HF 1379

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing a postsecondary study abroad grant
program; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 136A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [136A.89] STUDY ABROAD GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition; eligible institution. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, an
"eligible institution" is a public or private not-for-profit postsecondary institution that
awards baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degrees. Institutions participating in the
program must provide documentation that they are engaged in the active recruitment of
foreign students to their campus as one component of their efforts to internationalize
education. Institutions participating in the program must:
new text end

new text begin (1) award academic credits for the study abroad experience of grant recipients;
new text end

new text begin (2) require recipients to participate in local language study while in the host country;
and
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new text begin (3) require recipients to participate in the formal study of the customs and culture
of the host country.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Application process. new text end

new text begin The director of the Office of Higher Education shall
develop a grant application process and a process for allocating money to institutions
participating in the program. The director also shall consult with individuals at institutions
offering study abroad programs in the development of the study abroad grant program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin The director of the Office of Higher Education shall award grants
to facilitate the participation of students in study abroad programs approved by the
institution at which the student is enrolled. In selecting grant recipients, priority shall be
given to students who meet one or more of the following criteria:
new text end

new text begin (1) are majoring in mathematics, engineering, computer science, or education degree
programs, which are traditionally underrepresented in study abroad programs;
new text end

new text begin (2) commit to studying in a historically underrepresented study abroad destination;
new text end

new text begin (3) commit to intensive language study in a language other than English while
abroad; and
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new text begin (4) are a member of a group traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary
education study abroad programs.
new text end

new text begin Students who graduated from a high school and meet one or more of the priorities
cited above shall be given preference in the awards under this section. The maximum
grant amount is $10,000 per student.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 15 of each odd-numbered year, the Office of Higher
Education shall submit a report to the committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over
higher education finance, including, at least, the following data:
new text end

new text begin (1) the countries in which students participating in the grant program are studying;
new text end

new text begin (2) the number of students participating in study abroad programs;
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new text begin (3) the majors of students participating in the grant program;
new text end

new text begin (4) a description of the types of learning experiences in which grant recipients
participated;
new text end

new text begin (5) a description of the types of activities the institution at which the grant recipient
is enrolled is engaged in, to internationalize the education of students at their institution;
new text end

new text begin (6) changes in the number of students participating in study abroad programs; and
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new text begin (7) the revenue sources used to support study abroad program participants.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $10,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Office of Higher Education
for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2009, for the purposes of section 1.
new text end