Proposed Changes to the Scholarships to Disadvantaged Students Program, 23571-23572 [2019-10727]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 22, 2019 / Notices
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VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:29 May 21, 2019
Jkt 247001
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Dated: May 16, 2019.
Lowell J. Schiller,
Principal Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019–10667 Filed 5–21–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services
Administration
Proposed Changes to the Scholarships
to Disadvantaged Students Program
Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Request for public comment on
the Scholarships for Disadvantaged
Students program.
AGENCY:
The Scholarships for
Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program
is authorized by the Public Health
Service Act (PHS Act) and administered
by HRSA. The program promotes
diversity among the health professions
and nursing workforce by providing
awards to eligible health professions
and nursing schools for use in awarding
scholarships to students from
disadvantaged backgrounds. This notice
seeks public comment to inform and
guide policy and planning associated
with the SDS program.
DATES: Individuals and organizations
interested in providing information
must submit written comments no later
than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June
21, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties should
submit their comments to Denise
Sorrell, SDS Project Officer, via email at
SDSProgram@HRSA.gov. Please include
the title of this notice, ‘‘Request for
Comment: SDS Program’’ in the subject
line of the email. Response to this
request is voluntary. Responders are free
to address any or all of the proposals
listed below. This request is for
SUMMARY:
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23571
information and planning purposes only
and should not be construed as a
solicitation or as an obligation on the
part of the federal government. All
submitted comments will be available to
the public in their entirety.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Denise Sorrell, SDS Project Officer,
Division of Health Careers and Financial
Support, Bureau of Health Workforce,
HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15N78,
Rockville, Maryland 20857, phone (301)
443–2909, or email SDSProgram@
HRSA.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: HRSA is
considering updating the SDS program
to increase the impact of the program.
The authorizing statute allows the
Secretary of HHS to make grants to
certain health professions and nursing
schools that are carrying out a program
for recruiting and retaining students
from disadvantaged backgrounds,
including students who are members of
racial and ethnic minority groups, to
provide scholarships to eligible students
(PHS Act, Sec. 737(a), (d)(1)). Grantees
provide scholarships to individuals who
meet the following requirements: (1) are
from disadvantaged backgrounds; (2)
have a financial need for a scholarship;
and (3) are enrolled (or accepted for
enrollment) at an eligible health
professions or nursing school as a fulltime student in a program leading to a
degree in a health profession or nursing
(PHS Act, Sec. 737(d)(2)(A–C)). Under
the statute, priority is given to eligible
entities based on the proportion of
graduating students practicing in
primary care settings, the proportion of
underrepresented minority student
enrollees and graduates, and the
proportion of graduates working in
medically underserved communities
(MUCs) (PHS Act, Sec. 737(c)). The PHS
Act requires HRSA to award at least 16
percent of the available funds to schools
of nursing (PHS Act, Sec. 740(a)).
Eligible applicants are public or nonprofit private accredited schools of
allopathic medicine, osteopathic
medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy,
podiatric medicine, optometry,
veterinary medicine, public health,
chiropractic, or allied health; a school
offering a graduate program in
behavioral and mental health practice;
or an entity providing programs for the
training of physician assistants as
determined in Section 737(d)(1)(A) of
the PHS Act. Faith-based and
community-based organizations, tribes,
and tribal organizations are eligible to
apply if all other eligibility
requirements are met. Additionally,
Section 737(d)(2) requires ‘‘a school
must be carrying out a recruitment and
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22MYN1
23572
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 22, 2019 / Notices
jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with NOTICES
retention program for students from
disadvantaged backgrounds.’’
As explained in the most recent
Notice of Funding Opportunity (HRSA–
16–069), published on November 25,
2015, HRSA determined at least 20
percent of a school’s enrollees and
graduates must be disadvantaged
individuals. For the purposes of the SDS
program, an individual from a
disadvantaged background is defined as
one who: (1) comes from an
environment that has inhibited the
individual from obtaining the
knowledge, skills, and abilities required
to enroll in and graduate from a health
profession or nursing school, or from a
program providing education or training
in allied health professions; or (2) comes
from a family with an annual income
below the established Census Bureau
low-income thresholds, adjusted by the
Secretary of HHS for health professions
and nursing programs eligibility.
As explained in the most recent
Notice of Funding Opportunity, (HRSA–
16–069), scholarship awards equal an
amount no less than 50 percent of the
student’s annual tuition costs, up to a
maximum amount of $30,000 to cover
the cost of attendance. Scholarships
may be expended only for a recipient’s
cost of tuition expenses, other
reasonable educational expenses, and
reasonable living expenses incurred by
attendance at the participant’s school of
enrollment, as described in Section
737(a) of the PHS Act. The project
period for this program may be altered
within the range of one to five years.
HRSA will announce any future changes
to the project period for the SDS
program through the relevant Notice of
Funding Opportunity.
Scholarships for Disadvantaged
Students Program in FY 2020—
Proposal for Public Comment
HRSA is seeking comments from
interested parties, including current and
former grant recipients and former
applicants to the program, on the
following proposed changes. In your
comments, please address one or more
of the following proposals. Please
reference the section number in your
comments.
1. In an effort to combat workforce
shortages, HRSA will distribute SDS
funding to award recipients consistent
with promoting health professions
careers projected to experience the most
severe shortages as determined by the
National Center for Health Workforce
Analysis. Section 740(a) of the PHS Act
requires HRSA to distribute at least 16
percent of the SDS funding to nursing
schools. Precise distributions for each
competition will be announced in the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:29 May 21, 2019
Jkt 247001
relevant Notice of Funding Opportunity.
This adjustment of funding would allow
HRSA to strategically target SDS
funding for the health professions with
a current or projected workforce
shortage.
2. At least 20 percent of the school’s
full-time enrolled students and
graduates must be from a disadvantaged
background. Institutions are required to
provide 1 year of data to demonstrate
this eligibility requirement. The
proposal is to require schools to provide
the average for the most recent 3-year
period to demonstrate their eligibility. A
3-year average is a more accurate
portrayal of school enrollment patterns
than 1 year. This change would allow
SDS to support the grantees who have
demonstrated a commitment over time
to serving students from disadvantaged
backgrounds. Any future changes to the
disadvantaged student percentage or
data collection period will be
announced through the SDS Notice of
Funding Opportunity for the relevant
grant funding cycle.
3. HRSA has analyzed SDS award
data, compared it with performance
measures, and discovered providing
amounts to students to cover a
substantial portion of their education
costs positively correlates with better
graduation rates, consistent with the
statutory aims. Data suggests the
availability of scholarships, especially
for disadvantaged students, continues to
limit educational opportunities for
students. SDS last increased its
scholarship amount in 2016. Without
sufficient financial support,
disadvantaged students are much more
likely to be unable to successfully
complete their education. Based on this
understanding and the steady increase
in tuition nationally, HRSA proposes to
increase the maximum scholarship
award to $40,000 per student, to ensure
the SDS program will continue to
impact students who receive the awards
and ensure their success in completing
the program. HRSA also reserves the
right to adjust the scholarship award
amount as necessary to accommodate
any rise in tuition and will announce
any such changes in the Notice of
Funding Opportunity for the relevant
funding cycle.
HRSA will announce any future
administrative changes to the SDS
program through the relevant Notice of
Funding Opportunity.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Establishment of the Interdepartmental
Substance Use Disorders Coordinating
Committee and Solicitation of
Nominations for Committee Members;
Correction
U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of the Secretary,
Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Health.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice; correction.
The U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS)
published a document in the Federal
Register of May 15, 2019, concerning
the establishment of the
Interdepartmental Substance Use
Disorders Coordinating Committee and
Solicitation of Nominations for
Committee Members. The document
contained an inadvertent omission of
the following membership category from
the list of non-federal members that the
Secretary of HHS will appoint to the
committee: Public safety officer with
extensive experience in interacting with
adults with a substance use disorder.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Roula K. Sweis, Psy.D., M.A., Chief,
Operations and Management, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Health; U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services; Telephone: 202–260–6619;
Fax: 202–690–4631; Email address:
SUDCommittee@hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Correction
In the Federal Register of May 15,
2019, in FR Doc. 2019–09969, on page
21793 under the header Membership
and Designation the following category
was inadvertently omitted from the list
of non-federal members that the
Secretary of HHS will appoint to the
committee: ‘‘at least one such member
will be a public safety officer with
extensive experience in interacting with
adults with a substance use disorder.’’
Dated: May 16, 2019.
Roula K. Sweis,
Designated Federal Official.
[FR Doc. 2019–10679 Filed 5–21–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150–28–P
Dated: May 16, 2019.
George Sigounas,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019–10727 Filed 5–21–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165–15–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23571-23572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10727]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
Proposed Changes to the Scholarships to Disadvantaged Students
Program
AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Request for public comment on the Scholarships for
Disadvantaged Students program.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program is
authorized by the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) and administered
by HRSA. The program promotes diversity among the health professions
and nursing workforce by providing awards to eligible health
professions and nursing schools for use in awarding scholarships to
students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This notice seeks public
comment to inform and guide policy and planning associated with the SDS
program.
DATES: Individuals and organizations interested in providing
information must submit written comments no later than 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time on June 21, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties should submit their comments to Denise
Sorrell, SDS Project Officer, via email at [email protected]. Please
include the title of this notice, ``Request for Comment: SDS Program''
in the subject line of the email. Response to this request is
voluntary. Responders are free to address any or all of the proposals
listed below. This request is for information and planning purposes
only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation
on the part of the federal government. All submitted comments will be
available to the public in their entirety.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Sorrell, SDS Project Officer,
Division of Health Careers and Financial Support, Bureau of Health
Workforce, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15N78, Rockville, Maryland
20857, phone (301) 443-2909, or email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: HRSA is considering updating the SDS program
to increase the impact of the program. The authorizing statute allows
the Secretary of HHS to make grants to certain health professions and
nursing schools that are carrying out a program for recruiting and
retaining students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including students
who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups, to provide
scholarships to eligible students (PHS Act, Sec. 737(a), (d)(1)).
Grantees provide scholarships to individuals who meet the following
requirements: (1) are from disadvantaged backgrounds; (2) have a
financial need for a scholarship; and (3) are enrolled (or accepted for
enrollment) at an eligible health professions or nursing school as a
full-time student in a program leading to a degree in a health
profession or nursing (PHS Act, Sec. 737(d)(2)(A-C)). Under the
statute, priority is given to eligible entities based on the proportion
of graduating students practicing in primary care settings, the
proportion of underrepresented minority student enrollees and
graduates, and the proportion of graduates working in medically
underserved communities (MUCs) (PHS Act, Sec. 737(c)). The PHS Act
requires HRSA to award at least 16 percent of the available funds to
schools of nursing (PHS Act, Sec. 740(a)).
Eligible applicants are public or non-profit private accredited
schools of allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry,
nursing, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine,
public health, chiropractic, or allied health; a school offering a
graduate program in behavioral and mental health practice; or an entity
providing programs for the training of physician assistants as
determined in Section 737(d)(1)(A) of the PHS Act. Faith-based and
community-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations are
eligible to apply if all other eligibility requirements are met.
Additionally, Section 737(d)(2) requires ``a school must be carrying
out a recruitment and
[[Page 23572]]
retention program for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.''
As explained in the most recent Notice of Funding Opportunity
(HRSA-16-069), published on November 25, 2015, HRSA determined at least
20 percent of a school's enrollees and graduates must be disadvantaged
individuals. For the purposes of the SDS program, an individual from a
disadvantaged background is defined as one who: (1) comes from an
environment that has inhibited the individual from obtaining the
knowledge, skills, and abilities required to enroll in and graduate
from a health profession or nursing school, or from a program providing
education or training in allied health professions; or (2) comes from a
family with an annual income below the established Census Bureau low-
income thresholds, adjusted by the Secretary of HHS for health
professions and nursing programs eligibility.
As explained in the most recent Notice of Funding Opportunity,
(HRSA-16-069), scholarship awards equal an amount no less than 50
percent of the student's annual tuition costs, up to a maximum amount
of $30,000 to cover the cost of attendance. Scholarships may be
expended only for a recipient's cost of tuition expenses, other
reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses
incurred by attendance at the participant's school of enrollment, as
described in Section 737(a) of the PHS Act. The project period for this
program may be altered within the range of one to five years. HRSA will
announce any future changes to the project period for the SDS program
through the relevant Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program in FY 2020--Proposal
for Public Comment
HRSA is seeking comments from interested parties, including current
and former grant recipients and former applicants to the program, on
the following proposed changes. In your comments, please address one or
more of the following proposals. Please reference the section number in
your comments.
1. In an effort to combat workforce shortages, HRSA will distribute
SDS funding to award recipients consistent with promoting health
professions careers projected to experience the most severe shortages
as determined by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis.
Section 740(a) of the PHS Act requires HRSA to distribute at least 16
percent of the SDS funding to nursing schools. Precise distributions
for each competition will be announced in the relevant Notice of
Funding Opportunity. This adjustment of funding would allow HRSA to
strategically target SDS funding for the health professions with a
current or projected workforce shortage.
2. At least 20 percent of the school's full-time enrolled students
and graduates must be from a disadvantaged background. Institutions are
required to provide 1 year of data to demonstrate this eligibility
requirement. The proposal is to require schools to provide the average
for the most recent 3-year period to demonstrate their eligibility. A
3-year average is a more accurate portrayal of school enrollment
patterns than 1 year. This change would allow SDS to support the
grantees who have demonstrated a commitment over time to serving
students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Any future changes to the
disadvantaged student percentage or data collection period will be
announced through the SDS Notice of Funding Opportunity for the
relevant grant funding cycle.
3. HRSA has analyzed SDS award data, compared it with performance
measures, and discovered providing amounts to students to cover a
substantial portion of their education costs positively correlates with
better graduation rates, consistent with the statutory aims. Data
suggests the availability of scholarships, especially for disadvantaged
students, continues to limit educational opportunities for students.
SDS last increased its scholarship amount in 2016. Without sufficient
financial support, disadvantaged students are much more likely to be
unable to successfully complete their education. Based on this
understanding and the steady increase in tuition nationally, HRSA
proposes to increase the maximum scholarship award to $40,000 per
student, to ensure the SDS program will continue to impact students who
receive the awards and ensure their success in completing the program.
HRSA also reserves the right to adjust the scholarship award amount as
necessary to accommodate any rise in tuition and will announce any such
changes in the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the relevant funding
cycle.
HRSA will announce any future administrative changes to the SDS
program through the relevant Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Dated: May 16, 2019.
George Sigounas,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-10727 Filed 5-21-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P
