Title 34—Education--Volume 1
PART 657—FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND AREA STUDIES FELLOWSHIPS PROGRAM
§ 657.1   What is the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program?
Under the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program, the Secretary awards fellowships, through institutions of higher education, to students who are—
(a) Enrolled for undergraduate or graduate training in a Center or program approved by the Secretary under this part; and
(b) Undergoing performance-based modern foreign language training or training in a program for which performance-based modern foreign language instruction is being developed, in combination with area studies, international studies, or the international aspects of professional studies.
§ 657.2   Who is eligible to receive an allocation of fellowships?
(a) The Secretary awards an allocation of fellowships to an institution of higher education or to a consortium of institutions of higher education that—
(1) Operates a Center or program approved by the Secretary under this part;
(2) Teaches modern foreign languages under a program described in paragraph (b) of this section; and
(3) In combination with the teaching described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section—
(i) Provides instruction in the disciplines needed for a full understanding of the area, regions, or countries in which the foreign languages are commonly used; or
(ii) Conducts training and research in international studies, the international aspects of professional and other fields of study, or issues in world affairs that concern one or more countries.
(b) In teaching those modern foreign languages for which an allocation of fellowships is made available, the institution must be either using a program of performance-based training or developing a performance-based training program.
(c) The Secretary uses the criteria in § 657.21 both to approve Centers and programs for the purpose of receiving an allocation of fellowships and to evaluate applications for an allocation of fellowships.
(d) An institution does not need to receive a grant under the National Resource Center Program (34 CFR part 656) to receive an allocation of fellowships under this part.
§ 657.3   Who is eligible to receive a fellowship?
A student is eligible to receive a fellowship if the student—
(a)(1) Is a citizen or national of the United States; or
(2) Is a permanent resident of the United States;
(b) Is accepted for enrollment or is enrolled—
(1) In an institution receiving an allocation of fellowships; and
(2) In a program that combines modern foreign language training with—
(i) Area or international studies; or
(ii) Research and training in the international aspects of professional and other fields of study;
(c) Shows potential for high academic achievement based on such indices as grade point average, class ranking, or similar measures that the institution may determine;
(d) Is enrolled in a program of modern foreign language training in a language for which the institution has developed or is developing performance-based instruction;
(e) In the case of an undergraduate student, is in the intermediate or advanced study of a less commonly taught language; or
(f) In the case of a graduate student, is engaged in—
(1) Predissertation level study;
(2) Preparation for dissertation research;
(3) Dissertation research abroad; or
(4) Dissertation writing.
§ 657.4   What regulations apply?
The following regulations apply to this program:
(a) The regulations in 34 CFR part 655.
(b) The regulations in this part 657.
§ 657.5   What definitions apply?
The following definitions apply to this part:
(a) The definitions in 34 CFR 655.4.
(b) Center means an administrative unit of an institution of higher education that has direct access to highly qualified faculty and library resources, and coordinates a concentrated effort of educational activities, including training in modern foreign languages and various academic disciplines, in its subject area.
(c) Fellow means a person who receives a fellowship under this part.
(d) Fellowship means the payment a fellow receives under this part.
(e) Program means a concentration of educational resources and activities in modern foreign language training and related studies.
§ 657.10   What combined application may an institution submit?
An institution that wishes to apply for an allocation of fellowships and for a grant to operate a Center under 34 CFR part 656 may submit a combined application for both grants to the Secretary.
§ 657.11   How does a student apply for a fellowship?
(a) A student shall apply for a fellowship directly to an institution of higher education that has received an allocation of fellowships.
(b) The applicant shall provide sufficient information to enable the institution to determine whether he or she is eligible to receive a fellowship and whether he or she should be selected to receive a fellowship.
§ 657.20   How does the Secretary evaluate an institutional application for an allocation of fellowships?
(a) The Secretary evaluates an institutional application for an allocation of fellowships on the basis of the quality of the applicant's Center or program. The applicant's Center or program is evaluated and approved under the criteria in § 657.21.
(b) The Secretary informs applicants of the maximum possible score for each criterion in the application package or in a notice published in the Federal Register .
§ 657.21   What criteria does the Secretary use in selecting institutions for an allocation of fellowships?
The Secretary evaluates an institutional application for an allocation of fellowships on the basis of the criteria in this section.
(a) Foreign language and area studies fellowships awardee selection procedures. The Secretary reviews each application to determine whether the selection plan is of high quality, showing how awards will be advertised, how students apply, what selection criteria are used, who selects the fellows, when each step will take place, and how the process will result in awards being made to correspond to any announced priorities.
(b) Quality of staff resources. The Secretary reviews each application to determine—
(1) The extent to which teaching faculty and other staff are qualified for the current and proposed activities and training programs, are provided professional development opportunities (including overseas experience), and participate in teaching, supervising, and advising students;
(2) The adequacy of applicant staffing and oversight arrangements and the extent to which faculty from a variety of departments, professional schools, and the library are involved; and
(3) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
(c) Impact and evaluation. The Secretary reviews each application to determine—
(1) The extent to which the applicant's activities and training programs have contributed to an improved supply of specialists on the program's subject as shown through indices such as undergraduate and graduate enrollments and placement data; and the extent to which the applicant supplies a clear description of how the applicant will provide equal access and treatment of eligible project participants who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly;
(2) The extent to which the applicant provides an evaluation plan that is comprehensive and objective and that will produce quantifiable, outcome-measure-oriented data; and the extent to which recent evaluations have been used to improve the applicant's program;
(3) The degree to which fellowships awarded by the applicant address national needs; and
(4) The applicant's record of placing students into post-graduate employment, education, or training in areas of national need and the applicant's stated efforts to increase the number of such students that go into such placements.
(d) Commitment to the subject area on which the applicant or program focuses. The Secretary reviews each application to determine—
(1) The extent to which the institution provides financial and other support to the operation of the applicant, teaching staff for the applicant's subject area, library resources, and linkages with institutions abroad; and
(2) The extent to which the institution provides financial support to students in fields related to the applicant's teaching program.
(e) Strength of library. The Secretary reviews each application to determine—
(1) The strength of the institution's library holdings (both print and non-print, English and foreign language) for students; and the extent to which the institution provides financial support for the acquisition of library materials and for library staff in the subject area of the applicant; and
(2) The extent to which research materials at other institutions are available to students through cooperative arrangements with other libraries or on-line databases.
(f) Quality of the applicant's non-language instructional program. The Secretary reviews each application to determine—
(1) The quality and extent of the applicant's course offerings in a variety of disciplines, including the extent to which courses in the applicant's subject matter are available in the institution's professional schools;
(2) The extent to which the applicant offers depth of specialized course coverage in one or more disciplines on the applicant's subject area;
(3) The extent to which the institution employs a sufficient number of teaching faculty to enable the applicant to carry out its purposes and the extent to which instructional assistants are provided with pedagogy training; and
(4) The extent to which interdisciplinary courses are offered for students.
(g) Quality of the applicant's language instructional program. The Secretary reviews each application to determine—
(1) The extent to which the applicant provides instruction in the languages of the applicant's subject area and the extent to which students enroll in the study of the languages of the subject area through programs or instruction offered by the applicant or other providers;
(2) The extent to which the applicant provides three or more levels of language training and the extent to which courses in disciplines other than language, linguistics, and literature are offered in appropriate foreign languages;
(3) Whether sufficient numbers of language faculty are available to teach the languages and levels of instruction described in the application and the extent to which language teaching staff (including faculty and instructional assistants) have been exposed to current language pedagogy training appropriate for performance-based teaching; and
(4) The quality of the language program as measured by the performance-based instruction being used or developed, the adequacy of resources for language teaching and practice, and language proficiency requirements.
(h) Quality of curriculum design. The Secretary reviews each application to determine—
(1) The extent to which the applicant's curriculum provides training options for students from a variety of disciplines and professional fields and the extent to which these programs and their requirements (including language requirements) are appropriate for an applicant in this subject area and result in graduate training programs of high quality;
(2) The extent to which the applicant provides academic and career advising services for students; and
(3) The extent to which the applicant has established formal arrangements for students to conduct research or study abroad and the extent to which these arrangements are used; and the extent to which the institution facilitates student access to other institutions' study abroad and summer language programs.
(i) Priorities. If one or more competitive priorities have been established under § 657.22, the Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the extent to which the Center or program meets these priorities.
§ 657.22   What priorities may the Secretary establish?
(a) The Secretary may establish one or more of the following priorities for the allocation of fellowships:
(1) Specific world areas, or countries, such as East Asia or Mexico.
(2) Languages, such as Chinese.
(3) Levels of language offerings.
(4) Academic disciplines, such as linguistics or sociology.
(5) Professional studies, such as business, law, or education;
(6) Particular subjects, such as population growth and planning, or international trade and business.
(7) A combination of any of these categories.
(b) The Secretary announces any priorities in the application notice published in the Federal Register.
§ 657.30   What is the duration of and what are the limitations on fellowships awarded to individuals by institutions?
(a) Duration. An institution may award a fellowship to a student for—
(1) One academic year; or
(2) One summer session if the summer session provides the fellow with the equivalent of one academic year of modern foreign language study.
(b) Vacancies. If a fellow vacates a fellowship before the end of an award period, the institution to which the fellowship is allocated may reaward the balance of the fellowship to another student if—
(1) The student meets the eligibility requirements in § 657.3; and
(2) The remaining fellowship period comprises at least one full academic quarter, semester, trimester, or summer session as described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
§ 657.31   What is the amount of a fellowship?
(a)(1) An institution shall award a stipend to fellowship recipients.
(2) Each fellowship includes an institutional payment and a subsistence allowance to be determined by the Secretary.
(3) If the institutional payment determined by the Secretary is greater than the tuition and fees charged by the institution, the institutional payment portion of the fellowship is limited to actual tuition and fees. The difference between actual tuition and fees and the Secretary's institutional payment shall be used to fund additional fellowships to the extent that funds are available for a full subsistence allowance.
(4) If permitted by the Secretary, a stipend awarded to a graduate level recipient may include allowances for dependents and travel for research and study in the United States and abroad.
(5) A stipend awarded to an undergraduate level recipient may include an allowance for educational programs in the United States or educational programs abroad that—
(i) Are closely linked to the overall goals of the recipient's course of study; and
(ii) Have the purpose of promoting foreign language fluency and knowledge of foreign cultures.
(b) The Secretary announces in an application notice published in the Federal Register —
(1) The amounts of the subsistence allowance and the institutional payment for an academic year and the subsistence allowance and the institutional payment for a summer session;
(2) Whether travel and dependents' allowances will be permitted; and
(3) The amount of travel and dependents' allowances.
§ 657.32   What is the payment procedure for fellowships?
(a) An institution shall pay a fellow his or her subsistence and any other allowance in installments during the term of the fellowship.
(b) An institution shall make a payment only to a fellow who is in good standing and is making satisfactory progress.
(c) The institution shall make appropriate adjustments of any overpayment or underpayment to a fellow.
(d) Funds not used by one recipient for reasons of withdrawal are to be used for alternate recipients to the extent that funds are available for a full subsistence allowance.
§ 657.33   What are the limitations on the use of funds for overseas fellowships?
(a) Before awarding a fellowship for use outside the United States, an institution shall obtain the approval of the Secretary.
(b) The Secretary may approve the use of a fellowship outside the United States if the student is—
(1) Enrolled in an overseas foreign language program approved by the institution at which the student is enrolled in the United States for study at an intermediate or advanced level or at the beginning level if appropriate equivalent instruction is not available in the United States; or
(2) Engaged during the academic year in research that cannot be done effectively in the United States and is affiliated with an institution of higher education or other appropriate organization in the host country.
§ 657.34   Under what circumstances must an institution terminate a fellowship?
An institution shall terminate a fellowship if—
(a) The fellow is not making satisfactory progress, is no longer enrolled, or is no longer in good standing at the institution; or
(b) The fellow fails to follow the course of study, including modern foreign language study, for which he or she applied, unless a revised course of study is otherwise approvable under this part.