FEDERAL AGENCY:

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

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

To provide scholarships to American Indians and Alaska Natives for the purpose of completing pre-graduate education leading to a baccalaureate degree only in the following areas: (1) Pre-Medicine: priority as follows: senior, junior, sophomore, freshman; (2) Pre-dentistry: priority as follows: senior, junior, sophomore, freshman.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Scholarship awards are limited to persons of American Indian or Alaska Native descent. Support is limited to 4 years of full-time education, or part-time equivalent for a maximum of 8 years.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Individuals of American Indian or Alaska Native descent, 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 in a pre-medicine or pre-dentistry curriculum.

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

Credentials/Documentation:   Students must submit proper documentation of Indian eligibility in order to be considered. The applicant's advisor must also provide verification that the courses to be taken are required for an undergraduate curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in pre-medicine or pre-dentistry curriculum and represents the number of credit hours which the school requires to be full-time or at least 6 hours of part-time study.

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

Application Procedure:   Application form OMB No. 0917-0006 and instructions are provided by the Indian Health Service and are usually available to interested individuals in February. An application form and required documentation (official transcripts, letter of acceptance by college, curriculum verification, Indian eligibility, tuition verification, faculty evaluations) are submitted to IHS Headquarters for review and approval/disapproval.

Award Procedure:   Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Approved funding includes payments for stipends and books that are made directly to the individual recipient. Tuition and fee payments are made to the recipient's college or university.

Deadlines:   Contact IHS Area offices for application deadlines. New applications are usually available 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 is subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

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 the academic period. An amount is provided to students for books and other necessary expenses.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Students are required to submit their official transcripts as they are received. Initial progress reports are required for each quarter. Notification of Academic Problem/Change is required at any time a problem or change occurs.

Audits:   Not applicable.

Records:   The Indian Health Service Scholarship Program maintains records on all students. Records must be maintained for 4 years after the final payment has been made.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-0390-0-1-551.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $1,905,756; FY 02 est $2,004,879; and FY 03 est $2,004,879.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
From $18,913 to $27,217; Average: $20,049.

In fiscal year 2001, 29 new and 56 continuing awards were made. It is estimated that a total of 95 scholarship awards will be made in fiscal year 2002 and fiscal year 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

42 CFR 36.370-36.374. Final Rules and Regulations, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 96-537 (which amends Public Law 94-437, Section 103), published in the Federal Register on February 29, 1984.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:   Program Contact: Ms. Barbara Fine, IHS Scholarship Program, Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 443-6197. Grants Management Contact: Ms. Crystal C. Ferguson, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch; Division of Acquisition and Grants Management, Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 443-0243. Use the same numbers for FTS.

Web Site Address:   http://www.ihs.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Scholarships may be awarded for any of the following career categories (or the equivalent): (1) Premedicine; (2) preoptometry; (3) predentistry; or (4) preosteopathy. The priority categories are premedicine (priority as follows: senior, junior, sophomore, freshman) and predentistry (priority as follows: senior, junior, sophomore, freshman).

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Applicant must be of Indian descent. Other elements considered are: (1) academic performance; (2) faculty or employer recommendation; (3) stated reasons for applying for the scholarship; and (4) the relative needs of the Indian Health Service and Indian health organizations for persons in specific health professions.