US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

20 U.S.C. § 1135b

Criteria for applications

(a)

Selection of applications

The Secretary shall make grants to academic departments, programs and units of institutions of higher education on the basis of applications submitted in accordance with subsection (b). Applications shall be ranked on program quality by review panels of nationally recognized scholars and evaluated on the quality and effectiveness of the academic program and the achievement and promise of the students to be served. To the extent possible (consistent with other provisions of this section), the Secretary shall make awards that are consistent with recommendations of the review panels.

(b)

Contents of applications

An academic department, program or unit of an institution of higher education, in the department, program or unit’s application for a grant, shall—
(1)
describe the current academic program of the applicant for which the grant is sought;
(2)
provide assurances that the applicant will provide, from other non-Federal sources, for the purposes of the fellowship program under this subpart an amount equal to at least 25 percent of the amount of the grant received under this subpart, which contribution may be in cash or in kind, fairly valued;
(3)
set forth policies and procedures to assure that, in making fellowship awards under this subpart, the institution will seek talented students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, as determined by the Secretary;
(4)
describe the number, types, and amounts of the fellowships that the applicant intends to offer with grant funds provided under this part;
(5)
set forth policies and procedures to assure that, in making fellowship awards under this subpart, the institution will make awards to individuals who—
(A)
have financial need, as determined under part F of subchapter IV;
(B)
have excellent academic records in their previous programs of study; and
(C)
plan to pursue the highest possible degree available in their course of study at the institution;
(6)
set forth policies and procedures to ensure that Federal funds made available under this subpart for any fiscal year will be used to supplement and, to the extent practical, increase the funds that would otherwise be made available for the purpose of this subpart and in no case to supplant those funds;
(7)
provide assurances that, in the event that funds made available to the academic department, program or unit under this subpart are insufficient to provide the assistance due a student under the commitment entered into between the academic department, program or unit and the student, the academic department, program or unit will, from any funds available to the department, program or unit, fulfill the commitment to the student;
(8)
section 1135d of this title provide that the applicant will comply with the limitations set forth in ;
(9)
provide assurances that the academic department will provide at least 1 year of supervised training in instruction for students; and
(10)
include such other information as the Secretary may prescribe.

Pub. L. 89–329, title VII, § 713Pub. L. 105–244, title VII, § 701112 Stat. 1791Pub. L. 110–315, title VII, § 703(e)(3)122 Stat. 3347(, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

oPub. L. 105–244Provisions similar to this section were contained in section 1134 of this title, prior to repeal by .

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1021Pub. L. 99–498, title X, § 1002100 Stat. 1561section 351 of title III of Pub. L. 89–329Pub. L. 105–244, title III, § 301(a)(5)112 Stat. 1636section 1067a of this titleA prior section 1135b, , as added , , , and amended, which related to purpose of and authority for minority science improvement program, was renumbered by , (7), , , and transferred to .

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1051Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1)86 Stat. 316Pub. L. 94–482, title I, § 176(c)90 Stat. 2165Another prior section 1135b, , as added , , , authorized appropriations for occupational education programs, prior to repeal by , title II, § 204(c)(2), , , 2215, eff. , .

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1003Pub. L. 90–575, title II, § 27182 Stat. 1048Pub. L. 92–318Another prior section 1135b, , as added , , , related to selection of grant recipients for improvement of graduate programs, prior to the general amendment of subchapter X of this chapter by .

section 713 of Pub. L. 89–329section 1132b–2 of this titlePub. L. 105–244A prior was classified to , prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .

section 713 of Pub. L. 89–329section 1132b–2 of this titlePub. L. 102–325Another prior was classified to , prior to the general amendment of part A of this subchapter by .

section 713 of Pub. L. 89–329section 1132b–2 of this titlePub. L. 99–498Another prior was classified to , prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1022Pub. L. 99–498, title X, § 1002100 Stat. 1561section 352 of title III of Pub. L. 89–329Pub. L. 105–244, title III, § 301(a)(5)112 Stat. 1636section 1067b of this titleA prior section 1135b–1, , as added , , , which related to grant recipient selection, was renumbered by , (7), , , and transferred to .

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1052Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1)86 Stat. 316Pub. L. 94–482, title I, § 176(c)90 Stat. 2165Another prior section 1135b–1, , as added , , , set forth allotment and reallotment requirements for funds appropriated for programs, prior to repeal by , title II, § 204(c)(2), , , 2215, eff. , .

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1023Pub. L. 99–498, title X, § 1002100 Stat. 1562section 353 of title III of Pub. L. 89–329Pub. L. 105–244, title III, § 301(a)(5)112 Stat. 1636section 1067c of this titleA prior section 1135b–2, , as added , , , which related to use of funds, was renumbered by , (7), , , and transferred to .

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1053Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1)86 Stat. 317Pub. L. 94–482, title I, § 176(c)90 Stat. 2165Another prior section 1135b–2, , as added , , , set forth requirements for administration of programs by Secretary, prior to repeal by , title II, § 204(c)(2), , , 2215, eff. , .

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1024Pub. L. 99–498, title X, § 1002100 Stat. 1562section 1024 of title III of Pub. L. 89–329Pub. L. 105–244, title III, § 301(a)(5)112 Stat. 1636section 1067d of this titlePub. L. 111–39, title III, § 302123 Stat. 1938A prior section 1135b–3, , as added , , , and amended, which required multiagency study of minority science programs, was renumbered by , , , transferred to , and repealed by , , .

Pub. L. 94–482, title I, § 176(c)90 Stat. 2165Another prior section 1135b–3 and prior sections 1135b–4 to 1135b–9 were repealed by , title II, § 204(c)(2), , , 2215, eff. , .

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1054Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1)86 Stat. 317Section 1135b–3, , as added , , , set forth responsibilities of Commissioner of Education in the administration of programs.

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1055Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1)86 Stat. 318Section 1135b–4, , as added , , , set forth requirements for State participation and administration of programs.

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1056Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1)86 Stat. 318Section 1135b–5, , as added , , , authorized planning grants for State occupational education programs and set forth criteria for State participation.

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1057Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1)86 Stat. 319Section 1135b–6, , as added , , , authorized program grants for State occupational education programs and set forth criteria for State administration of grants.

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1058Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1)86 Stat. 320Section 1135b–7, , as added , , , set forth prerequisites and procedures for program grants by Commissioner and provided for judicial review of actions of Commissioner.

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1059Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1)86 Stat. 321Section 1135b–8, , as added , , , authorized technical assistance to the States by Commissioner and the establishment of model programs.

Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1060Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1)86 Stat. 322Section 1135b–9, , as added , , , defined the terms “State” and “postsecondary occupational education” for purposes of occupational education programs.

Amendments

Pub. L. 110–3152008—Subsec. (b)(5)(C). inserted “at the institution” before semicolon at end.