[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 16, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69980-69982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30945]


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JAMES MADISON MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP FOUNDATION

45 CFR Part 2400


Fellowship Program Requirements

AGENCY: James Madison Fellowship Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The following are proposed amendments to the regulations 
governing the annual competition for James Madison Fellowships and the 
obligations of James Madison Fellows. These amendments would update and 
replace certain provisions of the Foundation's existing regulations as 
implemented by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Act of 1986. These 
revised regulations would govern the qualifications and applications of 
candidates for fellowships; the selection of Fellows by the Foundation; 
the graduate programs Fellows must pursue; the terms and conditions 
attached to awards; the Foundation's annual Summer Institute on the 
Constitution; and related requirements and expectations regarding 
fellowships.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 17, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments about these proposed regulations to 
James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation, 2000 K Street, NW., Suite 
303, Washington, DC 20006-1809.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lewis F. Larsen. Telephone: (202) 653-
8700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The reason for the proposed changes to the 
Foundation's regulations comes as a result of the Foundation's desire 
to clarify several of the rules and regulations that James Madison 
Fellows must observe when accepting their fellowships. Although many of 
the changes are minor insertions of words and punctuation, this 
document specifically expands the definition section to include further 
detailed definitions on Credit Hour Equivalent, Incomplete, Repayment, 
Satisfactory Progress, Stipend, Teaching Obligation, Termination and 
Withdrawal. The Foundation now encourages James Madison Fellows to 
choose a graduate program which does not include the writing of a 
thesis. Graduate programs for which Fellows may apply have been 
broadened to included political science. Finally, a section entitled 
``Teaching Obligation'' was added to further clarify the obligation to 
teach, required by the Foundation once each fellow has earned a 
master's degree.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

    The President certifies that these regulations would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    These regulations apply to individuals eligible to apply for 
fellowship assistance. Individuals are not included in the definition 
of ``small entities'' in the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

[[Page 69981]]

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    These proposed regulations do not contain any information 
collection requirements.

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 2400

    Education, Fellowships.

    Dated: December 10, 2003.
Paul A. Yost, Jr.,
President.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble and under authority of 20 
U.S.C. 4501 et seq., Chapter XXIV, Title 45 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations is proposed to be amended by revising part 2400 as follows:

PART 2400--FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

    1. The authority citation for part 2400 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 20 U.S.C. 4501 et seq., unless otherwise noted.

    2. Section 2400.3 is amended by revising paragraphs (a)(8) and 
(b)(8) to read as follows:


Sec.  2400.3  Eligibility.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (8) Sign agreements that, after completing the education for which 
the fellowship is awarded, they will teach American history, American 
government, social studies, or political science full time in secondary 
schools for a period of not less than one year for each full year of 
study for which assistance was received, preferably in the State listed 
as their legal residence at the time of their fellowship award. For the 
purposes of this provision, a full academic year of study is considered 
by the Foundation to be 18 credit hours or 27 quarter hours. Fellows' 
teaching obligations will be figured at full academic years of study; 
and when Fellows have studies for partial academic years, those years 
will be rounded upward to the nearest one-half year to determine 
Fellows' total teaching obligations.
    (b) * * *
    (8) Sign an agreement that, after completing the education for 
which the fellowship is awarded, they will teach American history, 
American government, social studies, or political science full time in 
secondary schools for a period of not less than one year for each full 
academic year of study for which assistance was received, preferably in 
the State listed as their legal residence at the time of their 
fellowship award. Fellows' teaching obligations will be figured at full 
academic years of study; and when Fellows have studies for partial 
academic years, those years will be rounded upward to the nearest one-
half year to determine Fellows' total teaching obligations.
    3. Section 2400.4 is amended by revising the definitions of ``Full-
time study,'' ``State,'' and ``Stipend,'' to read as follows:


Sec.  2400.4  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Full-time study means study for an enrolled student who is carrying 
at least 9 credit hours a semester or its equivalent.
* * * * *
    State means each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, considered as a single entity, Guam, 
the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    Stipend means the amount paid by the Foundation to a Fellow or on 
his or her behalf for the allowable costs of graduate study which have 
been approved under the fellowship.
* * * * *
    4. Section 2400.20 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  2400.20  Preparation of application.

    Applications, on forms mailed directly by the Foundation to those 
who request applications or downloaded from the Foundation's website, 
must be completed by all fellowship candidates in order that they be 
considered for an award.
    5. Section 2400.30 is amended by adding a new paragraph (g) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  2400.30  Selection criteria.

* * * * *
    (g) Content of the 600-word essay.


Sec.  2400.31  [Amended]

    6. In Sec.  2400.31, paragraph (b) is amended by removing the word 
``legally'' and adding, in its place, the word ``legal''; and paragraph 
(c) is amended by removing the words ``An alternate will receive'' and 
adding, in their place, ``An alternate may, at the Foundation's 
discretion, receive''.


Sec.  2400.42  [Amended]

    7. In Sec.  2400.42, paragraph (b) is amended by removing the word 
``constitution'' and adding, in its place, the word ``Constitution''.


Sec.  2400.43  [Amended]

    8. In Sec.  2400.43, paragraph (c) is amended by removing the words 
``strongly encourages'' and adding, in their place, the words ``in 
general, requires''.
    9. Section 2400.44 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  2400.44  Commencement of graduate study.

    (a) Fellows may commence study under their fellowships as early as 
the summer following the announcement of their award. Fellows are 
normally expected to commence study under their fellowships in the fall 
term of the academic year following the date on which their award is 
announced. However, as indicated in Sec.  2400.61, they may seek to 
postpone the commencement of fellowship study for up to one year under 
extenuating circumstances.
* * * * *


Sec.  2400.46  [Amended]

    10. Section 2400.46 is amended by removing the word ``five'' and 
adding, in its place, the word ``three''.
    11. Section 2400.47 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  2400.47  Summer Institute's relationship to fellowship.

    Each year, the Foundation normally offers during July a four-week 
graduate-level Institute on the principles, framing, ratification, and 
implementation of the United States Constitution at an accredited 
university in the Washington, DC area. The Institute is an integral 
part of each fellowship.
    12. Section 2400.48 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  2400.48  Fellows' participation in the Summer Institute.

    Each fellow is required as part of his or her fellowship to attend 
the Institute (if it is offered), normally during the summer following 
the Fellow's commencement of graduate study under a fellowship.


Sec.  2400.50  [Amended]

    13. Section 2400.50 is amended by removing ``For their 
participation in the Institute, Fellows are paid'' and adding, in its 
place, ``At the Foundation's discretion, Fellows may be paid''.


Sec.  2400.53  [Amended]

    14. Section 2400.53 is amended by adding a new sentence at the end 
to read ``A waiver of the time limit may be given for full-time 
students who require more than 36 credit hours or 54 quarter hours to 
complete their approved degree.''
    15. Section 2400.55 is amended by revising paragraphs (f) and (i) 
to read as follows:

[[Page 69982]]

Sec.  2400.55  Certification for stipend.

* * * * *
    (f) The amount and nature of income from any other grants or 
awards;
* * * * *
    (i) A full Plan of Study over the duration of the fellowship, 
including information on the contents of required constitutional 
courses. Senior Fellows must provide evidence of their continued full-
time employment as teachers in grades 7-12.
    16. Section 2400.56 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  2400.56  Payment of stipend.

    Payment for tuition, required fees, books, room, and board subject 
to the limitations in Sec. Sec.  2400.52 through 2400.55 and Sec. Sec.  
2400.59 through 2400.60 will be paid via Electronic Funds Transfer to 
each Fellow at the beginning of each term of enrollment and upon the 
Fellow's submission of a completed Payment Request Form which includes 
the current University bulletin of cost information.


Sec.  2400.58  [Amended]

    17. In Sec.  2400.58, paragraph (a) is amended by removing the 
words ``fewer than'' and adding, in their place, the words ``at 
least''; and paragraph (b) is amended by removing the words ``the 
Foundation will seek to recover'' and adding, in their place, the words 
``the Fellow must repay''.


Sec.  2400.60  [Amended]

    18. In Sec.  2400.60, paragraph (a) is amended by removing the 
words ``unless they are credited to the minimum number of credits 
required for the degree'' at the end of the paragraph.


Sec.  2400.61  [Amended]

    19. Section 2400.61 is amended by adding a new sentence at the end 
to read ``All postponements are given at the Foundation's discretion 
and will normally not extend for more than one year.''
    20. Section 2400.63 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  2400.63  Excluded graduate study.

    James Madison Fellowships do not provide support for study toward 
doctoral degrees, for the degree of master of arts in public affairs or 
public administration. The Foundation may at its discretion, upon 
request of the Fellow, provide tuition only assistance toward teacher 
certification.

[FR Doc. 03-30945 Filed 12-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-05-P