The Director is authorized to establish a new program to award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and other institutions of higher education serving a substantial number of minority students to enhance the quality of undergraduate science, mathematics, and engineering education at such institutions and to increase the retention and graduation rates of students pursuing associate’s or baccalaureate degrees in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology.

This program shall be coordinated with and in addition to the ongoing Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program and the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program.

Funding for instrumentation is an allowed use of grants awarded under this section and under the ongoing Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program and the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program.