20 U.S.C. § 1161q — Grants to rural-serving institutions of higher education

(a) Purposes. The section seeks (1) to increase enrollment and graduation of rural secondary-school graduates and nontraditional students at two- and four-year institutions, including transfer from two-year to four-year programs, and (2) to promote rural economic growth through partnerships among rural-serving institutions, local educational agencies, and regional employers. (b) Definitions. (1) “Rural-serving institution of higher education” means an institution primarily serving rural areas. (2) “Rural area” means an area a State governmental agency defines, identifies, or recognizes as rural. (3) “Nontraditional student” means a person who (A) waits at least three years after secondary-school graduation to enroll, (B) attends part time, or (C) attends while working full time, being an independent student as defined in section 1087vv, having dependents other than a spouse, being a single parent, or lacking a secondary-school diploma or recognized equivalent. (4) “Regional employer” means an employer in a rural area. (c) Partnership. A recipient rural-serving institution or consortium must partner with (1) one or more local educational agencies serving a rural area and (2) one or more regional employers or local boards serving one. It may also partner with (A) an educational service agency as defined in section 7801 or (B) a nonprofit rural-education organization with demonstrated secondary and postsecondary expertise. (d) Grants. (1) From subsection (g) money, the Secretary may competitively award grants to eligible rural-serving institutions or consortia for subsection (f) activities. (2) A grant lasts no more than three years. (3) No grant may be under $200,000. (4) Special consideration goes to promising and innovative approaches that increase rural graduates attending rural-serving institutions, meet regional employers’ needs, or improve a rural area’s economy through the required partnership. (5) An institution may receive only one grant. (e) Applications. An institution must apply when, how, and with the information the Secretary reasonably requires. (f) Required uses. A recipient must use funds for at least three of these four purposes: (1) improving rural secondary students’ postsecondary enrollment, including counseling about applications and Federal or State aid, campus/class/program/internship exposure and transportation, and other application or interest initiatives; (2) increasing nontraditional students’ degree-program enrollment, including aid counseling, community outreach, and two-year enrollment and transfer programs; (3) creating or strengthening programs preparing graduates for high-need rural and local occupations; and (4) providing extra career training relevant to the regional economy. (g) Authorization. Congress may appropriate whatever sums are necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the next five fiscal years.