Last year Congress levied a $500 fee on employers who hire foreign workers for high-tech jobs and gave NSF about a third of the money to provide 2-year, $2500 scholarships (Science, 4 December 1998, p. 1796). But NSF says it is better for institutions--not individuals--to compete for the funds, which total $21 million in the first round of a 3-year program. The switch "allows us to ensure that the surrounding program is of high quality," says Norm Fortenberry, NSF's head of undergraduate education. "It's better than telling students: 'Here's some money, now you're on your own.' " NSF has begun reviewing proposals to select 100 winners from the 280 colleges and universities bidding for up to 40 slots each.

The number of scholarships could grow further under a bill, S. 1804, introduced by Senator John McCain (R-AZ). It would lift the cap--now 115,000--on the annual number of visas issued, which should pump more money into scholarships, and award grants aimed at beefing up math and science education at all levels. "We want a bigger bang for our buck," an aide explains.