---
kind: "range"
citation: "42 U.S.C. §§ 1862h–1862j"
title: "42"
from: "1862h"
to: "1862j"
count: 3
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1862h..1862j"
---

# §1862h. Congressional statement of findings and declaration of purposes respecting scientific and technical education and training

- (a) **Findings—** The Congress finds that—
  - (1) the position of the [United States](/usc/42/1873.md?p=g) in the world economy faces great challenges from highly trained foreign competition;
  - (2) the workforce of the [United States](/usc/42/1873.md?p=g) must be better prepared for the technologically advanced, competitive, global economy;
  - (3) the improvement of our work force’s productivity and our international economic position depend upon the strengthening of our educational efforts in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or STEM, especially at the associate-degree level;
  - (4) shortages of scientifically and technically educated[^1] trained workers in a wide variety of fields will best be addressed by collaboration among the Nation’s associate-degree-granting colleges and private industry to produce skilled, advanced technicians; and
  - (5) the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3)’s traditional role in developing model curricula, disseminating instructional materials, enhancing faculty development, and stimulating partnerships between educational institutions and industry, makes an enlarged role for the [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) in STEM education and [training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2) particularly appropriate.
- (b) **Purposes—** It is the purpose of [sections 1862h to 1862j](/usc/42/1862h..1862j.md) of this title to—
  - (1) improve science and technical education at associate-degree-granting colleges;
  - (2) improve secondary [school](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1) and postsecondary curricula in STEM fields;
  - (3) improve the educational opportunities of postsecondary students by creating comprehensive articulation [agreements](/usc/42/1320b–8.md?p=a-3-A) and planning between 2-year and 4-year institutions; and
  - (4) promote outreach to secondary [schools](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1) to improve STEM instruction.

# §1862i. STEM education

- (a) **National advanced STEM education program—** The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) (hereafter in [sections 1862h to 1862j](/usc/42/1862h..1862j.md) of this title referred to as the “[Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1)”) shall award grants to [associate-degree-granting colleges](#j-2), and consortia thereof, to assist them in providing education in advanced-technology fields and education to prepare the skilled technical workforce to meet workforce demands, and to improve the quality of their core education courses in [STEM](#j-8) fields. The grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) shall place emphasis on the needs of students who have been in the workforce (including veterans and individuals engaged in work in the home) and on [building](/usc/42/6881.md?p=i-3) a pathway from secondary [schools](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1) to associate-degree-granting institutions, to careers that require technical [training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2), and shall be designed to strengthen and expand the scientific and technical education and [training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2) capabilities of [associate-degree-granting colleges](#j-2) through such methods as—
  - (1) the development and study of model instructional [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in advanced-technology fields and in core [STEM](#j-8) courses;
  - (2) the professional development of faculty and instructors, both full- and part-time, who provide instruction in [STEM](#j-8) and advanced- technology[^1] fields;
  - (3) the establishment of innovative partnership arrangements that—
    - (A) involve [associate-degree-granting colleges](#j-2) and other appropriate public and private sector entities to support the advanced- technology[^1] industries that drive the competitiveness of the [United States](/usc/42/1873.md?p=g) in the global economy;
    - (B) provide for private sector donations, faculty opportunities to have short-term assignments with industry, sharing of [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) costs, equipment loans, and the cooperative use of [laboratories](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10), plants, and other [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4), and provision for [state](/usc/42/201.md?p=f)-of-the-art work experience opportunities for students enrolled in such [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4); and
    - (C) encourage participation of individuals identified in section [1885a](/usc/42/1885a.md) or [1885b](/usc/42/1885b.md) of this title;
  - (4) the acquisition of [state](/usc/42/201.md?p=f)-of-the-art instrumentation essential to [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) designed to prepare and upgrade students in [STEM](#j-8) and advanced-technology fields; and
  - (5) the development and dissemination of instructional materials in support of improving the advanced [STEM](#j-8) and advanced- technology[^1] and [training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2) capabilities of [associate-degree-granting colleges](#j-2), including [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for students who are not pursuing a science degree.
- (b) **Centers of scientific and technical education—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall make awards for the establishment of centers of excellence, in advanced-technology fields, among [associate-degree-granting colleges](#j-2). Centers shall meet one or both of the following criteria:
    - (A) Exceptional instructional [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in advanced-technology fields.
    - (B) Excellence in undergraduate [STEM](#j-8) education.
  - (2) **Purposes—** The centers shall serve as national and regional clearinghouses and models for the benefit of both colleges and secondary [schools](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1), and shall provide seminars and [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to disseminate model curricula and model teaching methods and instructional materials to other [associate-degree-granting colleges](#j-2).
  - (3) **Networks—** The centers may enter into partnerships with other institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and stakeholder groups, or a [consortium](/usc/42/16282.md?p=d-4) thereof, to develop networks to—
    - (A) coordinate research, [training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2), and education activities funded by awards under [subsection (a)](#a);
    - (B) share information and best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19); or
    - (C) promote collaboration between academic institutions, workforce development [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), [labor organizations](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=2-C), and industry to communicate and meet workforce education and [training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2) needs.
- (c) **Articulation partnerships—**
  - (1) **Partnership grants—**
    - (A) The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall make grants to [eligible partnerships](#j-4) to encourage the development of career and educational pathways with multiple entry and exit points leading to credentials and degrees, and to assist students pursuing pathways in [STEM](#j-8) fields to transition from [associate-degree-granting colleges](#j-2) to bachelor- degree-granting[^2] institutions, through such means as—
      - (i) examining curricula to develop articulation [agreements](/usc/42/1320b–8.md?p=a-3-A) that ensure that academic credit earned at the [associate-degree-granting college](#j-2) is transferable to [bachelor-degree-granting institutions](#j-3);
      - (ii) informing teachers from the [associate-degree-granting college](#j-2) on the specific requirements of the career and educational pathways supported by the articulation [agreements](/usc/42/1320b–8.md?p=a-3-A); and
      - (iii) providing summer educational [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for students from the [associate-degree-granting college](#j-2) to encourage such students’ subsequent matriculation at [bachelor-degree-granting institutions](#j-3).
    - (B) Each [eligible partnership](#j-4) receiving a grant under this paragraph shall, at a minimum—
      - (i) counsel students, including students who have been in the workforce (including veterans and individuals engaged in work in the home), about the requirements and course offerings of the [bachelor-degree-granting institution](#j-3);
      - (ii) conduct workshops and orientation sessions to ensure that students are familiar with [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), including [laboratories](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10) and financial aid [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), at the [bachelor-degree-granting institution](#j-3);
      - (iii) provide students with research experiences at institutions or work sites participating in the partnership, including stipend support for students participating in summer [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) or industry internships; and
      - (iv) provide faculty mentors for students participating in activities under [clause (iii)](#c-1-B-iii), including summer salary support for faculty mentors.
  - (2) **Outreach grants—** The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall make grants to [associate-degree-granting colleges](#j-2) with outstanding [STEM](#j-8) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to strengthen relationships with secondary [schools](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1) and, as appropriate, elementary [schools](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1), in the community served by the college by improving [STEM](#j-8) education and encouraging the interest and aptitude of students at these [schools](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1) for careers in [STEM](#j-8) and advanced-technology fields through such means as developing articulation [agreements](/usc/42/1320b–8.md?p=a-3-A) or dual credit courses with local secondary [schools](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1), or other means as the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) determines appropriate, to enable students to satisfy entrance and course requirements at the [associate-degree-granting college](#j-2).
  - (3) **Mentor training grants—** The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall establish a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to encourage and make grants available to institutions of higher education that award associate degrees to recruit and train individuals from [STEM](#j-8) fields to mentor students who are described in section [1885a](/usc/42/1885a.md) or [1885b](/usc/42/1885b.md) of this title in order to assist those students in identifying, qualifying for, and entering higher-paying technical jobs in those fields, including jobs at Federal and academic [laboratories](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10).
- (d) **Grants for associate degree programs in STEM fields—**
  - (1) **In-demand workforce grants—** The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall award grants to [junior or community colleges](#j-6) to develop or improve associate degree or certificate [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in [STEM](#j-8) fields, with respect to the [region](#j-7) in which the respective college is located, and an [in-demand industry sector or occupation](#j-5).
  - (2) **Applications—** In considering applications for grants under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall prioritize—
    - (A) applications that consist of a partnership between the applying [junior or community college](#j-6) and individual employers or an employer consortia,[^3] or industry or sector partnerships, and may include a university or other organization with demonstrated expertise in [academic program](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34) development;
    - (B) applications that demonstrate current and future workforce demand in occupations directly related to the proposed associate degree or certificate [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
    - (C) applications that include commitments by the partnering employers or employer consortia, or industry or sector partnerships, to offer apprenticeships, internships, or other applied learning opportunities to students enrolled in the proposed associate degree or certificate [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
    - (D) applications that include outreach plans and goals for recruiting and enrolling women and other underrepresented populations in [STEM](#j-8) fields in the proposed associate degree or certificate [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
    - (E) applications that describe how the applying [junior or community college](#j-6) will support the collection of information and data for purposes of evaluation of the proposed associate degree or certificate [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4); and
    - (F) as appropriate, applications that apply the best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for [STEM](#j-8) education and technical skills education through distance learning or in a simulated work environment, as determined by research described in [subsection (f)](#f); and
    - (G) applications that incorporate distance learning tools and approaches.
- (e) **Grants for STEM degree applied learning opportunities—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall award grants to institutions of higher education partnering with private sector employers or private sector employer consortia, or industry or sector partnerships, that commit to offering apprenticeships, internships, research opportunities, or applied learning experiences to enrolled students in identified [STEM](#j-8) baccalaureate degree [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).
  - (2) **Purposes—** Awards under this subsection may be used—
    - (A) to develop curricula and [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for apprenticeship, internships, research opportunities, or applied learning experiences; or
    - (B) to provide matching [funds](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3) to incentivize partnership and participation by private sector employers and industry.
  - (3) **Applications—** In considering applications for grants under [paragraph (1)](#e-1), the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall prioritize—
    - (A) applicants that consist of a partnership between—
      - (i) the applying [institution of higher education](/usc/42/6371h–1.md?p=a-4); and
      - (ii) individual employers or an employer consortia,[^3] or industry or sector partnerships;
    - (B) applications that demonstrate current and future workforce demand in occupations directly related to the identified [STEM](#j-8) fields;
    - (C) applications that include outreach plans and goals for recruiting and enrolling women and other underrepresented populations in [STEM](#j-8) fields;
    - (D) applications that describe how the [institution of higher education](/usc/42/6371h–1.md?p=a-4) will support the collection and information of data for purposes of the evaluation of identified [STEM](#j-8) degree [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4); and
    - (E) applications that incorporate distance learning tools and approaches.
- (f) **Grants for computer-based and online STEM education courses—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) shall award competitive grants to institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations to conduct research on student outcomes and determine best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for [STEM](#j-8) education and technical skills education through distance learning or in a simulated work environment.
  - (2) **Research areas—** The research areas eligible for funding under this subsection may include—
    - (A) post-secondary courses for technical skills development for [STEM](#j-8) occupations;
    - (B) improving high-[school](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1) level career and technical education in [STEM](#j-8) subjects;
    - (C) encouraging and sustaining interest and achievement levels in [STEM](#j-8) subjects among women and other populations historically underrepresented in [STEM](#j-8) studies and careers; and
    - (D) combining computer-based and online [STEM](#j-8) education and skills development with traditional mentoring and other mentoring arrangements, apprenticeships, internships, and other applied learning opportunities.
- (g) **Coordination with other Federal departments—** In carrying out this section, the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall consult, cooperate, and coordinate, to enhance [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) effectiveness and to avoid duplication, with the [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and policies of other relevant Federal agencies.
- (h) **Funding—**
  - (1) **Funding—** The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall allocate out of amounts made available for the Education and Human Resources Directorate—
    - (A) up to $5,000,000 to carry out the activities under [subsection (d)](#d) for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2026, subject to the availability of appropriations;
    - (B) up to $2,500,000 to carry out the activities under [subsection (e)](#e) for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2026, subject to the availability of appropriations; and
    - (C) not less than $3,000,000 to carry out the activities under [subsection (f)](#f) for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2026, subject to the availability of appropriations.
  - (2) **Limitation on funding—** Amounts made available to carry out subsections [(d)](#d), [(e)](#e), and [(f)](#f) shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3).
  - (3) **Limitation on funding—** To qualify for a grant under this section, an [associate-degree-granting college](#j-2), or [consortium](/usc/42/16282.md?p=d-4) thereof, shall provide assurances adequate to the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) that it will not decrease its level of spending of [funds](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3) from non-Federal sources on advanced scientific and technical education and [training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).
- (i) **Functions of Director—** In carrying out [sections 1862h to 1862j](/usc/42/1862h..1862j.md) of this title, the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) award grants on a competitive, merit basis;
  - (2) ensure an equitable geographic distribution of grant awards;
  - (3) establish and maintain a readily accessible [inventory](/usc/42/4370m.md?p=14) of the [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) assisted under [sections 1862h to 1862j](/usc/42/1862h..1862j.md) of this title; and
  - (4) designate an officer of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) to serve as a liaison with associate-degree-granting institutions for the purpose of enhancing the role of such institutions in the activities of the [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3).
- (j) **Definitions—** As used in this section—
  - (1) the term advanced-technology[^4] includes technological fields such as advanced manufacturing, agricultural-, biological- and chemical-technologies, [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and environmental technologies, engineering technologies, information technologies, micro and nano-technologies, cybersecurity technologies, geospatial technologies, and new, emerging technology areas;
  - (2) the term “associate-degree-granting college” means an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/6371h–1.md?p=a-4) (as determined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 [[20 U.S.C. 1001](/usc/20/1001.md)]) that—
    - (A) is a nonprofit institution that offers a 2-year associate-degree [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) or a 2-year certificate [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4); or
    - (B) is a proprietary institution that offers a 2-year associate-degree [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
  - (3) the term “bachelor-degree-granting institution” means an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/6371h–1.md?p=a-4) (as determined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 [[20 U.S.C. 1001](/usc/20/1001.md)]) that offers a baccalaureate degree [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
  - (4) the term “eligible partnership” means one or more [associate-degree-granting colleges](#j-2) in partnership with one or more other entities;
  - (5) the term “in-demand industry sector or occupation” has the meaning given the term in [section 3102 of title 29](/usc/29/3102.md);
  - (6) the term “junior or community college” has the meaning given the term in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1058](/usc/20/1058.md));
  - (7) the term “region” means a labor market area, as that term is defined in [section 3102 of title 29](/usc/29/3102.md);
  - (8) the terms “science, technology, engineering, or mathematics” or “STEM” mean science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science and cybersecurity; and
  - (9) the term skilled technical workforce[^4] has the meaning given such term in [section 4(b)](/usc/42/4.md) of the Innovations in Mentoring, [Training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2), and Apprenticeships Act ([42 U.S.C. 1862p](/usc/42/1862p.md)).[^5]

# §1862j. Authorization of appropriations


There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) for carrying out [sections 2 through 4](/usc/42/2..4.md) $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.