HIGHER EDUCATION EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT — 1971 Pa. Act 101 (historical enacted text)

Historical Act text

PRINTER'S NO. 1350
INTRODUCED BY MESSRS. IRVIS, WILLIAMS, GALLAGHER, KAUFMAN,
BERKES, BERSON, BARBER, MELTON, E. B. DAVIS, J. JOHNSON
AND SHELTON, JUNE 8, 1971
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 8, 1971
AN ACT
1 Providing for Commonwealth support for institutions of higher
2 education to furnish learning and special counseling services
3 for undergraduate students whose cultural, economic and
4 educational disadvantages impair their initial ability to
5 pursue successfully higher education opportunities, and
6 making an appropriation.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Short Title.--This act shall be known and may be
10 cited as the "Higher Education Equal Opportunity Act."
11 Section 2. Legislative Findings.--The General Assembly finds
12 and declares that because of financial, home and community
13 environmental conditions, students with substantial potential
14 for success in college and for future leadership in the
15 community are unable to pursue a higher education and attain
16 their full educational capability. In order to combat
17 effectively the forces which prevent these students from
18 pursuing a higher education, a variety of programs and methods
19 must be tried.
1 This act is designed to provide funds to institutions of
2 higher education in the Commonwealth for the purpose of offering
3 programs to enhance the chances of disadvantaged students to
4 achieve their educational goals.
5 Section 3. Definitions.--The following words and phrases
6 shall have the following meanings:
7 (1) "Institutions of higher education" shall mean those post
8 secondary institutions in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 authorized to award degrees.
10 (2) "Student" shall mean any bona fide resident of the
11 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who has been admitted as a full-
12 time student to an institution of higher education and who is
13 economically and educationally disadvantaged in accordance with
14 criteria to be established by the State Board of Education.
15 Section 4. Higher Education Equal Opportunity Program.--The
16 Secretary of Education may, in conformance with such policies,
17 standards, rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of
18 Education, contract with institutions of higher education for
19 the awarding of higher education equal opportunity program
20 grants. Programs for which such grants may be awarded shall
21 include, but not be limited to; remedial learning services,
22 counseling services or tutorial services. Funds provided by this
23 act may not be used to pay tuition, room and board or other
24 institutional costs or fees incurred by students.
25 Section 5. Application for Approval of Grant.--Each
26 institution of higher education requesting a grant to provide a
27 program, as proposed in this act, shall submit an application in
28 such form and at such time as the Secretary of Education may
29 require. An application for a grant shall include a description
30 of the nature and the method by which all funds granted will be
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1 used by the applicant institution to contribute to the
2 provision, maintenance or improvement of programs designed to
3 accomplish the goals of this act.
4 Section 6. Appropriation.--The sum of one million dollars
5 ($1,000,000), or as much thereof as may be necessary is hereby
6 appropriated to the Department of Education for the purposes and
7 administration of this act: Provided, however, That of the total
8 sum appropriated no more than four per cent of that amount may
9 be used for administration of the act: And, further provided,
10 That no more than ten per cent of the total sum appropriated
11 shall be granted to any single institution of higher education.
12 Section 7. Effective Date.--This act shall take effect July
13 1, 1971.
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