Section 1133b · Grants for cooperative education

The Secretary is authorized—

Cooperative education programs assisted under this section shall provide alternating or parallel periods of academic study and of public or private employment, giving students work experience related to their academic or occupational objectives and the opportunity to earn the funds necessary for continuing and completing their education.

(A) The amount of each grant awarded pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) to any institution of higher education or combination of such institutions in any fiscal year shall not exceed $500,000.

(B)(i) Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), the Secretary shall award grants in each fiscal year to each institution of higher education described in paragraph (1)(B) that has an application approved under subsection (b) of this section in an amount which bears the same ratio to the amount reserved pursuant to section 1133a(b)(2) of this title for such fiscal year as the number of unduplicated students placed in cooperative education jobs during the preceding fiscal year (other than cooperative education jobs under section 1133c of this title and as determined by the Secretary) by such institution of higher education bears to the total number of all such students placed in such jobs during the preceding fiscal year by all such institutions.

(ii) No institution of higher education shall receive a grant pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) in any fiscal year in an amount which exceeds 25 percent of such institution's cooperative education program's personnel and operating budget for the preceding fiscal year.

(iii) The minimum annual grant amount which an institution of higher education is eligible to receive under paragraph (1)(B) is $1,000 and the maximum annual grant amount is $75,000.

The Secretary shall not award grants pursuant to paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) to the same institution of higher education or combination of such institution in any one fiscal year.

Grants under paragraph (1)(B) shall be used exclusively—

(1) set forth the program or activities for which a grant is authorized under this section;

(2) specify each portion of such program or activities which will be performed by a nonprofit organization or institution other than the applicant and the compensation to be paid for such performance;

(3) provide that the applicant will expend during such fiscal year for the purpose of such program or activities not less than the amount expended for such purpose during the previous fiscal year;

(4) describe the plans which the applicant will carry out to assure, and contain a formal statement of the institution's commitment which assures, that the applicant will continue the cooperative education program beyond the 5-year period of Federal assistance described in subsection (c)(1) of this section at a level which is not less than the total amount expended for such program during the first year such program was assisted under this section;

(5) provide that, in the case of an institution of higher education that provides a 2-year program which is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor's degree, the cooperative education program will be available to students who are certificate or associate degree candidates and who carry at least one-half the normal full-time academic workload;

(6) provide that the applicant will—

(7) describe the extent to which programs in the academic discipline for which the application is made have had a favorable reception by public and private sector employers;

(8) describe the extent to which the institution is committed to extending cooperative education on an institution-wide basis for all students who can benefit;

(9) describe the plans that the applicant will carry out to evaluate the applicant's cooperative education program at the end of the grant period;

(10) provide for such fiscal control and fund accounting procedures as may be necessary to assure proper disbursement of, and accounting for, Federal funds paid to the applicant under this subchapter;

(11) demonstrate a commitment to serving special populations such as women, individuals with disabilities, and African American, Mexican-American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, other Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, Aleut, Native Hawaiian, American Samoan, Micronesian, Guamanian (Chamorro), and Northern Marianian students; and

(12) include such other information as is essential to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.

No individual institution of higher education may receive, individually or as a participant in a combination of such institutions—

The Federal share of a grant under subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section may not exceed—

Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Secretary shall not waive the provisions of this subsection.

In approving applications under this section, the Secretary shall give special consideration to applications from institutions of higher education or combinations of such institutions for programs which show the greatest promise of success because of—

The Secretary shall also give special consideration to applications from institutions of higher education or combinations of such institutions which demonstrate a commitment to serving special populations such as women, individuals with disabilities, and African American, Mexican-American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, other Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, Aleut, Native Hawaiian, American Samoan, Micronesian, Guamanian (Chamorro), and Northern Marianian students.