text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``College and University Rural 
  Education (CURE) Act of 2007''.
  
  SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
  
      The Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is 
  amended by adding at the end the following new title:
  
       ``TITLE VIII--RURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS FOR RURAL COLLEGES AND 
                                UNIVERSITIES
  
  ``SEC. 801. PURPOSE.
  
      ``The purposes of this title are--
              ``(1) to increase--
                      ``(A) enrollment and graduation rates from 2-year 
                  and 4-year colleges, and articulation from 2-year 
                  degree programs into 4-year degree programs of 
                  graduates of rural high schools; and
                      ``(B) degree completion for nontraditional students 
                  from rural areas; and
              ``(2) to promote economic growth and development in rural 
          America through partnership grants to consortia of rural 
          colleges and universities and other entities, such as local 
          educational agencies, employers, education service agencies, 
          and nonprofit organizations.
  
  ``SEC. 802. DEFINITIONS.
  
      ``For the purposes of this title:
              ``(1) Rural institution of higher education.--The term 
          `rural institution of higher education' means an institution of 
          higher education (as such term is defined in section 101) that 
          primarily serves rural areas.
              ``(2) Rural area.--The term `rural area' means an area in 
          which there is located a rural local educational agency.
              ``(3) Rural local educational agency.--The term `rural 
          local educational agency' means a local educational agency (as 
          such term is defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
          Secondary Education Act of 1965) that is designated with a 
          metrocentric locale code of 41, 42, or 43 as determined by the 
          National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in conjunction 
          with the Bureau of the Census, using the NCES system for 
          classifying local educational agencies.
              ``(4) Nontraditional student.--The term `nontraditional 
          student' means an individual who--
                      ``(A) delays enrollment in an institution of higher 
                  education by 3 or more years after completing high 
                  school;
                      ``(B) attends an institution of higher education 
                  part-time or less than part-time; or
                      ``(C) attends an institution of higher education 
                  and--
                              ``(i) works full-time;
                              ``(ii) is an independent student;
                              ``(iii) has one or more dependents other 
                          than a spouse;
                              ``(iv) is a single parent; or
                              ``(v) does not have a high school diploma 
                          or a general equivalency diploma (GED).
              ``(5) Regional employer.--The term `regional employer' 
          means employers qualifying as businesses or other entities 
          employing individuals within a rural area.
  
  ``SEC. 803. ENSURING COLLEGE ACCESS FOR RURAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.
  
      ``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized 
  to make grants in accordance with this section to partnerships formed 
  between one or more rural institution of higher education and any of 
  the following entities:
              ``(1) One or more rural local educational agencies.
              ``(2) One or more rural education service agencies.
              ``(3) One or more regional employers.
              ``(4) One or more nonprofit organizations with expertise in 
          rural education.
      ``(b) Eligible Partnerships; Applications.--To be eligible for a 
  grant under this section, a partnership that meets the requirements of 
  subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application in such 
  form and containing such information as the Secretary shall prescribe. 
  In determining which applications to approve for a grant under this 
  section, the Secretary shall consider--
              ``(1) the percentage of graduates, attendees, or former 
          attendees of high schools from rural local educational agencies 
          enrolled or otherwise affiliated with the entity;
              ``(2) in the case of employers, the percentage of employees 
          that are graduates of high schools in rural local educational 
          agencies.
      ``(c) Use of Grant Amounts.--Funds made available by a grant under 
  this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of shall be 
  used--
              ``(1) to improve enrollment rates for graduates and former 
          attendees of rural high schools at rural institutions of higher 
          education, including--
                      ``(A) programs to provide information about college 
                  costs and financial aid options, assistance with 
                  college enrollment applications, and assistance with 
                  financial aid applications;
                      ``(B) programs or initiatives that provide such 
                  individuals of rural high schools access and exposure 
                  to campuses, classes, programs, and facilities of rural 
                  institutions of higher education, including covering 
                  the cost of transportation to and from institutions of 
                  higher education;
                      ``(C) the formation of groups or other initiatives 
                  that create support groups of such students expressing 
                  interest in attending rural institutions of higher 
                  education;
                      ``(D) extra curricular activities, such as 
                  internships, community service, and other activities 
                  for such individuals in advance of attending 
                  institutions of higher education; and
                      ``(E) other initiatives that assist such 
                  individuals in applying and developing interest in 
                  attending rural institutions of higher education; and
              ``(2) to encourage participation of nontraditional students 
          in degree programs at rural institutions of higher education, 
          including--
                      ``(A) programs to provide information about college 
                  costs and financial aid options, assistance with 
                  college enrollment applications, and assistance with 
                  financial aid applications for institutions of higher 
                  education;
                      ``(B) outreach to nontraditional students through 
                  community initiatives; and
                      ``(C) formation of support groups for 
                  nontraditional students enrolling in 2-year degree 
                  programs and articulating from 2-year degree programs 
                  to 4-year degree programs.
  
  ``SEC. 804. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS.
  
      ``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized 
  to make grants in accordance with this section to partnerships formed 
  between one or more rural institutions of higher education and one or 
  more regional employers.
      ``(b) Eligible Partnerships; Applications.--To be eligible for a 
  grant under this section, a partnership that meets the requirements of 
  subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application in such 
  form and containing such information as the Secretary shall prescribe. 
  In determining which applications to approve for a grant under this 
  section, the Secretary shall consider--
              ``(1) the potential of the employer to employ graduates of 
          rural institutions of education after graduation;
              ``(2) the potential of the employer engaged in the 
          partnership to spur economic development in the region; and
              ``(3) the relevance of the employer to the regional 
          economy.
      ``(c) Use of Grant Amounts.--Funds made available by a grant under 
  this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of subsection 
  (a) shall be used--
              ``(1) to provide additional career training to attendees of 
          rural institutions of education in fields relevant to the 
          regional economy; and
              ``(2) to encourage regional businesses to employ graduates 
          of rural institutions of education.
  
  ``SEC. 805. QUALITY OF LIFE IN RURAL AREAS.
  
      ``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized 
  to make grants in accordance with this section to rural institutions of 
  higher education.
      ``(b) Use of Grant Amounts.--Funds made available by a grant under 
  this section to a partnership that meets the requirements of subsection 
  (a) shall be used to create or strengthen academic programs to prepare 
  graudates to enter into high-need occupations in the regional and local 
  economies
  
  ``SEC. 806. ALLOCATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      ``(a) Grant Considerations.--In making grant allocations under this 
  title to qualifying institutions and partnerships, the Secretary shall 
  consider--
              ``(1) the percentage of graduates of rural high schools 
          attending rural institutions of higher education in proximity 
          to the entity receiving the grant;
              ``(2) employment needs of regional employers in proximity 
          to entities receiving the grant; and
              ``(3) the health of the regional economy of the region 
          surrounding the entity receiving the grant.
      ``(b) Maximum and Minimum Grants.--No grant awarded by the 
  Secretary under this title shall be less than $200,000 or more than 
  $500,000.
      ``(c) Grant Duration.--A grant awarded under this title shall be 
  awarded for one 3-year period.
  
  ``SEC. 807. GAO STUDY.
  
      ``Commission a study to be completed in 5 years to identify the 
  challenges and solutions to increasing the availability of and access 
  to 4-year degree programs and institutions in rural America. The GAO 
  shall investigate and make recommendations to Congress regarding--
              ``(1) the existing number of 4-year institutions of higher 
          education and 4-year degree programs in rural America;
              ``(2) access to 4-year degree programs and institutions in 
          rural America;
              ``(3) the cost, availability of resources and challenges 
          associated with the establishment and expansion of 4-year 
          degree programs in rural America; and
              ``(4) the role of rural America in contributing to overall 
          bachelor's degree attainment in the United States, as a measure 
          of United States global competitiveness.
  
  ``SEC. 808. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      ``There are authorized to be appropriated--
              ``(1) for fiscal year 2009--
                      ``(A) $15,000,000 to cary out section 803;
                      ``(B) $10,000,000 to carry out section 804; and
                      ``(C) $5,000,000 to carry out section 805; and
              ``(2) such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 
          succeeding fiscal years to carry out such sections.''.
target: College and University Rural Education (CURE) Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to partnerships between rural institutions of higher education (IHEs) and rural local educational agencies, rural education service agencies, regional employers, or rural education nonprofit organizations for activities to: (1) improve the rural IHE enrollment rates of rural high school graduates and former attendees; and (2) encourage nontraditional students' participation in rural IHE degree programs.
  
  Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to partnerships between rural IHEs and regional employers to: (1) provide additional training to rural IHE attendees in careers relevant to the regional economy; and (2) encourage regional businesses to employ rural IHE graduates.
  
  Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to rural IHEs to create or strengthen academic programs that prepare graduates to enter high-need occupations in the regional and local economies.
  
  Requires the General Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate, and make recommendations to Congress regarding the improvement of, rural access to four-year IHEs and degree programs.
feat_title: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve participation in higher education of, and increase opportunities in employment for, residents of rural areas.