ALLIANCES FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION.

SEC. 404. ALLIANCES FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION. (a) In General.— The Director is authorized to make awards to institutions of higher education to enable such institutions of higher education to establish or maintain alliances, partnerships, or other cooperative arrangements between institutions of higher education with predominately minority enrollments and institutions of higher education with high quality research programs in mathematics, science or engineering. (b) Special Rule.— In making awards pursuant to this title, the Director shall, to the extent practicable, ensure— (1) an equitable geographic distribution of such awards; and (2) that institutions of higher education receiving such awards demonstrate experience in, and a commitment to, educating and graduating a significant number of women and minority students from programs in mathematics, science and engineering.