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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

93.971:  Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship Program for Indians

Objectives:  To make scholarships to American Indians and Alaska Natives for the purpose of completing compensatory pre-professional education to enable the recipient to qualify for enrollment or re-enrollment in a health professions school or curriculum.

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

93.971 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Scholarship awards are made to individuals of American Indian or Alaska Native descent, who have successfully completed high school education or high school equivalency and who have been accepted for enrollment in a compensatory, pre-professional general education course or curriculum.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Individuals of American Indian or Alaska Native descent.

Credentials/Documentation:  Students must submit proper documentation of Indian eligibility verification from the college advisor that the courses or curriculum to be taken are required to meet the applicant's deficiency and compensatory needs at the professional level and represent the number of credit hours which the school considers as full-time or at least 6 credit hours per semester for part-time.

93.971 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Preapplication is not required. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Application forms and instructions are provided by the Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarship Program acting through the IHS Area Program Offices. Application forms and required documentation (official transcripts, letter of acceptance by college, curriculum verification, Indian eligibility, tuition verification, faculty evaluations) should be submitted to IHS Headquarters for review and approval/disapproval.

Award Procedure:  Payments for stipends and books are made directly to the individual applicant. Tuition payments and fees are made to the college or university, upon receipt of an invoice.

Deadlines:  Contact IHS Area offices for application deadlines. New applications are usually available to interested individuals in February with a submission deadline of April 1.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Applicants are notified by July 31.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  Continuation applications must be submitted annually. Continued funding subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Applicant must be American Indian or Alaska Native. Other elements considered are: (1) Academic performance; (2) faculty recommendation; (3) stated reasons for asking for the scholarship; (4) goals of the individual; and (5) the relative needs of the IHS and Indian health organizations for persons in specific health professions are taken under consideration.

Examples of Funded Projects:  In fiscal year 1998, continuing scholarship recipients will be funded in the pre-professional categories of pre-nursing, pre-medical technology, pre-physical therapy, pre-engineering, pre-sanitation, and pre-pharmacy only.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  The range is from $13,182 to $26,019; $14,571.

93.971 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

93.971 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

For fiscal years 1999 and 2000, it is anticipated that about 95 continuation scholarship awards will be funded.

93.971 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $2,000,000; FY 00 est $2,000,000; and FY 01 est $2,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  75-0390-0-1-551.

Authorization:  Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 94-437, as amended.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  42 CFR 36.320 - 36 324. Final Rules and Regulations, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 94-437, published in the Federal Register on November 18, 1977.

93.971 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  See Appendix IV of the Catalog for Indian Health Service Area Offices.

Headquarters Office:  Program Contact: Ms. Patricia Lee-McCoy, Scholarship Branch, Division of Health Professions Support, Indian Health Service, Twinbrook Metro Plaza, Suite 100A, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20852. Phone: (301) 443-6197. Grants Contact: Ms. M. Kay Carpentier, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, Division of Acquisition and Grants Management, Indian Health Service, Twinbrook Metro Plaza, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20852. Phone: (301) 443-0243. Use the same numbers for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

93.971 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

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

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Tuition payments are paid upon receipt of invoices from the universities. Stipend payments are paid monthly, for 10 months or for the academic period if students attends summer school. Amount for books and other necessary expenses are provided to student.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Scholarship awards are limited to persons of American Indian or Alaska Native descent. Awards are limited to a maximum of 2 years of full-time scholarship support under this section of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

93.971 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Students are required to submit their official transcripts as they are received. In addition, recipients must submit initial progress reports on forms supplied by IHS and notifications of problems/changes.

Audits:  Not applicable.

Records:  Indian Health Service Scholarship Branch, IHS, maintains records on all students. Records are maintained for 4 years after the final award payment has been made.