---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 2015b"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "2015b"
heading: "Scholarship and fellowship program"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/2015b"
units:
  - "Chapter 23 — Development and Control of Atomic Energy"
  - "Division A — Atomic Energy"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §2015b. Scholarship and fellowship program

- (a) **Scholarship program—** To enable students to study, for at least 1 academic semester or equivalent term, science, engineering, or another field of study that the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) determines is in a critical skill area related to the regulatory mission of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) may carry out a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to—
  - (1) [^1] award scholarships to undergraduate students who—
    - (A) are [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) citizens; and
    - (B) enter into an [agreement](/usc/42/1320b–8.md?p=a-3-A) under [subsection (c)](#c) to be employed by the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) in the area of study for which the scholarship is awarded.
- (b) **Fellowship program—** To enable students to pursue education in science, engineering, or another field of study that the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) determines is in a critical skill area related to its regulatory mission, in a graduate or professional degree [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) offered by an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/6371h–1.md?p=a-4) in the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k), the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) may carry out a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to—
  - (1) [^1] award [fellowships](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3) to graduate students who—
    - (A) are [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) citizens; and
    - (B) enter into an [agreement](/usc/42/1320b–8.md?p=a-3-A) under [subsection (c)](#c) to be employed by the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) in the area of study for which the [fellowship](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3) is awarded.
- (c) **Requirements—**
  - (1) **In general—** As a condition of receiving a scholarship or [fellowship](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3) under subsection [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b), a [recipient](/usc/42/2996a.md?p=6) of the scholarship or [fellowship](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3) shall enter into an [agreement](/usc/42/1320b–8.md?p=a-3-A) with the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) under which, in return for the assistance, the [recipient](/usc/42/2996a.md?p=6) shall—
    - (A) maintain satisfactory academic progress in the studies of the [recipient](/usc/42/2996a.md?p=6), as determined by criteria established by the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1);
    - (B) agree that failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress shall constitute grounds on which the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) may terminate the assistance;
    - (C) on completion of the academic course of study in connection with which the assistance was provided, and in accordance with criteria established by the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), engage in employment by the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) for a period specified by the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), that shall be not less than 1 time and not more than 3 times the period for which the assistance was provided; and
    - (D) if the [recipient](/usc/42/2996a.md?p=6) fails to meet the requirements of subparagraph [(A)](#c-1-A), [(B)](#c-1-B), or [(C)](#c-1-C), reimburse the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) Government for—
      - (i) the entire amount of the assistance provided the [recipient](/usc/42/2996a.md?p=6) under the scholarship or [fellowship](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3); and
      - (ii) interest at a rate determined by the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Waiver or suspension—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) may establish criteria for the partial or total waiver or suspension of any obligation of service or payment incurred by a [recipient](/usc/42/2996a.md?p=6) of a scholarship or [fellowship](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3) under this section.
- (d) **Competitive process—** [Recipients](/usc/42/2996a.md?p=6) of scholarships or [fellowships](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3) under this section shall be selected through a competitive process primarily on the basis of academic merit and such other criteria as the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) may establish, with consideration given to financial need and the goal of promoting the participation of individuals identified in section [1885a](/usc/42/1885a.md) or [1885b](/usc/42/1885b.md) of this title.
- (e) **Direct appointment—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) may appoint directly, with no further competition, public notice, or consideration of any other potential candidate, an individual who has—
  - (1) received a scholarship or [fellowship](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3) awarded by the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) under this section; and
  - (2) completed the [academic program](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34) for which the scholarship or [fellowship](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3) was awarded.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. No par. (2) has been enacted.

## Source credit

(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 243, as added Pub. L. 109–58, title VI, § 622(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 782.)