[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2331 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2331
To establish the Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Innovation Fund.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 13, 2014
Mrs. Hagan introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Innovation Fund.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Historically Black Colleges and
Universities Innovation Fund Act of 2014''.
SEC. 2. HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INNOVATION FUND.
Title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1133 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART F--HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INNOVATION FUND
``SEC. 786. PURPOSE.
``It is the purpose of this part to assist historically Black
colleges and universities in planning, developing, implementing,
validating, and replicating innovations that provide solutions to
persistent challenges in enabling economically and educationally
disadvantaged students to enroll in, persist through, and graduate from
historically Black colleges and universities, including initiatives
designed to--
``(1) improve student achievement at historically Black
colleges and universities;
``(2) increase successful recruitment at historically Black
colleges and universities of--
``(A) students from low-income families of all
races;
``(B) adults; and
``(C) military-affiliated students;
``(3) increase the rate at which students enrolled in
historically Black colleges and universities make adequate or
accelerated progress towards graduation and successfully
graduate from such colleges and universities;
``(4) increase the number of students pursuing and
completing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics at historically Black colleges and universities and
pursuing graduate work in such fields;
``(5) enhance the quality of teacher preparation programs
offered by historically Black colleges and universities;
``(6) redesign course offerings and institutional student
aid programs to help students obtain meaningful employment; and
``(7) expand the effective use of technology at
historically Black colleges and universities.
``SEC. 787. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a part B institution as defined in section
322(2);
``(B) a part B institution, as so defined, applying
in consortium with one or more other institutions of
higher education;
``(C) a part B institution, as so defined, applying
in consortium with one or more private nonprofit
organizations;
``(D) a part B institution, as so defined, applying
in consortium with one or more local educational
agencies; or
``(E) a part B institution, as so defined, applying
in a consortium that includes entities described in
more than one of paragraphs (2), (3), or (4).
``(2) Historically black college or university.--The term
`historically Black college or university' has the meaning
given the term `part B institution' as defined in section
322(2).
``SEC. 788. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.
``(a) In General.--With funds made available for this part under
section 792, the Secretary shall make competitive planning and
implementation grants, as described in subsections (b) and (c), to
eligible entities to enable such entities to plan for the
implementation of, in the case of a planning grant, and implement, in
the case of an implementation grant, innovations authorized under this
part and to support the implementation, validation, scaling up, and
replication of such innovations.
``(b) Planning Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use not more than
$10,500,000 of the funds made available under section 792 to
award planning grants to eligible entities to plan, design, and
develop innovations that address the purpose of this part as
described in section 786.
``(2) Duration.--A planning grant authorized under this
subsection shall be for the duration of 1 year.
``(3) Grant amounts.--Each planning grant authorized under
this subsection shall be of an amount that is not more than
$100,000.
``(c) Implementation Grants.--
``(1) In general.--With funds made available for this part
under section 792, the Secretary shall award implementation
grants to eligible entities to further develop, pilot, field-
test, implement, document, validate, and, as applicable, scale
up and replicate innovations that address the purpose of this
part as described in section 786.
``(2) Duration.--An implementation grant authorized under
this subsection shall be for a duration of 5 years, conditional
after 3 years upon the eligible entity achieving satisfactory
progress towards carrying out the educational innovations,
activities, and projects described in section 789(d), as
determined by the Secretary.
``(3) Grant amount.--Each planning grant authorized under
this subsection shall be of an amount that is not more than
$10,000,000.
``(d) Consortium Entities.--
``(1) Fiscal agent.--
``(A) In general.--In the case of an eligible
entity described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E)
of section 787(1), each part B institution, institution
of higher education, private nonprofit organization, or
educational agency that applied in consortium for a
grant under this part shall agree on 1 such member of
such eligible entity to serve as the fiscal agent of
such entity.
``(B) Responsibilities.--The fiscal agent of an
eligible entity, as described in subparagraph (A),
shall act on behalf of such entity in performing the
financial duties of such entity.
``(C) Written agreement.--The agreement described
in subparagraph (A) shall be in writing and signed by
each part B institution, institution of higher
education, private nonprofit organization, or
educational agency that applied in consortium with the
selected fiscal agent for a grant under this part.
``(2) Subgrants.--In the case of an entity described in
subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) of section 787(1) that
receives a grant under this part, the fiscal agent for such
entity (as described in paragraph (1)) may make subgrants to
another part B institution, institution of higher education,
private nonprofit organization, or educational agency that
applied in consortium for such grant with such fiscal agent.
``(e) Federal Share.--
``(1) Planning grants.--The Federal share of the total cost
of carrying out a project funded by a planning grant authorized
under subsection (b) shall be 100 percent of such total cost.
``(2) Implementation grants.--
``(A) In general.--The Federal share of the total
cost of carrying out a project funded by an
implementation grant authorized under subsection (c)
shall be not more than 85 percent of such total cost.
``(B) Remaining cost.--An eligible entity that
receives a grant under subsection (c) shall provide,
from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to not less
than 15 percent of the total cost of carrying out the
project funded by the grant. Such amount may be
provided by in cash or in kind contributions.
``SEC. 789. APPLICATIONS.
``(a) In General.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this
part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably
require.
``(b) Consortium Entities.--An application under this section for a
planning grant or an implementation grant by an eligible entity that is
a part B institution applying for a grant under this part in consortium
with another institution of higher education, private nonprofit
organization, or educational agency, as described in subparagraph (B),
(C), (D), or (E) of section 787(1), shall include the written agreement
described in section 788(d)(1)(C).
``(c) Planning Grants.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
application requirements under this section for a planning grant
authorized under section 788(b) include, in addition to the requirement
under subsection (b), only the minimal requirements that are necessary
to review the proposed process of an eligible entity for the planning
and development of one or more educational innovations that address the
purpose of this part as described in section 786.
``(d) Implementation Grants.--An application under this section for
an implementation grant authorized under section 788(c) shall include,
in addition to the requirement under subsection (b), descriptions of--
``(1) each educational innovation that the eligible entity
will implement using the funds made available by such grant,
including, as applicable, a description of the evidence
supporting the effectiveness of each such innovation;
``(2) how each educational innovation proposed to be
implemented under such grant will address the purpose of this
part, as described in section 786, and how each such innovation
will further the institutional or organizational missions of,
as applicable, the part B institution and each institution of
higher education, private nonprofit organization, and
educational agency applying in consortium with such part B
institution for such grant;
``(3) the specific activities that the eligible entity will
carry out with funds made available by such grant, including,
for a consortium application submitted by an eligible entity
described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) of section
787(1), a description of the activities that the part B
institution and each institution of higher education, private
nonprofit organization, and educational agency of the
consortium will carry out and a description of the capacity of
each such institution, organization, and educational agency to
carry out such activities;
``(4) the performance measures that the eligible entity
will use to track its progress in implementing each proposed
educational innovation, including a description of how the
entity will implement such performance measures and use
information on performance to make adjustments and improvements
to its implementation activities, as needed, over the course of
the grant period;
``(5) how the eligible entity will provide the amount
required under section 788(e)(2)(B);
``(6) how the eligible entity will provide for an
independent evaluation of the implementation and impact of the
projects funded by such grant that includes--
``(A) an interim report (evaluating the progress
made in the first 3 years of the grant); and
``(B) a final report (completed at the end of the
grant period); and
``(7) the plan of the eligible entity for continuing each
proposed educational innovation after the grant period has
ended.
``SEC. 790. PRIORITY.
``In awarding grants under this part, the Secretary shall give
priority to applications that address issues of major national need,
including--
``(1) educational innovations designed to increase the
number of African-American males who attain a postsecondary
degree;
``(2) innovative partnerships between part B institutions
and local educational agencies that are designed to increase
the enrollment and successful completion of historically
underrepresented populations in higher education;
``(3) educational innovations that bring together the
resources of part B institutions and partner institutions in
support of economic development, entrepreneurship, and the
commercialization of funded research and the development of an
innovation ecosystem on postsecondary school campuses;
``(4) educational innovations that support developing
programs and initiatives to support undergraduate and graduate
programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
and
``(5) educational innovations described in paragraphs (3)
and (6) of section 791(b).
``SEC. 791. USE OF FUNDS.
``(a) Planning Grants.--An eligible entity receiving a planning
grant authorized under section 788(b) shall use funds made available by
such grant to conduct a comprehensive institutional planning process
that includes--
``(1) an assessment of the needs of the part B institution
and, in the case of an eligible entity applying in a consortium
described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) of section
787(1), the needs of such other institution of higher
education, private nonprofit organization, or educational
agency;
``(2) research on educational innovations, consistent with
the purpose of this part, as described in section 786, to meet
the needs described in paragraph (1);
``(3) the selection of one or more such educational
innovations to be implemented;
``(4) an assessment of the capacity of the part B
institution and, in the case of an eligible entity applying in
a consortium as described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E)
of section 787(1), the capacity of such other institution of
higher education, private nonprofit organization, or
educational agency to implement each such educational
innovation; and
``(5) activities to further develop such capacity.
``(b) Implementation Grants.--An eligible entity receiving an
implementation grant under section 788(c) shall use the funds made
available by such grant to further develop, pilot, field-test,
implement, document, validate, and, as applicable, scale up and
replicate educational innovations that address the purpose of this
part, as described in section 786, such as educational innovations
designed to--
``(1) improve student achievement, such as through
activities designed to increase the number or percentage of
students who successfully complete developmental or remedial
coursework (which may be accomplished through the evidence-
based redesign of such coursework) and pursue and succeed in
postsecondary studies;
``(2) improve and expand institutional recruitment,
postsecondary school awareness, and postsecondary school
preparation efforts targeting students, including high-
achieving students, from low-income families, such as through
activities undertaken in partnership with local educational
agencies and nonprofit organizations (including the
introduction of dual enrollment programs and the implementation
of activities designed to enable more students to enter
postsecondary education without the need for remediation);
``(3) increase the number or percentage of students,
particularly students who are members of historically
underrepresented populations, who enroll in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics courses, graduate with
degrees in such fields, and pursue advanced studies in such
fields;
``(4) increase (such as through the provision of
comprehensive academic and nonacademic student support
services) the number or percentage of students who make
satisfactory or accelerated progress toward graduation from
postsecondary school and the number or percentage of students
who graduate from postsecondary school on time;
``(5) implement evidence-based improvements to courses,
particularly high-enrollment courses, to improve student
outcomes and reduce education costs for students, including
costs of remedial courses;
``(6) enhance the quality of teacher preparation programs
at part B institutions, to enable teachers at such institutions
to be highly effective in the classroom and to enable such
programs to meet the demands for accountability in teacher
education;
``(7) expand the effective use of technology in higher
education, such as through inter-institutional collaboration on
implementing competency-based technology-enabled delivery
models (including hybrid models) or through the use of open
educational resources and digital content; and
``(8) provide a continuum of solutions by incorporating
activities that address multiple objectives described in
paragraphs (1) through (7).
``SEC. 792. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary for fiscal years 2015 through 2020 to carry out the
activities under this part.''.
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