(a) The Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Program is designed to contribute to the development and improvement of modern foreign language and area studies in the United States by providing opportunities for scholars to conduct research abroad.

(b) Under the program, the Secretary awards fellowships, through institutions of higher education, to faculty members who propose to conduct research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies to improve their skill in languages and knowledge of the culture of the people of these countries.

An institution of higher education is eligible to receive an institutional grant.

An individual is eligible to receive a fellowship if the individual—

(a)(1) Is a citizen or national of the United States; or

(2) Is a permanent resident of the United States;

(b) Is employed by an institution of higher education;

(c) Has been engaged in teaching relevant to his or her foreign language or area studies specialization for the two years immediately preceding the date of the award;

(d) Proposes research relevant to his or her modern foreign language or area specialization which is not dissertation research for a doctoral degree; and

(e) Possesses sufficient foreign language skills to carry out the research project.

(a) The Secretary pays—

(1) Travel expenses to and from the residence of the fellow and the country or countries of research;

(2) A maintenance stipend for the fellow related to his or her academic year salary; and

(3) An allowance for research-related expenses overseas, such as books, copying, tuition and affiliation fees, local travel, and other incidental expenses.

(b) The Secretary may pay—

(1) Emergency medical expenses not covered by the faculty member's health and accident insurance; and

(2) The costs of preparing and transporting the remains of a fellow or dependent who dies during the term of the fellowship to his or her former home.

(c) The Secretary announces the amount of benefits expected to be available in an application notice published in the Federal Register.

(a) A fellowship is for a period of not fewer than three nor more than twelve months.

(b) A fellowship may not be renewed.

The following regulations apply to this program:

(a) The regulations in this part 663; and

(b) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, and 86).

(c)(1) 2 CFR part 180 (OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)), as adopted at 2 CFR part 3485; and

(2) 2 CFR part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards), as adopted at 2 CFR part 3474.

(a) Definitions of the following terms as used in this part are contained in 2 CFR part 200, subpart A, or 34 CFR part 77:

(b) The definition of institution of higher education as used in this part is contained in 34 CFR 600.4.

(c) The following definitions of other terms used in this part apply to this program:

Area studies means a program of comprehensive study of the aspects of a society or societies, including the study of their geography, history, culture, economy, politics, international relations, and languages.

Binational commission means an educational and cultural commission established, through an agreement between the United States and either a foreign government or an international organization, to carry out functions in connection with the program covered by this part.

Dependent means any of the following individuals who accompany the recipient of a fellowship under this program to his or her training site for the entire fellowship period if the individual receives more than 50 percent of his or her support from the recipient during the fellowship period:

(1) The recipient's spouse.

(2) The recipient's or spouse's children who are unmarried and under age 21.

J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board means the presidentially-appointed board that is responsible for supervision of the program covered by this part.

If any provision of this part or its application to any person, act, or practice is held invalid, the remainder of the part or the application of its provisions to any person, act, or practice will not be affected thereby.