II
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 357
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 10, 2005
Mr. Bingaman (for himself, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mrs. Clinton, and Mr. Martinez) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
A BILL
To expand and enhance postbaccalaureate opportunities at Hispanic-serving institutions, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Next Generation Hispanic Serving
Institutions Act
.
Graduate opportunities at Hispanic-serving institutions
Postbaccalaureate opportunities for Hispanic Americans
Establishment of program
Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended—
by redesignating part B as part C;
by redesignating sections 511 through 518 as sections 521 through 528, respectively; and
by inserting after section 505 the following:
Promoting postbaccalaureate opportunities for Hispanic Americans
Findings and purposes
Findings
Congress finds the following:
According to the United States Census, by the year 2050, 1 in 4 Americans will be of Hispanic origin.
Despite the dramatic increase in the Hispanic population in the United States, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that in 1999, Hispanics accounted for only 4 percent of the master’s degrees, 3 percent of the doctor’s degrees, and 5 percent of first-professional degrees awarded in the United States.
Although Hispanics constitute 10 percent of the college enrollment in the United States, they comprise only 3 percent of instructional faculty in college and universities.
The future capacity for research and advanced study in the United States will require increasing the number of Hispanics pursuing postbaccalaureate studies.
Hispanic-serving institutions are leading the Nation in increasing the number of Hispanics attaining graduate and professional degrees.
Among Hispanics who received master’s degrees in 1999–2000, 25 percent earned them at Hispanic-serving institutions.
Between 1991 and 2000, the number of Hispanic students earning master’s degrees at Hispanic-serving institutions grew 136 percent, the number receiving doctor’s degrees grew by 85 percent, and the number earning first-professional degrees grew by 47 percent.
It is in the national interest to expand the capacity of Hispanic-serving institutions to offer graduate and professional degree programs.
Research is a key element in graduate education and undergraduate preparation, particularly in science and technology, and Congress desires to strengthen the role of research at Hispanic-serving institutions. University research, whether performed directly or through a university’s nonprofit research institute or foundation, is considered an integral part of the institution and mission of the university.
Purposes
The purposes of this part are—
to expand postbaccalaureate educational opportunities for, and improve the academic attainment of, Hispanic students; and
to expand and enhance the postbaccalaureate academic offerings of high quality that are educating the majority of Hispanic college students and helping large numbers of Hispanic students and low-income individuals complete postsecondary degrees.
Program authority and eligibility
Program authorized
Subject to the availability of funds appropriated to carry out this part, the Secretary shall award competitive grants to eligible institutions.
Eligibility
For
the purposes of this part, an eligible institution
means an
institution of higher education that—
is a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined under section 502); and
offers a postbaccalaureate certificate or degree granting program.
Authorized activities
Grants awarded under this part shall be used for 1 or more of the following activities:
Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes.
Construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services.
Purchase of library books, periodicals, technical and other scientific journals, microfilm, microfiche, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program materials.
Support for needy postbaccalaureate students including outreach, academic support services, mentoring, scholarships, fellowships, and other financial assistance to permit the enrollment of such students in postbaccalaureate certificate and degree granting programs.
Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, faculty research, curriculum development, and academic instruction.
Creating or improving facilities for Internet or other distance learning academic instruction capabilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services.
Collaboration with other institutions of higher education to expand postbaccalaureate certificate and degree offerings.
Other activities proposed in the application submitted pursuant to section 514 that—
contribute to carrying out the purposes of this part; and
are approved by the Secretary as part of the review and acceptance of such application.
Application and duration
Application
Any eligible institution may apply for a grant under this part by submitting an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as determined by the Secretary. Such application shall demonstrate how the grant funds will be used to improve postbaccalaureate education opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students and will lead to such students’ greater financial independence.
Duration
Grants under this part shall be awarded for a period not to exceed 5 years.
Limitation
The Secretary may not award more than 1 grant under this part in any fiscal year to any Hispanic-serving institution.
.
Cooperative arrangements
Section 524(a) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (as
redesignated by subsection (a)(2)) is amended by inserting and section
513
after section 503
.
Authorization of appropriations
Section 528(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
Authorizations
Part A
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part A of this title $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
Part B
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part B of this title $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
.
Conforming amendments
Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended—
in section 502—
in subsection
(a)(2)(A)(ii), by striking section 512(b)
and inserting
section 522(b)
; and
in subsection
(b)(2), by striking section 512(a)
and inserting section
522(a)
;
in section
521(c)(6) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)), by striking section
516
and inserting section 526
; and
in section 526
(as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)), by striking section 518
and inserting section 528
.
Reducing regulatory barriers for Hispanic-serving institutions
Definitions
Section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (5)—
in subparagraph
(A), by inserting and
after the semicolon;
in subparagraph
(B), by striking ; and
and inserting a period; and
by striking subparagraph (C); and
by striking paragraph (7).
Authorized activities
Section 503(b)(7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101b(b)(7)) is amended to read as follows:
Articulation agreements and student support programs designed to facilitate the transfer from 2-year to 4-year institutions.
.
Elimination of wait-out period
Section 504(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101c(a)) is amended to read as follows:
Award period
The Secretary may award a grant to a Hispanic-serving institution under this title for 5 years.
.
Application priority
Section 521(d) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (as
redesignated by section 101(a)(2)) is amended by striking (from funds
other than funds provided under this title)
.