(a) Grants and contracts authorized
The Secretary shall, in accordance with the provisions of this division, carry out a program of making grants and contracts designed to identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, to prepare them for a program of postsecondary education, to provide support services for such students who are pursuing programs of postsecondary education, to motivate and prepare students for doctoral programs, and to train individuals serving or preparing for service in programs and projects so designed.
(b) Recipients, duration, and size
(1) Recipients For the purposes described in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary is authorized, without regard to section
5 of title
41, to make grants to, and contracts with, institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations, combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and in exceptional circumstances, secondary schools, for planning, developing, or carrying out one or more of the services assisted under this division.
(2) Duration Grants or contracts made under this division shall be awarded for a period of 4 years, except that
(A) the Secretary shall award such grants or contracts for 5 years to applicants whose peer review scores were in the highest 10 percent of scores of all applicants receiving grants or contracts in each program competition for the same award year;
(B) grants made under section
1070a–17 of this title shall be awarded for a period of 2 years; and
(C) grants under section
1070a–18 of this title shall be awarded for a period determined by the Secretary.
(3) Minimum grants Unless the institution or agency requests a smaller amount, individual grants under this division shall be no less than
(A) $170,000 for programs authorized by sections
1070a–14 and
1070a–17 of this title;
(B) $180,000 for programs authorized by sections
1070a–12 and
1070a–16 of this title; and
(C) $190,000 for programs authorized by sections
1070a–13 and
1070a–15 of this title.
(c) Procedures for awarding grants and contracts
(1) Application requirements
An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant or contract under this division shall submit an application to the Secretary in such manner and form, and containing such information and assurances, as the Secretary may reasonably require.
(2) Prior experience In making grants under this division, the Secretary shall consider each applicants prior experience of service delivery under the particular program for which funds are sought. The level of consideration given the factor of prior experience shall not vary from the level of consideration given such factor during fiscal years 1994 through 1997, except that grants made under section
1070a–18 of this title shall not be given prior experience consideration.
(3) Order of awards; program fraud
(A) Except with respect to grants made under sections
1070a–17 and
1070a–18 of this title and as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall award grants and contracts under this division in the order of the scores received by the application for such grant or contract in the peer review process required under paragraph (4) and adjusted for prior experience in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(B) The Secretary is not required to provide assistance to a program otherwise eligible for assistance under this division, if the Secretary has determined that such program has involved the fraudulent use of funds under this division.
(4) Peer review process
(A) The Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, members of groups underrepresented in higher education, including African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, and Native American Pacific Islanders (including Native Hawaiians), are represented as readers of applications submitted under this division. The Secretary shall also ensure that persons from urban and rural backgrounds are represented as readers.
(B) The Secretary shall ensure that each application submitted under this division is read by at least three readers who are not employees of the Federal Government (other than as readers of applications).
(5) Number of applications for grants and contracts
The Secretary shall not limit the number of applications submitted by an entity under any program authorized under this division if the additional applications describe programs serving different populations or campuses.
(6) Coordination with other programs for disadvantaged students
The Secretary shall encourage coordination of programs assisted under this division with other programs for disadvantaged students operated by the sponsoring institution or agency, regardless of the funding source of such programs. The Secretary shall not limit an entitys eligibility to receive funds under this division because such entity sponsors a program similar to the program to be assisted under this division, regardless of the funding source of such program. The Secretary shall permit the Director of a program receiving funds under this division to administer one or more additional programs for disadvantaged students operated by the sponsoring institution or agency, regardless of the funding sources of such programs.
(7) Application status
The Secretary shall inform each entity operating programs under this division regarding the status of their application for continued funding at least 8 months prior to the expiration of the grant or contract. The Secretary, in the case of an entity that is continuing to operate a successful program under this division, shall ensure that the start-up date for a new grant or contract for such program immediately follows the termination of the preceding grant or contract so that no interruption of funding occurs for such successful reapplicants. The Secretary shall inform each entity requesting assistance under this division for a new program regarding the status of their application at least 8 months prior to the proposed startup date of such program.
(d) Outreach
(1) In general
The Secretary shall conduct outreach activities to ensure that entities eligible for assistance under this division submit applications proposing programs that serve geographic areas and eligible populations which have been underserved by the programs assisted under this division.
(2) Notice
In carrying out the provisions of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall notify the entities described in subsection (b) of this section of the availability of assistance under this subsection not less than 120 days prior to the deadline for submission of applications under this division and shall consult national, State, and regional organizations about candidates for notification.
(3) Technical assistance
The Secretary shall provide technical training to applicants for projects and programs authorized under this division. The Secretary shall give priority to serving programs and projects that serve geographic areas and eligible populations which have been underserved by the programs assisted under this division. Technical training activities shall include the provision of information on authorizing legislation, goals and objectives of the program, required activities, eligibility requirements, the application process and application deadlines, and assistance in the development of program proposals and the completion of program applications. Such training shall be furnished at conferences, seminars, and workshops to be conducted at not less than 10 sites throughout the United States to ensure that all areas of the United States with large concentrations of eligible participants are served.
(4) Special rule
The Secretary may contract with eligible entities to conduct the outreach activities described in this subsection.
(e) Documentation of status as a low-income individual
(1) Except in the case of an independent
student, as defined in section
1087vv (d) of this title, documentation of an individuals status pursuant to subsection (g)(2) of this section shall be made by providing the Secretary with
(A) a signed statement from the individuals parent or legal guardian;
(B) verification from another governmental source;
(C) a signed financial aid application; or
(D) a signed United States or Puerto Rico income tax return.
(2) In the case of an independent
student, as defined in section
1087vv (d) of this title, documentation of an individuals status pursuant to subsection (g)(2) of this section shall be made by providing the Secretary with
(A) a signed statement from the individual;
(B) verification from another governmental source;
(C) a signed financial aid application; or
(D) a signed United States or Puerto Rico income tax return.
(f) Authorization of appropriations
For the purpose of making grants and contracts under this division, there are authorized to be appropriated $700,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years. Of the amount appropriated under this division, the Secretary may use no more than 1/2 of 1 percent of such amount to obtain additional qualified readers and additional staff to review applications, to increase the level of oversight monitoring, to support impact studies, program assessments and reviews, and to provide technical assistance to potential applicants and current grantees. In expending these funds, the Secretary shall give priority to the additional administrative requirements provided in the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, to outreach activities, and to obtaining additional readers. The Secretary shall report to Congress by October 1, 1994, on the use of these funds.
(g) Definitions For the purpose of this division:
(1) First generation college student The term first generation college
student means
(A) an individual both of whose parents did not complete a baccalaureate degree; or
(B) in the case of any individual who regularly resided with and received support from only one parent, an individual whose only such parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree.
(2) Low-income individual
The term low-income individual means an individual from a family whose taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of an amount equal to the poverty level determined by using criteria of poverty established by the Bureau of the Census.
(3) Veteran eligibility No veteran shall be deemed ineligible to participate in any program under this division by reason of such individuals age who
(A) served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable; or
(B) served on active duty after January 31, 1955, and was discharged or released therefrom because of a service connected disability.
(4) Waiver
The Secretary may waive the service requirements in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (3) if the Secretary determines the application of the service requirements to a veteran will defeat the purpose of a program under this division.