Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 2.djvu/178

 94 STAT. 1456

Financial assistance, student eligibility.

Postsecondary education.

Graduate education.

PUBLIC LAW 96-374—OCT. 3, 1980

(5) of such section), but fail to meet such requirements because the institution is not located in a State, should be included in the definition of institution of higher education under section 481. "(5) The Commission shall conduct a study to determine if student eligibility for financial assistance under section 484 on the basis of maintaining satisfactory academic progress should include provisions which would require that a student complete successfully a specified portion of the workload undertaken during the academic period for which assistance was received by the student. "(6) The Commission shall, in consultation with the National Center for Education Statistics, conduct longitudinal studies of high school students in order to determine the effect of federally authorized student assistance programs upon postsecondary education access and choices of high school students. "(7)(A) The Commission shall, in consultation with appropriate higher education associations and representatives from institutions of higher education, collect data necessary for the study of graduate education throughout the United States required by this paragraph. Such study shall— "(i) analyze trends and shortcomings in the sources of support available to students for the financing of graduate education, and compare the nature and level of support available in the various academic disciplines, including sources of support from student assistance and research programs sponsored by— "(I) the Federal Government, "(II) State and local governments, "(III) foundations, corporations, and other private entities, and "(IV) institutions of higher education, and in addition, consider the resources of the students and the students' families; "(ii) examine the extent to which students may be dissuaded from pursuing graduate education on financial grounds, to the consequent detriment of—"(I) the major fields of knowledge which need to attract the most able and talented students of each generation if they are to remain strong and vigorous; and "(II) the Nation as a whole, if some of its most promising students are precluded because of financial circumstances from developing their capacities and abilities to the fullest possible extent; "(iii) investigate existing and projected levels of graduate student indebtedness, and consider the implications (for the students involved and for the health of graduate education generally) or existing and projected expectations for borrowing to meet the costs of graduate education; "(iv) assess the desirability of modifying existing Federal fellowship and student assistance programs or establishing a new Federal graduate student assistance program in which the selection of students and the amounts of their awards are based on merit or financial need or both, particularly with regard to the special needs of students in the humanities and social sciences or other disciplines; and "(v) examine and assess the financial and educational needs of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds in order to enhance their participation in graduate and professional education and their potential for employment in occupational areas where these individuals are underrepresented.

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