[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 102 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 102
To strengthen and expand scientific and technological education
capabilities of associate-degree-granting colleges through the
establishment of partnership arrangements with bachelor-degree-granting
institutions.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 4, 2007
Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To strengthen and expand scientific and technological education
capabilities of associate-degree-granting colleges through the
establishment of partnership arrangements with bachelor-degree-granting
institutions.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Higher Education Science and
Technology Competitiveness Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States is losing its dominance in the
sciences and technology, and faces serious challenges from
highly educated foreign competitors.
(2) The workforce of the United States must be better
prepared for the scientifically and technologically advanced
competition of the global economy.
(3) New scientific knowledge is the engine of American
technological innovation, national security, economic growth,
and prosperity.
(4) The competitiveness of the United States depends on
strengthening and expanding postsecondary educational efforts
in science, math, engineering, and technology.
(5) Shortages of scientifically and technologically
educated workers will be best addressed through partnerships
between the Nation's associate degree-granting colleges and
public four-year colleges and universities.
(6) Enlarging the traditional role of community colleges in
workforce training by developing seamless transitions from
occupational competency or certificate programs to associate
degree programs in math, science, engineering, and technology.
SEC. 3. ARTICULATION AGREEMENT PROGRAM.
Part G of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended
by inserting after section 486 (20 U.S.C. 1093) the following new
section:
``SEC. 486A. ARTICULATION AGREEMENT PROGRAM.
``(a) Purpose; Definition.--
``(1) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to
strengthen and expand scientific and technological education
capabilities of associate-degree-granting public institutions
of higher education through the establishment of partnership
arrangements with bachelor-degree-granting public institutions
of higher education.
``(2) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the
term `articulation agreement' means an agreement between
institutions of higher education that specifies the
acceptability of courses in transfer toward meeting specific
degree requirements.
``(b) Program Authorized.--
``(1) Grants to public institutions.--From the sums
appropriated under subsection (g), the Secretary shall award
grants under this section to public institutions of higher
education for the support of programs to establish and
implement statewide articulation agreements in accordance with
subsection (d).
``(2) Eligibility of private institutions to participate in
agreements.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to
preclude a nonprofit or for-profit private institution of
higher education from participating in the development and
implementation of a statewide articulation agreement under
subsection (d).
``(c) Applications.--Each institution, system, or consortium of
institutions desiring to participate in a demonstration program under
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the
Secretary may require.
``(d) Use of Funds.--Funds provided by grant under this section may
be used--
``(1) to establish statewide articulation agreements in
math, science, engineering, and technology among public 2-year
institutions and public 4-year institutions to provide a
seamless transition for the transfer of students from the
public 2-year institutions to the public 4-year institutions by
having both such types of institutions provide and use a common
core curricula that reflects the workforce needs of private
industry;
``(2) to establish articulation agreements within community
colleges between occupational competency or certification
programs and associate degree programs in math, science,
engineering, and technology to increase the proportion of
students who enroll to complete their associates degree;
``(3) to collect data on transfers from 2-year institutions
to 4-year institutions on a regular basis and to submit such
data to commissioners or departments of higher education, for
transmission by such commissioners and departments to the
Secretary, in order to monitor program progress and success;
``(4) to develop a statewide articulation guide in
consultation with public colleges and universities to provide
students with descriptions of articulation requirements; and
``(5) to develop a plan for professional development of 2-
year college faculty, including inter-institutional workshops,
consultations, and professional meetings.
``(e) Evaluations and Reports.--The Secretary shall collect from
State commissioners and departments the data provided by grant
recipients under subsection (d)(3) for the purposes of evaluating the
success of the program authorized by this section. The Secretary shall
submit a report on the results of such evaluation to the Congress not
later than 2 years after the end of the first fiscal year for which
funds are made available for grants under this section.
``(f) Additional Definition.--The Secretary shall by regulation
define the term `degree programs in math, science, engineering, and
technology'.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to make grants under this section $10,000,000 for fiscal
year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4
succeeding fiscal years.''.
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