§ 649.22 - How does the Secretary establish priorities?

(a)(1) The Secretary gives an absolute preference to applicants proposing to provide fellowships in the award of which priority is given to women or individuals from minority groups, or both, who are pursuing master's level or professional study and are underrepresented in the academic field for which the grant award is made.

(2) The Secretary announces the absolute preference annually in the Federal Register notice inviting applications for new awards under this program.

(b)(1) The Secretary gives a competitive preference of one point to applicants proposing to provide fellowships in the award of which priority is given to women or individuals from minority groups, or both, who are pursuing master's level study leading to careers that serve the public interest.

(2) This point is in addition to any points the applicant earns under the selection criteria for the program.

(c)(1) The Secretary gives an absolute preference to applicants proposing to provide fellowships in academic career fields of high national priority as established by the Secretary from among one or more of the academic areas listed in the appendix to this part or the resulting subdisciplinary or interdisciplinary academic areas.

(2) The Secretary announces the absolute preference annually in the Federal Register notice inviting applications for new awards under this program.