1.This Act may be cited as the
College and University Rural Education
Act of 2008
(CURE Act).
2.The Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
<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 in and from 2-year and 4-year colleges, and articulation from
2-year degree programs into 4-year degree programs, with respect to graduates
of rural secondary 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 assistance to
partnerships, rural institutions of higher education (including rural community
colleges), 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">In this title:</text>
<paragraph id="H9E92C0015B014BC7A875D317BF22C777"><enum>(1)</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
secondary 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 1 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 secondary school diploma or
a general equivalency diploma (GED).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></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="H2CAD158A7D7248689F52E856A377D7B4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Regional
employer</header><text>The term <term>regional employer</term> means an
employer that is a business or other entity employing individuals within a
rural area.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H71B034C4F21844318825BEBAAB3384DE"><enum>(4)</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 id="HD1A309B2C7054F5E985DB45F3BF87D19"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Rural local
educational agency</header><text>The term <term>rural local educational
agency</term> means a local educational agency that is designated with a
metrocentric locale code of 41, 42, or 43 as determined by the National Center
for Education Statistics (hereafter in this paragraph referred to as the
<quote>NCES</quote>), in conjunction with the Bureau of the Census, using the
NCES system for classifying local educational agencies.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HACAB46B75BBE44F897229DC29107B7CA"><enum>803.</enum><header>Ensuring
college access for rural secondary school graduates</header>
<subsection id="id5758636D476B44639C77C1DCD7C931ED"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of
eligible partnership</header><text>In this section the term <term>eligible
partnership</term> means a partnership formed between or among—</text>
<paragraph id="id50823D7A9ED64DAFA1897CE25E25F6DF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>1 or more rural
institutions of higher education; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6FABC01DD08449F0AB84A8371F38ED4B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any of the
following entities:</text>
<subparagraph id="H24256866295141B386B716D200B5C589"><enum>(A)</enum><text>One or more rural
local educational agencies.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB6E2C3C5A384F42AB59D0FD90DEFB8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>One or more rural
education service agencies.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB515E940646C4E4396871EDB0591FA52"><enum>(C)</enum><text>One or more
regional employers.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8913A701EC054A5A9C1CC743432E9F16"><enum>(D)</enum><text>One or more
nonprofit organizations with expertise in rural education.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H40A5D4FCC48B4566A84FA413D521AFFD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grants
authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary is
authorized to award grants to eligible partnerships to enable the eligible
partnerships to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection
(d).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEC4AE3247E884DF388E74BAD3EE89958"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Applications</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an eligible partnership shall submit to the Secretary an
application in such form and containing such information as the Secretary shall
prescribe.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idCCA9016E76BD4F318D0E41CA2C94204F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Award
considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 secondary schools from rural local
educational agencies who are enrolled or otherwise affiliated with the rural
institution of higher education participating in the eligible partnership;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE365313F9BFD4BCD9BD3D0D680FD5B73"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of employers, the percentage of
employees of the employer who are graduates of secondary schools served by a
rural local educational agency.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3C4000BBE2314191B5F4AA1B91B15929"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Use of Grant
Amounts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grant funds made
available under this section shall be used—</text>
<paragraph id="H95A7D25F68964C40AE8E02C2BB39D2DA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to improve
enrollment rates at rural institutions of higher education, for graduates and
former attendees of rural secondary schools, 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 graduates and attendees access and exposure to
campuses, classes, programs, and facilities of rural institutions of higher
education, including covering the cost of transportation to and from rural
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 graduates and
attendees 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 graduates and attendees in advance of attending rural institutions of
higher education; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H612F1AFC66D74A3EA17143E716E397AE"><enum>(E)</enum><text>other initiatives
that assist such graduates and attendees in applying for admission to 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 rural 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="id42E175D27FFC4B609FBC1FE1964CEB09"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Eligible
partnership defined</header><text>In this section the term <term>eligible
partnership</term> means a partnership formed between or among—</text>
<paragraph id="idFA8371CF6E54486BB8E1C4C647AAE1BD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>1 or more rural
institutions of higher education; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3D2AD7245C5D4E0E9FBA087BBBF3423A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>1 or more
regional employers.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5EEDD8160B124BBB86AB129FC9001BD8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grants
authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary is
authorized to award grants to eligible partnerships to enable the eligible
partnerships to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection
(e).</text>
</subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7B7AF6B8CA1647D785B5E2DB0D7DA34"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Applications</header><text>To
be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible partnership
shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form and containing such
information as the Secretary shall prescribe.</text>
</subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF8D839BC2AFA4AA2A2D5842A5100CD98"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Award
considerations</header><text>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 regional employer
participating in the eligible partnership to employ graduates of rural
institutions of higher education after graduation;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAD34AC8E6DE94E8289EF97D96D8F0005"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the potential of
the regional employer participating in the eligible partnership to spur
economic development in the region; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4256A4CE09A14A439232002DF5A2B5A3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the relevance of
the regional employer participating in the eligible partnership to the regional
economy.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7EB43C48C90141BFA76F591E42517EA2"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Use of Grant
Amounts</header><text>Grant funds made available under this section shall be
used—</text>
<paragraph id="H0B8D2FB635A14B2CA10048005454AAA2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to provide
additional career training to attendees of rural institutions of higher
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 higher
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 is
authorized to award grants to rural institutions of higher education to enable
the rural institutions of higher education to carry out the authorized
activities described in subsection (b).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9FD936EFF1C741938732851E923F3133"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of grant
amounts</header><text>Grant funds made available under this section shall be
used to create or strengthen academic programs to prepare graduates of the
rural institutions of higher education to enter into high-need occupations in
the regional and local economies.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H34AD4FA7724D4C5FBC3CE64FF9DB242F"><enum>806.</enum><header>Administration</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H402A9BEA22184F4A98AA464705E683DE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grant
considerations</header><text>In awarding grants under this title to eligible
partnerships and rural institutions of higher education, the Secretary shall
consider—</text>
<paragraph id="HC6A30621C7A74746A4230994DB1B0956"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the percentage of
graduates of rural secondary schools attending rural institutions of higher
education in proximity to the eligible partnership or rural institution of
higher education receiving the grant;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H62ECEA5B02FD4F68B68F78A3E59B53F7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>employment needs
of regional employers in proximity to the eligible partnership or rural
institution of higher education receiving the grant; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB82102F1CC034E7D82B91F73DC2E36AE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the health of the
regional economy of the region surrounding the eligible partnership or rural
institution of higher education receiving the grant.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDCED469419B24F5DB011CDF55C80BD4E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Maximum grant
amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each grant awarded by
the Secretary under this title shall be in an amount that is not more than
$500,000.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7CF2913F39144C3DB028DDD3C65C71CD"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Grant
duration</header><text>A grant under this title shall be awarded for one 3-year
period.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HBC4EAE31782D4D749EC260C44C53E5A9"><enum>807.</enum><header>GAO
Study</header>
<subsection id="id60E4A288964C430A828E834ED61D29E4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study</header>
<paragraph id="id05D6AB773E884894A061D96E5490ACEA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Comptroller
General shall carry out a study, that shall be completed not later than 5 years
after the date of enactment of the <short-title>College
and University Rural Education Act of 2008</short-title>, to identify the
challenges and solutions to increasing the availability of and access to 2-year
and 4-year degree programs and institutions of higher education in rural
America.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC245401B278345E384E6DFACC10F3925"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Matters
studied</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The study shall
investigate matters related to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H733263165BC34CA5A6F8F7E85FC03778"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the number of
4-year institutions of higher education and 4-year degree programs in rural
America in existence on the date of enactment of the
<short-title>College and University Rural Education Act of
2008</short-title>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAC83077E2E834E29A6F97D007E31B400"><enum>(B)</enum><text>access to 4-year
degree programs and institutions of higher education in rural America;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA0EDCB3FA8104AB7B55E02DC6EA085CE"><enum>(C)</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>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9634425ECC6C44B0B18CDF1F34D3AE46"><enum>(D)</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>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id19BA73181B7846ED8DDDEBAC17102E1D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text>The
Comptroller General shall make recommendations to Congress regarding the
matters studied under subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></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
carry 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 sections
803, 804, and
805.</text>
</paragraph></section>.