20 U.S.C. § 1161o — College partnership grants authorized

(a) Grants. From the appropriation for this section, the Secretary must award grants to eligible partnerships to develop and implement articulation agreements. (b) Eligible partnerships. A partnership must include at least two institutions of higher education, or a system of such institutions. It may also include (1) a consortium of institutions and (2) a State higher-education agency. (c) Priority. The Secretary must favor partnerships (1) in States using strategies described in section 1093a(b)(1), or (2) including (A) one or more junior or community colleges that award associate degrees and (B) one or more institutions offering a bachelor’s or post-bachelor’s degree not awarded by those colleges. (d) Required uses. Grants must fund (1) policies and programs expanding bachelor’s-degree opportunities by facilitating credit transfer and expanding articulation and guaranteed-transfer agreements, including common course numbers and a general-education core; (2) academic-program improvements; and (3) programs identifying and removing transfer barriers, including technology and information programs. (e) Optional uses. Grants may fund student support such as tutoring, mentoring, and academic or personal counseling, and any service facilitating transition between partner institutions. (f) Prohibition. Money may not compensate an institution for entering an articulation agreement or accepting transfer students. (g) Applications. A partnership seeking a grant must apply when, how, and with the information or assurances the Secretary requires. (h) Definition. “Articulation agreement” means an agreement between institutions specifying which courses transfer toward particular degree requirements. (i) Authorization. Congress may appropriate whatever sums are necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the next five fiscal years.