Section 657.30 - [Effective 8/15/2025] What are the limitations on fellowships and the use of fellowship funds?(a)Distance or online education. Fellows may satisfy course requirements through instruction offered in person or, with the Secretary's prior approval, via distance education or hybrid formats. Correspondence courses do not satisfy program course requirements.(b)Duration and purpose. An approved Center or Program may award a fellowship for any of the following combinations of duration and purpose: (1) One academic year, provided that the fellow enrolls in one language course per term and at least two area studies courses per year.(2) One academic year for dissertation research abroad, provided that the fellow is a doctoral candidate, uses advanced training in at least one modern foreign language in the research, and has a work plan approved by the Secretary.(3) One academic year for dissertation writing, provided that the fellow is a doctoral candidate, uses advanced training in at least one modern foreign language for the dissertation, and has a work plan approved by the Secretary.(4) One summer session if the summer session provides the fellow with the equivalent of one academic year of instruction in a modern foreign language.(5) Other durations approved by the Secretary to accommodate exceptional circumstances that would enable a fellow to complete an appropriate amount of coursework, dissertation writing, or dissertation research.(c)Internships. The Secretary may approve the use of a fellowship to support an internship for an eligible fellow.(d)Program administration costs. This program does not allow administrative costs.(e)Selection of fellowship recipients. Approved Centers or Programs must select students to receive fellowships using the selection process described in the grant application submitted to the Department or using any subsequent modifications to the selection process that have been approved by the Secretary.(f)Study outside the United States. Before awarding a fellowship for use outside the United States, an institution must obtain the approval of the Secretary. The Secretary may approve the use of a fellowship outside the United States if the student is-(1) Enrolled in an educational program abroad, approved by the institution at which the student is enrolled in the United States, for study of a foreign language at an intermediate or advanced level or at the beginning level if appropriate equivalent instruction is not available in the United States; or(2) Engaged during the academic year in research that cannot be done effectively in the United States and is affiliated with an institution of higher education or other appropriate organization in the host country.(g)Support from other Federal agencies. Recipients of fellowships under this part may accept concurrent awards from other Federal agencies, such as Boren Fellowships and Critical Language Scholarships, provided that the other Federal awards are not used to pay for the same activity or cost allocated to the recipient's fellowship. Any fellow who accepts concurrent awards from other Federal agencies that may pay for the same activity or cost must disclose the receipt of such other Federal funding to the approved Center or Program that administers the allocation of fellowships at their institution.(h)Transfer of funds. Institutions may not transfer funds from their allocation of fellowships to any outside entity, including other approved Centers or Programs, unless the funds are transferred directly to an instructional program provider to cover the costs for the institution's own fellows to attend training programs carried out by the instructional program provider during the academic year or a summer session. The transfer of funds to any instructional program providers located outside the United Stated must be pre-approved by the Secretary.(i)Undergraduate travel. No funds may be expended under this part for undergraduate travel except in accordance with rules prescribed by the Secretary setting forth policies and procedures to ensure that Federal funds made available for such travel are expended as part of a formal program of supervised study.(j)Vacancies. If a fellow vacates a fellowship before the end of an award period, the institution receiving the allocation of fellowships may award the balance of the fellowship to another student if- (1) The student meets the eligibility requirements in § 657.4 and was selected in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section;(2) The remaining fellowship period comprises at least one full academic quarter, semester, trimester, or summer session; and(3) The amount of available funds is sufficient to award a full fellowship for the duration described in paragraph (j)(2) of this section.