To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve participation in higher education of, and increase opportunities in employment for, residents of rural areas.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``College and University Rural 
Education (CURE) Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

    The Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new title:

     ``TITLE VIII--RURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS FOR RURAL COLLEGES AND 
                              UNIVERSITIES

``SEC. 801. PURPOSE.

    ``The purposes of this title are--
            ``(1) to increase--
                    ``(A) enrollment and graduation rates from 2-year 
                and 4-year colleges, and articulation from 2-year 
                degree programs into 4-year degree programs of 
                graduates of rural high schools; and
                    ``(B) degree completion for nontraditional students 
                from rural areas; and
            ``(2) to promote economic growth and development in rural 
        America through partnership grants to consortia of rural 
        colleges and universities and other entities, such as local 
        educational agencies, employers, education service agencies, 
        and nonprofit organizations.

``SEC. 802. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For the purposes of this title:
            ``(1) Rural institution of higher education.--The term 
        `rural institution of higher education' means an institution of 
        higher education (as such term is defined in section 101) that 
        primarily serves rural areas.
            ``(2) Rural area.--The term `rural area' means an area in 
        which there is located a rural local educational agency.
            ``(3) Rural local educational agency.--The term `rural 
        local educational agency' means a local educational agency (as 
        such term is defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965) that is designated with a 
        metrocentric locale code of 41, 42, or 43 as determined by the 
        National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in conjunction 
        with the Bureau of the Census, using the NCES system for 
        classifying local educational agencies.
            ``(4) Nontraditional student.--The term `nontraditional 
        student' means an individual who--
                    ``(A) delays enrollment in an institution of higher 
                education by 3 or more years after completing high 
                school;
                    ``(B) attends an institution of higher education 
                part-time or less than part-time; or
                    ``(C) attends an institution of higher education 
                and--
                            ``(i) works full-time;
                            ``(ii) is an independent student;
                            ``(iii) has one or more dependents other 
                        than a spouse;
                            ``(iv) is a single parent; or
                            ``(v) does not have a high school diploma 
                        or a general equivalency diploma (GED).
            ``(5) Regional employer.--The term `regional employer' 
        means employers qualifying as businesses or other entities 
        employing individuals within a rural area.

``SEC. 803. ENSURING COLLEGE ACCESS FOR RURAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized 
to make grants in accordance with this section to partnerships formed 
between one or more rural institution of higher education and any of 
the following entities:
            ``(1) One or more rural local educational agencies.
            ``(2) One or more rural education service agencies.
            ``(3) One or more regional employers.
            ``(4) One or more nonprofit organizations with expertise in 
        rural education.
    ``(b) Eligible Partnerships; Applications.--To be eligible for a 
grant under this section, a partnership that meets the requirements of 
subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application in such 
form and containing such information as the Secretary shall prescribe. 
In determining which applications to approve for a grant under this 
section, the Secretary shall consider--
            ``(1) the percentage of graduates, attendees, or former 
        attendees of high schools from rural local educational agencies 
        enrolled or otherwise affiliated with the entity;
            ``(2) in the case of employers, the percentage of employees 
        that are graduates of high schools in rural local educational 
        agencies.
    ``(c) Use of Grant Amounts.--Funds made available by a grant under 
this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of shall be 
used--
            ``(1) to improve enrollment rates for graduates and former 
        attendees of rural high schools at rural institutions of higher 
        education, including--
                    ``(A) programs to provide information about college 
                costs and financial aid options, assistance with 
                college enrollment applications, and assistance with 
                financial aid applications;
                    ``(B) programs or initiatives that provide such 
                individuals of rural high schools access and exposure 
                to campuses, classes, programs, and facilities of rural 
                institutions of higher education, including covering 
                the cost of transportation to and from institutions of 
                higher education;
                    ``(C) the formation of groups or other initiatives 
                that create support groups of such students expressing 
                interest in attending rural institutions of higher 
                education;
                    ``(D) extra curricular activities, such as 
                internships, community service, and other activities 
                for such individuals in advance of attending 
                institutions of higher education; and
                    ``(E) other initiatives that assist such 
                individuals in applying and developing interest in 
                attending rural institutions of higher education; and
            ``(2) to encourage participation of nontraditional students 
        in degree programs at rural institutions of higher education, 
        including--
                    ``(A) programs to provide information about college 
                costs and financial aid options, assistance with 
                college enrollment applications, and assistance with 
                financial aid applications for institutions of higher 
                education;
                    ``(B) outreach to nontraditional students through 
                community initiatives; and
                    ``(C) formation of support groups for 
                nontraditional students enrolling in 2-year degree 
                programs and articulating from 2-year degree programs 
                to 4-year degree programs.

``SEC. 804. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized 
to make grants in accordance with this section to partnerships formed 
between one or more rural institutions of higher education and one or 
more regional employers.
    ``(b) Eligible Partnerships; Applications.--To be eligible for a 
grant under this section, a partnership that meets the requirements of 
subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application in such 
form and containing such information as the Secretary shall prescribe. 
In determining which applications to approve for a grant under this 
section, the Secretary shall consider--
            ``(1) the potential of the employer to employ graduates of 
        rural institutions of education after graduation;
            ``(2) the potential of the employer engaged in the 
        partnership to spur economic development in the region; and
            ``(3) the relevance of the employer to the regional 
        economy.
    ``(c) Use of Grant Amounts.--Funds made available by a grant under 
this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of subsection 
(a) shall be used--
            ``(1) to provide additional career training to attendees of 
        rural institutions of education in fields relevant to the 
        regional economy; and
            ``(2) to encourage regional businesses to employ graduates 
        of rural institutions of education.

``SEC. 805. QUALITY OF LIFE IN RURAL AREAS.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized 
to make grants in accordance with this section to rural institutions of 
higher education.
    ``(b) Use of Grant Amounts.--Funds made available by a grant under 
this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of subsection 
(a) shall be used to create or strengthen academic programs to prepare 
graudates to enter into high-need occupations in the regional and local 
economies

``SEC. 806. ALLOCATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) Grant Considerations.--In making grant allocations under this 
title to qualifying institutions and partnerships, the Secretary shall 
consider--
            ``(1) the percentage of graduates of rural high schools 
        attending rural institutions of higher education in proximity 
        to the entity receiving the grant;
            ``(2) employment needs of regional employers in proximity 
        to entities receiving the grant; and
            ``(3) the health of the regional economy of the region 
        surrounding the entity receiving the grant.
    ``(b) Maximum and Minimum Grants.--No grant awarded by the 
Secretary under this title shall be less than $200,000 or more than 
$500,000.
    ``(c) Grant Duration.--A grant awarded under this title shall be 
awarded for one 3-year period.

``SEC. 807. GAO STUDY.

    ``Commission a study to be completed in 5 years to identify the 
challenges and solutions to increasing the availability of and access 
to 4-year degree programs and institutions in rural America. The GAO 
shall investigate and make recommendations to Congress regarding--
            ``(1) the existing number of 4-year institutions of higher 
        education and 4-year degree programs in rural America;
            ``(2) access to 4-year degree programs and institutions in 
        rural America;
            ``(3) the cost, availability of resources and challenges 
        associated with the establishment and expansion of 4-year 
        degree programs in rural America; and
            ``(4) the role of rural America in contributing to overall 
        bachelor's degree attainment in the United States, as a measure 
        of United States global competitiveness.

``SEC. 808. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated--
            ``(1) for fiscal year 2009--
                    ``(A) $15,000,000 to cary out section 803;
                    ``(B) $10,000,000 to carry out section 804; and
                    ``(C) $5,000,000 to carry out section 805; and
            ``(2) such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 
        succeeding fiscal years to carry out such sections.''.

Summary: College and University Rural Education (CURE) Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to partnerships between rural institutions of higher education (IHEs) and rural local educational agencies, rural education service agencies, regional employers, or rural education nonprofit organizations for activities to: (1) improve the rural IHE enrollment rates of rural high school graduates and former attendees; and (2) encourage nontraditional students' participation in rural IHE degree programs.

Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to partnerships between rural IHEs and regional employers to: (1) provide additional training to rural IHE attendees in careers relevant to the regional economy; and (2) encourage regional businesses to employ rural IHE graduates.

Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to rural IHEs to create or strengthen academic programs that prepare graduates to enter high-need occupations in the regional and local economies.

Requires the General Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate, and make recommendations to Congress regarding the improvement of, rural access to four-year IHEs and degree programs.