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H.R. 9177House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act

Sponsored by Jennifer L. McClellanRep. Jennifer L. McClellan (D-VA)
Introduced June 8, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated June 17, 2026 at 3:04 PM UTC

The Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act directs the National Science Foundation to create a competitive mentorship demonstration program for higher‑education institutions and nonprofit partners. The program aims to enhance mentoring practices for faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, with priority given to minority‑serving, historically Black, Tribal, rural, and emerging research institutions. It also adds a reporting requirement on harassment and misconduct to the America COMPETES Act.

Key Provisions

  • The NSF Director may award competitive grants to colleges, universities, nonprofits, or consortia to run projects that improve STEM mentorship for faculty, graduate students, and postdocs.
  • Projects must focus on building mentoring skills, institutionalizing evidence‑based mentorship, researching mentorship methods, training in cultural competency, and related outreach.
  • The NSF must give special consideration to minority‑serving institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges, rural‑serving schools, emerging research institutions, and consortia that include them.
  • The program is funded with $5 million annually for fiscal years 2027‑2031.
  • The NSF must submit a report within five years assessing the program’s effectiveness and, if successful, a plan to make it permanent.
  • The America COMPETES Act is amended to add a reporting requirement on institutional and agency processes for harassment, discrimination, and other professional misconduct.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee

June 8, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 8, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee

June 8, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 8, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9177

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 8, 2026

Ms. McClellan (for herself, Mr. Tonko, Mrs. Foushee, Ms. Norton, and Ms. Ross) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

A BILL

To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out a mentorship demonstration program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act.

2.

Mentorship demonstration program; National Science Foundation reporting

(a)

Demonstration program

Section 10313(a) of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18993) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(6)

Demonstration program

(A)

In general

The Director may make awards, including through existing programs, on a competitive basis to eligible entities to carry out projects designed to improve mentorship practices and provide resources for faculty, graduate researchers, and postdoctoral researchers at the eligible entity, including with respect to—

(i)

building and developing mentoring skills in such researchers and faculty;

(ii)

promoting evidence-based and institutionalized mentorship at the eligible entity;

(iii)

researching methodologies for improving mentorship;

(iv)

training such researchers and faculty in cultural competencies; and

(v)

funding outreach related to such projects.

(B)

Application

An eligible entity desiring an award under this subsection shall submit to the Director an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Director may require.

(C)

Special consideration

In making awards under this subsection, the Director shall give special consideration to eligible entities that are—

(i)

minority-serving institutions;

(ii)

historically Black colleges and universities;

(iii)

Tribal Colleges or Universities;

(iv)

rural-serving institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in section 861(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161q(b)));

(v)

emerging research institutions; and

(vi)

consortia that include institutions described in clauses (i) through (v).

(D)

Report

Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report that includes—

(i)

an assessment, using qualitative or quantitative metrics as determined by the Director, of the effectiveness of the demonstration program carried out under this paragraph on increasing the quality of mentorship in STEM education; and

(ii)

if such assessment determines that such program is effective, a plan to sustain and permanently implement such program.

(E)

Eligible entity defined

For purposes of this paragraph, the term eligible entity means—

(i)

an institution of higher education (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001));

(ii)

a nonprofit organization; and

(iii)

a consortium of entities described in clauses (i) and (ii).

(F)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $5,000,000, for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

.

(b)

Misconduct reporting requirements

Section 7009 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o–1) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

(2)

institutional and agency reporting processes with respect to harassment, discrimination, and other forms of professional or scientific misconduct;

.