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Health Professions Pregraduate Scholarship Program for Indians
- Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship Program for Indians
- Health Professions Scholarship Program
Examples of Funded Projects
Scholarships may be awarded for any of the following career categories (or the equivalent): (1) Premedicine; (2) preoptometry; (3) predentistry; or (4) preosteopathy.
The priority categories are premedicine (priority as follows: senior, junior, sophomore, freshman) and predentistry (priority as follows: senior, junior, sophomore, freshman).
The Department of Health and Human Services is the Federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2005, 48 new and 13 continuing awards were made. It is estimated that a total of 61 scholarship awards will be made in fiscal year 2006 and fiscal year 2007.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Scholarship awards are limited to persons of American Indian or Alaska Native descent.
Support is limited to 4 years of full-time education, or part-time equivalent for a maximum of 8 years.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Individuals of American Indian or Alaska Native descent, who have successfully completed high school education or high school equivalency, and have been accepted for enrollment or are enrolled in an accredited pre-graduate program in a pre-medicine or pre-dentistry curriculum.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Individuals of American Indian or Alaska Native descent.
Credentials/Documentation
Students must submit proper documentation of Indian eligibility in order to be considered. The applicant's advisor must also provide verification that the courses to be taken are required for an undergraduate curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in pre-medicine or pre-dentistry curriculum and represents the number of credit hours which the school requires to be full-time or at least 6 hours of part-time study.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication is not required.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Application form OMB No. 0917-0006 and instructions are provided by the Indian Health Service and are usually available to interested individuals in February. An application form and required documentation (official transcripts, letter of acceptance by college, curriculum verification, Indian eligibility, tuition verification, faculty evaluations) are submitted to IHS Headquarters for review and approval/disapproval.
Award Procedures
Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Approved funding includes payments for stipends and books that are made directly to the individual recipient. Tuition and fee payments are made to the recipient's college or university.
Deadlines
Contact IHS Area offices for application deadlines. New applications are usually available in February with a submission deadline of April 1.
Authorization
Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 94- 437, as amended.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Applicants are notified by July 31.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Continuation applications must be submitted annually. Continued funding is subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Tuition payments are paid upon receipt of invoices from the universities. Stipend payments are paid monthly for the academic period. An amount is provided to students for books and other necessary expenses.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Students are required to submit their official transcripts as they are received.
Initial progress reports are required for each quarter.
Notification of Academic Problem/Change is required at any time a problem or change occurs.
Audits
Not applicable.
Records
The Indian Health Service Scholarship Program maintains records on all students. Records must be maintained for 4 years after the final payment has been made.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0390-0-1-551.
Obigations
(Grants) FY 07 $1,364,846; FY 08 $1,364,846, FY 09 est. not available.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$18,913 to $27,217; $20,049.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
42 CFR 36.370-36.374. Final Rules and Regulations, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 96-537 (which amends Public Law 94-437, Section 103), published in the Federal Register on February 29, 1984.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Program Contact: Ms. Pat Lee-McCoy, IHS Scholarship Program, Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 443-6197. Grants Management Contact: Ms. Kimberly Pendleton, Senior Grants Management Officer, Division of Grants Operations, Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP, Suite 360, Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 443-0243. Use the same numbers for FTS.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Applicant must be of Indian descent. Other elements considered are: (1) academic performance; (2) faculty or employer recommendation; (3) stated reasons for applying for the scholarship; and (4) the relative needs of the Indian Health Service and Indian health organizations for persons in specific health professions.
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