1994 US Code
Title 50 - WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
CHAPTER 37 - NATIONAL SECURITY SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND GRANTS
Sec. 1902 - Scholarship, fellowship, and grant program

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§1902. Scholarship, fellowship, and grant program (a) Program required (1) In general

The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program for—

(A) awarding scholarships to undergraduate students who are United States citizens in order to enable such students to study, for at least one academic semester or equivalent term, in foreign countries that are critical countries (as determined under section 1903(d)(4)(A) of this title) in those language and study areas where deficiencies exist (as identified in the assessments undertaken pursuant to section 1906(d) of this title);

(B) awarding fellowships to graduate students who—

(i) are United States citizens to enable such students to pursue education as part of a graduate degree program of a United States institution of higher education in the disciplines of foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields that are critical areas of those disciplines (as determined under section 1903(d)(4)(B) of this title) and in which deficiencies exist (as identified in the assessments undertaken pursuant to section 1906(d) of this title); and

(ii) pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this section, enter into an agreement to work for an agency or office of the Federal Government or in the field of education in the area of study for which the fellowship was awarded; and

(C) awarding grants to institutions of higher education to enable such institutions to establish, operate, or improve programs in foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields that are critical areas of those disciplines (as determined under section 1903(d)(4)(C) of this title).

(2) Funding allocations

Of the amount available for obligation out of the National Security Education Trust Fund for any fiscal year for the purposes stated in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall have a goal of allocating—

(A) 1/3 of such amount for the awarding of scholarships pursuant to paragraph (1)(A);

(B) 1/3 of such amount for the awarding of fellowships pursuant to paragraph (1)(B); and

(C) 1/3 of such amount for the awarding of grants pursuant to paragraph (1)(C).

(3) Consultation with National Security Education Board

The program required under this chapter shall be carried out in consultation with the National Security Education Board established under section 1903 of this title.

(4) Contract authority

The Secretary may enter into one or more contracts, with private national organizations having an expertise in foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields, for the awarding of the scholarships, fellowships, and grants described in paragraph (1) in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The Secretary may enter into such contracts without regard to section 5 of title 41 or any other provision of law that requires the use of competitive procedures. In addition, the Secretary may enter into personal service contracts for periods up to one year for program administration, except that not more than 10 such contracts may be in effect at any one time.

(b) Service agreement

In awarding a scholarship or fellowship under the program, the Secretary or contract organization referred to in subsection (a)(4) of this section, as the case may be, shall require a recipient of any fellowship, or of scholarships that provide assistance for periods that aggregate 12 months or more, to enter into an agreement that, in return for such assistance, the recipient—

(1) will maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary, and agrees that failure to maintain such progress shall constitute grounds upon which the Secretary or contract organization referred to in subsection (a)(4) of this section may terminate such assistance;

(2) will, upon completion of such recipient's baccalaureate degree or education under the program, as the case may be, and in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary, work for the Federal Government or in the field of education in the area of study for which the scholarship or fellowship was awarded for a period specified by the Secretary, which period for the recipients of scholarships shall be no more than the same period for which scholarship assistance was provided and for the recipients of fellowships shall be not less than one and not more than three times the period for which the fellowship assistance was provided; and

(3) if the recipient fails to meet either of the obligations set forth in paragraph (1) or (2), will reimburse the United States Government for the amount of the assistance provided the recipient under the program, together with interest at a rate determined in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary.

(c) Distribution of assistance

In selecting the recipients for awards of scholarships, fellowships, or grants pursuant to this chapter, the Secretary or a contract organization referred to in subsection (a)(4) of this section, as the case may be, shall take into consideration (1) the extent to which the selections will result in there being an equitable geographic distribution of such scholarships, fellowships, or grants (as the case may be) among the various regions of the United States, and (2) the extent to which the distribution of scholarships and fellowships to individuals reflects the cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity of the population of the United States.

(d) Merit review

The Secretary shall award scholarships, fellowships, and grants under the program based upon a merit review process.

(e) Limitation on use of program participants

No person who receives a grant, scholarship, or fellowship or any other type of assistance under this chapter shall, as a condition of receiving such assistance or under any other circumstances, be used by any department, agency, or entity of the United States Government engaged in intelligence activities to undertake any activity on its behalf during the period such person is pursuing a program of education for which funds are provided under the program carried out under this chapter.

(Pub. L. 102–183, title VIII, §802, Dec. 4, 1991, 105 Stat. 1271; Pub. L. 102–496, title IV, §404(b), (c), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3185; Pub. L. 103–178, title III, §311(b)(2), (d), Dec. 3, 1993, 107 Stat. 2037.)

Amendments

1993—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 103–178, §311(b)(2)(A), (d), struck out comma after “term,” and inserted before semicolon at end “in those language and study areas where deficiencies exist (as identified in the assessments undertaken pursuant to section 1906(d) of this title)”.

Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 103–178, §311(b)(2)(B), inserted before semicolon at end “and in which deficiencies exist (as identified in the assessments undertaken pursuant to section 1906(d) of this title)”.

1992—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 102–496, §404(b)(1), inserted “or equivalent term,” after “semester”.

Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 102–496, §404(b)(2), substituted “as part of a graduate degree program of a United States institution of higher education” for “in the United States”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 102–496, §404(b)(3), inserted at end “In addition, the Secretary may enter into personal service contracts for periods up to one year for program administration, except that not more than 10 such contracts may be in effect at any one time.”

Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 102–496, §404(c), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e) and struck out former subsec. (e) which read as follows: “The Secretary shall administer the program through the Defense Intelligence College.”

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 1903, 1904 of this title.