Indian Health Professions Preparatory, Indian Health Professions Pre-Graduate and Indian Health Professions Scholarship Programs, 68347-68352 [2020-23820]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 209 / Wednesday, October 28, 2020 / Notices
The Department of Health and
Human Services is hereby giving notice
that the charter for the Secretary’s
Advisory Committee on Human
Research Protection (SACHRP) has been
renewed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Julia Gorey, Designated Federal Officer
for the SACHRP, Office for Human
Research Protections, 1101 Wootton
Parkway, Rockville, MD 20852. Phone:
(240) 453–8141; Email: SACHRP@
hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SACHRP
is a discretionary Federal advisory
committee. SACHRP is authorized
under 42 U.S.C. 217a, Section 222 of the
Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as
amended. The Committee is governed
by the provisions of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public
Law 92–463, as amended (5 U.S.C.
App), which sets forth standards for the
formation and use of advisory
committees.
SACHRP functions to provide advice
to the Secretary, through the Assistant
Secretary for Health, on matters
pertaining to the continuance and
improvement of functions within the
authority of the Department of Health
and Human Services concerning
protections for human subjects in
research.
SACHRP is authorized to have 11
public voting members. The members
are selected from among individuals
possessing demonstrated experience
and expertise in any of the several
disciplines and fields pertinent to
human subjects protection and/or
clinical research. The Committee’s
public members are appointed by the
Secretary. All public members of the
Committee are classified as special
government employees (SGEs). The
Committee structure includes nonvoting ex-officio representation from
eight Departmental agencies; the eighth,
the Office of the National Coordinator
for Health Information Technology, is
being added with this charter renewal.
On September 30, 2020, the Secretary
approved for the SACHRP charter to be
renewed. The new charter was effected
and filed with the appropriate
Congressional committees and the
Library of Congress on October 1, 2020.
Renewal of the Committee’s charter
gives authorization for the Committee to
continue to operate until October 1,
2022.
A copy of the SACHRP charter is
available on the Committee’s website at
https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/sachrpcommittee/charter/. A copy
of the charter can also be obtained by
accessing the FACA database that is
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SUMMARY:
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maintained by the Committee
Management Secretariat under the
General Services Administration. The
website address for the FACA database
is www.facadatabase.gov.
Dated: October 21, 2020.
Jerry Menikoff,
Director, Office for Human Research
Protections.
[FR Doc. 2020–23789 Filed 10–27–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150–36–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
[CFDA NUMBERS: 93.971, 93.123, AND
93.972]
Indian Health Professions Preparatory,
Indian Health Professions PreGraduate and Indian Health
Professions Scholarship Programs
Announcement Type: Initial.
Key Dates
Application Deadline Date: February
28, 2021, 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Application Review Date: March 30–
April 30, 2021.
Continuation Award Notification
Deadline Date: June 5, 2021.
New Award Notification Deadline
Date: July 15, 2021.
Award Start Date: August 1, 2021.
Acceptance/Decline of Awards
Deadline Date: August 15, 2021.
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 (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 (Pre-graduate
Scholarship) authorized by Section 103
of the IHCIA, codified at 25 U.S.C.
1613(b)(2).
• The Indian Health Professions
Scholarship (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
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68347
award selections and funding are
subject to availability of funds.
II. Award Information
Type of Award
Scholarship.
Estimated Funds Available
An estimated $13.7 million will be
available for fiscal year (FY) 2021
awards. The IHS Scholarship Program
(IHSSP) anticipates, but cannot
guarantee, student scholarship
selections from any or all of the
approved disciplines in the Preparatory
Scholarship, Pre-graduate Scholarship,
and Health Professions Scholarship
programs for the scholarship period
2021–2022 academic year. Due to the
rising cost of education and the
decreasing number of scholars who can
be funded by the IHSSP, the IHSSP
previously changed the funding policy
for Preparatory Scholarship and Pregraduate Scholarship awards and
reallocated a greater percentage of its
funding in an effort to increase the
number of Health Professions
Scholarship, 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. This policy
continues in effect for 2021–2022
academic year.
Anticipated Number of Awards
Approximately 25 new awards will be
made by the IHSSP under the
Preparatory Scholarship and Pregraduate Scholarship programs for
Indians. The awards are for 10 months
in duration, with an additional 2
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 in
both programs is approximately
$40,372.61. Approximately 100 new
awards will be made by the IHSSP
under the 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 $120,814.38.
Approximately a total of 300 awards
will be made under the IHSSP
Scholarship Program for FY 2021–2022.
Project Period
The project period for the Preparatory
Scholarship stipend support, tuition,
fees and ORC is limited to 2 years for
full-time students and the part-time
equivalent of 2 years, not to exceed 4
years for part-time students. The project
period for the Pre-graduate Scholarship
stipend support, tuition, fees and ORC
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is limited to 4 years for full-time
students and the part-time equivalent of
4 years, not to exceed 8 years for parttime students. The Health Professions
Scholarship provides stipend support,
tuition, fees, and ORC and is limited to
4 years for full-time students and the
part-time equivalent of 4 years, not to
exceed 8 years for part-time students.
III. Eligibility Information
This is a limited competition
announcement. New and continuation
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
Scholarship and Pre-graduate
Scholarship 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 Indian Health Professions
Preparatory Scholarship awards are
made to American Indians (members of
Federally recognized Tribes, including
those from Tribes terminated since
1940, first and second degree
descendants of members of federally
recognized Tribes, members of Staterecognized Tribes and first and second
degree descendants of members of Staterecognized Tribes), 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 Indian Health Professions Pregraduate Scholarship awards are made
to American Indians (members of
Federally recognized Tribes, including
those from Tribes terminated since
1940, first and second degree
descendants of members of federally
recognized Tribes, members of State
recognized Tribes, and first and second
degree descendants of members of Staterecognized Tribes), or Eskimo, Aleut, or
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 or
pre-dentistry.
The Indian Health Professions
Scholarship may only be awarded to an
individual who is an Indian as defined
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 an eligible profession.
2. Cost Sharing/Matching
The IHS does not require matching
funds or cost sharing for grants or
cooperative agreements.
3. Benefits From State, Local, Tribal and
Other Federal Sources
Awardees of the Preparatory
Scholarship, Pre-graduate Scholarship,
or Health Professions Scholarship, who
accept outside funding from other
IHS area office and states/locality served
Alaska Area Native Health Services:
Alaska ................................................................................................
Albuquerque Area IHS:
Colorado, New Mexico ......................................................................
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Bemidji Area IHS:
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin .............................
Billings Area IHS:
Montana, Wyoming ...........................................................................
California Area IHS:
California ...........................................................................................
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IV. Application Submission
Information
1. Electronic Application System and
Application Handbook Instructions and
Forms
Applicants must go online to:
www.ihs.gov/scholarship/online_
application/index.cfm to apply for an
IHS scholarship and access the
Application Handbook instructions 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.
The ASCs are listed on the IHS website
at: https://www.ihs.gov/scholarship/
areascholarshipcoordinators//. This
information is listed below. Please
review the following list to identify the
appropriate IHS ASC for your State.
Scholarship coordinator address
Great Plains Area IHS:
Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota ..................................
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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
IHSSP 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)/G.I. Bill
benefits accepted by Health Professions
Scholarship recipients will have no
effect on the IHSSP payment made to
their college or university.
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Mr. Matthew Martin, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Great Plains
Area IHS, 115 Fourth Avenue SE, Aberdeen, SD 57401, Tel: (605)
226–7502.
Mr. Ryan Tubon, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Alaska Area Native Health, 3900 Ambassador Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, Tel:
(907) 729–1324.
Ms. Michelle Aguilar Bowser, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Albuquerque Area IHS, 4101 Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 225, Albuquerque, NM 87110, Tel: (505) 505–256–6731.
Mr. Tony Buckanaga, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Bemidji Area
IHS, 522 Minnesota Avenue NW, Room 115A, Bemidji, MN 56601,
Tel: (218) 444–0486, (800) 892–3079 (toll free).
Mr. Brett Miller, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Billings Area IHS,
Area Personnel Office, P.O. Box 36600, 2900 Fourth Avenue North,
Suite 400, Billings, MT 59107, Tel: (406) 247–7211.
Mr. Hakim Smith, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, California Area
IHS, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 7–100, Sacramento, CA 95814, Tel:
(916) 930–3981 Ext. 316.
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IHS area office and states/locality served
Scholarship coordinator address
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, Texas ................................................
Phoenix Area IHS:
Arizona, Nevada, Utah ......................................................................
Portland Area IHS:
Idaho, Oregon, Washington ..............................................................
Tucson Area IHS:
Arizona ..............................................................................................
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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 required documents as
requested. Applicants must initiate an
application through the online portal or
the application will be considered
incomplete. For more information on
how to use the online portal, go to
www.ihs.gov/scholarship. The portal is
expected to be open by December 30,
2020.
The following documents must be
submitted by February 28, 2021, 7:00
p.m. Eastern:
• A completed online application.
• Official transcript(s) must be
uploaded from the last college/
university degree you earned, and from
your current degree program. Official
transcript(s) must support your
intended enrollment/classification
status for 2021–2022.
• Two Faculty/Employer Evaluations
with faculty evaluators identified,
evaluations transmitted and completed
in the online applicant portal.
• Online narratives-reasons for
requesting the scholarship.
• Delinquent Debt form completed in
the online applicant portal.
• Course Curriculum Form completed
in the online applicant portal. Nonselected applicants will be notified by
the end of May. Selected applicants will
be notified to upload the following
documents within 30 days of
notification:
• Current Letter of Acceptance from a
college/university or proof of
application to a college/university or
health professions program.
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Mr. Keith Neves, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Nashville Area
IHS, 711 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville, TN 37214, Tel: (615) 467–
1616.
Ms. Aletha John, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Navajo Area IHS,
P.O. Box 9020, Window Rock, AZ 86515, Tel: (928) 871–1360.
Mr. Jarrod Tahsequah, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Oklahoma
City Area IHS, 701 Market Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73114, Tel:
(405) 951- 3714, (800) 722–3357 (toll free).
Mr. Aaron Arviso, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Phoenix Area
IHS, Southwest Region Human Resources, 40 North Central Avenue, Suite 510, Phoenix, AZ 85004, Tel: (602) 364–5228.
Ms. Heidi Hulsey, IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator, Portland Area
IHS, 1414 NW Northrup Street, Suite 800, Portland, OR 97209, Tel:
(503) 414–7745.
Mr. Aaron Arviso, (See Phoenix Area).
• Applicant’s Documents for Indian
Eligibility.
If you are a member of a federally
recognized Tribe or Alaska Native
(recognized by the Secretary of the
Interior), provide evidence of
A. 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).
Note: If you meet the criteria of Form
4432—Category B or C, you are eligible
only for the Preparatory or Pre-graduate
Scholarships, which have eligibility
criteria as follows in Section B.
B. For Preparatory Scholarship or Pregraduate Scholarship, only: If you are a
member of a Tribe terminated since
1940 or a State-recognized Tribe,
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.
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C. For Preparatory Scholarship or Pregraduate Scholarship, 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.
• Degree/Major Plan of Study.
• Declaration of Federal EmploymentOMB Form 3206–0162.
• Addendum OF 306 Form—OMB
Form 0917–0028.
3. Submission Dates
Application Receipt Date: The online
application submission deadline is
February 28, 2021, 7:00 p.m. Eastern. No
supporting documents will be accepted
after this date and time, except final
Letters of Acceptance, which must be
submitted no later than July 1, 2021.
4. Intergovernmental Review
Executive Order 12372 requiring
intergovernmental review is not
applicable to this program.
5. Funding Restrictions
No more than five percent 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
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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
the applicable authorizing statutes at 25
U.S.C. 1613 and 1613a and the
regulations at 42 CFR part 136 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
Selected 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.
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• 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 Pre-graduate
Scholarship receive funding before
freshmen and sophomores.
funds allocated by the IHS among the
three scholarships are available for
obligation.
• Priority Categories
It is anticipated that recipients
applying for extension of their
scholarship funding will be notified in
writing during the second week of June,
2021 and new applicants will be
notified in writing during the second
week of July 2021. An Award Letter will
be issued to successful applicants.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified
in writing.
The following is a list of health
professions that will be considered for
funding in each scholarship program in
FY 2021.
Æ Preparatory Scholarship is limited
to sophomore students pursuing the
following degrees.
A. Pre-Nursing.
Æ Pre-graduate Scholarship is limited
to junior year and above students
pursuing the following degrees.
A. Pre-Dentistry.
B. Pre-Medicine.
Æ Health Professions Scholarship.
This scholarship is limited to students
who are or will be in the following plan
of study by August 1, 2021.
A. Medicine—Allopathic and
Osteopathic doctorate degrees.
B. Nursing—Bachelor of Science
(BSN).
C. Nursing (NP, DNP)—Nurse
Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse.
D. Nursing—Certified Nurse Midwife
(CNM).
E. Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetist (CRNA).
F. Physician Assistant (certified).
G. Dentistry—DDS or DMD degree.
H. Social Work—Master’s degree
(Clinical).
I. Clinical Psychology—Ph.D. or PsyD.
J. Counseling Psychology—Ph.D.
K. Optometry—OD.
L. Pharmacy—PharmD.
M. Podiatry—DPM.
N. Physical Therapy—DPT.
O. Chiropractic—DC.
2. Review and Selection Process
Selected applications will be
reviewed and scored by the IHSSP
Application Review Committee
appointed by the IHS. Reviewers will
not be allowed to review an application
from their area or their 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, the computer will
randomly sort the ranking list and will
not sort by alphabetical name.
Selections are then made from the top
of each ranking list to the extent that
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VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
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 the Preparatory
Scholarship, Pre-graduate Scholarship,
and 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 Health Professions
Scholarship will be made in accordance
with the IHCIA, 25 U.S.C. 1613a and 42
CFR 136.330–136.334. Awardees shall
incur a service obligation prescribed
under the IHCIA, Section 1613a(b), shall
be met by service, through full-time
clinical practice (as detailed on page 18
of the IHSSP Service Commitment
Handbook at: https://www.ihs.gov/
scholarship/handbooks/service_
commitment_handbook.pdf):
(1) In the IHS;
(2) In a program conducted under a
contract or compact entered into under
the Indian Self-Determination 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 percent 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 a Health
Professions Scholarship may, at the
election of the awardee, meet his or her
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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 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, that must be performed,
through full-time clinical practice, at an
approved service payback facility. The
IHS Director (Director) reserves the right
to make final decisions regarding
assignment of scholarship recipients to
fulfill their service obligation.
Moreover, the Director has the
authority to make the final
determination, designating a facility,
whether managed and operated by the
IHS, or one of its Tribal or Urban Indian
partners, consistent with IHCIA, as
approved for scholar-obligated service
payback.
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 Scholarship and Pregraduate Scholarship awardee may not
change from part-time status to full-time
status or vice versa in the same
academic year unless approved in
advance by the Branch Chief of
Scholarships. New recipients may not
request a leave of absence the first
academic year.
The following reports must be sent to
the IHSSP at the identified time frame.
Each scholarship awardee will have
access to online Student and Service
Commitment Handbooks and required
program forms and instructions on
when, how, and to whom these must be
submitted, by logging into the IHSSP
website 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.
3. Reporting Requirements
A. Recipient’s and Initial Progress
Report
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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 IHCIA 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 Scholarship awardee
may not change his or her enrollment
status between terms of enrollment
during the same academic year unless
approved in advance by the Branch
Chief of Scholarships. New recipients
may not request a leave of absence the
first academic year. All requests for
leave of absence are to be approved in
advance by the Director, Division of
Health Professions Support.
An awardee of a scholarship under
the Preparatory Scholarship and Pregraduate Scholarship authority must
maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA, remain
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Within thirty days from the beginning
of each semester/trimester/quarter,
scholarship awardees must submit a
Recipient’s Initial Program Progress
Report (Form IHS–856–8), found on the
IHS Scholarship Program website at:
https://www.ihs.gov/scholarship/
programresources/studentforms/.
B. Transcripts
Within thirty 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
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 6 hours for part-time
students, or if they experience academic
problems, they must submit this report
(Form IHS–856–9), found on the IHS
Scholarship Program website at:
www.ihs.gov/scholarship/
programresources/studentforms/.
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68351
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. Approvals must be made by the
Branch Chief of Scholarships. New
awardees are not eligible to change their
graduation dates during the first year in
the program since awards were based on
graduation dates.
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: Ms. Reta
Brewer, Chief, Scholarship Program,
5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: OHR
(11E53A), Rockville, Maryland 20857,
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, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail
Stop: (09E65A), Rockville, Maryland
20857, Telephone: (301) 443–0056 (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 IHSSP health and
allied professions is effective for
applicants for the 2021–2022 academic
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 209 / Wednesday, October 28, 2020 / Notices
year. These priorities will remain in
effect until superseded. Applicants who
apply for health career categories not
listed as a priorities during the current
scholarship cycle will not be considered
for a scholarship award.
[FR Doc. 2020–23879 Filed 10–27–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
Michael D. Weahkee,
RADM, Assistant Surgeon General, U.S.
Public Health Service, Director, Indian Health
Service.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
[FR Doc. 2020–23820 Filed 10–27–20; 8:45 am]
National Institutes of Health
BILLING CODE 4165–16–P
National Library of Medicine; Notice of
Meeting
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases; Notice of Closed
Meeting
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended, 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.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Dated: October 23, 2020.
Tyeshia M. Roberson,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
Name of Committee: National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases Special
Emphasis Panel Emergency Awards: Rapid
Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS–CoV–2) and
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19)
Date: November 16–17, 2020.
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases; National Institutes of
Health, 5601 Fishers Lane, Room 3G13B,
Rockville, MD 20892, (Telephone Conference
Call).
Contact Person: Yong Gao, Ph.D., Scientific
Review Officer, Scientific Review Program,
Division of Extramural Activities, National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,
National Institutes of Health, 5601 Fishers
Lane, Room 3G13B, Rockville, MD 20892–
9834, (240) 669–5048, yong.gao@nih.gov.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.855, Allergy, Immunology,
and Transplantation Research; 93.856,
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Research, National Institutes of Health, HHS)
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:29 Oct 27, 2020
Jkt 253001
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended, notice is hereby given of a
meeting of the Literature Selection
Technical Review Committee. The
meeting is devoted to the review and
evaluation of journals for potential
indexing by the National Library of
Medicine and will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in section
552b(c)(9)(B), Title 5 U.S.C., as
amended. Premature disclosure of the
titles of the journals as potential titles to
be indexed by the National Library of
Medicine, the discussions, and the
presence of individuals associated with
these publications could significantly
frustrate the review and evaluation of
individual journals.
Name of Committee: Literature Selection
Technical Review Committee.
Date: February 25–26, 2021.
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate journals
as potential titles to be indexed by the
National Library of Medicine.
Place: Virtual Meeting.
Contact Person: Dianne Babski, Acting
Deputy Associate Director, Division of
Library Operations, National Library of
Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Building 38,
Room 2W04A, Bethesda, MD 20894, 301–
827–4729, babskid@mail.nih.gov.
Any member of the public may submit
written comments no later than 15 days after
the meeting.
Any interested person may file written
comments with the committee by forwarding
the statement to the Contact Person listed on
this notice. The statement should include the
name, address, telephone number and when
applicable, the business or professional
affiliation of the interested person.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program No. 93.879, Medical Library
Assistance, National Institutes of Health,
HHS).
Dated: October 23, 2020.
Ronald J. Livingston, Jr.,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020–23878 Filed 10–27–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases; Notice of Closed
Meeting
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended, 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 contract proposals and
the discussions could disclose
confidential trade secrets or commercial
property such as patentable material,
and personal information concerning
individuals associated with the contract
proposals, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases Special
Emphasis Panel Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR), Phase II Program Contract
Solicitation (PHS 2019–1) Topics 73.
Date: November 20, 2020.
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate contract
proposals.
Place: National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of
Health, 5601 Fishers Lane, Room 3G62A,
Rockville, MD 20892, (Virtual Meeting).
Contact Person: Eleazar Cohen, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Scientific Review
Program, Division of Extramural Activities,
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 5601
Fishers Lane, Room 3G62A, Bethesda, MD
20892, (240) 669–5081, ecohen@
niaid.nih.gov.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.855, Allergy, Immunology,
and Transplantation Research; 93.856,
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Research, National Institutes of Health, HHS)
Dated: October 23, 2020.
Tyeshia M. Roberson,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020–23882 Filed 10–27–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Center for Advancing
Translational Sciences; Notice of
Closed Meeting
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
E:\FR\FM\28OCN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68347-68352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23820]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
[CFDA NUMBERS: 93.971, 93.123, AND 93.972]
Indian Health Professions Preparatory, Indian Health Professions
Pre-Graduate and Indian Health Professions Scholarship Programs
Announcement Type: Initial.
Key Dates
Application Deadline Date: February 28, 2021, 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Application Review Date: March 30-April 30, 2021.
Continuation Award Notification Deadline Date: June 5, 2021.
New Award Notification Deadline Date: July 15, 2021.
Award Start Date: August 1, 2021.
Acceptance/Decline of Awards Deadline Date: August 15, 2021.
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
(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
(Pre-graduate Scholarship) authorized by Section 103 of the IHCIA,
codified at 25 U.S.C. 1613(b)(2).
The Indian Health Professions Scholarship (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.
II. Award Information
Type of Award
Scholarship.
Estimated Funds Available
An estimated $13.7 million will be available for fiscal year (FY)
2021 awards. The IHS Scholarship Program (IHSSP) anticipates, but
cannot guarantee, student scholarship selections from any or all of the
approved disciplines in the Preparatory Scholarship, Pre-graduate
Scholarship, and Health Professions Scholarship programs for the
scholarship period 2021-2022 academic year. Due to the rising cost of
education and the decreasing number of scholars who can be funded by
the IHSSP, the IHSSP previously changed the funding policy for
Preparatory Scholarship and Pre-graduate Scholarship awards and
reallocated a greater percentage of its funding in an effort to
increase the number of Health Professions Scholarship, 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. This policy continues in effect for 2021-2022 academic
year.
Anticipated Number of Awards
Approximately 25 new awards will be made by the IHSSP under the
Preparatory Scholarship and Pre-graduate Scholarship programs for
Indians. The awards are for 10 months in duration, with an additional 2
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 in both programs is approximately $40,372.61.
Approximately 100 new awards will be made by the IHSSP under the 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 $120,814.38.
Approximately a total of 300 awards will be made under the IHSSP
Scholarship Program for FY 2021-2022.
Project Period
The project period for the Preparatory Scholarship stipend support,
tuition, fees and ORC is limited to 2 years for full-time students and
the part-time equivalent of 2 years, not to exceed 4 years for part-
time students. The project period for the Pre-graduate Scholarship
stipend support, tuition, fees and ORC
[[Page 68348]]
is limited to 4 years for full-time students and the part-time
equivalent of 4 years, not to exceed 8 years for part-time students.
The Health Professions Scholarship provides stipend support, tuition,
fees, and ORC and is limited to 4 years for full-time students and the
part-time equivalent of 4 years, not to exceed 8 years for part-time
students.
III. Eligibility Information
This is a limited competition announcement. New and continuation
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 Scholarship and Pre-graduate Scholarship 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 Indian Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship awards are
made to American Indians (members of Federally recognized Tribes,
including those from Tribes terminated since 1940, first and second
degree descendants of members of federally recognized Tribes, members
of State-recognized Tribes and first and second degree descendants of
members of State-recognized Tribes), 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 Indian Health Professions Pre-graduate Scholarship awards are
made to American Indians (members of Federally recognized Tribes,
including those from Tribes terminated since 1940, first and second
degree descendants of members of federally recognized Tribes, members
of State recognized Tribes, and first and second degree descendants of
members of State-recognized Tribes), or Eskimo, Aleut, or 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 or pre-dentistry.
The Indian Health Professions Scholarship may only be awarded to an
individual who is an Indian as defined 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 an
eligible profession.
2. Cost Sharing/Matching
The IHS does not require matching funds or cost sharing for grants
or cooperative agreements.
3. Benefits From State, Local, Tribal and Other Federal Sources
Awardees of the Preparatory Scholarship, 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 IHSSP 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)/G.I. 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/online_application/index.cfm to apply for an IHS scholarship and access
the Application Handbook instructions 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. The ASCs are listed on the IHS
website at: https://www.ihs.gov/scholarship/areascholarshipcoordinators//. This information is listed below. Please
review the following list to identify the appropriate IHS ASC for your
State.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
IHS area office and states/locality
served Scholarship coordinator address
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Plains Area IHS:
Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, South Mr. Matthew Martin, IHS Area
Dakota. Scholarship Coordinator, Great
Plains Area IHS, 115 Fourth
Avenue SE, Aberdeen, SD 57401,
Tel: (605) 226-7502.
Alaska Area Native Health Services:
Alaska............................. Mr. Ryan Tubon, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator,
Alaska Area Native Health,
3900 Ambassador Drive,
Anchorage, AK 99508, Tel:
(907) 729-1324.
Albuquerque Area IHS:
Colorado, New Mexico............... Ms. Michelle Aguilar Bowser,
IHS Area Scholarship
Coordinator, Albuquerque Area
IHS, 4101 Indian School Rd.
NE, Suite 225, Albuquerque, NM
87110, Tel: (505) 505-256-
6731.
Bemidji Area IHS:
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mr. Tony Buckanaga, IHS Area
Minnesota, Wisconsin. Scholarship Coordinator,
Bemidji Area IHS, 522
Minnesota Avenue NW, Room
115A, Bemidji, MN 56601, Tel:
(218) 444-0486, (800) 892-3079
(toll free).
Billings Area IHS:
Montana, Wyoming................... Mr. Brett Miller, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator,
Billings Area IHS, Area
Personnel Office, P.O. Box
36600, 2900 Fourth Avenue
North, Suite 400, Billings, MT
59107, Tel: (406) 247-7211.
California Area IHS:
California......................... Mr. Hakim Smith, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator,
California Area IHS, 650
Capitol Mall, Suite 7-100,
Sacramento, CA 95814, Tel:
(916) 930-3981 Ext. 316.
[[Page 68349]]
Nashville Area IHS:
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Mr. Keith Neves, IHS Area
Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Scholarship Coordinator,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Nashville Area IHS, 711
Maryland, Massachusetts, Stewarts Ferry Pike,
Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Nashville, TN 37214, Tel:
Jersey, New York, North Carolina, (615) 467-1616.
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
South Carolina, Tennessee,
Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia,
District of Columbia.
Navajo Area IHS:
Arizona, New Mexico, Utah.......... Ms. Aletha John, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator,
Navajo Area IHS, P.O. Box
9020, Window Rock, AZ 86515,
Tel: (928) 871-1360.
Oklahoma City Area IHS:
Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas.. Mr. Jarrod Tahsequah, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator,
Oklahoma City Area IHS, 701
Market Drive, Oklahoma City,
OK 73114, Tel: (405) 951-
3714, (800) 722-3357 (toll
free).
Phoenix Area IHS:
Arizona, Nevada, Utah.............. Mr. Aaron Arviso, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator,
Phoenix Area IHS, Southwest
Region Human Resources, 40
North Central Avenue, Suite
510, Phoenix, AZ 85004, Tel:
(602) 364-5228.
Portland Area IHS:
Idaho, Oregon, Washington.......... Ms. Heidi Hulsey, IHS Area
Scholarship Coordinator,
Portland Area IHS, 1414 NW
Northrup Street, Suite 800,
Portland, OR 97209, Tel: (503)
414-7745.
Tucson Area IHS:
Arizona............................ Mr. Aaron Arviso, (See Phoenix
Area).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Content and Form Submission
Each applicant will be responsible for entering their basic
applicant account information online, in addition to submitting
required documents as requested. Applicants must initiate an
application through the online portal or the application will be
considered incomplete. For more information on how to use the online
portal, go to www.ihs.gov/scholarship. The portal is expected to be
open by December 30, 2020.
The following documents must be submitted by February 28, 2021,
7:00 p.m. Eastern:
A completed online application.
Official transcript(s) must be uploaded from the last
college/university degree you earned, and from your current degree
program. Official transcript(s) must support your intended enrollment/
classification status for 2021-2022.
Two Faculty/Employer Evaluations with faculty evaluators
identified, evaluations transmitted and completed in the online
applicant portal.
Online narratives-reasons for requesting the scholarship.
Delinquent Debt form completed in the online applicant
portal.
Course Curriculum Form completed in the online applicant
portal. Non-selected applicants will be notified by the end of May.
Selected applicants will be notified to upload the following documents
within 30 days of notification:
Current Letter of Acceptance from a college/university or
proof of application to a college/university or health professions
program.
Applicant's Documents for Indian Eligibility.
If you are a member of a federally recognized Tribe or Alaska
Native (recognized by the Secretary of the Interior), provide evidence
of
A. 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).
Note: If you meet the criteria of Form 4432--Category B or C, you
are eligible only for the Preparatory or Pre-graduate Scholarships,
which have eligibility criteria as follows in Section B.
B. For Preparatory Scholarship or Pre-graduate Scholarship, only:
If you are a member of a Tribe terminated since 1940 or a State-
recognized Tribe, 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 Scholarship or Pre-graduate Scholarship, 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.
Degree/Major Plan of Study.
Declaration of Federal Employment-OMB Form 3206-0162.
Addendum OF 306 Form--OMB Form 0917-0028.
3. Submission Dates
Application Receipt Date: The online application submission
deadline is February 28, 2021, 7:00 p.m. Eastern. No supporting
documents will be accepted after this date and time, except final
Letters of Acceptance, which must be submitted no later than July 1,
2021.
4. Intergovernmental Review
Executive Order 12372 requiring intergovernmental review is not
applicable to this program.
5. Funding Restrictions
No more than five percent 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
[[Page 68350]]
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 the applicable
authorizing statutes at 25 U.S.C. 1613 and 1613a and the regulations at
42 CFR part 136 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
Selected 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.
Applicants who are closest to graduation or completion of
training are awarded first. For example, senior and junior applicants
under the 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 2021.
[cir] Preparatory Scholarship is limited to sophomore students
pursuing the following degrees.
A. Pre-Nursing.
[cir] Pre-graduate Scholarship is limited to junior year and above
students pursuing the following degrees.
A. Pre-Dentistry.
B. Pre-Medicine.
[cir] Health Professions Scholarship. This scholarship is limited
to students who are or will be in the following plan of study by August
1, 2021.
A. Medicine--Allopathic and Osteopathic doctorate degrees.
B. Nursing--Bachelor of Science (BSN).
C. Nursing (NP, DNP)--Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse.
D. Nursing--Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM).
E. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
F. Physician Assistant (certified).
G. Dentistry--DDS or DMD degree.
H. Social Work--Master's degree (Clinical).
I. Clinical Psychology--Ph.D. or PsyD.
J. Counseling Psychology--Ph.D.
K. Optometry--OD.
L. Pharmacy--PharmD.
M. Podiatry--DPM.
N. Physical Therapy--DPT.
O. Chiropractic--DC.
2. Review and Selection Process
Selected applications will be reviewed and scored by the IHSSP
Application Review Committee appointed by the IHS. Reviewers will not
be allowed to review an application from their area or their 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, the
computer will randomly sort the ranking list and will not sort 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 second week
of June, 2021 and new applicants will be notified in writing during the
second week of July 2021. An Award Letter will be issued to successful
applicants. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing.
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 the Preparatory Scholarship, Pre-
graduate Scholarship, and 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 Health Professions Scholarship will be made in
accordance with the IHCIA, 25 U.S.C. 1613a and 42 CFR 136.330-136.334.
Awardees shall incur a service obligation prescribed under the IHCIA,
Section 1613a(b), shall be met by service, through full-time clinical
practice (as detailed on page 18 of the IHSSP Service Commitment
Handbook at: https://www.ihs.gov/scholarship/handbooks/service_commitment_handbook.pdf):
(1) In the IHS;
(2) In a program conducted under a contract or compact entered into
under the Indian Self-Determination 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 percent 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 a
Health Professions Scholarship may, at the election of the awardee,
meet his or her
[[Page 68351]]
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 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,
that must be performed, through full-time clinical practice, at an
approved service payback facility. The IHS Director (Director) reserves
the right to make final decisions regarding assignment of scholarship
recipients to fulfill their service obligation.
Moreover, the Director has the authority to make the final
determination, designating a facility, whether managed and operated by
the IHS, or one of its Tribal or Urban Indian partners, consistent with
IHCIA, as approved for scholar-obligated service payback.
3. Reporting Requirements
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 IHCIA 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
Scholarship awardee may not change his or her enrollment status between
terms of enrollment during the same academic year unless approved in
advance by the Branch Chief of Scholarships. New recipients may not
request a leave of absence the first academic year. All requests for
leave of absence are to be approved in advance by the Director,
Division of Health Professions Support.
An awardee of a scholarship under the Preparatory Scholarship and
Pre-graduate Scholarship authority must maintain a 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 Scholarship and
Pre-graduate Scholarship awardee may not change from part-time status
to full-time status or vice versa in the same academic year unless
approved in advance by the Branch Chief of Scholarships. New recipients
may not request a leave of absence the first academic year.
The following reports must be sent to the IHSSP at the identified
time frame. Each scholarship awardee will have access to online Student
and Service Commitment Handbooks and required program forms and
instructions on when, how, and to whom these must be submitted, by
logging into the IHSSP website 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 and Initial Progress Report
Within thirty days from the beginning of each semester/trimester/
quarter, scholarship awardees must submit a Recipient's Initial Program
Progress Report (Form IHS-856-8), found on the IHS Scholarship Program
website at: https://www.ihs.gov/scholarship/programresources/studentforms/.
B. Transcripts
Within thirty 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
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 6 hours for part-time students, or if they experience academic
problems, they must submit this report (Form IHS-856-9), found on the
IHS Scholarship Program website at: www.ihs.gov/scholarship/programresources/studentforms/.
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. Approvals must be made by the Branch Chief of Scholarships.
New awardees are not eligible to change their graduation dates during
the first year in the program since awards were based on graduation
dates.
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: Ms.
Reta Brewer, Chief, Scholarship Program, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop:
OHR (11E53A), Rockville, Maryland 20857, 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, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: (09E65A),
Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone: (301) 443-0056 (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 IHSSP
health and allied professions is effective for applicants for the 2021-
2022 academic
[[Page 68352]]
year. These priorities will remain in effect until superseded.
Applicants who apply for health career categories not listed as a
priorities during the current scholarship cycle will not be considered
for a scholarship award.
Michael D. Weahkee,
RADM, Assistant Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Director,
Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-23820 Filed 10-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-P
