42 U.S.C. § 19182 — Research at the National Science Foundation

(a) In general: The Director of the National Science Foundation must give out awards, based on competition, to colleges, universities, or nonprofit groups (or teams of them). These awards do two things. First, they pay for the kind of research described in (b). This research looks at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), TCUs (Tribal Colleges and Universities), and MSIs (minority-serving institutions). Second, the awards help find and spread the word about programs and practices that work well at these schools. The goal is to help minority students study and build careers in STEM fields where they are underrepresented. (b) Research: The research funded under this section looks at how HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs teach and train underrepresented minority students in STEM and how they help meet the country's need for STEM workers. It can cover: 1. How these schools differ by location, culture, and structure, and how that affects their education and research. 2. Which practices work well at these schools and how they affect whether students stay, advance in STEM, and can compete for fellowships, jobs, and career growth. 3. What these schools contribute to local, regional, and national workforces. 4. The challenges and chances these schools face in getting resources to use effective STEM teaching practices, including giving underrepresented minority students research experience. 5. Whether students at these schools can access STEM infrastructure (like labs and equipment) and how that affects their STEM skills. 6. Models of STEM curriculum, teaching, and learning that work at these schools to increase minority student participation, retention, and success. 7. Successful or promising partnerships between these schools and other colleges, private companies, nonprofits, federal labs, and international research groups. (c) Research experiences: Awards under this section can pay for creating or growing programs that let students and faculty exchange places to do research, grow professionally, and get mentoring. This can include partnerships with colleges that are not HBCUs, TCUs, or MSIs, as well as private companies, nonprofits, federal labs, and international research groups.