Sec. 264. American University of the Americas
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/bill/118/s/3878/is/section-264A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that— quality university education is essential for the advancement of free, prosperous societies; there is not a Latin American university included among the top 100 global universities in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2022–2023 rankings; there is a significant need for high-quality, nonideological, affordable university education in Latin America, especially education that is focused on science, technology, engineering, and math; and it is essential to protect intellectual diversity on college campuses, while not attempting to limit freedom of speech.
During the 2-year period beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in cooperation with American Schools and Hospitals Abroad, shall establish the American University of the Americas in up to 3 Americas partner countries selected by the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Education. The American University of the Americas— shall be modeled after similar institutions, such as the American University of Armenia, the American University of Dubai, the American University of Nigeria, and the American University of Cairo; shall remain independent of the United States Government; and shall be registered as a legal educational entity in the country in which its headquarters is located.
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the United States Government shall support the American University of the Americas by— facilitating its founding, including its registration as a legal educational entity; offering assistance with the development of academic programs; providing needed financial assistance; advising the Center of Excellence for Combating Corruption established pursuant to subsection (h); and retaining a seat on the Board for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Americas Partnership.
Of the campuses of the American University of the Americas authorized to be established under paragraph (1)— 1 campus may be established in Central America; 1 campus may be established in the Caribbean; and 1 campus may be established in the Southern Cone. The 3 campuses established pursuant to subparagraph
(A)may share administrative, legal, and academic resources. The Administrator shall solicit proposals from Americas partner countries desiring to host the American University of the Americas. Proposals submitted pursuant to paragraph
(1)shall— identify the proposed location of the institution; evaluate the financial viability of the institution; describe the support that the host government is committed to provide to the institution; include a sustainability plan for the institution; identify possible private-sector, nonprofit, and other partners who have committed to work with the institution; identify individuals who have agreed to serve on the institution’s board of directors, with letters of commitment; and identify any local legislation that will need to be enacted in order to establish the institution in the host country, along with a plan to enact such legislation. The Administrator shall award a grant to each country selected to host a campus of the American University of the Americas to provide startup funding. A grant authorized under subparagraph
(A)may be given to a university, the ministry of higher education of the host country, or any other organization that is capable of facilitating the establishment of a campus of the American University of the Americas in accordance with this section. After a country is selected to host the American University of the Americas, the Administrator shall formally register the institution in such country. Not later than 5 years after the date on which the American University of the Americas begins operations, the institution shall seek accreditation with an accrediting agency recognized by the Department of Education in accordance with subtitle B of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations. The representative of the United States in the Americas Partnership business advisory board established pursuant to section 202 shall encourage collaboration with Americas partner countries to ensure the accreditation of science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine degrees with the appropriate education ministries or departments of Americas partner country governments. Federal funding for the American University of the Americas may only be used to subsidize courses leading to a degree in science, technology, engineering, math, medicine, business development, or management. Prerequisites may only be allowed for coursework related to such degrees. The American University of the Americas shall offer exchange programs and virtual learning programs. The languages of instruction for the American University of the Americas— shall be governed by local law and accompanying regulations of accreditation agencies, with an effort to assure fully bilingual graduates; and shall include the English language. The American University of the Americas may not accept any funding from the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Government of the Republic of Cuba, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or any individual or institution working on behalf of any such government. If any funding is accepted by the American University of the Americas in violation of this subsection, the relationship between the United States and the institution shall be immediately terminated. The American University of the Americas shall include a Center of Excellence for Combating Corruption, Human, and Other Trafficking and Organized Crime that carries out research and pubic education related to corruption, money laundering (including trade-based money laundering), human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other related criminal activities in Americas partner countries and throughout the Americas. The Secretary of State may expend such sums as may be necessary from the Re-shoring and Near-shoring Account established under section 301 to carry out this section.