20 USC 1059 - Predominantly Black Institutions

View all text of Part A [§ 1057 - § 1059g]

§ 1059e. Predominantly Black Institutions

(a) Purpose

(b) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Eligible institutionThe term “eligible institution” means an institution of higher education that—

(A) has an enrollment of needy undergraduate students;

(B) has an average educational and general expenditure that is low, per full-time equivalent undergraduate student, in comparison with the average educational and general expenditure per full-time equivalent undergraduate student of institutions that offer similar instruction, except that the Secretary may apply the waiver requirements described in section 1068a(b) of this title to this subparagraph in the same manner as the Secretary applies the waiver requirements to section 1058(b)(1)(B) of this title;

(D) is legally authorized to provide, and provides, within the State an educational program for which the institution of higher education awards a baccalaureate degree or, in the case of a junior or community college, an associate’s degree;

(E) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation; and

(F) is not receiving assistance under—

(i) part B;

(ii) part A of subchapter V; or

(iii) an annual authorization of appropriations under the Act of March 2, 1867 (14 Stat. 438; 20 U.S.C. 123).

(2) Enrollment of needy studentsThe term “enrollment of needy students” means the enrollment at an eligible institution with respect to which not less than 50 percent of the undergraduate students enrolled in an academic program leading to a degree—

(A) in the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made, were Federal Pell Grant recipients for such year;

(B) come from families that receive benefits under a means-tested Federal benefit program;

(i) is in the school district of a local educational agency that was eligible for assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.] for any year during which the student attended such secondary school; and

(ii) for the purpose of this paragraph and for such year of attendance, was determined by the Secretary (pursuant to regulations and after consultation with the State educational agency of the State in which the school is located) to be a school in which the enrollment of children meeting a measure of poverty under section 1113(a)(5) of such Act [20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)] exceeds 30 percent of the total enrollment of such school; or

(D) are first-generation college students and a majority of such first-generation college students are low-income individuals.

(3) First-generation college student

(4) Low-income individual

(5) Means-tested Federal benefit program

(6) Predominantly Black InstitutionThe term “Predominantly Black Institution” means an institution of higher education, as defined in section 1001(a) of this title—

(A) that is an eligible institution with not less than 1,000 undergraduate students;

(B) at which not less than 50 percent of the undergraduate students enrolled at the eligible institution are low-income individuals or first-generation college students; and

(C) at which not less than 50 percent of the undergraduate students are enrolled in an educational program leading to a bachelor’s or associate’s degree that the eligible institution is licensed to award by the State in which the eligible institution is located.

(7) State

(1) In general

(2) Priority

(d) Authorized activities

(1) Required activitiesGrant funds provided under this section shall be used—

(A) to assist the Predominantly Black Institution to plan, develop, undertake, and implement programs to enhance the institution’s capacity to serve more low- and middle-income Black American students;

(B) to expand higher education opportunities for students eligible to participate in programs under subchapter IV by encouraging college preparation and student persistence in secondary school and postsecondary education; and

(C) to strengthen the financial ability of the Predominantly Black Institution to serve the academic needs of the students described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).

(2) Additional activitiesGrant funds provided under this section shall be used for one or more of the following activities:

(A) The activities described in paragraphs (1) through (12) of section 1057(c) of this title.

(B) Academic instruction in disciplines in which Black Americans are underrepresented.

(C) Establishing or enhancing a program of teacher education designed to qualify students to teach in a public elementary school or secondary school in the State that shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher certification or licensure.

(D) Establishing community outreach programs that will encourage elementary school and secondary school students to develop the academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary education.

(E) Other activities proposed in the application submitted pursuant to subsection (f) that—

(i) contribute to carrying out the purpose of this section; and

(ii) are approved by the Secretary as part of the review and approval of an application submitted under subsection (f).

(3) Endowment fund

(A) In general

(B) Matching requirement

(4) Limitation

(e) Allotments to Predominantly Black Institutions

(1) Federal Pell Grant basis

(2) Graduates basis

(3) Graduates seeking a higher degree basis

(4) Minimum allotment

(A) In general

(B) Insufficient amount

(5) Reallotment

(f) Applications

(g) Application review process

(h) Duration and carryover

(i) Special rule on eligibility

(Pub. L. 89–329, title III, § 318, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title III, § 305(a), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3169; amended Pub. L. 111–39, title III, § 301(2), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1937.)