12 2 STA T .3 3 8 3 PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 31 5— AU G .1 4, 2008 ‘ ‘ (2)streng t h ent i es b et w een d egree c redit of ferings a t instit u tions of higher education and business and industr y wor k force needs . ‘‘(b) AUTHORIZA TIO N . — ‘‘( 1 ) I N GE NERA L .— F ro m the amounts a p propriated under subsection (k) , the S ecretary sha l l award grants, on a competi - ti v e basis, to eligible partnerships for the purpose provided in subsection (a). ‘‘(2) D URATION.— T he Secretary shall award grants under this section for a period of not less than 36 months and not more than 6 0 months. ‘‘(3) SU P PLE M ENT, NOT S UPPLANT.—Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement, and not sup- plant, other Federal, State, and local funds available to the eligible partnership for carrying out the activities described in subsection (c). ‘‘(c) U SEO F FUN D S.—In consultation with all of the members of an eligible partnership, grant funds provided under this section may be used to— ‘‘(1) e x pand or create for-credit academic programs or pro- grams of training that provide relevant j ob skill training for high-growth and high-wage occupations or industries, including offerings connected to registered apprenticeship programs and entrepreneurial training opportunities
‘‘(2) in consultation with faculty in the appropriate depart- ments of an institution of higher education, adapt college offerings to the schedules and needs of working students, such as the creation of evening, weekend, modular, compressed, or distance learning formats; ‘‘(3) purchase e q uipment that will facilitate the develop- ment of academic programs or programs of training that provide training for high-growth and high-wage occupations or indus- tries; ‘‘( 4 ) strengthen outreach efforts that enable students, including students with limited E nglish proficiency, to attend institutions of higher education with academic programs or programs of training focused on high-growth and high-wage occupations or industries; ‘‘( 5 ) expand worksite learning and training opportunities, including registered apprenticeships as appropriate; and ‘‘(6) support other activities the Secretary determines to be consistent with the purpose of this section. ‘‘(d) APPLI C ATION.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible partnership that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such additional information as the Secretary may require. ‘‘(2) C ONTENTS.—Each application submitted under para- graph (1) shall include a description of— ‘‘(A) how the eligible partnership, through the institu- tion of higher education, will provide relevant job skill training for students to enter high-growth and high-wage occupations or industries; and ‘‘( B ) how the eligible partnership has consulted with employers and, where applicable, labor organi z ations to identify local high-growth and high-wage occupations or industries.
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