1. (a) Authority.— Except as provided in sections 9314 and 9315 of this title, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force, the commander of the Air University may, upon the recommendation of the faculty of the Air University components, confer appropriate degrees upon graduates who meet the degree requirements.

2. (b) Limitation.— A degree may not be conferred under this section unless—

   1. (1) the Secretary of Education has recommended approval of the degree in accordance with the Federal Policy Governing Granting of Academic Degrees by Federal Agencies; and
   2. (2) the Air University is accredited by the appropriate civilian academic accrediting agency or organization to award the degree, as determined by the Secretary of Education.

3. (c) Congressional Notification Requirements.—

   1. (1) When seeking to establish degree granting authority under this section, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives—

      1. (A) a copy of the self assessment questionnaire required by the Federal Policy Governing Granting of Academic Degrees by Federal Agencies, at the time the assessment is submitted to the Department of Education’s National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity; and
      2. (B) the subsequent recommendations and rationale of the Secretary of Education regarding the establishment of the degree granting authority.
   2. (2) Upon any modification or redesignation of existing degree granting authority, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the rationale for the proposed modification or redesignation and any subsequent recommendation of the Secretary of Education on the proposed modification or redesignation.
   3. (3) The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing an explanation of any action by the appropriate academic accrediting agency or organization not to accredit the Air University to award any new or existing degree.

(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title IX, § 913(a)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2828; amended Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, § 543(a), (b)(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 607; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, § 556(a), (c)(1), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1914, 1915; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 527, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 105; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, § 543(i)(1), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4464.)

Amendments 2008—Pub. L. 110–417 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section consisted of subsecs. (a) and (b) relating to the authority of Air University to confer academic degrees and regulations under which authority would be exercised.

Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 110–181 added par. (4) and redesignated former par. (4) as (5).

2004—Pub. L. 108–375, § 556(c)(1), substituted “conferral of degrees” for “graduate-level degrees” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–375, § 556(a), substituted “may confer academic degrees as follows:” for “may confer—” in introductory provisions, “The” for “the” in pars. (1) to (3), period for semicolon in par. (1), and period for “; and” in par. (2) and added par. (4).

1999—Pub. L. 106–65, § 543(b)(1), substituted “graduate-level degrees” for “master of airpower art and science” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–65, § 543(a), amended heading and text of subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Upon the recommendation of the faculty of the School of Advanced Airpower Studies of the Air University, the Commander of the university may confer the degree of master of airpower art and science upon graduates of the school who fulfill the requirements for the degree.”

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 110–417 applicable to any degree granting authority established, modified, or redesignated on or after Oct. 14, 2008, for an institution of professional military education referred to in such amendment, see section 543(j) of Pub. L. 110–417, set out as a note under section 2161 of this title.

Effective Date Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title IX, § 913(b), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2828, provided that:

“The authority provided by

section 9317(a) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall become effective on the date on which the Secretary of Education determines that the requirements established by the School of Advanced Airpower Studies of the Air University for the degree of master of airpower art and science are in accordance with generally applicable requirements for a degree of master of arts or a degree of master of science.”