Academy of Sciences together with the Foundation’s 
reaction to the study authorized under paragraph 
(1). 
SEC. 15. ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS. 
(a) BOARD MEETINGS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 4(e) of the National 
Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 
1863(e)) is amended by striking the second and 
third sentences and inserting ‘‘The Board shall 
adopt procedures governing the conduct of its meet-
ings, including delivery of notice and a definition of 
a quorum, which in no case shall be less than one-
half plus one of the confirmed members of the 
Board.’’. 
(2) OPEN MEETINGS.—The Board and all of its 
committees, subcommittees, and task forces (and 
any other entity consisting of members of the Board 
and reporting to the Board) shall be subject to sec-
tion 552b of title 5, United States Code. 
(3) COMPLIANCE AUDIT.—The Inspector Gen-
eral of the Foundation shall conduct an annual audit 
of the compliance by the Board with the require-
ments described in paragraph (2). The audit shall 
examine the proposed and actual content of closed 
meetings and determine whether the closure of the
meetings was consistent with section 552b of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than February 15 of 
each year, the Inspector General of the Foundation 
shall transmit to the Committee on Science of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate the audit required under 
paragraph (3) along with recommendations for cor-
rective actions that need to be taken to achieve fuller 
compliance with the requirements described in para-
graph (2), and recommendations on how to ensure 
public access to the Board’s deliberations. 
(b) CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION.—
Section 14(i) of the National Science Foundation Act of 
1950 (42 U.S.C. 1873(i)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(i)(1)(A) Information supplied to the Foundation or 
a contractor of the Foundation in survey forms, question-
naires, or similar instruments for purposes of section 
3(a)(5) or (6) by an individual, an industrial or commer-
cial organization, or an educational, academic, or other 
nonprofit institution when the institution has received a 
pledge of confidentiality from the Foundation, shall not 
be disclosed to the public unless the information has been
transformed into statistical or abstract formats that do 
not allow for the identification of the supplier. 
‘‘(B) Information that has not been transformed into 
formats described in subparagraph (A) may be used only 
for statistical or research purposes. 
‘‘(C) The identities of individuals, organizations, and 
institutions supplying information described in subpara-
graph (A) may not be disclosed to the public. 
‘‘(2) In support of functions authorized by section 
3(a)(5) or (6), the Foundation may designate, at its dis-
cretion, authorized persons, including employees of Fed-
eral, State, or local agencies or instrumentalities 
(including local educational agencies) and employees of 
private organizations, to have access, for statistical or re-
search purposes only, to information collected pursuant to 
section 3(a)(5) or (6) that allows for the identification of 
the supplier. No such person may— 
‘‘(A) publish information collected pursuant to 
section 3(a)(5) or (6) in such a manner that either 
an individual, an industrial or commercial organiza-
tion, or an educational, academic, or other nonprofit 
institution that has received a pledge of confiden-
tiality from the Foundation can be specifically iden-
tified;
‘‘(B) permit anyone other than individuals au-
thorized by the Foundation to examine data that al-
lows for such identification relating to an individual, 
an industrial or commercial organization, or an aca-
demic, educational, or other nonprofit institution 
that has received a pledge of confidentiality from the 
Foundation; or 
‘‘(C) knowingly and willfully request or obtain 
any nondisclosable information described in para-
graph (1) from the Foundation under false pre-
tenses. 
‘‘(3) Violation of this subsection is punishable by a 
fine of not more than $10,000, imprisonment for not more 
than 5 years, or both.’’. 
(c) APPOINTMENT.—Section 4(g) of the National 
Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(g)) is 
amended by striking the second sentence and inserting 
‘‘Such staff shall be appointed by the Chairman and as-
signed at the direction of the Board.’’. 
(d) SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—The Director shall 
not exclude part-time students from eligibility for scholar-
ships under the Computer Science, Engineering, and 
Mathematics Scholarship program.
SEC. 16. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING EQUAL OPPORTUNI-
TIES ACT AMENDMENTS. 
Section 32 of the Science and Engineering Equal Op-
portunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885) is amended—
(1) 
in 
subsection 
(a), 
by 
striking 
‘‘backgrounds.’’ and inserting ‘‘backgrounds, includ-
ing persons with disabilities.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘, including persons with 
disabilities,’’ after ‘‘backgrounds’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and minorities’’ each 
place the term appears and inserting ‘‘, minori-
ties, and persons with disabilities’’. 
SEC. 17. UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION REFORM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall award grants, 
on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to institutions of 
higher education to expand previously implemented re-
forms of undergraduate science, mathematics, engineer-
ing, or technology education that have been demonstrated 
to have been successful in increasing the number and qual-
ity of students studying toward and completing associate’s 
or baccalaureate degrees in science, mathematics, engi-
neering, or technology. 
(b) USES OF FUNDS.—Activities supported by grants 
under this section may include—
(1) expansion of successful reform efforts be-
yond a single course or group of courses to achieve 
reform within an entire academic unit; 
(2) expansion of successful reform efforts be-
yond a single academic unit to other science, mathe-
matics, engineering, or technology academic units 
within an institution; 
(3) creation of multidisciplinary courses or pro-
grams that formalize collaborations for the purpose 
of improved student instruction and research in 
science, mathematics, engineering, and technology; 
(4) expansion of undergraduate research oppor-
tunities beyond a particular laboratory, course, or 
academic unit to engage multiple academic units in 
providing multidisciplinary research opportunities 
for undergraduate students; 
(5) expansion of innovative tutoring or men-
toring programs proven to enhance student recruit-
ment or persistence to degree completion in science, 
mathematics, engineering, or technology; 
(6) improvement of undergraduate science, 
mathematics, engineering, and technology education 
for nonmajors, including education majors; and 
(7) implementation of technology-driven reform 
efforts, including the installation of technology to fa-
institutional policies and practices regarding 
faculty hiring, promotion, tenure, and teaching 
assignment that reward faculty contributions to 
undergraduate education equal to, or greater 
than, scholarly scientific research. 
(2) REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS.—In evaluating 
applications submitted under paragraph (1), the Di-
rector shall consider at a minimum—
(A) the evidence of past success in imple-
menting undergraduate education reform and 
the likelihood of success in undertaking the pro-
posed expanded effort; 
(B) the extent to which the faculty, staff, 
and administrators of the institution are com-
mitted to making the proposed institutional re-
form a priority of the participating academic 
unit; 
(C) the degree to which the proposed re-
form will contribute to change in institutional 
culture and policy such that a greater value is 
placed on faculty engagement in undergraduate 
education, as evidenced through promotion and 
tenure policies; and
(D) the likelihood that the institution will 
sustain or expand the reform beyond the period 
of the grant. 
(3) GRANT DISTRIBUTION.—The Director shall 
ensure, to the extent practicable, that grants award-
ed under this section are made to a variety of types 
of institutions of higher education. 
SEC. 18. REPORTS. 
(a) GRANT SIZE AND DURATION.—Not later than 6 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Direc-
tor shall transmit to the Committee on Science of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Com-
mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
Senate a report describing the impact that increasing the 
average grant size and duration would have on minority-
serving institutions and on institutions located in States 
where the Foundation’s Experimental Program to Stimu-
late Competitive Research (established under section 113 
of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g)) is carrying out activities. 
(b) FACULTY.—Not later than 3 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into 
an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences 
to assess gender differences in the careers of science and
engineering faculty. This study shall build on the Acad-
emy’s work on gender differences in the carriers of doc-
toral scientists and engineers and examine issues such as 
faculty hiring, promotion, tenure, and allocation of re-
sources including laboratory space. Upon completion, the 
results of this study shall be transmitted to the Committee 
on Science of the House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate. 
(c) GRANT FUNDING.—Not later than 3 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter 
into an agreement with an appropriate party to assess 
gender differences in the distribution of external Federal 
research and development funding. This study shall exam-
ine differences in amounts requested and awarded, by gen-
der, in major Federal external grant programs. Upon com-
pletion, the results of this study shall be transmitted to 
the Committee on Science of the House of Representa-
tives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. 
(d) STUDY OF BROADBAND NETWORK ACCESS FOR 
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES.—
(1) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Director shall 
conduct a study of the issues described in paragraph 
(3), and not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, transmit to the Committee on 
Science of the House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate, and the Committee on Health, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report 
including recommendations to address those issues. 
Such report shall be updated annually for 4 addi-
tional years. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In preparing the reports 
under paragraph (1), the Director shall consult with 
Federal agencies and educational entities as the Di-
rector considers appropriate. 
(3) ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED.—The reports 
shall—
(A) identify the availability of high-speed, 
large bandwidth capacity access to different de-
mographic groups served by elementary schools, 
secondary schools, and libraries in the United 
States; 
(B) identify how the provision of high-
speed, large bandwidth capacity access to the
Internet to such schools and libraries can be ef-
fectively utilized within each school and library; 
(C) consider the effect that specific or re-
gional circumstances may have on the ability of 
such institutions to acquire high-speed, large 
bandwidth capacity access to achieve universal 
connectivity as an effective tool in the education 
process; and 
(D) include options and recommendations 
to address the challenges and issues identified 
in the reports. 
(e) MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTION FUNDING.—
(1) ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIRED.—The Di-
rector shall submit an annual report, along with the 
President’s annual budget request, to the Committee 
on Science of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on 
the amount of funding awarded by the Foundation 
to minority-serving institutions, including funding 
received as members of consortia. The report shall 
include information on such funding to minority-
serving institutions—
(A) expressed as a percentage of funding 
to all institutions of higher education for each 
appropriations account within the Foundation’s 
budget; and 
(B) for the preceding 10 years. 
(2) REPORT ON WAYS TO IMPROVE FUNDING.—
Within one year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on 
Science of the House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate, and the Committee on Health, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report 
on recommendations on how the Foundation can im-
prove funding to minority-serving institutions. 
SEC. 19. EVALUATIONS. 
(a) EDUCATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director, through the 
Research, Evaluation and Communication Division 
of the Education and Human Resources Directorate 
of the Foundation, shall evaluate the effectiveness of 
all undergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, 
or technology education activities supported by the 
Foundation in increasing the number and quality of 
students, including individuals identified in section 
33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Op-
portunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) study-
ing toward and completing associate’s or bacca-
laureate degrees in science, mathematics, engineer-
ing, and technology. In conducting the evaluation, 
the Director shall consider information on—
(A) the number of students enrolled in un-
dergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, 
and technology programs; 
(B) student academic achievement, includ-
ing quantifiable measurements of students’ 
mastery of content and skills; 
(C) persistence to degree completion, in-
cluding students who transfer from science, 
mathematics, engineering, and technology pro-
grams to programs in other academic dis-
ciplines; and 
(D) placement during the first year after 
degree completion in post-graduate education or 
career pathways. 
(2) ASSESSMENT BENCHMARKS AND TOOLS.—
The Director, through the Research, Evaluation and 
Communication Division of the Education and 
Human Resources Directorate of the Foundation, 
shall establish a common set of assessment bench-
marks and tools, and shall enable every Foundation-
sponsored project to incorporate the use of these 
benchmarks and tools in their project-based assess-
ment activities. 
(3) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and once every 3 years thereafter, the Director shall 
transmit to the Committee on Science of the House 
of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
sions of the Senate a report containing the results 
of evaluations under paragraph (1). 
(b) AWARDS.—Notwithstanding any other provision 
of this Act, the Director shall annually evaluate a random 
sample of grants, contracts, or other awards made pursu-
ant to this Act. 
(c) DISSEMINATION.—The Director shall—
(1) provide for the dissemination of the results 
of the evaluations conducted pursuant to this section 
to the public; and 
(2) provide notice to the public that such eval-
uations are available.
SEC. 20. REPORT BY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNI-
TIES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. 
As part of the first report required by section 36(e) 
of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1885c(e)) transmitted to Congress after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Committee on Equal 
Opportunities in Science and Engineering shall include—
(1) a summary of its findings over the previous 
10 years; 
(2) a description of past and present policies 
and activities of the Foundation to encourage full 
participation of women, minorities, and persons with 
disabilities in science, mathematics, and engineering 
fields, including activities in support of minority-
serving institutions; and 
(3) an assessment of the trends in participation 
in Foundation activities, and an assessment of the 
success of Foundation policies and activities, along 
with proposals for new strategies or the broadening 
of existing successful strategies toward facilitating 
the goals of that Act. 
SEC. 21. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) CORE SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS COURSES.—
Section 3(a) of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology 
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’’. 
(b) 
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’s-degree-granting institu-
tions participating in the partnership, including 
stipend support for students participating in 
summer programs; and
‘‘(iv) provide faculty mentors for students 
participating in activities under clause (iii), in-
cluding summer salary support for faculty men-
tors.’’. 
(c) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION REPORT.—
Within 6 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Director shall transmit a report to the Committee 
on Science of the House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate on—
(1) efforts by the Foundation and awardees 
under the program carried out under section 3 of 
the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 
(42 U.S.C. 1862i) 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 (42 U.S.C. 1862i(b)) in serving as na-
tional 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 (42 U.S.C. 1862i(f)(4)). 
SEC. 22. REPORT ON FOUNDATION BUDGETARY AND PRO-
GRAMMATIC EXPANSION. 
The Board shall prepare a report to address and ex-
amine the Foundation’s budgetary and programmatic 
growth provided for by this Act. The report shall be sub-
mitted to the Committee on Science of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate 
within one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act and shall include—
(1) recommendations on how the increased 
funding should be utilized; 
(2) an examination of the projected impact that 
the budgetary increases will have on the Nation’s 
scientific and technological workforce; 
(3) a description of new or expanded programs 
that will enable institutions of higher education to 
expand their participation in Foundation-funded ac-
tivities; 
(4) an estimate of the national scientific and 
technological research infrastructure needed to ade-
(e) CHAIRPERSON.—The Advisory Committee shall 
select a chairperson from among its members. 
(f) COORDINATION.—The Advisory Committee shall 
coordinate with the advisory bodies of other Federal agen-
cies, such as the Department of Energy, which may en-
gage in related research activities. 
(g) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Advisory 
Committee shall serve without compensation, but shall re-
ceive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 
5, United States Code. 
(h) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Committee shall con-
vene, in person or by electronic means, at least 4 times 
a year. 
(i) QUORUM.—A majority of the members serving on 
the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for pur-
poses of conducting the business of the Advisory Com-
mittee. 
(j) DURATION.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act shall not apply to the Advisory Committee. 
SEC. 
24. 
MINORITY-SERVING 
INSTITUTIONS 
UNDER-
GRADUATE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director is authorized to es-
tablish a new program to award grants on a competitive, 
merit-reviewed basis to Hispanic-serving institutions,
Alaska Native-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serv-
ing institutions, and other institutions of higher education 
serving a substantial number of minority students to en-
hance the quality of undergraduate science, mathematics, 
and engineering education at such institutions and to in-
crease the retention and graduation rates of students pur-
suing associate’s or baccalaureate degrees in science, 
mathematics, engineering, or technology. 
(b) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—Grants awarded under 
this section shall support—
(1) activities to improve courses and curriculum 
in science, mathematics, and engineering; 
(2) faculty development; 
(3) stipends for undergraduate students partici-
pating in research; and 
(4) other activities consistent with subsection 
(a), as determined by the Director. 
(c) PROGRAM COORDINATION.—This program shall 
be coordinated with and in addition to the ongoing His-
torically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate 
Program and the Tribal Colleges and Universities Pro-
gram. 
(d) INSTRUMENTATION.—Funding for instrumenta-
tion is an allowed use of grants awarded under this section 
and under the ongoing Historically Black Colleges and
Universities Undergraduate Program and the Tribal Col-
leges and Universities Program. 
SEC. 25. STUDY ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUND-
ING DATA DISCREPANCIES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Director, in consultation with the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the 
heads of other Federal agencies, shall enter into agree-
ment with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct 
a comprehensive study to determine the source of discrep-
ancies in Federal reports on obligations and actual ex-
penditures of Federal research and development funding. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study shall—
(1) examine the relevance and accuracy of re-
porting classifications and definitions used in the re-
ports described in subsection (a); 
(2) examine whether the classifications and 
definitions are used consistently across Federal 
agencies for data gathering; 
(3) examine whether and how Federal agencies 
use reports described in subsection (a), and describe 
any other sources of similar data used by those 
agencies; 
(4) recommend alternatives for modifications to 
the current reporting process and system that 
would—
(A) 
accommodate 
emerging 
fields 
of 
science and changing practices in the conduct 
of research and development; 
(B) minimize, to the extent possible, the 
burden imposed on the reporters of these data; 
(C) increase the consistency of application 
of the system across the Federal agencies in-
cluding the Office of Management and Budget 
and the Foundation; 
(D) encourage the use of new technologies 
to increase accuracy, timeliness, and consist-
ency of the reported data between the agencies 
and the research performers; and 
(E) overcome systemic shortfalls; and 
(5) recommend an implementation timeline for 
the modifications recommended under paragraph 
(4), and recommend specific responsibilities for the 
program and budget offices in the agencies, taking 
into consideration required changes to the current 
computer systems and processes used by the agen-
cies. 
(c) SUBMISSION.—The Director shall submit a report 
on the results of the study to the Committee on Science 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
the Senate within one year after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—Within 6 months after the 
completion of the study required by subsection (a), the Di-
rector of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
submit to the Committee on Science of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a 
plan for implementation of the recommendations of the 
study. 
SEC. 26. PLANNING GRANTS. 
The Director is authorized to accept planning pro-
posals from applicants who are within .075 percentage 
points of the current eligibility level for the Experimental 
Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. Such pro-
posals shall be reviewed by the Foundation to determine 
their merit for support under the Experimental Program 
to Stimulate Competitive Research or any other appro-
priate program. 
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘An Act to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 
and 2007 for the National Science Foundation, and for 
other purposes.’’.
Æ