The Secretary awards grants under this program for all or some of the following categories of projects:

(a) Institutional projects for implementing a comprehensive science improvement plan as described in § 637.12.

(b) Design projects for developing a long-range science improvement plan as described in § 637.13.

(c) Special projects to support activities as described in § 637.14.

(d) Cooperative projects to share facilities and personnel and disseminate information as described in § 637.15.

(a) Institutional project grants support the implementation of a comprehensive science improvement plan, which may include any combination of activities for improving the preparation of minority students, particularly minority women, for careers in science.

(b) Activities that the Secretary may assist under an institutional project include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Faculty development programs; or

(2) Development of curriculum materials.

(a) Design project grants assist minority institutions that do not have their own appropriate resources or personnel to plan and develop long-range science improvement programs.

(b) Activities that the Secretary may assist under a design project include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Development of planning, management, and evaluation systems; and

(2) Improvement of institutional research or development offices.

There are two types of special projects grants—

(a) Special project grants for which minority institutions are eligible which support activities that—

(1) Improve quality training in science and engineering at minority institutions; or

(2) Enhance the minority institutions' general scientific research capabilities.

(b) Special project grants for which all applicants are eligible which support activities that—

(1) Provide a needed service to a group of eligible minority institutions; or

(2) Provide in-service training for project directors, scientists, and engineers from eligible minority institutions.

(c) Activities that the Secretary may assist under a special project include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Advanced science seminars;

(2) Science faculty workshops and conferences;

(3) Faculty training to develop specific science research or education skills;

(4) Research in science education;

(5) Programs for visiting scientists;

(6) Preparation of films or audio-visual materials in science;

(7) Development of learning experiences in science beyond those normally available to minority undergraduate students, particularly minority women;

(8) Development of pre-college enrichment activities in science; and

(9) Any other activities designed to address specific barriers to the entry of minorities, particularly minority women, into science.

(d) Minority institutions are eligible to apply for special projects of the type listed in paragraph (a) of this section. All applicants eligible for assistance under this program may apply for special projects of the type listed in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.

(a) Cooperative project grants assist groups of nonprofit accredited colleges and universities to work together to conduct a science improvement project.

(b) Activities that the Secretary may fund under cooperative projects include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Assisting institutions in sharing facilities and personnel;

(2) Disseminating information about established programs in science and engineering;

(3) Supporting cooperative efforts to strengthen the institutions' science and engineering programs; and

(4) Carrying out a combination of any of the activities in paragraphs (c)(1)-(3) of this section.

(c) Eligible applicants for cooperative projects are groups of nonprofit accredited colleges and universities whose primary fiscal agent is an eligible minority institution as defined in § 637.4(b).