---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1067k"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1067k"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1067k"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance"
  - "Subchapter III — Institutional Aid"
  - "Part E — Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program"
  - "Subpart 3 — administrative and general provisions"
---

# §1067k. Definitions


For the purpose of this part—

- (1) The term “accredited” means currently certified by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or making satisfactory progress toward achieving accreditation.
- (2) The term “minority” means American Indian, Alaskan Native, Black (not of Hispanic origin), Hispanic (including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin), Pacific Islander or other ethnic group [underrepresented in science and engineering](#5).
- (3) The term “minority institution” means an [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) whose enrollment of a single [minority](#2) or a combination of [minorities](#2) (as defined in [paragraph (2)](#2)) exceeds 50 percent of the total enrollment. The [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) shall verify this information from the data on enrollments in the higher education general information surveys (HEGIS) furnished by the institution to the Office for Civil Rights, [Department](/usc/20/1003.md?p=4) of Education.
- (4) The term “science” means, for the purpose of this program, the biological, engineering, mathematical, physical, behavioral, and social sciences, and history and philosophy of science; also included are interdisciplinary fields which are comprised of overlapping areas among two or more sciences.
- (5) The term “underrepresented in science and engineering” means a [minority](#2) group whose number of scientists and engineers per 10,000 population of that group is substantially below the comparable figure for scientists and engineers who are white and not of Hispanic origin.
- (6) The term “institutional grant” means a grant that supports the implementation of a comprehensive [science](#4) improvement plan, which may include any combination of activities for improving the preparation of [minority](#2) students for careers in [science](#4).
- (7) The term “cooperative grant” means a grant that assists groups of [nonprofit](/usc/20/1003.md?p=13) [accredited](#1) colleges and universities to work together to conduct a [science](#4) improvement program.
- (8) The term “design projects” means projects that assist [minority institutions](#3) that do not have their own appropriate resources or personnel to plan and develop long-range [science](#4) improvement programs.
- (9) The term “special projects” means—
  - (A) a special project grant to a [minority institution](#3) which supports activities that—
    - (i) improve the quality of training in [science](#4) and engineering at [minority institutions](#3); or
    - (ii) enhance the [minority institutions](#3)’ general scientific research capabilities; or
  - (B) a special project grant to any eligible applicant which supports activities that—
    - (i) provide a needed service to a group of eligible [minority institutions](#3); or
    - (ii) provide in-service training for project directors, scientists, and engineers from eligible [minority institutions](#3).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–329, title III, § 365, formerly title X, § 1046, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title X, § 1002, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1566; renumbered title III, § 365, and amended Pub. L. 105–244, title III, §§ 301(a)(5), (7), 307(c), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1636, 1648; Pub. L. 110–315, title III, § 320(3), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3187.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 1135d–5 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 105–244.

### Amendments

2008—Par. (9)(A). Pub. L. 110–315 substituted “supports” for “support” in introductory provisions.

1998—Par. (4). Pub. L. 105–244, § 307(c), inserted “behavioral,” after “physical,”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105–244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.