Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2022”.
Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2022
A BILL
To ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the international knowledge and experience essential for success in today’s global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program in the Department of State.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
To prepare students for success in the modern global economy, opportunities for study abroad should be included as part of a well-rounded education.
Study abroad programs provide students with unparalleled access to international knowledge, an unmatched opportunity to learn foreign languages, and a unique environment for developing cultural understanding, all of which are knowledge and skills needed in today’s global economy.
Because only 10 percent of United States college students study abroad before they graduate, meaning that 90 percent of graduates are entering the workforce without the global skills, knowledge, and experiences afforded by study abroad programs that will position them for success in the global economy. Minority students, first generation college students, community college students, and students with disabilities are also significantly underrepresented in study abroad participation.
Congress authorized the establishment of the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program pursuant to section 104 of the Miscellaneous Appropriations and Offsets Act, 2004 (division H of Public Law 108–199). Pursuant to its mandate, the Lincoln Commission submitted to Congress and the President a report of its recommendations for greatly expanding the opportunity for students at institutions of higher education in the United States to study abroad, with special emphasis on studying in developing nations.
According to the Lincoln Commission, “[e]xperience shows that leadership from administrators and faculty will drive the number of study abroad participants higher and improve the quality of programs. Such leadership is the only way that study abroad will become an integral part of the undergraduate experience.”. A competitive grant program is necessary to encourage and support such leadership.
Student health, safety, and security while studying abroad is and must continue to be a priority for institutions of higher education and study abroad programs.
The COVID–19 pandemic has limited or prevented students from participating in study abroad due to travel restrictions and reduced budgets. In a post-pandemic world, increasing access to study abroad for students at institutions of higher education across the United States will be critical to ensuring that those students gain the skills, knowledge, and experiences necessary to maintain the leadership of the United States in tackling global challenges, like pandemics, and succeeding in a global economy.
Sec. 3 Purposes
The purposes of this Act are—
to ensure that significantly more students have access to quality study abroad opportunities;
to ensure that the diversity of students studying abroad reflects the diversity of students and institutions of higher education in the United States;
to encourage greater diversity in study abroad destinations by increasing the portion of study abroad that takes place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, especially in developing countries; and
to encourage a greater commitment by institutions of higher education to expand study abroad opportunities.
Sec. 4 Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program
Senator paul simon study abroad program—
Establishment— Subject to the availability of appropriations and under the authorities of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Public Law 87–256; 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.), the Secretary of State shall rename the Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Student Program (commonly known as “IDEAS”) as the “Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program” (in this section referred to as the “Program”) and enhance the Program as detailed below.
Objectives— The objectives of the Program established under paragraph (1) are, that not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2022—
not less than 1,000,000 undergraduate students from the United States will study abroad annually;
the demographics of study abroad participation will reflect the demographics of the United States undergraduate population by increasing the participation of underrepresented groups; and
an increasing portion of study abroad will take place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, with a substantial portion of such increases in developing countries.
Competitive grants to institutions of higher education— In order to accomplish the objectives set forth in paragraph (2), the Secretary of State shall award grants on a competitive basis to institutions of higher education, individually or in as part of a consortium, based on applications by the institutions that—
set forth detailed plans for using grant funds to further such objectives;
include an institutional commitment to expanding access to study abroad;
include plans for evaluating progress made in increasing access to study abroad;
describe how increases in study abroad participation achieved through the grant will be sustained in subsequent years; and
demonstrate that the programs have established health, safety, and security guidelines and procedures, informed by Department of State travel advisories and other appropriate Federal agencies and resources, including the Overseas Security Advisory Council and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Implementation of lincoln commission recommendations— In administering the Program, the Secretary of State shall take fully into account the recommendations of the Lincoln Commission including—
institutions of higher education applying for grants described in paragraph (3) may use Program funds to support direct student costs;
diversity shall be a defining characteristic of the Program; and
quality control shall be a defining characteristic of the Program.
Consultation— In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary of State shall consult with representatives of diverse institutions of higher education, educational policy organizations, and others with appropriate expertise.
Annual report— Not later than December 31 of each year, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that describes the implementation of the Program during the most recently concluded fiscal year.
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023 and each subsequent fiscal year.
Definitions— In this section:
Institution of higher education— The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
Consortia— The term consortia means a group that shall include at least one institution of higher education and may include nongovernmental organizations that provide and promote study abroad opportunities for students.
Nontraditional study abroad destination— The term nontraditional study abroad destination means a location that is determined by the Secretary of State to be a less common destination for students who study abroad.
Student— The term student means a national of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, as such persons are described in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (8 U.S.C. 1101), who is enrolled at an institution of higher education located within the United States; or “eligible noncitizens” for Federal Student Aid as defined by the Department of Education.
Study abroad— The term study abroad means an educational program of study, work, service learning, research, internship, or combination thereof that is conducted outside the United States and that carries academic credit.