Sec. 306. Centers of excellence for inclusion in STEM
398 words·~2 min read·
/bill/114/s/3084/rs/section-306·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Director of the Foundation shall carry out a program to award merit-reviewed, competitive grants to institutions of higher education, or consortia thereof, to establish not less than 1 Center of Excellence (referred to in this section as the Center ), to collect, maintain, and disseminate information to increase participation of women and groups underrepresented in STEM fields (as defined in section 305(d)(4)). The purpose of the Center is to promote diversity in STEM fields by building on the success of the INCLUDES programs, providing technical assistance, maintaining best practices, and providing related training at federally funded academic institutions.
The Director of the Foundation shall establish each Center through a merit-reviewed, competitive award to an eligible entity for at least 3, but not more than to 5 years. All program information developed, collected, or maintained by a Center, except for personally identifiable information, is and shall remain part of the public domain. To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible institution shall prepare and submit to the Director an application at such a time, in such form, and containing such information as the Director may require.
Activities of a Center may include— conducting and disseminating research on— systemic factors and institutional policies that impede or facilitate the recruitment, retention, and success of underrepresented groups in STEM fields; and best practices for mitigating the systemic factors and institutional policies that impede inclusion of underrepresented groups in STEM fields; collaborating with institutions of higher education, Federal agencies, industry, and relevant stakeholders to develop policies and practices to facilitate the recruitment, retention, and success of underrepresented groups in STEM; providing educational opportunities for STEM faculty members, staff, students, trainees, fellows, and administrators to learn about inclusion in STEM and to improve STEM mentoring; developing and hosting intra- or interinstitutional workshops, and providing ongoing support to workshop participants, to propagate best practices in recruiting, retaining, and advancing STEM faculty members, staff, students, trainees, fellows, and administrators from underrepresented groups at institutions of higher education; assessing the effectiveness of efforts funded by a Center or related efforts designed to increase inclusion in STEM; assessing how modern STEM learning environments can increase the inclusion, engagement, and retention of students in STEM fields, particularly for women and groups underrepresented in STEM fields; and such other actions as a Center determines are necessary to further the inclusion of underrepresented groups in STEM.