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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

93.925:  Scholarships for Health Professions Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Popular Name:  Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students; SDS

Objectives:  To make funds available for grants to schools of allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic allied health (baccalaureate and graduate programs of dental hygiene, medical laboratory technician, occupational therapy, radiological technology and physical therapy speech pathology, audiology, registered dieticians), public health, and accredited schools of nursing (associate, diploma, baccalaureate and graduate programs) and graduate degree in behavioral and mental health. Funds are awarded to assist such schools in providing scholarships to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who are enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) as full-time students in the schools.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

93.925 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Accredited public or private nonprofit schools of allopathic medicine, nursing, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, allied health, or schools offering graduate programs in public health, behavioral and mental health or physician assistants.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Students who are citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residence of the United States or the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico or the Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the American Samoa or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia.

Credentials/Documentation:  Each school must submit an application that contains information, agreements and assurances that the program requires.

93.925 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  No preapplication is required. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Eligible health professions schools submit the required application to the Division of Student Assistance. Students apply to the Financial Aid Office at their respective school. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. No State plan is required.

Award Procedure:  Based upon the availability of funds, notice of awards are issued to the schools which in turn select and issue the awards to the eligible students.

Deadlines:  Contact the Headquarters Office listed below for deadline dates.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 1 to 2 months.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  Applications are required for new schools.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Applications will be reviewed for completeness, accuracy, and to determine if applicant schools meet minimum program requirements.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Scholarships to students of schools of nursing and health professions schools.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Not applicable.

93.925 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 93.139 Financial Assistance for Disadvantaged Health Professions Students;
• 93.288 National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program;
• 93.342 Health Professions Student Loans, Including Primary Care Loans/Loans for Disadvantaged Students;
• 93.364 Nursing Student Loans;
• 93.820 Scholarships for Students of Exceptional Financial Need.

93.925 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

93.925 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $38,087,000; FY 00 est $38,099,000; and FY 01 est $38,099,000.

Budget Account Number:  75-0350-0-1-550.

Authorization:  Public Health Service Act, Title VII, Section 737, 42 U.S.C. 293a; Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998, Public Law 105-392.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Program guidelines and related application materials. PHS Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 94-50,000, (Rev.) April 1, 1994.

93.925 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Program Contact: Bruce Baggett, Division of Student Assistance, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Public Health Service, Parklawn Bldg., Room 8-34, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Phone: (301) 443-4776. Use the same numbers for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

93.925 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Each scholarship award is made for 1 year.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Scholarships may only be expended for tuition expenses, other reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses incurred while in attendance for the year. The Secretary is required to make available 16 percent of the funds to schools that will provide scholarships only for nurses, and must give preference to former Exceptional Financial Need and Financial Assistance for Disadvantaged Health Professions Student recipients. Schools are required to agree that, in providing scholarships under this program, preference shall be given to students from disadvantaged backgrounds for whom the costs of attending the school would constitute a severe financial hardship. The Secretary may not make a grant to a school unless the school is carrying out a program for recruiting and retaining students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities.

93.925 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  A financial status report must be submitted at the end of each budget period.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In additional, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal government officials.

Records:  The institutions are required to maintain records of the amount of funds awarded to each recipient and a copy of the total need analysis and determination of resources.