1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Supporting Minority STEM Student to Career Act”.
Supporting Minority STEM Student to Career Act
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve programs for minority students in STEM fields, and for other purposes.
2. Minority science and engineering improvement program
Required criteria— Section 352(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067b(c)) is amended—
in paragraph (9), by striking “and”;
in paragraph (10), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
by adding the following at the end:
“(11) the amount of non-Federal funds a grant recipient will use to support the activities to be funded by the grant.”
Authorized use of funds— Section 353(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067c(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “or”;
in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and
by adding the following at the end:
“(C) providing direct financial assistance to students who are underrepresented in STEM; or
“(D) improving institutional capacity to provide—
“(i) guidance counseling and academic advising;
“(ii) work-study opportunities that are aligned to a student’s chosen field of study;
“(iii) faculty, peer, and near-peer mentorship;
“(iv) summer bridge programs;
“(v) undergraduate research opportunities;
“(vi) work-based learning opportunities aligned with a student’s chosen field of study; or
“(vii) individualized academic support and tutoring.”
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (C), by striking “or”;
in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and inserting “; or”; and
by adding the following at the end:
“(E) any of the activities described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1).”
Cross program and cross agency cooperation— Section 363 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067i) is amended to read as follows:
“363. Cross program and cross agency cooperation
“(a) In general—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.
“(b) Report—Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of the Supporting Minority STEM Student to Career Act, the Secretary shall, in consultation with all Federal agencies that have STEM education activities, prepare and submit to the authorizing committees a coordination strategy report on expanding access and opportunity for postsecondary students who are underrepresented in science and engineering that—
“(1) outlines efforts to coordinate Federal grant programs for these populations to more effectively achieve the Federal Government’s objective to diversify the STEM fields; and
“(2) outlines strategies to align Federal Government research opportunities, internships, and deferred hiring programs from minority institutions receiving a grant under this part for students who are underrepresented in science and engineering.”
by striking paragraphs (3) and (4); and
by adding at the end the following:
“(10) Institution of higher education—The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101.
“(11) Minority institution—The term minority institution means an institution described in section 371(a).
“(12) STEM—The term STEM means the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as described in section 356(a).”