Sonja Alexander
Headquarters, Washington, DC                     July 19, 1999
(Phone:  202/358-1761)


MEDIA ADVISORY: m99-144

NASA AWARDS PARTNERSHIPS FOR INNOVATIVE 
AND UNIQUE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROJECTS

     The NASA Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (OEOP) has 
awarded 72 Partnership Awards for Innovative and Unique Education 
and Research Projects to 39 minority institutions, which in turn 
are creating partnerships with more than 90 institutions and 
organizations.

     "NASA has a rich and distinguished history of collaborative 
partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 
Hispanic Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and 
Universities," said George Reese, NASA Associate Administrator of 
Equal Opportunity Programs.  "These awards are another opportunity 
to enhance the partnerships and to further the goals and 
objectives of the agency's strategic direction."

     The Partnership Award is designed to foster cooperation 
between NASA employees and the faculty and students at minority 
institutions; to enhance collaborative research and educational 
efforts with NASA Centers, the aerospace industry, public schools 
and other institutions of higher education; and to enhance the 
development of a competent scientific and technical workforce of 
outstanding U.S. citizens.  To qualify for support, projects must 
be unique, innovative and fall outside NASA's usual competitive 
programs. 

     More than 120 proposals were submitted.  Final selection was 
based on competitive merit review by each NASA Center and the Jet 
Propulsion Laboratory.  The Partnership Awards are grants of up to 
$100,000 per year for up to two years, enhanced by funding from 
NASA Centers and the minority-institutions partners.

     A listing of the awardees can be found at:

               http://mured.alliedtech.com


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