II 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 379 

To build capacity at community colleges in order to meet increased demand 

for community college education while maintaining the affordable tuition 

rates and the open-door policy that are the hallmarks of the community 

college system. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 15, 2005 

Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. DURBIN, and Mr. OBAMA) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL

To build capacity at community colleges in order to meet 

increased demand for community college education while 

maintaining the affordable tuition rates and the opendoor policy that are the hallmarks of the community 

college system.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAPACITY-BUILDING 

4 GRANT PROGRAM. 

5 Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

6 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.) is amended— 

7 (1) by redesignating part F as part G; and 
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1 (2) by inserting after part E the following: 

2 ‘‘PART F—COMMUNITY COLLEGES 

3 ‘‘SEC. 371. COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAPACITY-BUILDING 

4 GRANT PROGRAM. 

5 ‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 

6 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts appro7 priated under section 399(a)(6) for a fiscal year, the 

8 Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities, on 

9 a competitive basis, for the purpose of building ca10 pacity at community colleges to meet the increased 

11 demand for community colleges while maintaining 

12 the affordable tuition rates and the open-door policy 

13 that are the hallmarks of the community college sys14 tem. 

15 ‘‘(2) DURATION.—Grants awarded under this 

16 section shall be for a period not to exceed 3 years. 

17 ‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

18 ‘‘(1) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—The term ‘com19 munity college’ means a public institution of higher 

20 education (as defined in section 101(a)) whose high21 est degree awarded is predominantly the associate 

22 degree. 

23 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en24 tity’ means a community college, or a consortium of 

25 2 or more community colleges, that demonstrates ca-
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1 pacity challenges at not less than 1 of the commu2 nity colleges in the eligible entity, such as— 

3 ‘‘(A) an identified workforce shortage in 

4 the community served by the community college 

5 that will be addressed by increased enrollment 

6 at the community college; 

7 ‘‘(B) a wait list for a class or for a degree 

8 or a certificate program; 

9 ‘‘(C) a faculty shortage; 

10 ‘‘(D) a significant enrollment growth; 

11 ‘‘(E) a significant projected enrollment 

12 growth; 

13 ‘‘(F) an increase in the student-faculty 

14 ratio; 

15 ‘‘(G) a shortage of laboratory space or 

16 equipment; 

17 ‘‘(H) a shortage of computer equipment 

18 and technology; 

19 ‘‘(I) out-of-date computer equipment and 

20 technology; 

21 ‘‘(J) a decrease in State or county funding 

22 or a related budget shortfall; or 

23 ‘‘(K) another demonstrated capacity short24 fall. 
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1 ‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—Each eligible entity desiring a 

2 grant under this section shall submit an application to the 

3 Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied 

4 by such information as the Secretary may reasonably re5 quire by regulation. 

6 ‘‘(d) AWARD BASIS.—In awarding grants under sub7 section (a), the Secretary shall take into consideration— 

8 ‘‘(1) the relative need for assistance under this 

9 section of the community colleges; 

10 ‘‘(2) the probable impact and overall quality of 

11 the proposed activities on the capacity problem of 

12 the community college; 

13 ‘‘(3) providing an equitable geographic distribu14 tion of grant funds under this section throughout 

15 the United States and among urban, suburban, and 

16 rural areas of the United States; and 

17 ‘‘(4) providing an equitable distribution among 

18 small, medium, and large community colleges. 

19 ‘‘(e) USE OF FUNDS.—Grant funds provided under 

20 subsection (a) may be used for activities that expand com21 munity college capacity, including— 

22 ‘‘(1) the construction, maintenance, renovation, 

23 and improvement of classroom, library, laboratory, 

24 and other instructional facilities; 
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1 ‘‘(2) the purchase, rental, or lease of scientific 

2 or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, 

3 including instructional research purposes; 

4 ‘‘(3) the development, improvement, or expan5 sion of technology; 

6 ‘‘(4) preparation and professional development 

7 of faculty; 

8 ‘‘(5) recruitment, hiring, and retention of fac9 ulty; 

10 ‘‘(6) curriculum development and academic in11 struction; 

12 ‘‘(7) the purchase of library books, periodicals, 

13 and other educational materials, including tele14 communications program material; 

15 ‘‘(8) the joint use of facilities, such as labora16 tories and libraries; or 

17 ‘‘(9) the development of partnerships with local 

18 businesses to increase community college capacity. 

19 ‘‘SEC. 372. APPLICABILITY. 

20 ‘‘The provisions of part G (other than section 399) 

21 shall not apply to this part.’’. 

22 SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

23 Section 399(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

24 (20 U.S.C. 1068h(a)) is amended by adding at the end 

25 the following: 
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1 ‘‘(6) PART F.—There are authorized to be ap2 propriated to carry out part F, $500,000,000 for fis3 cal year 2006, and such sums as may be necessary 

4 for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.’’.

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