Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Part II · Chapter 129 — National and Community Service

§ 12561. Higher education innovative programs for community service

Statutory text

Purpose

It is the purpose of this part to expand participation in community service by supporting innovative community service programs through service-learning carried out through institutions of higher education, acting as civic institutions to meet the human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs of neighboring communities.

General authority

The Corporation, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, is authorized to make grants to, and enter into contracts with, institutions of higher education (including a consortium of such institutions), and partnerships comprised of such institutions and of other public or private nonprofit organizations, to pay for the Federal share of the cost of—

enabling such an institution or partnership to create or expand an organized community service program that—

engenders a sense of social responsibility and commitment to the community in which the institution is located;

provides projects for participants, who shall be students, faculty, administration, or staff of the institution, or residents of the community; and

the institution or partnership may coordinate with service-learning curricula being offered in the academic curricula at the institution of higher education or at 1 or more members of the partnership;

supporting student-initiated and student-designed community service projects through the program;

strengthening the leadership and instructional capacity of institutions of higher education and their faculty, with respect to service-learning, by—

including service-learning as a key component of the preservice teacher curricula of the institution to strengthen the instructional capacity of teachers to provide service-learning at the elementary and secondary levels;

including service-learning as a component of other curricula or academic programs (other than education curricula or programs), such as curricula or programs relating to nursing, medicine, criminal justice, or public policy; and

encouraging the faculty of the institution to use service-learning methods throughout their curriculum;

facilitating the integration of community service carried out under the program into academic curricula, including integration of clinical programs into the curriculum for students in professional schools, so that students can obtain credit for their community service projects;

supplementing the funds available to carry out work-study programs under part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) 1 to support service-learning and community service through the community service program;

strengthening the service infrastructure within institutions of higher education in the United States through the program; and

providing for the training of teachers, prospective teachers, related education personnel, and community leaders in the skills necessary to develop, supervise, and organize service-learning.

Federal, State, and local contributions

Federal share

In general

The Federal share of the cost of carrying out a program for which assistance is provided under this part may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the program.

Non-Federal contribution

In providing for the remaining share of the cost of carrying out such a program, each recipient of a grant or contract under this part—

shall provide for such share through a payment in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or services; and

may provide for such share through State sources or local sources, including private funds or donated services.

Waiver

The Chief Executive Officer may waive the requirements of paragraph (1) in whole or in part with respect to any such program for any fiscal year if the Corporation determines that such a waiver would be equitable due to a lack of available financial resources at the local level.

Application for grant

Submission

To receive a grant or enter into a contract under this part, an institution or partnership shall prepare and submit to the Corporation, an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Corporation may reasonably require, and obtain approval of the application. In requesting applications for assistance under this part, the Corporation shall specify such required information and assurances.

An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain, at a minimum—

assurances that—

prior to the placement of a participant, the applicant will consult with the appropriate local labor organization, if any, representing employees in the area who are engaged in the same or similar work as that proposed to be carried out by such program, to prevent the displacement and protect the rights of such employees; and

the applicant will comply with the nonduplication and nondisplacement provisions of section 12637 of this title and the notice, hearing, and grievance procedures required by section 12636 of this title; and

such other assurances as the Chief Executive Officer may reasonably require.

Special consideration

To the extent practicable, in making grants and entering into contracts under subsection (b), the Corporation shall give special consideration to applications submitted by, or applications from partnerships including, institutions serving primarily low-income populations, including—

Alaska Native-serving institutions;

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions;

Hispanic-serving institutions;

historically black colleges and universities;

Native American-serving, nontribal institutions;

Native Hawaiian-serving institutions;

Predominantly black institutions;

tribally controlled colleges and universities; and

community colleges serving predominantly minority populations.

Considerations

In making grants and entering into contracts under subsection (b), the Corporation shall take into consideration whether the applicants submit applications containing proposals that—

demonstrate the commitment of the institution of higher education involved, other than by demonstrating the commitment of the students, to supporting the community service projects carried out under the program;

specify the manner in which the institution will promote faculty, administration, and staff participation in the community service projects;

specify the manner in which the institution will provide service to the community through organized programs, including, where appropriate, clinical programs for students in professional schools and colleges;

describe any partnership that will participate in the community service projects, such as a partnership comprised of—

the institution;

a community-based agency;

a local government agency; or

a nonprofit entity that serves or involves school-age youth, older adults, or low-income communities; and

a student organization;

a department of the institution; or

a group of faculty comprised of different departments, schools, or colleges at the institution;

demonstrate community involvement in the development of the proposal and the extent to which the proposal will contribute to the goals of the involved community members;

demonstrate a commitment to perform community service projects in underserved urban and rural communities;

describe research on effective strategies and methods to improve service utilized in the design of the projects;

specify that the institution or partnership will use the assistance provided through the grant or contract to strengthen the service infrastructure in institutions of higher education;

with respect to projects involving delivery of services, specify projects that involve leadership development of school-age youth; or

describe the needs that the proposed projects are designed to address, such as housing, economic development, infrastructure, health care, job training, education, crime prevention, urban planning, transportation, information technology, or child welfare.

Federal work-study

To be eligible for assistance under this part, an institution of higher education shall demonstrate that it meets the minimum requirements under section 443(b)(2)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 2753(b)(2)(A)) ¹ relating to the participation of students employed under part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) ¹ (relating to Federal Work-Study 2 programs) in community service activities, or has received a waiver of those requirements from the Secretary of Education.

Definition

Notwithstanding section 12511 of this title, as used in this part, the term “student” means an individual who is enrolled in an institution of higher education on a full- or part-time basis.

National service educational award

A participant in a program funded under this part shall be eligible for the national service educational award described in division D, if the participant served in an approved national service position.

Footnotes

1 See References in Text note below.
2 So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1993
Serve-America: The Community Service, Schools and Service-Learning Act of 1990
Pub. L. 101–610 title I § 118 · 104 Stat. 3127
Enacted · 42 U.S.C. § 12561
Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 118, formerly § 119, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 103(b), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 837
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 118, formerly § 119, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 103(b), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 837
Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 118. HIGHER EDUCATION INNOVATIVE PROJECTS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE. (a) Purpose.— It is the purpose of this part to support innovative projects to encourage students to participate in community service activities while such students are attending institutions of higher education. (b) General Authority.— The Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, is authorized to make grants to, and enter into contracts with, institutions of higher education (including a combination of such institutions) and other public agencies and nonprofit organizations working in partnership with institutions of higher education— (1) to enable the institution to create or expand community service activities for students attending that institution; (2) to encourage student-initiated and student-designed community service projects; (3) to facilitate the integration of community service into academic curricula, so that students can obtain credit for their community service activities; (4) to encourage students to participate in community service activities that will engender a sense of social responsibility and commitment to the community; (5) to encourage students to assist in the teaching of individuals with limited basic skills or an inability to read and write; and (6) to provide for the training of teachers, prospective teachers, related education personnel, and community leaders in the skills necessary to develop, supervise, and organize community service activities, taking into consideration the particular needs of a community and the ability of the grantee to actively involve a major part of the community in, and substantially benefit the community by, the proposed community service activities. (c) Federal Share.— (1) In general.— The Federal share of each grant awarded under this section shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the community service activities carried out with each such grant. (2) Non-federal sources.— That portion of the costs of programs that receive assistance under this subtitle that are to be paid from sources other than Federal funds may be paid in cash or in kind (fairly evaluated). (d) Application for Grant.— To receive a grant under this subtitle, an applicant shall prepare and submit to the Commission, an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Commission may reasonably require, including— (1) a description of the proposed program to be established with assistance provided under the grant; (2) a description of the human, educational, environmental or public safety service that participants will perform and the community need that will be addressed under such program; (3) a description of whether or not students will receive academic credit for community service activities under the program; (4) a description of the procedure for training supervisors and participants and for supervising and organizing participants in such proposed program; (5) a description of the procedures to ensure that the proposed program provides participants with an opportunity to reflect on their service experiences; (6) a description of the budget for the program; and (7) assurances that, prior to the placement of a participant in the program, the applicant will consult with any local labor organization representing employees in the area who are engaged in the same or similar work as that proposed to be carried out by such project.
2009
Serve America Act
Pub. L. 111–13 § 1202(b)(1) · 123 Stat. 1460
Inserted · 42 U.S.C. § 12561(a)
Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(1), inserted “through service-learning” after “community service programs”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(1), inserted “through service-learning” after “community service programs”.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting after “community service programs” the following: “through service-learning”;
Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.
2009
Serve America Act
Pub. L. 111–13 § 1202(b)(2)(A) · 123 Stat. 1460
Substituted · 42 U.S.C. § 12561(b)
Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(A), substituted “consortium” for “combination” in introductory provisions
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(A), substituted “consortium” for “combination” in introductory provisions.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “combination” and inserting “consortium”;
Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.
2009
Serve America Act
Pub. L. 111–13 § 1202(b)(2)(B) · 123 Stat. 1460
Added · 42 U.S.C. § 12561(b)(1)(C)
Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(B), added subpar. (C)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(B), added subpar. (C).
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(B) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking “and” at the end; (ii) in subparagraph (B), by adding “and” at the end; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: “(C) the institution or partnership may coordinate with service-learning curricula being offered in the academic curricula at the institution of higher education or at 1 or more members of the partnership;” ; and
Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.
2009
Serve America Act
Pub. L. 111–13 § 1202(b)(2)(C)(i) · 123 Stat. 1460
Substituted · 42 U.S.C. § 12561(b)(3)
Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(C)(i), substituted “institutions of higher education and their faculty” for “teachers at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels” in introductory provisions
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(C)(i), substituted “institutions of higher education and their faculty” for “teachers at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels” in introductory provisions.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “teachers at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels” and inserting “institutions of higher education and their faculty”;
Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.
2009
Serve America Act
Pub. L. 111–13 § 1202(b)(2)(C)(ii) · 123 Stat. 1460
Substituted · 42 U.S.C. § 12561(b)(3)(A)
Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(C)(ii), substituted “curricula of the institution to strengthen the instructional capacity of teachers to provide service-learning at the elementary and secondary levels;” for “education of the institution; and”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(C)(ii), substituted “curricula of the institution to strengthen the instructional capacity of teachers to provide service-learning at the elementary and secondary levels;” for “education of the institution; and”.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking “education of the institution; and” and inserting “curricula of the institution to strengthen the instructional capacity of teachers to provide service-learning at the elementary and secondary levels;”;
Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.
2009
Serve America Act
Pub. L. 111–13 § 1202(b)(2)(C)(iii) · 123 Stat. 1460
1. Added · 42 U.S.C. § 12561(b)(3)(B); 42 U.S.C. § 12561(b)(3)(C)
  Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(C)(iii), (iv), added subpar. (B)
2. Redesignated · 42 U.S.C. § 12561(b)(3)(B); 42 U.S.C. § 12561(b)(3)(C)
  Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(C)(iii), (iv), redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b)(3)(B), (C). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(C)(iii), (iv), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and
Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.
2009
Serve America Act
Pub. L. 111–13 § 1202(b)(3) · 123 Stat. 1460
1. Added · 42 U.S.C. § 12561(c)(i)
  Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(3)–(5), added subsecs. (c) to (h)
2. Redesignated · 42 U.S.C. § 12561(c)(i)
  Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(3)–(5), redesignated former subsec. (f) as (i)
3. Struck · 42 U.S.C. § 12561(c)(i)
  Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(3)–(5), struck out former subsecs. (c), (d), (e), and (g) which related to Federal share of the cost, grant application, applicant priority, and definition of “student”, respectively
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsecs. (c) to (i). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(3)–(5), added subsecs. (c) to (h), redesignated former subsec. (f) as (i), and struck out former subsecs. (c), (d), (e), and (g) which related to Federal share of the cost, grant application, applicant priority, and definition of “student”, respectively.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(3) by striking subsections (c), (d), (e), and (g);
Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.

11 of 11 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsecs. (b)(5) and (g), is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219. Part C of title IV of the Act was formerly classified generally to part C (§ 2751 et seq.) of subchapter I of chapter 34 of this title prior to transfer to part C (§ 1087–51 et seq.) of subchapter IV of chapter 28 of Title 20, Education. Section 443 of the Act was transferred from section 2753 of this title to section 1087–53 of Title 20. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of Title 20 and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 118 of Pub. L. 101–610 was classified to section 12551 of this title prior to the general amendment of part I of this division by Pub. L. 111–13.

Another prior section 118 of Pub. L. 101–610 was classified to section 12531 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–82.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(1), inserted “through service-learning” after “community service programs”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(A), substituted “consortium” for “combination” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(B), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(C)(i), substituted “institutions of higher education and their faculty” for “teachers at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(C)(ii), substituted “curricula of the institution to strengthen the instructional capacity of teachers to provide service-learning at the elementary and secondary levels;” for “education of the institution; and”.

Subsec. (b)(3)(B), (C). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(2)(C)(iii), (iv), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).

Subsecs. (c) to (i). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1202(b)(3)–(5), added subsecs. (c) to (h), redesignated former subsec. (f) as (i), and struck out former subsecs. (c), (d), (e), and (g) which related to Federal share of the cost, grant application, applicant priority, and definition of “student”, respectively.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 123 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as an Effective Date of 1993 Amendment note under section 1701 of Title 16, Conservation.

Credits

1993–2009 · 2 acts

1993Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 118, formerly § 119, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 103(b), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 837
2009renumbered § 118 and amended Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1202, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1474.

Show as published

(Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 118, formerly § 119, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 103(b), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 837; renumbered § 118 and amended Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1202, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1474.)