilities and resources of the Department of Agriculture, on the condition that any costs incurred by the Department that are attributable solely to Graduate School operations and all costs incurred by the Graduate School arising out of such operations shall be paid using funds of the Graduate School. Federal funds may not be used to pay the costs.
(k)The financial records of the Graduate School (including records relating to contracts or agreements entered into under subsection (c)) shall be made available to the Comptroller General for purposes of conducting an audit.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification In subsecs. (h)(4) and (i), “chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except section 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41” substituted for “the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.)” on authority of Pub. L. 107–217, § 5(c), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1303, which Act enacted Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts. Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical
Amendments
to this section. The
Amendments
by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “chapter 10 of title 5;” for “the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.);”. 2008—Pub. L. 110–246, § 14213(a)(1), substituted “Department of Agriculture educational, training, and professional development activities” for “Operation of Graduate School of Department of Agriculture as nonappropriated fund instrumentality” in section catchline. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14213(a)(2), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “On and after April 4, 1996, the Graduate School of the Department of Agriculture shall continue to operate as a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the United States under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture.” 2002—Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 107–171 added subsec. (k).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 8701 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2002 Amendment Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10705(c), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 519, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and repealing section 5922 of this title] take effect on
October 1, 2002.” Procurement Procedures Pub. L. 110–234, title XIV, § 14213(b),
May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1466, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XIV, § 14213(b),
June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2228, provided that: “Notwithstanding the
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [amending this section], effective on the date of the enactment of this Act [June 18, 2008], the Graduate School of the Department of Agriculture shall be subject to Federal procurement laws and
Regulations
in the same manner and subject to the same requirements as a private entity providing services to the Federal Government.” [Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical provisions. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.]
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 2279b
Title 7 — Agriculture
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60