I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4680
To authorize appropriations for the Advanced Technological Education Pro-
gram, to amend the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992
to further strengthen science, mathematics, and technology education
at the Nation’s associate-degree-granting colleges, to establish an advi-
sory committee to help guide implementation of the Advanced Techno-
logical Education Program, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 8, 2002
Mr. BAIRD (for himself and Mr. PRICE of North Carolina) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for the Advanced Technological
Education Program, to amend the Scientific and Ad-
vanced-Technology Act of 1992 to further strengthen
science, mathematics, and technology education at the
Nation’s associate-degree-granting colleges, to establish
an advisory committee to help guide implementation of
the Advanced Technological Education Program, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Science Undergraduate
Community College Education Enhancement Development
Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Providing a trained workforce needed to
sustain the Nation’s post-industrial economy will re-
quire strengthening undergraduate education in
science, mathematics, and technology at associate-
degree-granting colleges.
(2) According to the American Association of
Community Colleges, nearly half of all United States
undergraduate college students are enrolled in asso-
ciate-degree-granting colleges.
(3) The National Science Foundation has deter-
mined that as many as 40 percent of the Nation’s
science and mathematics teachers have taken
courses at associate-degree-granting colleges, with
an even higher percentage in some States.
(4) Associate-degree-granting colleges educate
the vast majority of the three to five technicians that
support each engineer, scientist, and medical doctor
across the Nation.
(5) Millions of students take core mathematics
and science courses at associate-degree-granting col-
leges to lay the groundwork for further studies.
These core courses may be the most important cur-
ricular component at these colleges because they are
required of all associate degree and transfer stu-
dents, including future teachers.
(6) The Advanced Technological Education
Program administered by the National Science
Foundation has been effective in improving ad-
vanced-technology education at associate-degree-
granting colleges and should be expanded, including
through activities to improve core education pro-
grams in science, mathematics, and technology.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) ASSOCIATE-DEGREE-GRANTING COLLEGE.—
The term ‘‘associate-degree-granting college’’ has
the meaning given that term in section 3(g)(2) of
the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992
(42 U.S.C. 1862i(g)(2)).
(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means
the Director of the Foundation.
(3) FOUNDATION.—The term ‘‘Foundation’’
means the National Science Foundation.
(4) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means
the Advanced Technological Education Program of
the Foundation.
SEC. 4. CORE SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS COURSES.
Section 3(a) of the Scientific and Advanced-Tech-
nology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i(a)) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘, and to improve the quality
of their core education courses in science and mathe-
matics’’ after ‘‘education in advanced-technology
fields’’;
(2) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘and in core
science and mathematics courses’’ after ‘‘advanced-
technology fields’’; and
(3) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘in advanced-
technology fields’’ and inserting ‘‘who provide in-
struction in science, mathematics, and advanced-
technology fields’’.
SEC. 5. ARTICULATION PARTNERSHIPS.
Section 3(c)(1)(B) of the Scientific and Advanced-
Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i(c)(1)(B)) is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (i);
(2) by striking the period at the end of clause
(ii) and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding after clause (ii) the following new
clauses:
‘‘(iii) provide students with research expe-
riences at bachelor-degree-granting institutions
participating in the partnership, including sti-
pend support for students participating in sum-
mer programs; and
‘‘(iv) provide faculty mentors for students
participating in activities under clause (iii), in-
cluding summer salary support for faculty men-
tors.’’.
SEC. 6. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall establish
an advisory committee on science, mathematics, and tech-
nology education at community colleges consisting of non-
Federal members, including representatives from aca-
demia and industry, who are qualified to provide the Di-
rector with advice on and assessments of the Program.
(b) DUTIES.—The advisory committee established
under subsection (a) shall review, and provide the Director
with an assessment of, activities carried out under the
Program, including—
(1) conformity of the Program to the require-
ments of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology
Act of 1992;
(2) the effectiveness of activities supported
under the Program in strengthening the scientific
and technical education and training capabilities of
community colleges;
(3) the effectiveness of the Foundation and in-
stitutions receiving awards under the Program in
disseminating information to other associate-degree-
granting colleges about activities carried out under
the Program and about model curricula and teach-
ing methods developed under the Program;
(4) the balance of resources allocated under the
Program for support of national centers of excel-
lence, individual institution grants, and articulation
partnerships; and
(5) other issues identified by the Director.
The advisory committee shall make recommendations to
the Director for improvements to the Program based on
its reviews and assessments.
(c) ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORTS.—The advisory
committee established under subsection (a) shall report
annually to the Director and to Congress on the findings
and recommendations resulting from the reviews and as-
sessments conducted in accordance with subsection (b).
SEC. 7. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION REPORT.
Within 6 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Director shall transmit a report to Congress
on—
(1) efforts by the Foundation and awardees
under the Program to disseminate information about
the results of projects;
(2) the effectiveness of national centers of sci-
entific and technical education established under sec-
tion 3(b) of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology
Act of 1992 in serving as national and regional
clearinghouses of information and models for best
practices in undergraduate science, mathematics,
and technology education; and
(3) efforts to satisfy the requirement of section
3(f)(4) of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology
Act of 1992.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) FISCAL YEAR 2003.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Foundation $50,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2003 for the Program.
(2) SPECIFIC
ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount
authorized under paragraph (1)—
(A) $5,000,000 shall be made available for
activities to improve core science and mathe-
matics education in accordance with section
3(a) of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology
Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i(a)), as amended
by section 4 of this Act;
(B) $3,000,000 shall be made available for
acquisition of instrumentation in accordance
with section 3(a)(4) of the Scientific and Ad-
vanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C.
1862i(a)(4)); and
(C) $750,000 shall be made available for
support for research experiences for under-
graduate students in accordance with section
3(c)(1)(B) of the Scientific and Advanced-Tech-
nology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i(c)(1)(B)),
as amended by section 5 of this Act.
(b) FISCAL YEAR 2004.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Foundation $55,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2004 for the Program.
(2) SPECIFIC
ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount
authorized under paragraph (1)—
(A) $5,000,000 shall be made available for
activities to improve core science and mathe-
matics education in accordance with section
3(a) of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology
Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i(a)), as amended
by section 4 of this Act;
(B) $3,500,000 shall be made available for
acquisition of instrumentation in accordance
with section 3(a)(4) of the Scientific and Ad-
vanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C.
1862i(a)(4)); and
(C) $750,000 shall be made available for
support for research experiences for under-
graduate students in accordance with section
3(c)(1)(B) of the Scientific and Advanced-Tech-
nology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i(c)(1)(B)),
as amended by section 5 of this Act.
(c) FISCAL YEAR 2005.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Foundation $60,500,000 for fis-
cal year 2005 for the Program.
(2) SPECIFIC
ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount
authorized under paragraph (1)—
(A) $5,000,000 shall be made available for
activities to improve core science and mathe-
matics education in accordance with section
3(a) of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology
Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i(a)), as amended
by section 4 of this Act;
(B) $4,000,000 shall be made available for
acquisition of instrumentation in accordance
with section 3(a)(4) of the Scientific and Ad-
vanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C.
1862i(a)(4)); and
(C) $750,000 shall be made available for
support for research experiences for under-
graduate students in accordance with section
3(c)(1)(B) of the Scientific and Advanced-Tech-
nology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i(c)(1)(B)),
as amended by section 5 of this Act.
Æ