(Academic Programs) House Rpt.107-740 VA-HUD Appropriations Bill 2003
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Within the Academic Programs portion of this account, the Committee
recommends $178,950,000 an increase of $35,250,000 to the budget
request.
The Committee has provided $82,100,000 for NASA’s minority university
research and education activities, the same as the budget request. The
Committee directs that the Minority University Research and Education
Program be retained as a discrete budget line in future budgets and that
the Minority University Research and Education Division be continued
within the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs.
The Committee has serious concerns that too few students are pursuing
advanced degree in aerospace science and engineering, with a result that
the Nation’s future in the utilization and exploration of space will be
compromised. The Committee recognizes that for advanced education to be
effective, it must be pursued in universities with active research
programs. NASA, with its longstanding support of university-based
research, is in a unique position to ensure that the university research
base, and the educational opportunities that accompany it, are
sufficient to the Nation’s needs. Accordingly, NASA is directed, in
cooperation with the Nation’s leading research universities, to develop
a comprehensive plan and implementation strategy that will result in an
increase in the number of students pursuing advanced degrees in the
presence of vibrant university research efforts. The plan should include
means to increase the number of university research and educational
groups, to increase the number of new, young faculty; to build
cooperative relationships between universities and NASA centers; and
means for attracting and supporting students. The plan should be
submitted to the Committee by March 15, 2003 and will serve as the basis
for consideration of the fiscal year 2004 NASA budget.
The Committee encourages NASA to develop closer working relationships
with universities in regions adjacent to national laboratories. National
laboratories have assets and capabilities that are important to graduate
student support and collaborations with regional universities.
The Committee recommends the following adjustments to the budget
request:
1. An increase of $250,000 for Niagara University for science,
engineering and math programs.
2. An increase of $1,200,000 for the NASA Educator Resource Center at
South East Missouri State University.
3. An increase of $1,050,000 for the Carl Sagan Discovery Science
Center at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center to
implement the educational programming for this science learning project.
4. An increase of $2,500,000 for the JASON Foundation.
5. An increase of $4,000,000 for continuation of programs at the
American Museum of Natural History.
6. An increase of $1,000,000 to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center for
an Educational Training Center.
7. An increase of $1,000,000 for academic and infrastructure needs at
St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida.
8. An increase of $1,000,000 for the Ohio View Consortium.
9. An increase of $3,000,000 for the Alabama Math, Science, and
Technology initiative.
10. An increase of $2,500,000 to the Educational Advancement Alliance
to support the Alliance’s math, science, and technology enrichment
program.
11. An increase of $5,000,000 for the National Space Grant College
and Fellowship program. The funding level recommended by the Committee
is $24,100,000, the same as the fiscal year 2002 appropriation. By this
action, the Committee has funded the core programs of the 52 consortia,
including some modest upgrades. NASA is encouraged to use these
consortia to continue workforce development initiative to attract and
retain educated, skilled diverse employees for ANSA and aerospace
industries. It is imperative that NASA encourage additional young people
to pursue careers in science and engineering and these consortia are on
the front lines for this effort.
12. An increase of $500,000 for Science, Engineering, Math and
Aerospace Academy programs at Central Arizona College.
13. An increase of $2,000,000 for the Center for Science and Math at
the University of Redlands.
14. An increase of $1,000,000 for the Chabot Space and Science Center
for math and science education.
15. An increase of $2,000,000 for the City College of New York to
establish a community-based science and technology education facility.
16. An increase of $500,000 for Science, Engineering, Math and
Aerospace Academy programs at Livingstone College.
17. An increase of $550,000 for the Patriots Technology Training
Center in Seat Pleasant, Maryland.
18. An increase of $5,400,000 for the EPSCoR program for a total
funding level of $10,000,000, the same as fiscal year 2002.
19. An increase of $800,000 for Science, Engineering, Math, and
Aeronautics Academy in Miami, Florida.
