Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Supporting Diverse STEM Students Act”.
Supporting Diverse STEM Students Act
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve programs for minority students in STEM fields, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Minority science and engineering improvement program
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 and work-based learning 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; or
“(vi) 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).”
STEM fields— Section 356 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended by striking “science” and inserting “science (including computer science)”.
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 Secretary 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, computer science, mathematics, and engineering education.
“(b) Report—Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of Supporting Diverse STEM Students 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.”
in paragraph (2), by striking “science and engineering” and inserting “STEM”;
by striking paragraph (4) and redesignating paragraphs (5) through (9) as paragraphs (4) through (8), respectively;
in paragraph (4), as so redesignated—
by striking “science and engineering” and inserting “STEM”; and
by striking “scientists and engineers” in both places and inserting “individuals in STEM”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(9) STEM—The term STEM means the fields of science (including computer science), technology, engineering, and mathematics as described in section 356(a).”
Other financial assistance— Section 480(i) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(i)), as amended by section 702 of the FAFSA Simplification Act (title VII of division FF of Public Law 116–260), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
“(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), direct financial assistance provided to the student under section 353(b)(1)(C), shall not be treated as other financial assistance for purposes of section 471(3).”
Effective date— The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023, and as if included in the FAFSA Simplification Act (title VII of division FF of Public Law 116–260).