10 U.S.C. § 4144: Research and educational programs and activities: historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions of higher education

The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Secretary of each military department, shall carry out a program to provide assistance to covered educational institutions to assist the Department in defense-related research, development, testing, and evaluation activities. The Secretary of Defense may not delegate or transfer to an individual outside the Office of the Secretary of Defense the authority regarding the programming or budgeting of the program established by this section that is carried out by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. enhance the research and educational capabilities of such institutions in areas of importance to national defense, as determined by the Secretary; encourage the participation of such institutions in the research, development, testing, and evaluation programs and activities of the Department of Defense; increase the number of graduates from such institutions engaged in disciplines important to the national security functions of the Department of Defense, as determined by the Secretary; and encourage research and educational collaborations between such institutions and other institutions of higher education, Government defense organizations, and the defense industry. Support for research, development, testing, evaluation, or educational enhancements in areas important to national defense through the competitive awarding of grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, scholarships, fellowships, or the acquisition of research equipment or instrumentation. Support to assist in the attraction and retention of faculty in scientific disciplines important to the national security functions of the Department of Defense. Establishing partnerships between such institutions and defense laboratories, Government defense organizations, the defense industry, and other institutions of higher education in research, development, testing, and evaluation in areas important to the national security functions of the Department of Defense. Other such non-monetary assistance as the Secretary finds appropriate to enhance defense-related research, development, testing, and evaluation activities at such institutions. The Secretary of Defense may develop incentives to encourage research and educational collaborations between covered educational institutions and other institutions of higher education. to assess the capacity of covered educational institutions to address the research and development needs of the Department through partnerships and collaborations; and if appropriate, to enter into partnerships and collaborations with such institutions. The Secretary of Defense may establish procedures under which the Secretary may limit funding under this section to institutions that have not otherwise received a significant amount of funding from the Department of Defense for research, development, testing, and evaluation programs supporting the national security functions of the Department. an institution of higher education eligible for assistance under title III or V of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.); or an accredited postsecondary minority institution. Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities; and Minority-Serving Institutions that are not described in paragraph (1). The term ‘Historically Black College or University’ has the meaning given the term ‘part B institution’ in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1061 ). The term ‘Minority-Serving Institution’ means an eligible institution described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) ). The term ‘Tribal College or University’ has the meaning given the term in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b) ).” The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, acting through the National Security Innovation Network, may carry out a pilot program under which the Under Secretary conducts activities, including outreach and technical assistance, to better connect historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions to the commercialization, innovation, and entrepreneurial activities of the Department of Defense. the results of any outreach efforts conducted under the pilot program; the success of the pilot program in expanding National Security Innovation Network programs to historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions; and any potential barriers to the expansion of the pilot program; and recommendations for how the Department of Defense can support historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions to enable such institutions to successfully participate in Department of Defense commercialization, innovation, and entrepreneurship programs. The authority to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2022 ]. The term ‘historically Black college or university’ means a part B institution (as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1061 )). The term ‘other minority-serving institution’ means an institution of higher education specified in paragraphs (2) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) ).” Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2022 ], the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report on the recommendations set forth in the publication of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine titled ‘Defense Research Capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions: Transitioning from Good Intentions to Measurable Outcomes’ and dated April 28, 2022 . a description of each recommendation and subrecommendation the Secretary has implemented as of the date of the report; a description of each recommendation and subrecommendation the Secretary has commenced implementing as of the date of the report, including a justification for determining to commence implementing the recommendation; and a description of each recommendation and subrecommendation the Secretary has not implemented or commenced implementing as of the date of the report and a determination as to whether or not to implement the recommendation. a timeline for implementation; a description of any additional resources or authorities required for implementation; and the plan for implementation. For each recommendation or subrecommendation the Secretary determines not to implement under subparagraph (A)(iii), a justification for the determination not to implement the recommendation. The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. The Secretary of Defense shall establish and carry out a program (referred to in this subsection as the ‘Program’) under which the Secretary carries out activities to increase the capacity of eligible institutions to achieve very high research activity status. the recommendations and subrecommendations to be implemented under subsection (a); the extent of nascent research capabilities and planned research capabilities at eligible institutions and the relevance of those capabilities to research areas of interest to the Department of Defense; recommendations from previous studies for increasing the level of research activity at eligible institutions to very high research activity status, including measurable milestones such as growth in very high research activity status indicators and other relevant factors; how institutions participating in the Program will evaluate and assess progress toward achieving very high research activity status; how such institutions will sustain an increased level of research activity after the Program terminates; and reporting requirements for institutions participating in the Program. In designing the Program, the Secretary may consult with the President’s Board of Advisors on historically Black colleges and universities. faculty professional development; stipends for undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral scholars; recruitment and retention of faculty and graduate students; the provision of laboratory equipment and instrumentation; communication and dissemination of research products produced during the Program; construction, modernization, rehabilitation, or retrofitting of facilities for research purposes; and such other activities as the Secretary determines appropriate. The Secretary shall establish and update, on an annual basis, a list of research priorities for STEM and critical technologies appropriate for the Program to assist eligible institutions in identifying appropriate areas for research and related activities. The Program shall terminate 10 years after the date on which the Secretary commences the Program. a description of the activities carried out under the Program; an analysis of any growth in very high research activity status indicators of eligible institutions that participated in the Program; and emerging research areas of interest to the Department of Defense that are being pursued by such institutions. An analysis of the growth in very high research activity status indicators of eligible institutions that participated in the Program. An evaluation on the effectiveness of the Program in increasing the research capacity of such institutions. An explanation of how institutions that achieved very high research activity status plan to sustain that status after the termination of the Program. An evaluation of the maintenance of very high research status by eligible institutions that participated in the Program. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Program in increasing the diversity of students conducting high quality research in unique areas. Recommendations with respect to further activities and investments necessary to elevate the research status of historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions. Recommendations as to whether the Program should be renewed or expanded. The term ‘eligible institution’ means a historically Black college or university or other minority-serving institution that is classified as a high research activity status institution at the time of participation in the program under subsection (b). The term ‘high research activity status’ means R2 status, as classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The term ‘historically Black college or university’ has the meaning given the term ‘part B institution’ under section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1061 ). The term ‘other minority-serving institution’ means an institution of higher education specified in paragraphs (2) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) ). The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Defense. The term ‘very high research activity status’ means R1 status, as classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. annual expenditures in science and engineering; per-capita (faculty member) expenditures in science and engineering; annual expenditures in non-science and engineering fields; per-capita (faculty member) expenditures in non-science and engineering fields; doctorates awarded in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields; doctorates awarded in social science fields; doctorates awarded in the humanities; doctorates awarded in other fields with a research emphasis; total number of research staff including postdoctoral researchers; other doctorate-holding non-faculty researchers in science and engineering and per-capita (faculty) number of doctorate-level research staff including post-doctoral researchers; and other categories utilized to determine classification.” Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary [of Defense] may establish a program to award contracts, grants, or other agreements on a competitive basis, and to perform other appropriate activities for the purposes described in paragraph (2). Developing the capability, including workforce and research infrastructure, for minority institutions to more effectively compete for Federal engineering, research, and development funding opportunities. Improving the capability of such institutions to recruit and retain research faculty, and to participate in appropriate personnel exchange programs and educational and career development activities. Any other purposes the Secretary determines appropriate for enhancing the defense-related engineering, research, and development capabilities of minority institutions. In this section, the term ‘minority institution’ means a covered educational institution (as defined in section 2362 of title 10 , United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4144 ]).” The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (referred to in this section as the ‘National Academies’) under which the National Academies will conduct a study on the status of defense research at covered institutions and the methods and means necessary to advance research capacity at covered institutions to comprehensively address the national security and defense needs of the United States. The study conducted under subsection (a) shall be known as the ‘National Study on Defense Research At Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions’. The degree to which covered institutions are successful in competing for and executing Department of Defense contracts and grants for defense research. Best practices for advancing the capacity of covered institutions to compete for and conduct research programs related to national security and defense. The advancements and investments necessary to elevate covered institutions to R2 status or R1 status on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, consistent with the criteria of the classification system. The facilities and infrastructure for defense-related research at covered institutions as compared to the facilities and infrastructure at institutions classified as R1 status on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Incentives to attract, recruit, and retain leading research faculty to covered institutions. enter into contracts or receive grants from the Department; lay the groundwork for future research opportunities; develop research proposals; engage with defense research funding organizations; and execute the administration of grants; and determining the type of legal entity, if any, to establish for the purposes described in subparagraph (A). The ability of covered institutions to develop, protect, and commercialize intellectual property created through defense-related research. whether the institution established a distinct legal entity to enter into contracts or receive grants from the Department and, if so, the type of legal entity that was established; the total value of contracts and grants awarded to the institution of higher education for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2019; the overhead rate of the institution of higher education for fiscal year 2019; the institution’s classification on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education; and whether the institution qualifies as a covered institution. Recommendations for strengthening and enhancing the programs executed under section 2362 of title 10 , United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4144 ]. Recommendations to enhance the capacity of covered institutions to transition research products into defense acquisition programs or commercialization. Previous executive or legislative actions by the Federal Government to address imbalances in Federal research funding, including such programs as the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (commonly known as ‘DEPSCoR’). The effectiveness of the Department in attracting and retaining students specializing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields from covered institutions for the Department’s programs on emerging capabilities and technologies. Recommendations for the development of incentives to encourage research and educational collaborations between covered institutions and other institutions of higher education. Any other matters the Secretary of Defense determines to be relevant to advancing the defense research capacity of covered institutions. the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a); and any recommendations that the National Academies may have for action by the executive branch and Congress to improve the participation of covered institutions in Department of Defense research and any actions that may be carried out to expand the research capacity of such institutions. Not later than December 31, 2021 , the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the President and the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive report on the results of the study required under subsection (a). Each report submitted under this subsection shall be made publicly available. Except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than March 1, 2022 , the Secretary of Defense shall commence implementation of each recommendation included in the final report submitted under subsection (d)(2). the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] written notice of the intent of the Secretary to delay implementation of the recommendation; and includes, as part of such notice, a specific justification for the delay in implementing the recommendation. the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees written notice of the intent of the Secretary not to implement the recommendation; and the reasons for the Secretary’s decision not to implement the recommendation; and a summary of alternative actions the Secretary will carry out to address the purposes underlying the recommendation. a summary of actions that have been, or will be, carried out to implement the recommendation; and a schedule, with specific milestones, for completing the implementation of the recommendation. The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Presidents of the National Academies, shall make available a list identifying each covered institution examined as part of the study under subsection (a). The list shall be made available on a publicly accessible website and shall be updated not less frequently than once annually until the date on which the final report is submitted under subsection (d)(2). the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives]; the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and the Committee on Education and Labor [now Committee on Education and the Workforce] of the House of Representatives. a part B institution (as that term is defined in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1061(2) )[)]; or any other institution of higher education (as that term is defined in section 101 of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )) at which not less than 50 percent of the total student enrollment consists of students from ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the fields of science and engineering.” The heads of each basic research entity shall each develop a strategy for how to engage with and support the development of scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics capabilities of covered educational institutions in carrying out section 2362 of title 10 , United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4144 ]. Goals and vision for maintaining a credible and sustainable program relating to the engagement and support under the strategy. Metrics to enhance scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics capabilities at covered educational institutions, including with respect to measuring progress toward increasing the success of such institutions to compete for broader research funding sources other than set-aside funds. Promotion of mentoring opportunities between covered educational institutions and other research institutions. Regular assessment of activities that are used to develop, maintain, and grow scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics capabilities. Inclusion of faculty of covered educational institutions into program reviews, peer reviews, and other similar activities. Targeting of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students at covered educational institutions for inclusion into research or internship opportunities within the military department. The Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement a strategy for how to engage with and support the development of scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics capabilities of covered educational institutions pursuant to the strategies developed under subsection (a). Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Nov. 25, 2015 ], the heads of each basic research entity shall each submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] the strategy developed by the head under subsection (a)(1). Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees the strategy developed under subsection (b). The term ‘basic research entity’ means an entity of the Department of Defense that executes research, development, test, and evaluation budget activity 1 funding, as described in the Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation. The term ‘covered educational institution’ has the meaning given that term in section 2362(e) of title 10 , United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4144(f) ].”