Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2017

To ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the international knowledge and experience essential for success in today’s global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program in the Department of Education. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2017 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) To prepare students for success in the modern global economy, opportunities for study abroad should be included as part of a well-rounded education. (2) Study abroad programs provide students with unparalleled access to international knowledge, an unmatched opportunity to learn foreign languages, and a unique environment for developing cultural understanding, all of which are knowledge and skills needed in today’s global economy. (3) Less than 2 percent of all enrolled postsecondary students in the United States study abroad for credit in any given year, and minority students, first generation college students, community college students, and students with disabilities are significantly underrepresented in study abroad participation. (4) Congress authorized the establishment of the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program pursuant to section 104 of the Miscellaneous Appropriations and Offsets Act, 2004 (division H of Public Law 108–199 (5) According to the Lincoln Commission, [e]xperience shows that leadership from administrators and faculty will drive the number of study abroad participants higher and improve the quality of programs. Such leadership is the only way that study abroad will become an integral part of the undergraduate experience. 3. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to ensure that significantly more students have access to quality study abroad opportunities; (2) to ensure that the diversity of students studying abroad reflects the diversity of students and institutions of higher education in the United States; (3) to encourage greater diversity in study abroad destinations by increasing the portion of study abroad that takes place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, especially in developing countries; and (4) to encourage a greater commitment by institutions of higher education to expand study abroad opportunities. 4. Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Section 741 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1138 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as paragraphs (13) and (14), respectively; and (B) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following: (12) awarding grants under the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program described in subsection (g); ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (g) Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education (B) National of the united states The term national of the United States 8 U.S.C. 1101 (C) Nontraditional study abroad destination The term nontraditional study abroad destination (D) Student The term student (E) Study abroad The term study abroad (2) Senator paul simon study abroad program (A) Establishment There is established in the Department a program to be called the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program (B) Objectives The objectives of the program established under subparagraph (A) are, that not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2017 (i) not less than 1,000,000 undergraduate students will study abroad annually; (ii) the demographics of study abroad participation will reflect the demographics of the United States undergraduate population by increasing the participation of underrepresented groups; and (iii) an increasing portion of study abroad will take place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, with a substantial portion of such increases in developing countries. (C) Competitive grants to institutions of higher education In order to accomplish the objectives set forth in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to institutions of higher education, individually or in a consortium, based on applications by the institutions that— (i) set forth detailed plans for using grant funds to further such objectives; (ii) include an institutional commitment to expanding access to study abroad; (iii) include plans for evaluating progress made in increasing access to study abroad; (iv) describe how increases in study abroad participation achieved through the grant will be sustained in subsequent years; and (v) demonstrate that the programs have established health and safety guidelines and procedures. (D) Nongovernmental institutions Consortia of institutions of higher education applying for grants described in subparagraph (C) may include nongovernmental institutions that provide and promote study abroad opportunities for students. (E) Commission on the abraham lincoln study abroad fellowship program In administering the program, the Secretary shall take fully into account the recommendations of the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program, established pursuant to section 104 of the Miscellaneous Appropriations and Offsets Act, 2004 (division H of Public Law 108–199 (F) Consultation In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall consult with representatives of diverse institutions of higher education, educational policy organizations, and others with appropriate expertise. (3) Annual report Not later than December 31 of each year following the date of enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2017 (4) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018 and each subsequent fiscal year. .

Summary: Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2017 This bill amends title VII (Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish, as part of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) program, the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program. It authorizes the Department of Education, under the FIPSE program, to award Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs), or consortia of IHEs, to provide and expand study abroad opportunities for undergraduate students.