Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 3.djvu/300

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104 STAT. 1652 PUBLIC LAW 101-510—NOV. 5, 1990 such institutions to grant undergraduate credit for work performed in such a position. "§ 1744. Scholarship program "(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— The Secretary of Defense shall establish a scholarship program for the purpose of qualifying personnel for acquisition positions in the Department of Defense. ' (b) ELIGIBILITY. — To be eligible to participate in the scholarship program, an individual must— "(1) be accepted for enrollment or be currently enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate or graduate degrees (as appropriate); "(2) be pursuing a course of education that leads toward completion of a bachelor's, master's, or doctor's degree (as appropriate) in a qualifying field of study, as determined by the Secretary of Defense; "(3) sign an agreement described in subsection (c) under which the participant agrees to serve a period of obligated service in the Department of Defense in an acquisition position in return for payment of educational assistance as provided in the agreement; and "(4) meet such other requirements as the Secretary prescribes. "(c) AGREEMENT. —An agreement between the Secretary of Defense and a participant in the scholarship program established . under this section shall be in writing, shall be signed by the participant, and shall include the following provisions: "(1) The Secretary's agreement to provide the participant with educational assistance for a specified number (from one to four) of school years during which the participant is pursuing a course of education in a qualifying field of study. The assistance may include payment of tuition, fees, books, laboratory expenses, and a stipend. "(2) The participant's agreement (A) to accept such educational assistance, (B) to maintain enrollment and attendance in the course of education until completed, (C) while enrolled in such course, to maintain an acceptable level of academic standing (as prescribed by the Secretary), and (D) after completion of the course of education, to serve as a full-time employee in an acquisition position in the Department of Defense for a period of time of one calendar year for each school year or part thereof for which the participant was provided a scholarship under the scholarship program. "(d) REPAYMENT. —(1) Any person participating in a program established under this section shall agree to pay to the United States the total amount of educational assistance provided to the person under the program if the person is voluntarily separated from service or involuntarily separated for cause from the Department of Defense before the end of the period for which the person has agreed to continue in the service of the Department of Defense in an acquisition position. "(2) If an employee fails to fulfill his gigreement to pay to the Government the total amount of educational assistance provided to the person under the program, a sum equal to the amount of the educational assistance is recoverable by the Government from the employee or his estate by—