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Technology Act
ISSUE BRIEF
Summary/Issue
- The Tech Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Bush on December 19, 2002.
- The Tech Act increases National Science Foundation (NSF) grants to higher education
institutions that pledge to increase the number of U.S. students obtaining degrees in
science, mathematics, engineering, or technology.
- The Tech Act establishes a competitive grant program at NSF to reward institutions of
higher learning (universities, colleges, and community colleges) that pledge to increase
the number of U.S. citizens or permanent residents obtaining degrees in science,
mathematics, engineering or technology (SMET). Texas Instruments, working with AeA, passed
similar legislation in Texas.
- The Tech Act provides incentives directly to the educational gatekeepers – the
institutions that are directly responsible for determining the numbers of science and
engineering majors. By targeting rewards to degree-granting institutions, the legislation
seeks to draw in and create additional opportunities for students from the
"margins."
- For Fiscal Year 2002 (which began on Oct. 1, 2001), Congress provided $5 million through
the legislation that funds the NSF to begin this program.
- The Tech Act also doubled the NSF budget and authorizes the Math/Science Partnership in
the NSF.
AeA Member Impact
- The number of American students receiving undergraduate degrees in key high-tech degrees
has been declining since 1985.
- The number of American students receiving undergraduate degrees in electrical
engineering declined 37% between 1990 and 2000.
- Foreign nationals attending US colleges and universities earn almost half of high-tech
Graduate and Doctoral degrees.
Status/Outlook
The next step is to ensure that funding is made available to all of the programs
authorized by this new law. Budget constraints may make implementing this new law
difficult.
AeA Position
In October 2001, the AeA Board of Directors adopted the following resolution –
Therefore, be it resolved that AeA supports state and federal
policies, such as the Tech Talent bill, that will increase the number of American students
graduating with baccalaureate and associates degrees in mathematics, science, engineering,
and technology.
AeA Staff Contact
Matthew Page, Director of
Procurement Policy and Workforce Issues, 202.682.4439
February 2003
This page was last updated on 06/23/04.
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