42 U.S.C. § 1869 | Scholarships and graduate fellowships

(a)

In general

The Foundation is authorized to award scholarships and graduate fellowships for study and research in the sciences or in engineering at appropriate nonprofit American or nonprofit foreign institutions selected by the recipient of such aid, for stated periods of time. Persons shall be selected for such scholarships and fellowships from among citizens, nationals or lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens of the United States, and such selections shall be made solely on the basis of ability; but in any case in which two or more applicants for scholarships or fellowships, as the case may be, are deemed by the Foundation to be possessed of substantially equal ability, and there are not sufficient scholarships or fellowships, as the case may be, available to grant one to each of such applicants, the available scholarship or scholarships or fellowship or fellowships shall be awarded to the applicants in such manner as will tend to result in a wide distribution of scholarships and fellowships throughout the United States and as will address national workforce demand in critical STEM fields. Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit the Foundation from refusing or revoking a scholarship or fellowship award, in whole or in part, in the case of any applicant or recipient, if the Board is of the opinion that such award is not in the best interests of the United States.

(b)

Amount

The Director shall establish for each year the amount to be awarded for scholarships and fellowships under this section for that year. Each such scholarship and fellowship shall include a cost of education allowance of at least $16,000, subject to any restrictions on the use of cost of education allowance as determined by the Director.

(c)

Outreach

The Director shall ensure program outreach to recruit fellowship applicants from fields of study that are in areas of critical national need from all regions of the country, and from historically underrepresented populations in STEM.

May 10, 1950, ch. 171, § 10 64 Stat. 152 Pub. L. 86–232, § 5Sept. 8, 195973 Stat. 468 Pub. L. 86–550June 29, 196074 Stat. 256 Pub. L. 87–835, § 2Oct. 16, 196276 Stat. 1070 Pub. L. 90–407, § 8July 18, 196882 Stat. 364 Pub. L. 99–159, title I, § 110(a)(13)Nov. 22, 198599 Stat. 891 Pub. L. 99–383, § 7(c)Aug. 21, 1986100 Stat. 814 Pub. L. 101–589, title III, § 302(c)Nov. 16, 1990104 Stat. 2895 Pub. L. 111–358, title V, § 510(d)Jan. 4, 2011124 Stat. 4010 Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title III, § 10313(b)(2)Aug. 9, 2022136 Stat. 1524(, ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 117–167, § 10313(b)(2)(A)2022—Subsec. (a). , inserted “and as will address national workforce demand in critical STEM fields” after “throughout the United States”.

Pub. L. 117–167, § 10313(b)(2)(B)Subsec. (b). , substituted “of at least $16,000” for “of $12,000”.

Pub. L. 117–167, § 10313(b)(2)(C)Subsec. (c). , added subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 111–3582011— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

Pub. L. 101–5891990— substituted “, nationals or lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens” for “or nationals” in second sentence.

Pub. L. 99–383 section 1875 of this title1986— struck out “, within the limits of funds made available specifically for such purpose pursuant to ,” after “The Foundation is authorized to award”.

Pub. L. 99–1591985— substituted “study and research in the sciences or in engineering” for “scientific study or scientific work in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, engineering, social, and other sciences”.

Pub. L. 90–4071968— inserted social sciences to the enumerated list of sciences, and substituted “throughout the United States” for “among the States, Territories, possessions, and the District of Columbia”.

Pub. L. 87–8351962— authorized the Foundation to refuse or revoke a scholarship or fellowship award if they believe such award is not in the best interests of the United States.

Pub. L. 86–5501960— authorized the selection of nationals for scholarships and fellowships.

Pub. L. 86–2321959— substituted “appropriate” for “accredited” and struck out “of higher education” after “foreign institutions”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Graduate Student Support

Pub. L. 111–358, title V, § 510(a)Jan. 4, 2011124 Stat. 4010

“(a)

Finding .—

The Congress finds that—

“(1)

the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program is an important program for training the next generation of scientists and engineers in team-based interdisciplinary research and problem solving, and for providing them with the many additional skills, such as communication skills, needed to thrive in diverse STEM careers; and

“(2)

the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program is no less valuable to the preparation and support of graduate students than the Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship program.

“(b)

Equal Treatment of IGERT and GRF .—

Beginning in fiscal year 2011, the Director shall increase or, if necessary, decrease funding for the Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program (or any program by which it is replaced) at least at the same rate as it increases or decreases funding for the Graduate Research Fellowship program.”

, (b), , , provided that:

Pub. L. 111–358 section 2 of Pub. L. 111–358 section 6621 of this title section 502 of Pub. L. 111–358 section 1862p of this title[For definitions of terms used in section 510(a), (b) of , set out above, see , set out as a note under , and , set out as a note under .]

Continuation of Existing Offices, Procedures, and Organization of the National Science Foundation

Pub. L. 90–407 section 16 of Pub. L. 90–407 section 1862 of this titleAmendment by intended to continue in effect the existing offices, procedures, and organization of the Foundation, see , set out as a note under .