Indian Health Professions Preparatory, Indian Health Professions Pre-graduate and Indian Health Professions Scholarship Programs, 78976-78981 [2013-31076]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services
Administration
Indian Health Service
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C
Early Intervention Services Grant
Under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS
Program
Indian Health Professions Preparatory,
Indian Health Professions Pregraduate and Indian Health
Professions Scholarship Programs
Announcement Type: Initial.
Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA), Department of
Health and Human Services.
CFDA Numbers: 93.971, 93.123, AND
93.972
Notice of Ryan White HIV/AIDS
Program Part C Early Intervention
Services One-Time Noncompetitive
Award To Ensure Continued HIV
Primary Medical Care.
Application Deadline: February 28,
2014, for continuing students.
Application Deadline: March 28,
2014, for new students.
Application Review: May 5–16, 2014.
Continuation Award Notification
Deadline: June 6, 2014.
New Award Notification Deadline:
July 3, 2014.
Award Start Date: August 1, 2014.
Acceptance/Decline of Awards
Deadline: August 1, 2014.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
To prevent a lapse in
comprehensive primary care services for
persons living with HIV/AIDS, HRSA
will provide a one-time noncompetitive
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C
award to Our Lady of the Lake Regional
Medical Center, Inc. (OLOL), Baton
Rouge, Louisiana.
SUMMARY:
The
amount of the award to ensure ongoing
HIV medical services is $348,111.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Section 2651 of the Public
Health Service (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 300ff–51.
CFDA Number: 93.918.
Project period: The period of support
for this award is 13 months, explained
below in further detail.
Justification for the Exception to
Competition: The Louisiana State
University Health Sciences Center—Earl
K. Long Medical Center (Grant Number:
H76HA00591) announced the
relinquishment of their Part C grant
effective April 15, 2013. To prevent a
lapse in HIV medical care, grant funds
of $348,111 are to be awarded to OLOL
to provide interim HIV medical care.
The $348,111 represents the balance of
the fiscal year 2013 award to cover HIV
primary medical care services until
April 30, 2014. The service area will be
competed under HRSA–14–059 with a
program start date of May 1, 2014.
John
Fanning, Senior Policy Advisor,
Division of Community HIV/AIDS
Programs/HAB, HRSA, 5600 Fishers
Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, by email at
jfanning@hrsa.gov, or by phone at (301)
443–8367.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: December 23, 2013.
Mary K. Wakefield,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013–31120 Filed 12–26–13; 8:45 am]
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Key Dates
I. Funding Opportunity Description
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is
committed to encouraging American
Indians and Alaska Natives to enter the
health professions and to assuring the
availability of Indian health
professionals to serve Indians. The IHS
is committed to the recruitment of
students for the following programs:
• The Indian Health Professions
Preparatory Scholarship authorized by
Section 103 of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act, Public Law 94–437
(1976), as amended (IHCIA), codified at
25 U.S.C. 1613(b)(1).
• The Indian Health Professions Pregraduate Scholarship authorized by
Section 103 of the IHCIA, codified at 25
U.S.C. 1613(b)(2).
• The Indian Health Professions
Scholarship authorized by Section 104
of the IHCIA, codified at 25 U.S.C.
1613a.
Full-time and part-time scholarships
will be funded for each of the three
scholarship programs.
The scholarship award selections and
funding are subject to availability of
funds appropriated for the Scholarship
Program.
II. Award Information
Type of Award
Scholarship.
Estimated Funds Available
An estimated $13.2 million will be
available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014
awards. The IHS Scholarship Program
(IHSSP) anticipates, but cannot
guarantee, due to possible funding
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changes, student scholarship selections
from any or all of the following
disciplines in the Preparatory, Pregraduate or Health Professions
Scholarship Programs for the
Scholarship Period 2014–2015. Due to
the rising cost of education and the
decreasing number of scholars who can
be funded by the IHSSP, the IHSSP has
changed the funding policy for
Preparatory and Pre-graduate
scholarship awards and reallocated a
greater percentage of its funding in an
effort to increase the number of Health
Professions scholarships, and inherently
the number of service-obligated
scholars, to better meet the health care
needs of the IHS and its Tribal and
Urban Indian health care system
partners.
Anticipated Number of Awards
Approximately 45 awards will be
made under the Health Professions
Preparatory and Pre-graduate
Scholarship Programs for Indians. The
awards are for ten months in duration,
with an additional two months for
approved summer school requests, and
will cover both tuition and fees and
Other Related Costs (ORC). The average
award to a full-time student is
approximately $34,490.60. An estimated
276 awards will be made under the
Indian Health Professions Scholarship
Program. The awards are for 12 months
in duration and will cover both tuition
and fees and ORC. The average award to
a full-time student is approximately
$42,432.70. In FY 2014, an estimated
$11,700,000 is available for Health
Professions awards, and an estimated
$1,500,000 is available for Preparatory
and Pre-graduate awards.
Project Period
The project period for the IHS Health
Professions Preparatory Scholarship
support, tuition, fees and ORC is limited
to two years for full-time students and
the part-time equivalent of two years,
not to exceed four years for part-time
students. The project period for the
Health Professions Pre-graduate
Scholarship support, tuition, fees and
ORC is limited to four years for full-time
students and the part-time equivalent of
four years, not to exceed eight years for
part-time students. The IHS Indian
Health Professions Scholarship provides
support for tuition, fees, and ORC and
is limited to four years for full-time
students and the part-time equivalent of
four years, not to exceed eight years for
part-time students.
III. Eligibility Information
This is a limited competition
announcement. New and Continuation
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scholarship awards are limited to
‘‘Indians’’ as defined at 25 U.S.C.
Section 1603(13). Note: The definition
of ‘‘Indians’’ for Section 103 Preparatory
and Pre-graduate scholarships is broader
than the definition of ‘‘Indians’’ for the
Section 104 Health Professions
scholarship, as specified below.
Continuation awards are noncompetitive.
1. Eligibility
The Health Professions Preparatory
Scholarship awards are made to
American Indians. (Federally
recognized Tribal members, including
those from Tribes terminated since
1940, first and second degree
descendants of Federally recognized
Tribal members, State recognized Tribal
members and first and second degree
descendants of State recognized Tribal
members), or Eskimo, Aleut and other
Alaska Natives who:
• Have successfully completed high
school education or high school
equivalency; and
• Have been accepted for enrollment
in a compensatory, pre-professional
general education course or curriculum
The Health Pre-graduate Scholarship
awards are made to American Indians
(Federally recognized Tribal members,
including those from Tribes terminated
since 1940, first and second degree
descendants of Tribal members, and
State recognized Tribal members, first
and second degree descendants of Tribal
members), or Eskimo, Aleut and other
Alaska Natives who:
• Have successfully completed high
school education or high school
equivalency; and
• Have been accepted for enrollment
or are enrolled in an accredited pregraduate program leading to a
baccalaureate degree in pre-medicine,
pre-dentistry, pre-optometry or prepodiatry.
The Indian Health Professions
Scholarship may be awarded only to an
individual who is a member of a
Federally recognized Indian Tribe,
Eskimo, Aleut or other Alaska Native as
provided by Section 1603(13) of the
IHCIA. Membership in a Tribe
recognized only by a State does not
meet this statutory requirement. To
receive an Indian Health Professions
Scholarship, an otherwise eligible
individual must be enrolled in an
appropriately accredited school and
pursuing a course of study in a health
profession as defined by Section
1603(10) of the IHCIA.
2. Cost Sharing/Matching
The Scholarship Program does not
require matching funds or cost sharing
to participate in the competitive grant
process.
3. Benefits from State, Local, Tribal and
Other Federal Sources
Awardees of the Health Professions
Preparatory scholarship, Health
Professions Pre- Graduate scholarship,
or Health Professions scholarship, who
accept outside funding from other
scholarship, grant and fee waiver
programs, will have these monies
applied to their student account tuition
IHS area office and states/locality
served
Aberdeen Area IHS
Nebraska ..................................
Iowa.
North Dakota.
South Dakota.
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Alaska ......................................
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Albuquerque Area IHS
Colorado ..................................
New Mexico.
Bemidji Area IHS
Illinois .......................................
and fees charges at the college or
university they are attending, before the
IHS Scholarship Program will pay any
of the remaining balance, unless said
outside scholarship, grant or fee waiver
award letter specifically excludes use
for tuition and fees. These outside
funding sources must be reported on the
student’s invoicing documents
submitted by the college or university
they are attending. Student loans and
Veterans Administration (VA)/GI Bill
Benefits accepted by Health Professions
scholarship recipients will have no
effect on the IHSSP payment made to
their college or university.
IV. Application Submission
Information
1. Electronic Application System and
Application Handbook Instructions and
Forms
Applicants must go online to
www.ihs.gov/scholarship to apply for an
IHS scholarship and access the
Application Handbook instructions and
forms for submitting a properly
completed application for review and
funding consideration. Applicants are
strongly encouraged to seek
consultation from their Area
Scholarship Coordinator (ASC) in
preparing their scholarship application
for award consideration. ASC’s are
listed on the IHS Web site at: https://
www.scholarship.ihs.gov/area_
coordinators.cfm.
This information is listed below.
Please review the following list to
identify the appropriate IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator for your State.
Scholarship coordinator address
IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Ms. Kim Annis, Aberdeen Area IHS, 115 4th Avenue SE., Aberdeen,
SD 57401, Tele: (605) 226–7466.
Ms. Sandy Stearns, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Alaska Native Tribal Consortium, 4000 Ambassador Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, Tele: (907) 729–3035, 1–800–684–8361 (toll free).
Ms. Tasha Hotch, Alaska Native Tribal Consortium, 4000 Ambassador Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, Tele:
(907) 729–1913, 1–800–684–8361 (toll free).
Ms. Cora Boone, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Albuquerque Area IHS, 5300 Homestead Road NE.,
Albuquerque, NM 87110, Tele: (505) 248–4418, 1–800–382–3027 (toll free).
Mr. Tony Buckanaga, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Bemidji Area IHS, 522 Minnesota Avenue NW.,
Room 209, Bemidji, MN 56601, Tele: (218) 444–0486, 1–800–892–3079 (toll free).
Indiana.
Michigan.
Minnesota.
Wisconsin.
Billings Area IHS
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IHS area office and states/locality
served
Montana ...................................
Wyoming.
California Area IHS
California ..................................
Nashville Area IHS
Alabama ...................................
Arkansas.
Connecticut.
Delaware.
Florida.
Georgia.
Kentucky.
Louisiana.
Maine.
Maryland.
Massachusetts.
Mississippi.
New Hampshire.
New Jersey.
New York.
North Carolina.
Ohio.
Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island.
South Carolina.
Tennessee.
Vermont.
Virginia.
West Virginia.
District of Columbia.
Navajo Area IHS
Arizona .....................................
New Mexico.
Utah.
Oklahoma City Area IHS
Kansas .....................................
Missouri.
Oklahoma.
Phoenix Area IHS
Arizona .....................................
Nevada.
Utah.
Portland Area IHS
Idaho ........................................
Oregon.
Washington.
Tucson Area IHS
Arizona .....................................
Texas.
Scholarship coordinator address
Mr. Delon Rock Above, Alternate: Ms. Bernice Hugs, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Billings Area IHS,
Area Personnel Office, P.O. Box 36600, 2900 4th Avenue, North, Suite 400, Billings, MT 59103, Tele:
(406) 247–7215.
Ms. Mona Celli, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, California Area IHS, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 7–100,
Sacramento, CA 95814, Tele: (505) 248–4418.
Ms. Marla Jones, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Nashville Area IHS, 711 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville, TN 37214, Tele: (615) 467–1576.
Ms. Aletha John, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Navajo Area IHS, P.O. Box 9020, Window Rock, AZ
86515, Tele: (928) 871–1360.
Mr. Keith Bohanan, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Oklahoma City Area IHS, 701 Market Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73114, Tele: (405) 951–3789, 1–800–722–3357 (toll free).
Ms. Trudy Begay, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Phoenix Area IHS, Suite 510, 40 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004, Tele: (602) 364–5256.
Mr. Wayne Teeias, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Portland Area IHS, 1414 NW Northrup Street, Suite
800, Portland, OR 97209, Tele: (503) 414–5546.
Ms. Trudy Begay, (See Phoenix Area).
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2. Content and Form Submission
Each applicant will be responsible for
entering their basic applicant account
information online, in addition to
submitting a completed, original
signature hard copy and one copy set of
application documents, in accordance
with the IHS Scholarship Program
Application Handbook instructions, to
the: IHS Scholarship Program Branch
Office, 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP
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450A, Rockville, MD 20852. Applicants
must initiate an application through the
on-line portal or their applications will
be considered incomplete. For more
information on how to use the on-line
portal, go to www.ihs.gov/scholarship.
The portal will be open on December 1,
2013. The application will be
considered complete if the following
documents (original and one copy) are
included:
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• Completed and signed online
Application Checklist.
• Completed, printed, and signed
IHSSP online application form for new
or continuation student.
• Current Letter of Acceptance from
College/University or Proof of
Application to a College/University or
Health Professions Program.
• One set of Official transcripts for all
colleges/universities attended (or high
school transcripts or Certificate of
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Completion of Home School Program or
General Education Diploma (G.E.D.) for
applicants who have not taken college
courses).
• Cumulative Grade Point Average
(GPA): Calculated by the applicant.
• Applicant’s Documents for Indian
Eligibility.
A. If you are a member of a Federally
recognized Tribe or Alaska Native
(recognized by the Secretary of the
Interior), provide evidence of
membership such as:
(1) Certification of Tribal enrollment
by the Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Bureau of Indian Affairs
(BIA) Certification: Form 4432—
Category A or D, whichever is
applicable); or
(2) In the absence of BIA certification,
documentation that you meet
requirements of Tribal membership as
prescribed by the charter, articles of
incorporation or other legal instrument
of the Tribe and have been officially
designated as a Tribal member as
evidenced by an accompanying
document signed by an authorized
Tribal official, i.e., Tribal enrollment
card showing enrollment number; or
(3) Other evidence of Tribal
membership satisfactory to the Secretary
of the Interior.
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Note: If you meet the criteria of B or C, you
are eligible only for the Preparatory or Pregraduate Scholarships.
B. For Preparatory or Pre-graduate
Scholarships, only: If you are a member
of a Tribe terminated since 1940 or a
State recognized Tribe and first or
second degree descendant, provide
official documentation that you meet
the requirements of Tribal membership
as prescribed by the charter, articles of
incorporation or other legal instrument
of the Tribe and have been officially
designated as a Tribal member as
evidenced by an accompanying
document signed by an authorized
Tribal official; or other evidence,
satisfactory to the Secretary of the
Interior, that you are a member of the
Tribe. In addition, if the terminated or
state recognized Tribe of which you are
a member is not on a list of such Tribes
published by the Secretary of the
Interior in the Federal Register, you
must submit an official signed
document that the Tribe has been
terminated since 1940 or is recognized
by the state in which the Tribe is
located in accordance with the law of
that state.
C. For Preparatory or Pre-graduate
Scholarships, only: If you are not a
Tribal member, but are a natural child
or grandchild of a Tribal member you
must submit: (1) evidence of that fact,
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e.g., your birth certificate and/or your
parent’s/grandparent’s birth/death
certificate showing the name of the
Tribal member; and (2) evidence of your
parent’s or grandparent’s Tribal
membership in accordance with
paragraphs A and B. The relationship to
the Tribal member must be clearly
documented. Failure to submit the
required documentation will result in
the application not being accepted for
review.
• Two Faculty/Employer Evaluations
with original signature.
• Online Narratives—Reasons for
Requesting the Scholarship.
• Delinquent Debt Form.
• Course Curriculum Verification
with original signature.
• Curriculum for Major.
3. Submission Dates
Application Receipt Date: The online
Continuation Application submission
deadline for Continuation applicants is
Friday, February 28, 2014. Required
application support documents will be
accepted through Friday, March 28,
2014.
Application Receipt Date: New
applicants must print and sign their
online application and Checklist and
submit it with their supporting
documents by the postal deadline of
Friday, March 28, 2014. No supporting
documents will be accepted after this
date, except final Letters of Acceptance,
which must be submitted no later than
Friday, May 30, 2014.
Applications and supporting
documents (original and one copy) shall
be considered as meeting the deadline if
they are received by the IHSSP Branch
Office, postmarked on or before the
deadline date. Applicants should
request a legibly dated U.S. Postal
Service postmark or obtain a legibly
dated receipt from a commercial carrier
or U.S. Postal Service. Private metered
postmarks will not be acceptable as
proof of timely mailing and will not be
considered for funding.
New and Continuation applicants
may check the status of their application
receipt and processing by logging into
their online account at www.ihs.gov/
scholarship. Applications received with
postmarks after the announced deadline
date will not be considered for funding.
4. Intergovernmental Review
Executive Order 12372 requiring
intergovernmental review is not
applicable to this program.
5. Funding Restrictions
No more than 5% of available funds
will be used for part-time scholarships
this fiscal year. Students are considered
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part-time if they are enrolled for a
minimum of six hours of instruction
and are not considered in full-time
status by their college/university.
Documentation must be received from
part-time applicants that their school
and course curriculum allows less than
full-time status. Both part-time and fulltime scholarship awards will be made in
accordance with 42 CFR Subpart J,
Subdivisions J–3, J–4, and J–8 and this
information will be published in all
IHSSP Application and Student
Handbooks as they pertain to the IHSSP.
6. Other Submissions Requirements
New and Continuation applicants are
responsible for using the online
application system. See section 3.
Submission Dates for application
deadlines.
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Applications will be reviewed and
scored with the following criteria.
• Academic Performance (40 Points)
Applicants are rated according to
their academic performance as
evidenced by transcripts and faculty
evaluations. In cases where a particular
applicant’s school has a policy not to
rank students academically, faculty
members are asked to provide a
personal judgment of the applicant’s
achievement. Preparatory, Pre-graduate
and Health Professions applicants with
a cumulative GPA below 2.0 are not
eligible for award.
• Faculty/Employer Recommendations
(30 Points)
Applicants are rated according to
evaluations by faculty members, current
and/or former employers and Tribal
officials regarding the applicant’s
potential in the chosen health related
professions.
• Stated Reasons for Asking for the
Scholarship and Stated Career Goals
Related to the Needs of the IHS (30
Points)
Applicants must provide a brief
written explanation of reasons for
asking for the scholarship and of their
career goals. Applicants are considered
for scholarship awards based on their
desired career goals and how these goals
relate to current Indian health personnel
needs.
The applicant’s narrative will be
judged on how well it is written and its
content.
Applications for each health career
category are reviewed and ranked
separately.
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• Applicants who are closest to
graduation or completion of training are
awarded first. For example, senior and
junior applicants under the Health
Professions Pre-graduate Scholarship
receive funding before freshmen and
sophomores.
• Priority Categories
The following is a list of health
professions that will be considered for
funding in each scholarship program in
FY 2014.
Æ Indian Health Professions Preparatory
Scholarships
A. Pre-Clinical Psychology (Jr. and Sr.
undergraduate years only).
B. Pre-Nursing.
C. Pre-Pharmacy.
D. Pre-Social Work (Jr. and Sr.
preparing for an MS in social work).
Æ Indian Health Professions PreGraduate Scholarships
A. Pre-Dentistry.
B. Pre-Medicine.
C. Pre-Optometry.
D. Pre-Podiatry.
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Æ Indian Health Professionals
Scholarship
A. Bio Medical Engineering—BS. (Jr.
and Sr. undergraduate years only).
B. Bio Medical Technology—AAS.
C. Chemical Dependency
Counseling—Master’s Degrees.
D. Clinical Psychology—Ph.D. or
Psy.D.
E. Coding Specialist—AAS degree.
F. Dentistry: DDS or DMD degrees.
G. Diagnostic Radiology Technology:
Associates and B.S.
H. Environmental Health/Sanitarian:
B.S. (Jr. and Sr. undergraduate years
only).
I. Health Records Administration:
R.H.I.T. (A.A.S.) and R.H.I.A (B.S.).
J. Medical Technology: B.S. (Jr. and
Sr. undergraduate years only).
K. Medicine: Allopathic and
Osteopathic.
L. Nurse: Associate and Bachelor
Degrees and advanced degrees in
Psychiatry, Geriatric, Women’s Health,
Pediatric Nursing, Midwifery, Nurse
Anesthetist, and Nurse Practitioner.
(Priority consideration will be given to
Registered Nurses employed by the IHS;
in a program conducted under a
contract or compact entered into under
the Indian Self-Determination Act and
Education Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93–
638) and its amendments; or in a
program assisted under Title V of the
IHCIA).
M. Optometry: O.D.
N. Pharmacy: Pharm.D.
O. Physician Assistant: PA–C.
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P. Physical Therapy: M.S. and D.P.T.
Q. Podiatry: D.P.M.
R. Public Health Nutritionist: M.S.
S. Respiratory Therapy: B.S. Degree.
T. Social Work: Masters Level only
(Direct Practice and Clinical
concentrations).
U. Ultrasonography (Prerequisite:
Diagnostic Radiology Technology
degree/certificate).
2. Review and Selection Process
The applications will be reviewed and
scored by the IHS Scholarship
Program’s Application Review
Committee appointed by the IHS.
Reviewers will not be allowed to review
an application from his/her Area or his/
her own Tribe. Each application will be
reviewed by three reviewers. The
average score of the three reviews
provides the final Ranking Score for
each applicant. To determine the
ranking of each applicant, these scores
are sorted from the highest to the lowest
within each scholarship health
discipline by date of graduation and
score. If several students have the same
date of graduation and score within the
same discipline, computer ranking list
will randomly sort and will not be
sorted by alphabetical name. Selections
are then made from the top of each
ranking list to the extent that funds
allocated by the IHS among the three
scholarships are available for obligation.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
It is anticipated that recipients
applying for extension of their
scholarship funding will be notified in
writing during the first week of June
2014 and new applicants will be
notified in writing during the first week
of July 2014. An Award Letter will be
issued to successful applicants.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified
in writing, which will include a brief
explanation of the reason(s) the
application was not successful and
provide the name of the IHS official to
contact if more information is desired.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
Regulations at 42 CFR § 136.304
provide that the IHS shall, from time to
time, publish a list of allied health
professions eligible for consideration for
the award of IHS Indian Health
Professions Preparatory and Pregraduate Scholarships and IHS Health
Professions Scholarship. Section
104(b)(1) of the IHCIA, 25 U.S.C.
1613a(b)(1), authorizes the IHS to
determine the distribution of
scholarships among the health
professions.
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Awards for the Indian Health
Professions Scholarships will be made
in accordance 42 CFR 136.330–136.334.
Awardees shall incur a service
obligation prescribed under the IHCIA,
Section 1613a(b), which shall be met by
service, through full-time clinical
practice:
(1) In the IHS;
(2) In a program conducted under a
contract or compact entered into under
the Indian Self-Determination Act and
Education Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93–
638) and its amendments;
(3) In a program assisted under Title
V of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act (Pub. L. 94–437) and
its amendments; or
(4) In a private practice option of his
or her profession if the practice (a) is
situated in a health professional
shortage area, designated in regulations
promulgated by the Secretary of Health
and Human Services (Secretary) and (b)
addresses the health care needs of a
substantial number (75% of the total
served) of Indians as determined by the
Secretary in accordance with guidelines
of the Service.
Pursuant to the IHCIA Section
1613a(b)(3)(C), an awardee of an IHS
Health Professions Scholarship may, at
the election of the awardee, meet his/
her service obligation prescribed under
IHCIA Section 1613a(b) by a program
specified in options (1)–(4) above that:
(i) Is located on the reservation of the
Tribe in which the awardee is enrolled;
or
(ii) Serves the Tribe in which the
awardee is enrolled, if there is an open
vacancy available in the discipline for
which the awardee was funded under
the IHS Health Professions Scholarship
during the required 90-day placement
period.
In summary, all awardees of the
Indian Health Professions Scholarship
are reminded that acceptance of this
scholarship will result in a service
obligation required by both statute and
contract, which must be performed,
through full-time clinical practice, at an
approved service payback facility. The
Acting Director reserves the right to
make final decisions regarding
assignment of scholarship recipients to
fulfill their service obligation.
Moreover, the Acting Director, IHS,
has the authority to make the final
determination, designating a facility,
whether managed and operated by IHS,
or one of its Tribal or Urban Indian
partners, consistent with IHCIA, as
approved for scholar obligated service
payback.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 249 / Friday, December 27, 2013 / Notices
A. Recipient’s Enrollment and Initial
Progress Report
3. Reporting
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Scholarship Program Minimum
Academic Requirements
It is the policy of the IHS that a
scholarship awardee funded under the
Health Professions Scholarship Program
of the Indian Health Care Improvement
Act must maintain a 2.0 cumulative
GPA, remain in good academic standing
each semester/trimester/quarter,
maintain full-time student status
(Institutional definition of ‘minimum
hours’ constituting full-time enrollment
applies) or part-time student status
(Institutional definition of ‘minimum
and maximum’ hours constituting parttime enrollment applies) for the entire
academic year, as indicated on the
scholarship application submitted for
that academic year. The Health
Professions awardee may not change his
or her enrollment status between terms
of enrollment, during the same
academic year. New recipients may not
request a Leave of Absence during the
first year of their funding. In addition to
these requirements, a Health Professions
Scholarship awardee must be enrolled
in an approved/accredited school for a
Health Professions degree.
An awardee of a scholarship under
the IHS Health Professions Preparatory
and Health Professions Pre-Graduate
Scholarship authority must maintain a
minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, remain
in good standing each semester/
trimester/quarter and be a full-time
student (Institutional definition of
‘minimum hours’ constituting full-time
enrollment applies, typically 12 credit
hours per semester) or a part-time
student (Institutional definition of
‘minimum and maximum’ hours
constituting part-time enrollment
applies, typically 6–11 credit hours).
The Preparatory and Pre-graduate
awardee may not change from part-time
status to full-time status or vice versa in
the same academic year. New recipients
may not request a Leave of Absence
during the first year of their funding.
The following reports must be sent to
the IHSSP at the identified time frame.
Each scholarship awardee will have
access to an online Recipient Handbook
and required program forms and
instructions on when, how, and to
whom these must be submitted, by
logging into the IHSSP Web site at
www.ihs.gov/scholarship. If a
scholarship awardee fails to submit
these forms and reports as required,
they will be ineligible for continuation
of scholarship support and scholarship
award payments will be discontinued.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
23:48 Dec 26, 2013
Jkt 232001
Within thirty (30) days from the
beginning of each semester/trimester/
quarter, scholarship awardees must
submit a Recipient’s Enrollment and
Initial Progress Report (Form IHS–856–
8, page 69 of the Student Handbook).
B. Transcripts
Within thirty (30) days from the end
of each academic period, i.e., semester/
trimester/quarter, or summer session,
scholarship awardees must submit an
Official Transcript showing the results
of the classes taken during that period.
C. Notification of Academic Problem/
Change
If at any time during the semester/
trimester/quarter, scholarship awardees
are advised to reduce the number of
credit hours for which they are enrolled
below the minimum of the 12 (or the
number of hours considered by their
school as full-time) for a full-time
student or at least six hours for parttime students; or if they experience
academic problems, they must submit
this report (Form IHS–856–9, page 71 of
the Student Handbook).
D. Change of Status
• Change of Academic Status
Scholarship awardees must
immediately notify their Scholarship
Program Analyst if they are placed on
academic probation, dismissed from
school, or voluntarily withdraw for any
reason (personal or medical).
• Change of Health Discipline
Scholarship awardees may not change
from the approved IHSSP health
discipline during the school year. If an
unapproved change is made,
scholarship payments will be
discontinued.
• Change in Graduation Date
Any time that a change occurs in a
scholarship awardee’s expected
graduation date, they must notify their
Scholarship Program Analyst
immediately in writing. Justification
must be attached from the school
advisor.
VII. Agency Contacts
1. Questions on the application
process may be directed to the
appropriate IHS Area Scholarship
Coordinator.
2. Questions on other programmatic
matters may be addressed to: Dr. Dawn
A. Kelly, Chief, Scholarship Program,
801 Thompson Avenue, TMP 450A,
Rockville, Maryland 20852, Telephone:
PO 00000
Frm 00172
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
78981
(301) 443–6197 (This is not a toll-free
number).
3. Questions on payment information
may be directed to: Mr. Craig Boswell,
Grants Scholarship Coordinator,
Division of Grants Management, Indian
Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue,
TMP 360, Rockville, Maryland 20852,
Telephone: (301) 443–0243 (This is not
a toll-free number).
VIII. Other Information
The Public Health Service (PHS) is
committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention
objectives of Healthy People 2020, a
PHS-led activity for setting priority
areas. This program announcement is
related to the priority area of Education
and Community-Based Programs.
Potential applicants may download a
copy of Healthy People 2020 from
https://www.healthypeople.gov.
Interested individuals are reminded
that the list of eligible health and allied
professions is effective for applicants for
the 2014–2015 academic year. These
priorities will remain in effect until
superseded. Applicants who apply for
health career categories not listed as
priorities during the current scholarship
cycle will not be considered for a
scholarship award.
Dated: December 13, 2013.
Yvette Roubideaux,
Acting Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–31076 Filed 12–26–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165–16–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of
Closed Meeting
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is
hereby given of the following meeting.
The meeting will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications and
the discussions could disclose
confidential trade secrets or commercial
property such as patentable material,
and personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: Center for Scientific
Review Special Emphasis Panel; Overflow:
Virology B.
Date: December 20, 2013.
E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM
27DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78976-78981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31076]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
Indian Health Professions Preparatory, Indian Health Professions
Pre-graduate and Indian Health Professions Scholarship Programs
Announcement Type: Initial.
CFDA Numbers: 93.971, 93.123, AND 93.972
Key Dates
Application Deadline: February 28, 2014, for continuing students.
Application Deadline: March 28, 2014, for new students.
Application Review: May 5-16, 2014.
Continuation Award Notification Deadline: June 6, 2014.
New Award Notification Deadline: July 3, 2014.
Award Start Date: August 1, 2014.
Acceptance/Decline of Awards Deadline: August 1, 2014.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is committed to encouraging
American Indians and Alaska Natives to enter the health professions and
to assuring the availability of Indian health professionals to serve
Indians. The IHS is committed to the recruitment of students for the
following programs:
The Indian Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship
authorized by Section 103 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act,
Public Law 94-437 (1976), as amended (IHCIA), codified at 25 U.S.C.
1613(b)(1).
The Indian Health Professions Pre-graduate Scholarship
authorized by Section 103 of the IHCIA, codified at 25 U.S.C.
1613(b)(2).
The Indian Health Professions Scholarship authorized by
Section 104 of the IHCIA, codified at 25 U.S.C. 1613a.
Full-time and part-time scholarships will be funded for each of the
three scholarship programs.
The scholarship award selections and funding are subject to
availability of funds appropriated for the Scholarship Program.
II. Award Information
Type of Award
Scholarship.
Estimated Funds Available
An estimated $13.2 million will be available for Fiscal Year (FY)
2014 awards. The IHS Scholarship Program (IHSSP) anticipates, but
cannot guarantee, due to possible funding changes, student scholarship
selections from any or all of the following disciplines in the
Preparatory, Pre-graduate or Health Professions Scholarship Programs
for the Scholarship Period 2014-2015. Due to the rising cost of
education and the decreasing number of scholars who can be funded by
the IHSSP, the IHSSP has changed the funding policy for Preparatory and
Pre-graduate scholarship awards and reallocated a greater percentage of
its funding in an effort to increase the number of Health Professions
scholarships, and inherently the number of service-obligated scholars,
to better meet the health care needs of the IHS and its Tribal and
Urban Indian health care system partners.
Anticipated Number of Awards
Approximately 45 awards will be made under the Health Professions
Preparatory and Pre-graduate Scholarship Programs for Indians. The
awards are for ten months in duration, with an additional two months
for approved summer school requests, and will cover both tuition and
fees and Other Related Costs (ORC). The average award to a full-time
student is approximately $34,490.60. An estimated 276 awards will be
made under the Indian Health Professions Scholarship Program. The
awards are for 12 months in duration and will cover both tuition and
fees and ORC. The average award to a full-time student is approximately
$42,432.70. In FY 2014, an estimated $11,700,000 is available for
Health Professions awards, and an estimated $1,500,000 is available for
Preparatory and Pre-graduate awards.
Project Period
The project period for the IHS Health Professions Preparatory
Scholarship support, tuition, fees and ORC is limited to two years for
full-time students and the part-time equivalent of two years, not to
exceed four years for part-time students. The project period for the
Health Professions Pre-graduate Scholarship support, tuition, fees and
ORC is limited to four years for full-time students and the part-time
equivalent of four years, not to exceed eight years for part-time
students. The IHS Indian Health Professions Scholarship provides
support for tuition, fees, and ORC and is limited to four years for
full-time students and the part-time equivalent of four years, not to
exceed eight years for part-time students.
III. Eligibility Information
This is a limited competition announcement. New and Continuation
[[Page 78977]]
scholarship awards are limited to ``Indians'' as defined at 25 U.S.C.
Section 1603(13). Note: The definition of ``Indians'' for Section 103
Preparatory and Pre-graduate scholarships is broader than the
definition of ``Indians'' for the Section 104 Health Professions
scholarship, as specified below. Continuation awards are non-
competitive.
1. Eligibility
The Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship awards are made to
American Indians. (Federally recognized Tribal members, including those
from Tribes terminated since 1940, first and second degree descendants
of Federally recognized Tribal members, State recognized Tribal members
and first and second degree descendants of State recognized Tribal
members), or Eskimo, Aleut and other Alaska Natives who:
Have successfully completed high school education or high
school equivalency; and
Have been accepted for enrollment in a compensatory, pre-
professional general education course or curriculum
The Health Pre-graduate Scholarship awards are made to American
Indians (Federally recognized Tribal members, including those from
Tribes terminated since 1940, first and second degree descendants of
Tribal members, and State recognized Tribal members, first and second
degree descendants of Tribal members), or Eskimo, Aleut and other
Alaska Natives 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 leading to a baccalaureate degree in
pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-optometry or pre-podiatry.
The Indian Health Professions Scholarship may be awarded only to an
individual who is a member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe,
Eskimo, Aleut or other Alaska Native as provided by Section 1603(13) of
the IHCIA. Membership in a Tribe recognized only by a State does not
meet this statutory requirement. To receive an Indian Health
Professions Scholarship, an otherwise eligible individual must be
enrolled in an appropriately accredited school and pursuing a course of
study in a health profession as defined by Section 1603(10) of the
IHCIA.
2. Cost Sharing/Matching
The Scholarship Program does not require matching funds or cost
sharing to participate in the competitive grant process.
3. Benefits from State, Local, Tribal and Other Federal Sources
Awardees of the Health Professions Preparatory scholarship, Health
Professions Pre- Graduate scholarship, or Health Professions
scholarship, who accept outside funding from other scholarship, grant
and fee waiver programs, will have these monies applied to their
student account tuition and fees charges at the college or university
they are attending, before the IHS Scholarship Program will pay any of
the remaining balance, unless said outside scholarship, grant or fee
waiver award letter specifically excludes use for tuition and fees.
These outside funding sources must be reported on the student's
invoicing documents submitted by the college or university they are
attending. Student loans and Veterans Administration (VA)/GI Bill
Benefits accepted by Health Professions scholarship recipients will
have no effect on the IHSSP payment made to their college or
university.
IV. Application Submission Information
1. Electronic Application System and Application Handbook Instructions
and Forms
Applicants must go online to www.ihs.gov/scholarship to apply for
an IHS scholarship and access the Application Handbook instructions and
forms for submitting a properly completed application for review and
funding consideration. Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek
consultation from their Area Scholarship Coordinator (ASC) in preparing
their scholarship application for award consideration. ASC's are listed
on the IHS Web site at: https://www.scholarship.ihs.gov/area_coordinators.cfm.
This information is listed below. Please review the following list
to identify the appropriate IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator for your
State.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
IHS area office and states/
locality served Scholarship coordinator address
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aberdeen Area IHS
Nebraska...................... IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator,
Ms. Kim Annis, Aberdeen Area IHS,
115 4th Avenue SE., Aberdeen, SD
57401, Tele: (605) 226-7466.
Iowa..........................
North Dakota..................
South Dakota..................
Alaska Native Tribal Health
Consortium
Alaska........................ Ms. Sandy Stearns, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator, Alaska
Native Tribal Consortium, 4000
Ambassador Drive, Anchorage, AK
99508, Tele: (907) 729-3035, 1-800-
684-8361 (toll free).
Ms. Tasha Hotch, Alaska Native
Tribal Consortium, 4000 Ambassador
Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, Tele:
(907) 729-1913, 1-800-684-8361
(toll free).
Albuquerque Area IHS
Colorado...................... Ms. Cora Boone, IHS Area Scholarship
Coordinator, Albuquerque Area IHS,
5300 Homestead Road NE.,
Albuquerque, NM 87110, Tele: (505)
248-4418, 1-800-382-3027 (toll
free).
New Mexico....................
Bemidji Area IHS
Illinois...................... Mr. Tony Buckanaga, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator, Bemidji
Area IHS, 522 Minnesota Avenue NW.,
Room 209, Bemidji, MN 56601, Tele:
(218) 444-0486, 1-800-892-3079
(toll free).
Indiana.......................
Michigan......................
Minnesota.....................
Wisconsin.....................
Billings Area IHS
[[Page 78978]]
Montana....................... Mr. Delon Rock Above, Alternate: Ms.
Bernice Hugs, IHS Area Scholarship
Coordinator, Billings Area IHS,
Area Personnel Office, P.O. Box
36600, 2900 4th Avenue, North,
Suite 400, Billings, MT 59103,
Tele: (406) 247-7215.
Wyoming.......................
California Area IHS
California.................... Ms. Mona Celli, IHS Area Scholarship
Coordinator, California Area IHS,
650 Capitol Mall, Suite 7-100,
Sacramento, CA 95814, Tele: (505)
248-4418.
Nashville Area IHS
Alabama....................... Ms. Marla Jones, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator, Nashville
Area IHS, 711 Stewarts Ferry Pike,
Nashville, TN 37214, Tele: (615)
467-1576.
Arkansas......................
Connecticut...................
Delaware......................
Florida.......................
Georgia.......................
Kentucky......................
Louisiana.....................
Maine.........................
Maryland......................
Massachusetts.................
Mississippi...................
New Hampshire.................
New Jersey....................
New York......................
North Carolina................
Ohio..........................
Pennsylvania..................
Rhode Island..................
South Carolina................
Tennessee.....................
Vermont.......................
Virginia.....................
West Virginia.................
District of Columbia..........
Navajo Area IHS
Arizona....................... Ms. Aletha John, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator, Navajo
Area IHS, P.O. Box 9020, Window
Rock, AZ 86515, Tele: (928) 871-
1360.
New Mexico....................
Utah..........................
Oklahoma City Area IHS
Kansas........................ Mr. Keith Bohanan, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator, Oklahoma
City Area IHS, 701 Market Drive,
Oklahoma City, OK 73114, Tele:
(405) 951-3789, 1-800-722-3357
(toll free).
Missouri......................
Oklahoma......................
Phoenix Area IHS
Arizona....................... Ms. Trudy Begay, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator, Phoenix
Area IHS, Suite 510, 40 North
Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004,
Tele: (602) 364-5256.
Nevada........................
Utah..........................
Portland Area IHS
Idaho......................... Mr. Wayne Teeias, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator, Portland
Area IHS, 1414 NW Northrup Street,
Suite 800, Portland, OR 97209,
Tele: (503) 414-5546.
Oregon........................
Washington....................
Tucson Area IHS
Arizona....................... Ms. Trudy Begay, (See Phoenix Area).
Texas.........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Content and Form Submission
Each applicant will be responsible for entering their basic
applicant account information online, in addition to submitting a
completed, original signature hard copy and one copy set of application
documents, in accordance with the IHS Scholarship Program Application
Handbook instructions, to the: IHS Scholarship Program Branch Office,
801 Thompson Avenue, TMP 450A, Rockville, MD 20852. Applicants must
initiate an application through the on-line portal or their
applications will be considered incomplete. For more information on how
to use the on-line portal, go to www.ihs.gov/scholarship. The portal
will be open on December 1, 2013. The application will be considered
complete if the following documents (original and one copy) are
included:
Completed and signed online Application Checklist.
Completed, printed, and signed IHSSP online application
form for new or continuation student.
Current Letter of Acceptance from College/University or
Proof of Application to a College/University or Health Professions
Program.
One set of Official transcripts for all colleges/
universities attended (or high school transcripts or Certificate of
[[Page 78979]]
Completion of Home School Program or General Education Diploma (G.E.D.)
for applicants who have not taken college courses).
Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA): Calculated by the
applicant.
Applicant's Documents for Indian Eligibility.
A. If you are a member of a Federally recognized Tribe or Alaska
Native (recognized by the Secretary of the Interior), provide evidence
of membership such as:
(1) Certification of Tribal enrollment by the Secretary of the
Interior, acting through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
Certification: Form 4432--Category A or D, whichever is applicable); or
(2) In the absence of BIA certification, documentation that you
meet requirements of Tribal membership as prescribed by the charter,
articles of incorporation or other legal instrument of the Tribe and
have been officially designated as a Tribal member as evidenced by an
accompanying document signed by an authorized Tribal official, i.e.,
Tribal enrollment card showing enrollment number; or
(3) Other evidence of Tribal membership satisfactory to the
Secretary of the Interior.
Note: If you meet the criteria of B or C, you are eligible only
for the Preparatory or Pre-graduate Scholarships.
B. For Preparatory or Pre-graduate Scholarships, only: If you are a
member of a Tribe terminated since 1940 or a State recognized Tribe and
first or second degree descendant, provide official documentation that
you meet the requirements of Tribal membership as prescribed by the
charter, articles of incorporation or other legal instrument of the
Tribe and have been officially designated as a Tribal member as
evidenced by an accompanying document signed by an authorized Tribal
official; or other evidence, satisfactory to the Secretary of the
Interior, that you are a member of the Tribe. In addition, if the
terminated or state recognized Tribe of which you are a member is not
on a list of such Tribes published by the Secretary of the Interior in
the Federal Register, you must submit an official signed document that
the Tribe has been terminated since 1940 or is recognized by the state
in which the Tribe is located in accordance with the law of that state.
C. For Preparatory or Pre-graduate Scholarships, only: If you are
not a Tribal member, but are a natural child or grandchild of a Tribal
member you must submit: (1) evidence of that fact, e.g., your birth
certificate and/or your parent's/grandparent's birth/death certificate
showing the name of the Tribal member; and (2) evidence of your
parent's or grandparent's Tribal membership in accordance with
paragraphs A and B. The relationship to the Tribal member must be
clearly documented. Failure to submit the required documentation will
result in the application not being accepted for review.
Two Faculty/Employer Evaluations with original signature.
Online Narratives--Reasons for Requesting the Scholarship.
Delinquent Debt Form.
Course Curriculum Verification with original signature.
Curriculum for Major.
3. Submission Dates
Application Receipt Date: The online Continuation Application
submission deadline for Continuation applicants is Friday, February 28,
2014. Required application support documents will be accepted through
Friday, March 28, 2014.
Application Receipt Date: New applicants must print and sign their
online application and Checklist and submit it with their supporting
documents by the postal deadline of Friday, March 28, 2014. No
supporting documents will be accepted after this date, except final
Letters of Acceptance, which must be submitted no later than Friday,
May 30, 2014.
Applications and supporting documents (original and one copy) shall
be considered as meeting the deadline if they are received by the IHSSP
Branch Office, postmarked on or before the deadline date. Applicants
should request a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a
legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service.
Private metered postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of timely
mailing and will not be considered for funding.
New and Continuation applicants may check the status of their
application receipt and processing by logging into their online account
at www.ihs.gov/scholarship. Applications received with postmarks after
the announced deadline date will not be considered for funding.
4. Intergovernmental Review
Executive Order 12372 requiring intergovernmental review is not
applicable to this program.
5. Funding Restrictions
No more than 5% of available funds will be used for part-time
scholarships this fiscal year. Students are considered part-time if
they are enrolled for a minimum of six hours of instruction and are not
considered in full-time status by their college/university.
Documentation must be received from part-time applicants that their
school and course curriculum allows less than full-time status. Both
part-time and full-time scholarship awards will be made in accordance
with 42 CFR Subpart J, Subdivisions J-3, J-4, and J-8 and this
information will be published in all IHSSP Application and Student
Handbooks as they pertain to the IHSSP.
6. Other Submissions Requirements
New and Continuation applicants are responsible for using the
online application system. See section 3. Submission Dates for
application deadlines.
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Applications will be reviewed and scored with the following
criteria.
Academic Performance (40 Points)
Applicants are rated according to their academic performance as
evidenced by transcripts and faculty evaluations. In cases where a
particular applicant's school has a policy not to rank students
academically, faculty members are asked to provide a personal judgment
of the applicant's achievement. Preparatory, Pre-graduate and Health
Professions applicants with a cumulative GPA below 2.0 are not eligible
for award.
Faculty/Employer Recommendations (30 Points)
Applicants are rated according to evaluations by faculty members,
current and/or former employers and Tribal officials regarding the
applicant's potential in the chosen health related professions.
Stated Reasons for Asking for the Scholarship and Stated
Career Goals Related to the Needs of the IHS (30 Points)
Applicants must provide a brief written explanation of reasons for
asking for the scholarship and of their career goals. Applicants are
considered for scholarship awards based on their desired career goals
and how these goals relate to current Indian health personnel needs.
The applicant's narrative will be judged on how well it is written
and its content.
Applications for each health career category are reviewed and
ranked separately.
[[Page 78980]]
Applicants who are closest to graduation or completion of
training are awarded first. For example, senior and junior applicants
under the Health Professions Pre-graduate Scholarship receive funding
before freshmen and sophomores.
Priority Categories
The following is a list of health professions that will be
considered for funding in each scholarship program in FY 2014.
[cir] Indian Health Professions Preparatory Scholarships
A. Pre-Clinical Psychology (Jr. and Sr. undergraduate years only).
B. Pre-Nursing.
C. Pre-Pharmacy.
D. Pre-Social Work (Jr. and Sr. preparing for an MS in social
work).
[cir] Indian Health Professions Pre-Graduate Scholarships
A. Pre-Dentistry.
B. Pre-Medicine.
C. Pre-Optometry.
D. Pre-Podiatry.
[cir] Indian Health Professionals Scholarship
A. Bio Medical Engineering--BS. (Jr. and Sr. undergraduate years
only).
B. Bio Medical Technology--AAS.
C. Chemical Dependency Counseling--Master's Degrees.
D. Clinical Psychology--Ph.D. or Psy.D.
E. Coding Specialist--AAS degree.
F. Dentistry: DDS or DMD degrees.
G. Diagnostic Radiology Technology: Associates and B.S.
H. Environmental Health/Sanitarian: B.S. (Jr. and Sr. undergraduate
years only).
I. Health Records Administration: R.H.I.T. (A.A.S.) and R.H.I.A
(B.S.).
J. Medical Technology: B.S. (Jr. and Sr. undergraduate years only).
K. Medicine: Allopathic and Osteopathic.
L. Nurse: Associate and Bachelor Degrees and advanced degrees in
Psychiatry, Geriatric, Women's Health, Pediatric Nursing, Midwifery,
Nurse Anesthetist, and Nurse Practitioner. (Priority consideration will
be given to Registered Nurses employed by the IHS; in a program
conducted under a contract or compact entered into under the Indian
Self-Determination Act and Education Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93-638)
and its amendments; or in a program assisted under Title V of the
IHCIA).
M. Optometry: O.D.
N. Pharmacy: Pharm.D.
O. Physician Assistant: PA-C.
P. Physical Therapy: M.S. and D.P.T.
Q. Podiatry: D.P.M.
R. Public Health Nutritionist: M.S.
S. Respiratory Therapy: B.S. Degree.
T. Social Work: Masters Level only (Direct Practice and Clinical
concentrations).
U. Ultrasonography (Prerequisite: Diagnostic Radiology Technology
degree/certificate).
2. Review and Selection Process
The applications will be reviewed and scored by the IHS Scholarship
Program's Application Review Committee appointed by the IHS. Reviewers
will not be allowed to review an application from his/her Area or his/
her own Tribe. Each application will be reviewed by three reviewers.
The average score of the three reviews provides the final Ranking Score
for each applicant. To determine the ranking of each applicant, these
scores are sorted from the highest to the lowest within each
scholarship health discipline by date of graduation and score. If
several students have the same date of graduation and score within the
same discipline, computer ranking list will randomly sort and will not
be sorted by alphabetical name. Selections are then made from the top
of each ranking list to the extent that funds allocated by the IHS
among the three scholarships are available for obligation.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
It is anticipated that recipients applying for extension of their
scholarship funding will be notified in writing during the first week
of June 2014 and new applicants will be notified in writing during the
first week of July 2014. An Award Letter will be issued to successful
applicants. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing, which
will include a brief explanation of the reason(s) the application was
not successful and provide the name of the IHS official to contact if
more information is desired.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Regulations at 42 CFR Sec. 136.304 provide that the IHS shall,
from time to time, publish a list of allied health professions eligible
for consideration for the award of IHS Indian Health Professions
Preparatory and Pre-graduate Scholarships and IHS Health Professions
Scholarship. Section 104(b)(1) of the IHCIA, 25 U.S.C. 1613a(b)(1),
authorizes the IHS to determine the distribution of scholarships among
the health professions.
Awards for the Indian Health Professions Scholarships will be made
in accordance 42 CFR 136.330-136.334. Awardees shall incur a service
obligation prescribed under the IHCIA, Section 1613a(b), which shall be
met by service, through full-time clinical practice:
(1) In the IHS;
(2) In a program conducted under a contract or compact entered into
under the Indian Self-Determination Act and Education Assistance Act
(Pub. L. 93-638) and its amendments;
(3) In a program assisted under Title V of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act (Pub. L. 94-437) and its amendments; or
(4) In a private practice option of his or her profession if the
practice (a) is situated in a health professional shortage area,
designated in regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services (Secretary) and (b) addresses the health care needs of a
substantial number (75% of the total served) of Indians as determined
by the Secretary in accordance with guidelines of the Service.
Pursuant to the IHCIA Section 1613a(b)(3)(C), an awardee of an IHS
Health Professions Scholarship may, at the election of the awardee,
meet his/her service obligation prescribed under IHCIA Section 1613a(b)
by a program specified in options (1)-(4) above that:
(i) Is located on the reservation of the Tribe in which the awardee
is enrolled; or
(ii) Serves the Tribe in which the awardee is enrolled, if there is
an open vacancy available in the discipline for which the awardee was
funded under the IHS Health Professions Scholarship during the required
90-day placement period.
In summary, all awardees of the Indian Health Professions
Scholarship are reminded that acceptance of this scholarship will
result in a service obligation required by both statute and contract,
which must be performed, through full-time clinical practice, at an
approved service payback facility. The Acting Director reserves the
right to make final decisions regarding assignment of scholarship
recipients to fulfill their service obligation.
Moreover, the Acting Director, IHS, has the authority to make the
final determination, designating a facility, whether managed and
operated by IHS, or one of its Tribal or Urban Indian partners,
consistent with IHCIA, as approved for scholar obligated service
payback.
[[Page 78981]]
3. Reporting
Scholarship Program Minimum Academic Requirements
It is the policy of the IHS that a scholarship awardee funded under
the Health Professions Scholarship Program of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA, remain in good
academic standing each semester/trimester/quarter, maintain full-time
student status (Institutional definition of `minimum hours'
constituting full-time enrollment applies) or part-time student status
(Institutional definition of `minimum and maximum' hours constituting
part-time enrollment applies) for the entire academic year, as
indicated on the scholarship application submitted for that academic
year. The Health Professions awardee may not change his or her
enrollment status between terms of enrollment, during the same academic
year. New recipients may not request a Leave of Absence during the
first year of their funding. In addition to these requirements, a
Health Professions Scholarship awardee must be enrolled in an approved/
accredited school for a Health Professions degree.
An awardee of a scholarship under the IHS Health Professions
Preparatory and Health Professions Pre-Graduate Scholarship authority
must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, remain in good standing
each semester/trimester/quarter and be a full-time student
(Institutional definition of `minimum hours' constituting full-time
enrollment applies, typically 12 credit hours per semester) or a part-
time student (Institutional definition of `minimum and maximum' hours
constituting part-time enrollment applies, typically 6-11 credit
hours). The Preparatory and Pre-graduate awardee may not change from
part-time status to full-time status or vice versa in the same academic
year. New recipients may not request a Leave of Absence during the
first year of their funding.
The following reports must be sent to the IHSSP at the identified
time frame. Each scholarship awardee will have access to an online
Recipient Handbook and required program forms and instructions on when,
how, and to whom these must be submitted, by logging into the IHSSP Web
site at www.ihs.gov/scholarship. If a scholarship awardee fails to
submit these forms and reports as required, they will be ineligible for
continuation of scholarship support and scholarship award payments will
be discontinued.
A. Recipient's Enrollment and Initial Progress Report
Within thirty (30) days from the beginning of each semester/
trimester/quarter, scholarship awardees must submit a Recipient's
Enrollment and Initial Progress Report (Form IHS-856-8, page 69 of the
Student Handbook).
B. Transcripts
Within thirty (30) days from the end of each academic period, i.e.,
semester/trimester/quarter, or summer session, scholarship awardees
must submit an Official Transcript showing the results of the classes
taken during that period.
C. Notification of Academic Problem/Change
If at any time during the semester/trimester/quarter, scholarship
awardees are advised to reduce the number of credit hours for which
they are enrolled below the minimum of the 12 (or the number of hours
considered by their school as full-time) for a full-time student or at
least six hours for part-time students; or if they experience academic
problems, they must submit this report (Form IHS-856-9, page 71 of the
Student Handbook).
D. Change of Status
Change of Academic Status
Scholarship awardees must immediately notify their Scholarship
Program Analyst if they are placed on academic probation, dismissed
from school, or voluntarily withdraw for any reason (personal or
medical).
Change of Health Discipline
Scholarship awardees may not change from the approved IHSSP health
discipline during the school year. If an unapproved change is made,
scholarship payments will be discontinued.
Change in Graduation Date
Any time that a change occurs in a scholarship awardee's expected
graduation date, they must notify their Scholarship Program Analyst
immediately in writing. Justification must be attached from the school
advisor.
VII. Agency Contacts
1. Questions on the application process may be directed to the
appropriate IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator.
2. Questions on other programmatic matters may be addressed to: Dr.
Dawn A. Kelly, Chief, Scholarship Program, 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP
450A, Rockville, Maryland 20852, Telephone: (301) 443-6197 (This is not
a toll-free number).
3. Questions on payment information may be directed to: Mr. Craig
Boswell, Grants Scholarship Coordinator, Division of Grants Management,
Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP 360, Rockville,
Maryland 20852, Telephone: (301) 443-0243 (This is not a toll-free
number).
VIII. Other Information
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People
2020, a PHS-led activity for setting priority areas. This program
announcement is related to the priority area of Education and
Community-Based Programs. Potential applicants may download a copy of
Healthy People 2020 from https://www.healthypeople.gov.
Interested individuals are reminded that the list of eligible
health and allied professions is effective for applicants for the 2014-
2015 academic year. These priorities will remain in effect until
superseded. Applicants who apply for health career categories not
listed as priorities during the current scholarship cycle will not be
considered for a scholarship award.
Dated: December 13, 2013.
Yvette Roubideaux,
Acting Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-31076 Filed 12-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-P
