1. (1) minorities historically underrepresented in the scientific, technical, health and health-related professions means residents of New York State or students who meet the requirements of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision (2) of section 6455 of the Education Law who are Black, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaskan native;
2. (2) a student who is economically disadvantaged means a student who meets the criteria set forth in subdivisions (b) and (c) of section 27-1.1 of the rules of the Board of Regents, except that paragraphs (2) and (4) of subdivision (b) of section 27-1.1 shall not apply;

3. (3) an approved undergraduate level program of study and an approved graduate level program means a program registered by the State Education Department and offered in New York State which either:

   1. (i) has been designated by the commissioner as licensure qualifying in the particular profession;
   2. (ii) in the case of the profession of law, meets the requirements contained in section 520.3 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 520.3) pertaining to the study of law; or
   3. (iii) prepares students for employment in scientific, technical, health and health-related fields; and

4. (4) eligible applicant means a degree-granting postsecondary institution, or a consortium of such institutions, which offers an approved undergraduate program of study and/or an approved graduate level program of study.

   (c) Program administration.

   Activities funded under the collegiate science and technology entry program shall be administered pursuant to a contract between the State Education Department and the participating institution or consortium of institutions. Such institution or consortium shall not use collegiate science and technology entry program funds to duplicate services or financial assistance to students enrolled in the State-funded higher education opportunity programs or similar federally funded programs as determined by the commissioner.

   (d) Applications.

   Eligible applicants seeking a grant shall submit, by a date prescribed by the commissioner, a comprehensive plan describing the instruction and curriculum-related activities and support services to be provided using grant funds. Such plans shall be in a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall include, but shall not be limited to, a description of quantifiable measures to be used to assess the effectiveness of the instruction, activities and services in promoting the purposes of the collegiate science and technology entry program.

   (e) Criteria for the award of grants.

5. (1) Undergraduate program grants. Undergraduate collegiate science and technology entry program grants may be awarded to eligible applicants for programs at the undergraduate level that provide services and activities eligible for funding pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 6455 of the Education Law to students eligible to receive support pursuant to such paragraph. In awarding such grants, the commissioner shall consider, but shall not be limited to, the following criteria:

   1. (i) compliance with the requirements of Education Law, section 6455 and this section;
   2. (ii) the degree of coordination with the activities of science and technology entry programs for secondary school students established pursuant to section 6454 of the Education Law;
   3. (iii) the eligible applicant's record of success in minority recruitment and retention;
   4. (iv) the availability of a matching contribution equivalent to, or in excess of the grant funds sought; and
   5. (v) the eligible applicant's ability to demonstrate past institutional success in conducting similar collegiate programs designed to prepare students for licensure in the professions or for careers in scientific, technical, health and health-related fields.
6. (2) Graduate program grants. Graduate collegiate science and technology entry program grants may be awarded to eligible applicants for programs at the graduate level that provide services and activities eligible for funding pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 6455 of the Education Law to students eligible to receive support pursuant to such paragraph. In awarding such grants the commissioner shall consider, but shall not be limited to, the criteria set forth in subparagraphs (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) of paragraph (1) of this subdivision, and the degree of coordination of the graduate program with efforts at the undergraduate level to increase minority access to the professions and scientific, technical, health and health-related fields.

(a) Purpose.

It is the purpose of this section to establish requirements for awarding grants, pursuant to Education Law section 6455, to degree-granting institutions or consortia of such institutions to establish programs aimed at improving the enrollment and retention of minority and economically disadvantaged students in undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students for professional licensure or for employment in scientific, technical, health and health-related fields.

(b) Definitions.

For purposes of subdivisions (2) and (3) of section 6455 of the Education Law and of this section: