HR 4139 - CURE Act: College and University Rural Education (CURE) Act of 2007

HR 4139

110th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. R. 4139

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve participation in higher education of, and increase opportunities in employment for, residents of rural areas.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 9, 2007

Mr. SPACE (for himself, Mr. HARE, and Mr. LOEBSACK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve participation in higher education of, and increase opportunities in employment for, residents of rural areas.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `College and University Rural Education (CURE) Act of 2007'.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new title:

`TITLE VIII--RURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS FOR RURAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

`SEC. 801. PURPOSE.

`The purposes of this title are--

`(1) to increase--

`(A) enrollment and graduation rates from 2-year and 4-year colleges, and articulation from 2-year degree programs into 4-year degree programs of graduates of rural high schools; and

`(B) degree completion for nontraditional students from rural areas; and

`(2) to promote economic growth and development in rural America through partnership grants to consortia of rural colleges and universities and other entities, such as local educational agencies, employers, education service agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

`SEC. 802. DEFINITIONS.

`For the purposes of this title:

`(1) RURAL INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION- The term `rural institution of higher education' means an institution of higher education (as such term is defined in section 101) that primarily serves rural areas.

`(2) RURAL AREA- The term `rural area' means an area in which there is located a rural local educational agency.

`(3) RURAL LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY- The term `rural local educational agency' means a local educational agency (as such term is defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) that is designated with a metrocentric locale code of 41, 42, or 43 as determined by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in conjunction with the Bureau of the Census, using the NCES system for classifying local educational agencies.

`(4) NONTRADITIONAL STUDENT- The term `nontraditional student' means an individual who--

`(A) delays enrollment in an institution of higher education by 3 or more years after completing high school;

`(B) attends an institution of higher education part-time or less than part-time; or

`(C) attends an institution of higher education and--

`(i) works full-time;

`(ii) is an independent student;

`(iii) has one or more dependents other than a spouse;

`(iv) is a single parent; or

`(v) does not have a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED).

`(5) REGIONAL EMPLOYER- The term `regional employer' means employers qualifying as businesses or other entities employing individuals within a rural area.

`SEC. 803. ENSURING COLLEGE ACCESS FOR RURAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.

`(a) Grants Authorized- The Secretary of Education is authorized to make grants in accordance with this section to partnerships formed between one or more rural institution of higher education and any of the following entities:

`(1) One or more rural local educational agencies.

`(2) One or more rural education service agencies.

`(3) One or more regional employers.

`(4) One or more nonprofit organizations with expertise in rural education.

`(b) Eligible Partnerships; Applications- To be eligible for a grant under this section, a partnership that meets the requirements of subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form and containing such information as the Secretary shall prescribe. In determining which applications to approve for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall consider--

`(1) the percentage of graduates, attendees, or former attendees of high schools from rural local educational agencies enrolled or otherwise affiliated with the entity;

`(2) in the case of employers, the percentage of employees that are graduates of high schools in rural local educational agencies.

`(c) Use of Grant Amounts- Funds made available by a grant under this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of shall be used--

`(1) to improve enrollment rates for graduates and former attendees of rural high schools at rural institutions of higher education, including--

`(A) programs to provide information about college costs and financial aid options, assistance with college enrollment applications, and assistance with financial aid applications;

`(B) programs or initiatives that provide such individuals of rural high schools access and exposure to campuses, classes, programs, and facilities of rural institutions of higher education, including covering the cost of transportation to and from institutions of higher education;

`(C) the formation of groups or other initiatives that create support groups of such students expressing interest in attending rural institutions of higher education;

`(D) extra curricular activities, such as internships, community service, and other activities for such individuals in advance of attending institutions of higher education; and

`(E) other initiatives that assist such individuals in applying and developing interest in attending rural institutions of higher education; and

`(2) to encourage participation of nontraditional students in degree programs at rural institutions of higher education, including--

`(A) programs to provide information about college costs and financial aid options, assistance with college enrollment applications, and assistance with financial aid applications for institutions of higher education;

`(B) outreach to nontraditional students through community initiatives; and

`(C) formation of support groups for nontraditional students enrolling in 2-year degree programs and articulating from 2-year degree programs to 4-year degree programs.

`SEC. 804. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS.

`(a) Grants Authorized- The Secretary of Education is authorized to make grants in accordance with this section to partnerships formed between one or more rural institutions of higher education and one or more regional employers.

`(1) the potential of the employer to employ graduates of rural institutions of education after graduation;

`(2) the potential of the employer engaged in the partnership to spur economic development in the region; and

`(3) the relevance of the employer to the regional economy.

`(c) Use of Grant Amounts- Funds made available by a grant under this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of subsection (a) shall be used--

`(1) to provide additional career training to attendees of rural institutions of education in fields relevant to the regional economy; and

`(2) to encourage regional businesses to employ graduates of rural institutions of education.

`SEC. 805. QUALITY OF LIFE IN RURAL AREAS.

`(a) Grants Authorized- The Secretary of Education is authorized to make grants in accordance with this section to rural institutions of higher education.

`(b) Use of Grant Amounts- Funds made available by a grant under this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of subsection (a) shall be used to create or strengthen academic programs to prepare graudates to enter into high-need occupations in the regional and local economies

`SEC. 806. ALLOCATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

`(a) Grant Considerations- In making grant allocations under this title to qualifying institutions and partnerships, the Secretary shall consider--

`(1) the percentage of graduates of rural high schools attending rural institutions of higher education in proximity to the entity receiving the grant;

`(2) employment needs of regional employers in proximity to entities receiving the grant; and

`(3) the health of the regional economy of the region surrounding the entity receiving the grant.

`(b) Maximum and Minimum Grants- No grant awarded by the Secretary under this title shall be less than $200,000 or more than $500,000.

`(c) Grant Duration- A grant awarded under this title shall be awarded for one 3-year period.

`SEC. 807. GAO STUDY.

`Commission a study to be completed in 5 years to identify the challenges and solutions to increasing the availability of and access to 4-year degree programs and institutions in rural America. The GAO shall investigate and make recommendations to Congress regarding--

`(1) the existing number of 4-year institutions of higher education and 4-year degree programs in rural America;

`(2) access to 4-year degree programs and institutions in rural America;

`(3) the cost, availability of resources and challenges associated with the establishment and expansion of 4-year degree programs in rural America; and

`(4) the role of rural America in contributing to overall bachelor's degree attainment in the United States, as a measure of United States global competitiveness.

`SEC. 808. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

`There are authorized to be appropriated--

`(1) for fiscal year 2009--

`(A) $15,000,000 to cary out section 803;

`(B) $10,000,000 to carry out section 804; and

`(C) $5,000,000 to carry out section 805; and

`(2) such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years to carry out such sections.'.

END