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‘‘(2) tutoring and academic counseling, including assistance
in preparing for bar examinations;
‘‘(3) prelaw mentoring programs, involving law school
faculty, members of State and local bar associations, and retired
and sitting judges, justices, and magistrates;
‘‘(4) assistance in identifying preparatory courses and
material for the law school aptitude or admissions tests;
‘‘(5) summer institutes for Thurgood Marshall Fellows that
expose the Fellows to a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes
abstract thinking, legal analysis, research, writing, and exam-
ination techniques; and
‘‘(6) midyear seminars and other educational activities that
are designed to reinforce reading, writing, and studying skills
of Thurgood Marshall Fellows.
‘‘(e) DURATION OF THE PROVISION OF SERVICES.—The services
described in subsection (d) may be provided—
‘‘(1) prior to the period of law school study;
‘‘(2) during the period of law school study; and
‘‘(3) during the period following law school study and prior
to taking a bar examination.
‘‘(f ) SUBCONTRACTS AND SUBGRANTS.—For the purposes of plan-
ning, developing, or delivering one or more of the services described
in subsection (d), the Council on Legal Education Opportunity shall
enter into subcontracts with, and make subgrants to, institutions
of higher education, law schools, public and private agencies and
organizations, and combinations of such institutions, schools, agen-
cies, and organizations.
‘‘(g) STIPENDS.—The Secretary shall annually establish the
maximum stipend to be paid (including allowances for participant
travel and for the travel of the dependents of the participant)
to Thurgood Marshall Fellows for the period of participation in
summer institutes and midyear seminars. A Fellow may be eligible
for such a stipend only if the Thurgood Marshall Fellow maintains
satisfactory academic progress toward the Juris Doctor or Bachelor
of Laws degree, as determined by the respective institutions.
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal
year 1999 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
‘‘Subpart 4—General Provisions
‘‘SEC. 731. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS FOR SUBPARTS 1, 2, AND 3.
‘‘(a) COORDINATED ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out the pur-
pose described in section 700(1), the Secretary shall provide for
coordinated administration and regulation of graduate programs
assisted under subparts 1, 2, and 3 with other Federal programs
providing assistance for graduate education in order to minimize
duplication and improve efficiency to ensure that the programs
are carried out in a manner most compatible with academic prac-
tices and with the standard timetables for applications for, and
notifications of acceptance to, graduate programs.
‘‘(b) HIRING AUTHORITY.—For purposes of carrying out subparts
1, 2, and 3, the Secretary shall appoint, without regard to the
provisions of title 5, United States Code, that govern appointments
in the competitive service, such administrative and technical
employees, with the appropriate educational background, as shall
H. R. 6—216
be needed to assist in the administration of such parts. The employ-
ees shall be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51
and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classifica-
tion and General Schedule pay rates.
‘‘(c) USE FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES PROHIBITED.—No institu-
tional payment or allowance under section 703(b) or 715(a) shall
be paid to a school or department of divinity as a result of the
award of a fellowship under subpart 1 or 2, respectively, to an
individual who is studying for a religious vocation.
‘‘(d) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall evaluate the success
of assistance provided to individuals under subpart 1, 2, or 3 with
respect to graduating from their degree programs, and placement
in faculty and professional positions.
‘‘(e) CONTINUATION AWARDS.—The Secretary, using funds appro-
priated to carry out subparts 1 and 2, and before awarding any
assistance under such parts to a recipient that did not receive
assistance under part C or D of title IX (as such parts were
in effect prior to the date of enactment of the Higher Education
Amendments of 1998) shall continue to provide funding to recipients
of assistance under such part C or D (as so in effect), as the
case may be, pursuant to any multiyear award of such assistance.
‘‘PART B—FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
‘‘SEC. 741. FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY
EDUCATION.
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary is authorized to make grants
to, or enter into contracts with, institutions of higher education,
combinations of such institutions, and other public and private
nonprofit institutions and agencies, to enable such institutions,
combinations, and agencies to improve postsecondary education
opportunities by—
‘‘(1) encouraging the reform, innovation, and improvement
of postsecondary education, and providing equal educational
opportunity for all;
‘‘(2) the creation of institutions, programs, and joint efforts
involving paths to career and professional training, and com-
binations of academic and experiential learning;
‘‘(3) the establishment of institutions and programs based
on the technology of communications;
‘‘(4) the carrying out, in postsecondary educational institu-
tions, of changes in internal structure and operations designed
to clarify institutional priorities and purposes;
‘‘(5) the design and introduction of cost-effective methods
of instruction and operation;
‘‘(6) the introduction of institutional reforms designed to
expand individual opportunities for entering and reentering
institutions and pursuing programs of study tailored to individ-
ual needs;
‘‘(7) the introduction of reforms in graduate education, in
the structure of academic professions, and in the recruitment
and retention of faculties; and
‘‘(8) the creation of new institutions and programs for
examining and awarding credentials to individuals, and the
introduction of reforms in current institutional practices related
thereto.
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‘‘(b) PLANNING GRANTS.—The Secretary is authorized to make
planning grants to institutions of higher education for the develop-
ment and testing of innovative techniques in postsecondary edu-
cation. Such grants shall not exceed $20,000.
‘‘SEC. 742. BOARD OF THE FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POST-
SECONDARY EDUCATION.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a National Board
of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (in
this part referred to as the ‘Board’). The Board shall consist of
15 members appointed by the Secretary for overlapping 3-year
terms. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum. Any
member of the Board who has served for 6 consecutive years shall
thereafter be ineligible for appointment to the Board during a
2-year period following the expiration of such sixth year.
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall designate one of
the members of the Board as Chairperson of the Board. A
majority of the members of the Board shall be public interest
representatives, including students, and a minority shall be
educational representatives. All members selected shall be
individuals able to contribute an important perspective on prior-
ities for improvement in postsecondary education and strategies
of educational and institutional change.
‘‘(2) APPOINTMENT
OF
DIRECTOR.—The Secretary shall
appoint the Director of the Fund for the Improvement of Post-
secondary Education (hereafter in this part referred to as the
‘Director’).
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Board shall—
‘‘(1) advise the Secretary and the Director on priorities
for the improvement of postsecondary education and make such
recommendations as the Board may deem appropriate for the
improvement of postsecondary education and for the evaluation,
dissemination, and adaptation of demonstrated improvements
in postsecondary educational practice;
‘‘(2) advise the Secretary and the Director on the operation
of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education,
including advice on planning documents, guidelines, and proce-
dures for grant competitions prepared by the Fund; and
‘‘(3) meet at the call of the Chairperson, except that the
Board shall meet whenever one-third or more of the members
request in writing that a meeting be held.
‘‘(d) INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE.—The Director shall make
available to the Board such information and assistance as may
be necessary to enable the Board to carry out its functions.
‘‘SEC. 743. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
‘‘(a) TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES.—The Secretary may appoint, for
terms not to exceed 3 years, without regard to the provisions
of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the
competitive service, not more than 7 technical employees to admin-
ister this part who may be paid without regard to the provisions
of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating
to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
‘‘(b) PROCEDURES.—The Director shall establish procedures for
reviewing and evaluating grants and contracts made or entered
into under this part. Procedures for reviewing grant applications
or contracts for financial assistance under this section may not
H. R. 6—218
be subject to any review outside of officials responsible for the
administration of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary
Education.
‘‘SEC. 744. SPECIAL PROJECTS.
‘‘(a) GRANT AUTHORITY.—The Director is authorized to make
grants to institutions of higher education, or consortia thereof,
and such other public agencies and nonprofit organizations as the
Director deems necessary for innovative projects concerning one
or more areas of particular national need identified by the Director.
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—No grant shall be made under this part
unless an application is made at such time, in such manner, and
contains or is accompanied by such information as the Secretary
may require.
‘‘(c) AREAS OF NATIONAL NEED.—Areas of national need shall
initially include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
‘‘(1) Institutional restructuring to improve learning and
promote productivity, efficiency, quality improvement, and cost
and price control.
‘‘(2) Articulation between 2- and 4-year institutions of
higher education, including developing innovative methods for
ensuring the successful transfer of students from 2- to 4-year
institutions of higher education.
‘‘(3) Evaluation and dissemination of model programs.
‘‘(4) International cooperation and student exchange among
postsecondary educational institutions.
‘‘SEC. 745. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
part $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and such sums as may be
necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
‘‘PART C—URBAN COMMUNITY SERVICE
‘‘SEC. 751. FINDINGS.
‘‘The Congress finds that—
‘‘(1) the Nation’s urban centers are facing increasingly
pressing problems and needs in the areas of economic develop-
ment, community infrastructure and service, social policy, pub-
lic health, housing, crime, education, environmental concerns,
planning and work force preparation;
‘‘(2) there are, in the Nation’s urban institutions, people
with underutilized skills, knowledge, and experience who are
capable of providing a vast range of services toward the
amelioration of the problems described in paragraph (1);
‘‘(3) the skills, knowledge and experience in these urban
institutions, if applied in a systematic and sustained manner,
can make a significant contribution to the solution of such
problems; and
‘‘(4) the application of such skills, knowledge and experience
is hindered by the limited funds available to redirect attention
to solutions to such urban problems.
‘‘SEC. 752. PURPOSE; PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this part to provide incen-
tives to urban academic institutions to enable such institutions