110 HR 4139 IH: College and University Rural Education U.S. House of Representatives 2007-11-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4139 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 9, 2007 Mr. Space (for himself, Mr. Hare, and Mr. Loebsack) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve participation in higher education of, and increase opportunities in employment for, residents of rural areas.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the College and University Rural Education (CURE) Act of 2007.
2.
Establishment of program
The Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new title: <enum>VIII</enum><header>Rural Development Grants for Rural Colleges and Universities</header> <section id="HC220A15786294C179FCFA0C66FA664A"><enum>801.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this title are—</text> <paragraph id="H1FF9365F812A4E77916BE56832CBF335"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to increase—</text> <subparagraph id="HF714D4C27A19495491BF639428A6CD3F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>enrollment and graduation rates from 2-year and 4-year colleges, and articulation from 2-year degree programs into 4-year degree programs of graduates of rural high schools; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H87A56A6939144FF0A53600FC04635873"><enum>(B)</enum><text>degree completion for nontraditional students from rural areas; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2AF7E24AD3D74600A9DBCDDB632EBD6D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to promote economic growth and development in rural America through partnership grants to consortia of rural colleges and universities and other entities, such as local educational agencies, employers, education service agencies, and nonprofit organizations.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="H031167E5409D4D578630FA8800F6BD8E"><enum>802.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">For the purposes of this title:</text> <paragraph id="H71B034C4F21844318825BEBAAB3384DE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Rural institution of higher education</header><text>The term <term>rural institution of higher education</term> means an institution of higher education (as such term is defined in section 101) that primarily serves rural areas.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H0BF9DAA930A04FF7A9AC6E034E2D6E7D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rural area</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>rural area</term> means an area in which there is located a rural local educational agency.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HD1A309B2C7054F5E985DB45F3BF87D19"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Rural local educational agency</header><text>The term <term>rural local educational agency</term> means a local educational agency (as such term is defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) that is designated with a metrocentric locale code of 41, 42, or 43 as determined by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in conjunction with the Bureau of the Census, using the NCES system for classifying local educational agencies.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H9E92C0015B014BC7A875D317BF22C777"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Nontraditional student</header><text>The term <term>nontraditional student</term> means an individual who—</text> <subparagraph id="H9A8BA053775146FB00F213EB57937B92"><enum>(A)</enum><text>delays enrollment in an institution of higher education by 3 or more years after completing high school;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H618F0BA8D126496690D7F6EFC37F3422"><enum>(B)</enum><text>attends an institution of higher education part-time or less than part-time; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1983F4ABAD564BAC9DF1C478B694FD3"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">attends an institution of higher education and—</text> <clause id="H0BEE621D94D346CBA68334BEF4EBC3FF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>works full-time;</text> </clause><clause id="H6227C257C3454E24A0A39284DF599D3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is an independent student;</text> </clause><clause id="H18B80F6D718D471EBD7EC0E0E350DE84"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>has one or more dependents other than a spouse;</text> </clause><clause id="H3BC0BE1510A7417ABF5F835DEE141ED3"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>is a single parent; or</text> </clause><clause id="HFB1B68F1178D42CCA2ACF1FC900EFD"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">does not have a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED).</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2CAD158A7D7248689F52E856A377D7B4"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Regional employer</header><text>The term <term>regional employer</term> means employers qualifying as businesses or other entities employing individuals within a rural area.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="HACAB46B75BBE44F897229DC29107B7CA"><enum>803.</enum><header>Ensuring college access for rural high school graduates</header> <subsection id="H40A5D4FCC48B4566A84FA413D521AFFD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grants authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Education is authorized to make grants in accordance with this section to partnerships formed between one or more rural institution of higher education and any of the following entities:</text> <paragraph id="H24256866295141B386B716D200B5C589"><enum>(1)</enum><text>One or more rural local educational agencies.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HAB6E2C3C5A384F42AB59D0FD90DEFB8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>One or more rural education service agencies.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB515E940646C4E4396871EDB0591FA52"><enum>(3)</enum><text>One or more regional employers.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H8913A701EC054A5A9C1CC743432E9F16"><enum>(4)</enum><text>One or more nonprofit organizations with expertise in rural education.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEC4AE3247E884DF388E74BAD3EE89958"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligible partnerships; applications</header><text>To be eligible for a grant under this section, a partnership that meets the requirements of <internal-xref idref="H40A5D4FCC48B4566A84FA413D521AFFD" legis-path="803.(a)">subsection (a) </internal-xref>shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form and containing such information as the Secretary shall prescribe. In determining which applications to approve for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall consider—</text> <paragraph id="HC1A64CCFE70A4597B22B004DA46E448B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the percentage of graduates, attendees, or former attendees of high schools from rural local educational agencies enrolled or otherwise affiliated with the entity;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE365313F9BFD4BCD9BD3D0D680FD5B73"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of employers, the percentage of employees that are graduates of high schools in rural local educational agencies.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3C4000BBE2314191B5F4AA1B91B15929"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of Grant Amounts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funds made available by a grant under this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of shall be used—</text> <paragraph id="H95A7D25F68964C40AE8E02C2BB39D2DA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to improve enrollment rates for graduates and former attendees of rural high schools at rural institutions of higher education, including—</text> <subparagraph id="H7747923FDE1A44A09E3F06E5561D0832"><enum>(A)</enum><text>programs to provide information about college costs and financial aid options, assistance with college enrollment applications, and assistance with financial aid applications;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8004F2EAD4084D2983B6366996E80143"><enum>(B)</enum><text>programs or initiatives that provide such individuals of rural high schools access and exposure to campuses, classes, programs, and facilities of rural institutions of higher education, including covering the cost of transportation to and from institutions of higher education;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE839D9332BCA440DB9D624C9098C4277"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the formation of groups or other initiatives that create support groups of such students expressing interest in attending rural institutions of higher education;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA75E6AF0B0374537ADF05C719FDEF760"><enum>(D)</enum><text>extra curricular activities, such as internships, community service, and other activities for such individuals in advance of attending institutions of higher education; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H612F1AFC66D74A3EA17143E716E397AE"><enum>(E)</enum><text>other initiatives that assist such individuals in applying and developing interest in attending rural institutions of higher education; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3F8D0BABD7DE42F7B18520D48FFF0039"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to encourage participation of nontraditional students in degree programs at rural institutions of higher education, including—</text> <subparagraph id="H87E5FA20C4D64BD7978EC3B94DF97E46"><enum>(A)</enum><text>programs to provide information about college costs and financial aid options, assistance with college enrollment applications, and assistance with financial aid applications for institutions of higher education;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H351A1E66282049CBA3CEDEA0691B61"><enum>(B)</enum><text>outreach to nontraditional students through community initiatives; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBBD2CC6356574D05BC9B1799DF67D8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>formation of support groups for nontraditional students enrolling in 2-year degree programs and articulating from 2-year degree programs to 4-year degree programs.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H64619857D30F4364A6A1008E7DDA6CB3"><enum>804.</enum><header>Economic development partnerships</header> <subsection id="H5EEDD8160B124BBB86AB129FC9001BD8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grants authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Education is authorized to make grants in accordance with this section to partnerships formed between one or more rural institutions of higher education and one or more regional employers.</text> </subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7B7AF6B8CA1647D785B5E2DB0D7DA34"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligible partnerships; applications</header><text>To be eligible for a grant under this section, a partnership that meets the requirements of <internal-xref idref="H5EEDD8160B124BBB86AB129FC9001BD8" legis-path="804.(a)">subsection (a)</internal-xref> shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form and containing such information as the Secretary shall prescribe. In determining which applications to approve for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall consider—</text> <paragraph id="H0E37051C9167469C9E191EF138B0270"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the potential of the employer to employ graduates of rural institutions of education after graduation;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HAD34AC8E6DE94E8289EF97D96D8F0005"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the potential of the employer engaged in the partnership to spur economic development in the region; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H4256A4CE09A14A439232002DF5A2B5A3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the relevance of the employer to the regional economy.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7EB43C48C90141BFA76F591E42517EA2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of Grant Amounts</header><text>Funds made available by a grant under this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of <internal-xref idref="H5EEDD8160B124BBB86AB129FC9001BD8" legis-path="804.(a)">subsection (a)</internal-xref> shall be used—</text> <paragraph id="H0B8D2FB635A14B2CA10048005454AAA2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to provide additional career training to attendees of rural institutions of education in fields relevant to the regional economy; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H4E4A89FC7B90496EAF72C6C747AD7C95"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to encourage regional businesses to employ graduates of rural institutions of education.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HB16CA745A76C4FE6A09BA056DCE8D4C5"><enum>805.</enum><header>Quality of life in rural areas</header> <subsection id="H6A7B74C5756C4CA4BD498128F259313F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grants authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Education is authorized to make grants in accordance with this section to rural institutions of higher education.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H9FD936EFF1C741938732851E923F3133"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of grant amounts</header><text>Funds made available by a grant under this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of subsection (a) shall be used to create or strengthen academic programs to prepare graudates to enter into high-need occupations in the regional and local economies</text> </subsection></section><section id="H34AD4FA7724D4C5FBC3CE64FF9DB242F"><enum>806.</enum><header>Allocation of appropriations</header> <subsection id="H402A9BEA22184F4A98AA464705E683DE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grant considerations</header><text>In making grant allocations under this title to qualifying institutions and partnerships, the Secretary shall consider—</text> <paragraph id="HC6A30621C7A74746A4230994DB1B0956"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the percentage of graduates of rural high schools attending rural institutions of higher education in proximity to the entity receiving the grant;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H62ECEA5B02FD4F68B68F78A3E59B53F7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>employment needs of regional employers in proximity to entities receiving the grant; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB82102F1CC034E7D82B91F73DC2E36AE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the health of the regional economy of the region surrounding the entity receiving the grant.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDCED469419B24F5DB011CDF55C80BD4E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Maximum and minimum grants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No grant awarded by the Secretary under this title shall be less than $200,000 or more than $500,000.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H7CF2913F39144C3DB028DDD3C65C71CD"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Grant duration</header><text>A grant awarded under this title shall be awarded for one 3-year period.</text> </subsection></section><section id="HBC4EAE31782D4D749EC260C44C53E5A9"><enum>807.</enum><header>GAO Study</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Commission a study to be completed in 5 years to identify the challenges and solutions to increasing the availability of and access to 4-year degree programs and institutions in rural America. The GAO shall investigate and make recommendations to Congress regarding—</text> <paragraph id="H733263165BC34CA5A6F8F7E85FC03778"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the existing number of 4-year institutions of higher education and 4-year degree programs in rural America;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HAC83077E2E834E29A6F97D007E31B400"><enum>(2)</enum><text>access to 4-year degree programs and institutions in rural America;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HA0EDCB3FA8104AB7B55E02DC6EA085CE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the cost, availability of resources and challenges associated with the establishment and expansion of 4-year degree programs in rural America; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H9634425ECC6C44B0B18CDF1F34D3AE46"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the role of rural America in contributing to overall bachelor’s degree attainment in the United States, as a measure of United States global competitiveness.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="H7D16F84B1BB3418EB364368B2994B4EA"><enum>808.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated—</text> <paragraph id="H9D9665664FE74D579FCBE30435141EB0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2009—</text> <subparagraph id="H76466DBB8660446291873D6F87C7C42C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$15,000,000 to cary out <internal-xref idref="HACAB46B75BBE44F897229DC29107B7CA" legis-path="803.">section 803</internal-xref>;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2033A2EDFBF24403BE327F33C527B018"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$10,000,000 to carry out <internal-xref idref="H64619857D30F4364A6A1008E7DDA6CB3" legis-path="804.">section 804</internal-xref>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H79830E7682D540D5916907EF7B0E76E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>$5,000,000 to carry out <internal-xref idref="HB16CA745A76C4FE6A09BA056DCE8D4C5" legis-path="805.">section 805;</internal-xref> and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9DBCFB3770AE41E99600B4EE770029A3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years to carry out such sections.</text> </paragraph></section>.