Effective 28 Aug 2014

173.670. Initiative established, purpose, matching grants — fund created, use of moneys — authorized programs. — 1. There is hereby established within the department of higher education and workforce development the "Missouri Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Initiative". The department of higher education and workforce development may award matching funds through this initiative to public institutions of higher education as part of the annual appropriations process.

2. The purpose of the initiative shall be to provide support to increase interest among elementary, secondary, and university students in fields of study related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to increase the number of Missouri graduates in these fields at Missouri's public two- and four-year institutions of higher education.

3. There is hereby created a "Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fund", which shall consist of money collected under this section. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund and may approve disbursements from the fund in accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180. Upon appropriation, money in the fund shall be used solely for the administration of this section. Any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund. The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.

4. As part of the initiative, the department of higher education and workforce development shall develop a process to award grants to Missouri public two- and four-year institutions of higher education and school districts that have entered into articulation agreements to offer information technology certification through technical course work leading to postsecondary academic credit through the program established in section 173.675.

5. The general assembly may appropriate funds to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fund to match institution funds to support the following programs:

(1) Endowed teaching professor programs, which provide funds to support faculty who teach undergraduate courses in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields at public institutions of higher education;

(2) Scholarship programs, which provide financial aid or loan forgiveness awards to Missouri students who study in the science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields or who plan to enter the teaching field in Missouri with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics areas;

(3) Experiential youth programs at public colleges or universities, designed to provide Missouri middle school, junior high, and high school students with the opportunity to experience science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields through camps or other educational offerings;

(4) Career enhancement programs for current elementary and secondary teachers and professors at Missouri public and private colleges and universities in the science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields to improve the quality of teaching.

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(L. 2012 S.B. 563, A.L. 2014 S.B. 492)