(a) Statement of purpose
It is the purpose of this section to encourage the establishment
of partnerships between State governments, universities, community
colleges, and businesses to support scholarships for talented
socially and economically disadvantaged students from eligible
countries in the Caribbean and Central America to study in the
United States in order to -
(1) improve the diversity and quality of educational
opportunities for such students;
(2) assist the development efforts of eligible countries by
providing training and educational assistance to persons who can
help address the social and economic needs of these countries;
(3) expand opportunities for cross-cultural studies and
exchanges and improve the exchange of understanding and
principles of democracy;
(4) promote positive and productive relationships between the
United States and its neighbor countries in the Caribbean and
Central American regions;
(5) give added visibility and focus to the "scholarship
diplomacy" efforts of the United States Government by leveraging
the monies available for this purpose through the development of
partnerships among Federal, State, and local governments and the
business and academic communities; and
(6) promote community involvement with the scholarship program
as a tool for broadening and strengthening the "American
experience" for foreign students.
(b) Establishment of scholarship program
The Administrator of the Agency for International Development
shall establish and administer a program of scholarship assistance,
in cooperation with State governments, universities, community
colleges, and businesses, to provide scholarships to enable
socially and economically disadvantaged students from eligible
countries in the Caribbean and Central America to study in the
United States.
(c) Grants to States
In carrying out this section, the Administrator may make grants
to States to provide scholarship assistance for undergraduate
degree programs and for training programs of one year or longer in
study areas related to the critical development needs of the
students' respective countries.
(d) Agreement with States
The Administrator and each participating State shall agree on a
program regarding the educational opportunities available within
the State, the selection and assignment of scholarship recipients,
and related issues. To the maximum extent practicable, each State
shall be given flexibility in designing its program.
(e) Federal share
The Federal share for each year for which a State receives
payments under this section shall be not less than 50 percent.
(f) Non-Federal share
The non-Federal share of payments under this section may be in
cash, including the waiver of tuition or the offering of in-State
tuition or housing waivers or subsidies, or in-kind fairly
evaluated, including the provision of books or supplies.
(g) Forgiveness of scholarship assistance
The obligation of any recipient to reimburse any entity for any
or all scholarship assistance provided under this section shall be
forgiven upon the recipient's prompt return to his or her country
of domicile for a period which is at least one year longer than the
period spent studying in the United States with scholarship
assistance.
(h) Private sector participation
To the maximum extent practicable, each participating State shall
enlist the assistance of the private sector to enable the State to
meet the non-Federal share of payments under this section. Wherever
appropriate, each participating State shall encourage the private
sector to offer internships or other opportunities consistent with
the purposes of this section to students receiving scholarships
under this section.
(i) Funding
Any funds used in carrying out this section shall be derived from
funds allocated for Latin American and Caribbean regional programs
under chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2346 and following; relating to the economic support
fund).
(j) Definitions
As used in this section -
(1) The term "eligible country" means any country -
(A) which is receiving assistance under chapter 1 of part I
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 and
following; relating to development assistance) or chapter 4 of
part II of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2346 and following; relating to
the economic support fund); and
(B) which is designated by the President as a beneficiary
country pursuant to the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
[19 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.].
(2) The term "State" means each of the several States, the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.
Email
Print