§ 7404. National Science Foundation computer and network security programs
(a)
Computer and network security capacity building grants
(1)
In general
The Director shall establish a program to award grants to institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof) to establish or improve undergraduate and master’s degree programs in computer and network security, to increase the number of students, including the number of students from groups historically underrepresented in these fields, who pursue undergraduate or master’s degrees in fields related to computer and network security, and to provide students with experience in government or industry related to their computer and network security studies.
(2)
Merit review
Grants shall be awarded under this subsection on a merit-reviewed competitive basis.
(3)
Use of funds
Grants awarded under this subsection shall be used for activities that enhance the ability of an institution of higher education (or consortium thereof) to provide high-quality undergraduate and master’s degree programs in computer and network security and to recruit and retain increased numbers of students to such programs. Activities may include—
(A)
revising curriculum to better prepare undergraduate and master’s degree students for careers in computer and network security;
(C)
creating opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in computer and network security research projects;
(D)
acquiring equipment necessary for student instruction in computer and network security, including the installation of testbed networks for student use;
(E)
providing opportunities for faculty to work with local or Federal Government agencies, private industry, nonprofit research institutions, or other academic institutions to develop new expertise or to formulate new research directions in computer and network security;
(F)
establishing collaborations with other academic institutions or academic departments that seek to establish, expand, or enhance programs in computer and network security;
(G)
establishing student internships in computer and network security at government agencies or in private industry;
(H)
establishing collaborations with other academic institutions to establish or enhance a web-based collection of computer and network security courseware and laboratory exercises for sharing with other institutions of higher education, including community colleges;
(4)
Selection process
(A)
Application
An institution of higher education (or a consortium thereof) seeking funding under this subsection shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. The application shall include, at a minimum—
(i)
a description of the applicant’s computer and network security research and instructional capacity, and in the case of an application from a consortium of institutions of higher education, a description of the role that each member will play in implementing the proposal;
(ii)
a comprehensive plan by which the institution or consortium will build instructional capacity in computer and information security;
(iii)
a description of relevant collaborations with government agencies or private industry that inform the instructional program in computer and network security;
(5)
Assessment required
The Director shall evaluate the program established under this subsection no later than 6 years after the establishment of the program. At a minimum, the Director shall evaluate the extent to which the program achieved its objectives of increasing the quality and quantity of students, including students from groups historically underrepresented in computer and network security related disciplines, pursuing undergraduate or master’s degrees in computer and network security.
(b)
Scientific and Advanced Technology Act of 1992
(1)
Grants
The Director shall provide grants under the Scientific and Advanced Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i) [42 U.S.C. 1862h et seq.] for the purposes of section 3(a) and (b) of that Act [42 U.S.C. 1862i
(a), (b)], except that the activities supported pursuant to this subsection shall be limited to improving education in fields related to computer and network security.
(c)
Graduate traineeships in computer and network security research
(1)
In general
The Director shall establish a program to award grants to institutions of higher education to establish traineeship programs for graduate students who pursue computer and network security research leading to a doctorate degree by providing funding and other assistance, and by providing graduate students with research experience in government or industry related to the students’ computer and network security studies.
(2)
Merit review
Grants shall be provided under this subsection on a merit-reviewed competitive basis.
(3)
Use of funds
An institution of higher education shall use grant funds for the purposes of—
(A)
providing traineeships to students who are citizens, nationals, or lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens of the United States and are pursuing research in computer or network security leading to a doctorate degree;
(4)
Traineeship amount
Traineeships provided under paragraph (3)(A) shall be in the amount of $25,000 per year, or the level of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, whichever is greater, for up to 3 years.
(5)
Selection process
An institution of higher education seeking funding under this subsection shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. The application shall include, at a minimum, a description of—
(6)
Review of applications
In evaluating the applications submitted under paragraph (5), the Director shall consider—
(C)
the likelihood that the program will recruit increased numbers of students, including students from groups historically underrepresented in computer and network security related disciplines, to pursue and earn doctorate degrees in computer and network security;
(e)
Cyber security faculty development traineeship program
(1)
In general
The Director shall establish a program to award grants to institutions of higher education to establish traineeship programs to enable graduate students to pursue academic careers in cyber security upon completion of doctoral degrees.
(2)
Merit review; competition
Grants shall be awarded under this section on a merit-reviewed competitive basis.
(3)
Application
Each institution of higher education desiring to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director shall require.
(4)
Use of funds
Funds received by an institution of higher education under this paragraph shall—
(A)
be made available to individuals on a merit-reviewed competitive basis and in accordance with the requirements established in paragraph (7);
(5)
Repayment
Each graduate traineeship shall—
(A)
subject to paragraph (5)(B), be subject to full repayment upon completion of the doctoral degree according to a repayment schedule established and administered by the institution of higher education;
(6)
Exceptions
The Director may provide for the partial or total waiver or suspension of any service obligation or payment by an individual under this section whenever compliance by the individual is impossible or would involve extreme hardship to the individual, or if enforcement of such obligation with respect to the individual would be unconscionable.
(7)
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a graduate traineeship under this section, an individual shall—
(8)
Consideration
In making selections for graduate traineeships under this paragraph, an institution receiving a grant under this subsection shall consider, to the extent possible, a diverse pool of applicants whose interests are of an interdisciplinary nature, encompassing the social scientific as well as the technical dimensions of cyber security.