---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7381c–3"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "7381c–3"
heading: "Expanding opportunities for highly skilled science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7381c-3"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Department of Energy"
  - "Subchapter XIII — Department of Energy Science Education Programs"
  - "Part A — Science Education Enhancement"
---

# §7381c–3. Expanding opportunities for highly skilled science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) expand opportunities and increase the number of highly skilled science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ([STEM](#f-7)) professionals working in disciplines relevant to the mission of the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2); and
  - (2) broaden the recruitment pool to increase participation from and expand partnerships with Historically Black Colleges or Universities, Hispanic serving institutions, Tribal Colleges or Universities, [minority-serving institutions](#f-6), institutions in eligible jurisdictions, emerging research institutions, [community colleges](#f-1), and scientific societies in those disciplines.
- (b) **Plan and outreach strategy—**
  - (1) **Plan—**
    - (A) **In general—** Not later than 180 days after August 9, 2022, the [Secretary](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=1) shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of [Representatives](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=5) and the Committee on [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and Natural Resources of the Senate a 10-year educational plan to [fund](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3) and expand new or existing [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) administered by the [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) of Science and sited at the [National Laboratories](/usc/42/7381c–1.md?p=a-3) and [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2) user [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) to expand educational and workforce development opportunities for underrepresented individuals, including—
      - (i) high [school](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1), undergraduate, and graduate students; and
      - (ii) recent graduates, teachers, and faculty in [STEM](#f-7) fields.
    - (B) **Contents—** The plan under [subparagraph (A)](#b-1-A) may include paid internships, [fellowships](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3), temporary employment, [training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), visiting student and faculty [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), sabbaticals, and research support.
  - (2) **Outreach capacity—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=1) shall include in the plan under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) an outreach strategy to improve the advertising, recruitment, and promotion of educational and workforce development [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to [community colleges](#f-1), Historically Black Colleges or Universities, [Hispanic-serving institutions](#f-3), Tribal Colleges or Universities, [minority-serving institutions](#f-6), institutions in eligible jurisdictions, and emerging research institutions.
- (c) **Building research capacity—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=1) shall develop [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) that strengthen the research capacity relevant to [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) of Science disciplines at emerging research institutions, including [minority-serving institutions](#f-6), Tribal Colleges or Universities, Historically Black Colleges or Universities, institutions in eligible jurisdictions (as defined in [section 13503(b)(3)(A) of this title](/usc/42/13503.md?p=b-3-A)), institutions in communities with [dislocated workers](#f-2) who were previously employed in manufacturing, [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) production, including coal power plants, and mineral and material mining, and other institutions of higher education.
  - (2) **Inclusions—** The [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) developed under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) may include—
    - (A) enabling mutually beneficial and jointly managed partnerships between research-intensive institutions and emerging research institutions; and
    - (B) soliciting research proposals, [fellowships](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3), [training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), and research support directly from emerging research institutions.
- (d) **Traineeships—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=1) shall establish a university-led Traineeship [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to address workforce development needs in [STEM](#f-7) fields relevant to the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Focus—** The focus of the Traineeship [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) established under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) shall be on—
    - (A) supporting workforce development and research experiences for underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students; and
    - (B) increasing participation from underrepresented populations.
  - (3) **Inclusion—** The traineeships under the Traineeship [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) established under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) shall include opportunities to build the next-generation workforce in research areas critical to maintaining core competencies across the [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) of the [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) of Science.
- (e) **Evaluation—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=1) shall establish key performance indicators to measure and monitor progress of education and workforce [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and expand Departmental activities for data collection and analysis.
  - (2) **Report—** Not later than 2 years after August 9, 2022, and every 2 years thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=1) shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of [Representatives](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=5) and the Committee on [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and Natural Resources and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report summarizing progress toward meeting the key performance indicators established under [paragraph (1)](#e-1).
- (f) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Community college—** The term “community college” means—
    - (A) a public [institution of higher education](/usc/42/6371h–1.md?p=a-4), including additional locations, at which the highest awarded degree, or the predominantly awarded degree, is an associate degree; or
    - (B) any [Tribal college or university](#f-8).
  - (2) **Dislocated worker—** The term “dislocated worker” has the meaning given the term in [section 3102 of title 29](/usc/29/3102.md).
  - (3) **Hispanic-serving institution—** The term “Hispanic-serving institution” has the meaning given the term in [section 1101a(a) of title 20](/usc/20/1101a.md?p=a).
  - (4) **Historically Black College or University—** The term “Historically Black College or University” has the meaning given the term “part B institution” in [section 1061 of title 20](/usc/20/1061.md).
  - (5) **Institution in an eligible jurisdiction—** The term “institution in an eligible jurisdiction” means an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/6371h–1.md?p=a-4) (as defined in [section 1001 of title 20](/usc/20/1001.md)) that is located in an eligible jurisdiction (as defined in [section 13503(b)(3)(A) of this title](/usc/42/13503.md?p=b-3-A)).
  - (6) **Minority-serving institution—** The term “minority-serving institution” includes the entities described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of [section 1067q(a) of title 20](/usc/20/1067q.md?p=a).
  - (7) **STEM—** The term “STEM” means the subjects listed in section 2 of the STEM Education Act of 2015 ([42 U.S.C. 6621](/usc/42/6621.md) note; Public Law 114–59).
  - (8) **Tribal College or University—** The term “Tribal College or University” has the meaning given the term in [section 1059c(b) of title 20](/usc/20/1059c.md?p=b).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–510, div. C, title XXXI, § 3167B, as added Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10111(c)(1), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1457.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.