Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 90 Part 2.djvu/588

 90 STAT. 2056

PUBLIC LAW 94-471—OCT. 11, 1976

lie Welfare, not later than March 1, 1977, with a detailed report on the program plan developed under this section, including recommendations for its implementation in fiscal year 1978. MINORITIES, WOMEN, AND HANDICAPPED

Executive position search.

42 USC 1873 note.

Quarterly report to Congress.

Grants.

Criteria. Report to congressional committees.

INDIVIDUALS

SEC. 7. (a) The Director of the National Science Foundation shall initiate an intensive search for qualified women, members of minority groups, and handicapped individuals to fill executive level positions in the National Science Foundation. I n carrying out the requirement of this subsection, the Director shall work closely with organizations which have been active in seeking greater recognition and utilization of the scientific and technical capabilities of minorities, women, and handicapped individuals. The Director shall improve the representation of minorities, women, and handicapped individuals on advisory committees, review panels, and all other mechanisms by which the scientific community provides assistance to the Foundation. The Director of the National Science Foundation shall report quarterly to the Congress on the status of minorities, women, and handicapped individuals and activities undertaken pursuant to this section. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other Act, the National Science Foundation shall, with funds available from the program "Minorities, Women, and Handicapped Individuals in Science" conduct experimental forums, conferences, workshops or other activities designed to improve scientific literacy and to encourage and assist minorities, women, and handicapped individuals to undertake and to advance in careers in scientific research and science education. (c)(1) I n order to promote increased participation by minorities in careers in science and engineering, the National Science Foundation is authorized and directed to make available planning and study grants for programs including, but not limited to. Minority Centers for Graduate Education in Science and Engineering in accordance with this subsection. (2) The g r a n t s for Minority Centers for Graduate Education shall be used to determine the need for and feasibility of developing Centers to be established at geographically dispersed educational institutions which— (A) have substantial minority student enrollment; (B) are geographically located near minority population centers; (C) demonstrate a commitment to encouraging and assisting minority students, researchers, and faculty; (D) have an existing or developing capacity to offer doctoral pixjgrams in science and engineering; (E) will support basic research and the acquisition of necessary research facilities and equipment; (F) will serve as a regional resource in science and engineering for the minority community which the Center is designed to serve; and (G) will develop joint educational programs with nearby undergraduate institutions of higher education which have a substantial minority student enrollment. (3) The Director, in consultation with groups which have been active in seeking greater recognition of the scientific and technical capabilities of minorities, shall establish criteria for the award of the grants, and shall report to the Committee on Science and Technology

�