12 2 STA T .3 323 PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 31 5— AU G .1 4, 200 8‘ ‘ (m)STUDYOFIN NO VA T I V EP AT HW AY S TO B A C CA L AU R EATE D E G REE A TTAIN M ENT .— ‘‘( 1 ) STUDY RE Q UIRED.— The A dvisoryC ommi t tee sh al l c o n- d u ctastudyo f the feasi b ility of increasin g baccalaureate degree attainment rates by reducing the costs and financial barriers to attaining a baccalaureate degree through innovative p ro- grams. ‘‘( 2 ) SCO P E OF STUDY.—The Advisory Committee shall e x amine ne w and existing programs that promote baccalaureate degree attainment through innovative ways , such as dual or concurrent enrollment programs, changes made to the F ederal Pell G rant program, simplification of the needs analysis process, compressed or modular scheduling, articulation agreements, and programs that allow two-year institutions of higher edu- cation to offer baccalaureate degrees. ‘‘( 3 ) R EQUIRED ASPECTS OF THE STUDY.—In performing the study described in this subsection, the Advisory Committee shall examine the following aspects of such innovative pro- grams
‘‘(A) The impact of such programs on baccalaureate attainment rates. ‘‘(B) The degree to which a student ’ s total cost of attaining a baccalaureate degree can be reduced by such programs. ‘‘(C) The ways in which low- and moderate-income students can be specifically targeted by such programs. ‘‘(D) The ways in which nontraditional students can be specifically targeted by such programs. ‘‘( E ) The cost-effectiveness for the Federal Government, States, and institutions of higher education to implement such programs. ‘‘( 4 ) CONSULTATION.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In performing the study described in this subsection, the Advisory Committee shall consult with a broad range of interested parties in higher edu- cation, including parents, students, appropriate representa- tives of secondary schools and institutions of higher edu- cation, appropriate State administrators, administrators of dual or concurrent enrollment programs, and appropriate Department officials. ‘‘(B) CONSULTATION WITH THE AUTHORI Z ING COMMIT- TEES.—The Advisory Committee shall consult on a regular basis with the authori z ing committees in carrying out the study re q uired by this subsection. ‘‘( 5 ) REPORTS TO AUTHORIZING COMMITTEES.— ‘‘(A) INTERIM REPORT.—The Advisory Committee shall prepare and submit to the authorizing committees and the Secretary an interim report, not later than one year after the date of enactment of the H igher Education O ppor- tunity Act, describing the progress made in conducting the study required by this subsection and any preliminary findings on the topics identified under paragraph (2). ‘‘(B) FINAL REPORT.—The Advisory Committee shall, not later than three years after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, prepare and submit to the authorizing committees and the Secretary a final report on the study, including recommendations
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