The Director may award grants, on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to institutions of higher education, or consortia thereof, to establish or expand partnerships with local or regional private sector entities, for the purpose of providing undergraduate students with integrated internship experiences that connect private sector internship experiences with the students' STEM coursework. The partnerships may also include industry or professional associations.
The grants awarded under subsection (a) may include internship programs in the manufacturing sector.
Grants under this section may be used-
In awarding grants under this section, the Director shall give priority to institutions of higher education or consortia thereof that demonstrate significant outreach to and coordination with local or regional private sector entities and Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology established by section 278k(a)3 of title 15 in developing academic courses designed to provide students with the skills or certifications necessary for employment in local or regional companies.
The Foundation shall conduct outreach to institutions of higher education and private sector entities in rural areas to encourage those entities to participate in partnerships under this section.
The Director shall require a 50 percent non-Federal cost-share from partnerships established or expanded under this section.
No Federal funds provided under this section may be used-
Not less than 3 years after January 4, 2011, the Director shall submit a report to Congress on the number and total value of awards made under this section, the number of students affected by those awards, any evidence of the effect of those awards on workforce preparation and jobs placement for participating students, and an economic and ethnic breakdown of the participating students.
1So in original. Two subsecs. (c) have been enacted.
2So in original. Two subsecs. (d) have been enacted.
3See References in Text note below.
42 U.S.C. § 1862p-7
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTSection 278k of title 15, referred to in subsec. (d), was amended generally by Pub. L. 114-329, title V, §501(b), Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 3023, and, as so amended, relates to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
CODIFICATIONSection was enacted as part of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, also known as the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Reauthorization Act of 2010, and also as part of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2010, and not as part of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
DEFINITIONSFor definitions of terms used in this section, see section 2 of Pub. L. 111-358 set out as a note under section 6621 of this title, and section 502 of Pub. L. 111-358 set out as a note under section 1862p of this title.