80 FR 80370 - Indian Health Professions Preparatory, Indian Health Professions Pre-Graduate and Indian Health Professions Scholarship Programs; Announcement Type: Initial
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 247 (December 24, 2015)
Indian Health Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 247 (December 24, 2015)
| Page Range | 80370-80375 | |
| FR Document | 2015-32352 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 80370-80375] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-32352] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Indian Health Service Indian Health Professions Preparatory, Indian Health Professions Pre-Graduate and Indian Health Professions Scholarship Programs; Announcement Type: Initial CFDA Numbers: 93.971, 93.123, AND 93.972 Key Dates Application Deadline: February 28, 2016, for continuing students Application Deadline: March 28, 2016, for new students Application Review: May 9-23, 2016 Continuation Award Notification Deadline: June 6, 2016 New Award Notification Deadline: July 5, 2016 Award Start Date: August 1, 2016 Acceptance/Decline of Awards Deadline: August 15, 2016 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 authorized by [[Page 80371]] 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 authorized by Section 103 of the IHCIA, codified at 25 U.S.C. 1613(b)(2). The Indian 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 appropriated for the scholarship program. II. Award Information Type of Award Scholarship. Estimated Funds Available An estimated $13.7 million will be available for fiscal year (FY) 2016 awards. The IHS Scholarship Program (IHSSP) anticipates, but cannot guarantee, due to possible funding changes, student scholarship selections from any or all of the approved disciplines in the Preparatory, Pre-graduate or Health Professions Scholarship Programs for the scholarship period 2016-2017. Due to the rising cost of education and the decreasing number of scholars who can be funded by the IHSSP, the IHSSP has changed the funding policy for Preparatory and Pre-graduate Scholarship awards and reallocated a greater percentage of its funding in an effort to increase the number of Health Professions Scholarships, 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. Anticipated Number of Awards Approximately 80 awards will be made under the Health Professions Preparatory and Pre-graduate Scholarship Programs for Indians. The awards are for ten months in duration, with an additional two 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 is approximately $31,919.52. An estimated 245 awards will be made under the Indian 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 $48,004.00. In FY 2016, an estimated $10,034,760 is available for Health Professions awards, and an estimated $3,687,137 is available for Preparatory and Pre-graduate awards. Project Period The project period for the IHS Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship stipend support, tuition, fees and ORC is limited to two years for full-time students and the part-time equivalent of two years, not to exceed four years for part-time students. The project period for the Health Professions Pre-graduate Scholarship stipend support, tuition, fees and ORC is limited to four years for full-time students and the part-time equivalent of four years, not to exceed eight years for part-time students. The IHS Indian Health Professions Scholarship provides stipend support, tuition, fees, and ORC and is limited to four years for full-time students and the part-time equivalent of four years, not to exceed eight 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 and Pre-graduate scholarships 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 Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship awards are made to American Indians (Federally recognized Tribal members, including those from Tribes terminated since 1940, first and second degree descendants of Federally recognized Tribal members, State recognized Tribal members and first and second degree descendants of State recognized Tribal members), 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 Health Professions Pre-graduate Scholarship awards are made to American Indians (Federally recognized Tribal members, including those from Tribes terminated since 1940, first and second degree descendants of Tribal members, and State recognized Tribal members, first and second degree descendants of Tribal members), or Eskimo, Aleut and 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, pre-dentistry, pre-optometry or pre-podiatry. The Indian Health Professions Scholarship may be awarded only to an individual who is a member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, Eskimo, Aleut or other Alaska Native as provided 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 a health profession as defined by Section 1603(10) of the IHCIA. 2. Cost Sharing/Matching The Scholarship Program does not require matching funds or cost sharing to participate in the competitive grant process. 3. Benefits From State, Local, Tribal and Other Federal Sources Awardees of the Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship, Health Professions 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 IHS Scholarship Program 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_ [[Page 80372]] application/index.cfm to apply for an IHS scholarship and access the Application Handbook instructions and forms 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. ASC's are listed on the IHS Web site at: http://www.ihs.gov/scholarship/contact/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 Scholarship Coordinator Served: Address: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Great Plains Area IHS: Nebraska; Iowa; Ms. Kim Annis; IHS Area North Dakota; South Dakota. Scholarship Coordinator; Great Plains Area IHS; 115 4th Avenue SE; Aberdeen, SD 57401; Tel: (605) 226-7466. Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium: Mr. Joshua Patton; Alaska IHS Alaska. Area Scholarship Coordinator; Alaska Native Tribal Consortium; 4000 Ambassador Drive; Anchorage, AK 99508; Tel: (907) 729-1333; 1-800-684- 8361 (toll free). Albuquerque Area IHS: Colorado IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator; New Mexico Albuquerque Area IHS; 5300 Homestead Road, NE; Albuquerque, NM 87110; Tel: (505) 248-4713. Bemidji Area IHS: Illinois; Indiana, Mr. Tony Buckanaga; IHS Area Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin. Scholarship Coordinator; Bemidji Area IHS; 522 Minnesota Avenue NW; Room 115A; Bemidji, MN 56601; Tel: (218) 444-0486; 1-800-892-3079 (toll free). Billings Area IHS: Montana; Wyoming.... Mr. Delon Rock Above; Alternate: Ms. Bernice Hugs; Wyoming IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator; Billings Area IHS; Area Personnel Office; P.O. Box 36600; 2900 4th Avenue, North, Suite 400; Billings, MT 59107; Tel: (406) 247-7215. California Area IHS: California........ Ms. Mona Celli; IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator; California Area IHS; 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 7-100; Sacramento, CA 95814; Tel: (916) 930-3983 ext 311. Nashville Area IHS: Alabama; Arkansas; Mr. Tyler Harman; IHS Area Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Scholarship Coordinator; Georgia; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Nashville Area IHS; 711 Maryland; Massachusetts; Mississippi; Stewarts Ferry Pike; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; Nashville, TN 37214; Tel: North Carolina; Ohio; Pennsylvania; (615) 467-1590. Rhode Island; South Carolina; Tennessee; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; District of Columbia. Navajo Area IHS: Arizona; New Mexico; Ms. Aletha John; IHS Area Utah. Scholarship Coordinator; Navajo Area IHS; P.O. Box 9020; Window Rock, AZ 86515; Tel: (928) 871-1360. Oklahoma City Area IHS: Kansas; Mr. Keith Bohanan; IHS Area Missouri; Oklahoma; Texas. Scholarship Coordinator; Oklahoma City Area IHS; Oklahoma 701 Market Drive; Oklahoma City, OK 73114; Tel: (405) 951-3789; 1-800-722-3357 (toll free). Phoenix Area IHS: Arizona; Nevada; Utah Ms. Trudy Begay; IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator; Phoenix Area IHS; Southwest Region Human Resources; Hopi Health Care Center; P.O. Box 4000; Polacca, Arizona 86042; Tel: (928) 737-6374. Portland Area IHS: Idaho; Oregon; Ms. Heidi Hulsey; IHS Area Washington. Scholarship Coordinator; Portland Area IHS; 1414 NW Northrup Street, Suite 800; Portland, Oregon 97209; Tel: (503) 414-7745. Tucson Area IHS: Arizona............... Ms. Trudy Begay; (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 a completed, original signature hard copy and one copy set of application documents, in accordance with the IHS Scholarship Program Application Handbook instructions, to the: IHS Scholarship Program Branch Office, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: OHR (11E53A), Rockville, Maryland 20857. 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 will be open on December 18, 2015. The application will be considered complete if the following documents (original and one copy) are included: Completed and signed online Application Checklist. Completed, printed, and signed IHSSP online application form for new or continuation student. Current Letter of Acceptance from college/university or proof of application to a college/university or health professions program. One set of official transcripts for all colleges/ universities attended (or high school transcripts or Certificate of Completion of Home School Program or General Education Diploma (GED) for applicants who have not taken college courses). Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA): Calculated by the applicant. Applicant's Documents for Indian Eligibility. A. If you are a member of a Federally recognized Tribe or Alaska Native (recognized by the Secretary of the Interior), provide evidence of membership such as: (1) 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); or (2) In the absence of BIA certification, documentation that you meet 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, i.e., Tribal enrollment card showing enrollment number; or (3) Other evidence of Tribal membership satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior. 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 or Pre-graduate Scholarships, only: If you are a member [[Page 80373]] of a Tribe terminated since 1940 or a State recognized Tribe and first or second degree descendant, 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 or Pre-graduate Scholarships, 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. Two Faculty/Employer Evaluations with original signature. Online narratives-reasons for requesting the scholarship. Delinquent Debt Form with original signature. Course Curriculum Verification with original signature. Curriculum for Major. 3. Submission Dates Application Receipt Date: The online continuation application submission deadline for continuation applicants is Sunday, February 28, 2016. No supporting documents will be accepted after this date, except final Letters of Acceptance, which must be submitted no later than Friday, May 30, 2016. Application Receipt Date: New applicants must print and sign their online application and checklist and submit it with their supporting documents by the postal deadline of Monday, March 28, 2016. No supporting documents will be accepted after this date, except final Letters of Acceptance, which must be submitted no later than Monday, May 30, 2016. Applications and supporting documents (original and one copy) shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they are received by the IHSSP branch office, postmarked on or before the deadline date. Applicants should request a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing and the application will not be considered for funding. New and continuation applicants may check the status of their application receipt and processing by logging into their online account at https://www.ihs.gov/scholarship/online_application/index.cfm. Applications received with postmarks after the announced deadline date will not be considered for funding. 4. Intergovernmental Review Executive Order 12372 requiring intergovernmental review is not applicable to this program. 5. Funding Restrictions No more than 5% 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 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 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 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 Health Professions 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 2016. [cir] Indian Health Professions Preparatory Scholarships A. Pre-Clinical Psychology (Jr. and Sr. undergraduate years only). B. Pre-Nursing. C. Pre-Pharmacy. D. Pre-Social Work (Jr. and Sr. preparing for an MS in social work). [cir] Indian Health Professions Pre-graduate Scholarships A. Pre-Dentistry. B. Pre-Medicine. C. Pre-Optometry. D. Pre-Podiatry. [cir] Indian Health Professions Scholarship A. Chemical Dependency Counseling--Master's Degrees. B. Clinical Psychology--Ph.D. or PsyD. C. Coding Specialist--AAS degree. D. Counseling Psychology--Ph.D. E. Dentistry: DDS or DMD degrees. F. Diagnostic Radiology Technology: AAS or BS. [[Page 80374]] G. Environmental Engineering: BS (Jr. and Sr. undergraduate years only). H. Environmental Health/Sanitarian: BS (Jr. and Sr. undergraduate years only). I. Health Records Administration: RHIT (AAS) and RHIA (BS). J. Medical Technology: BS (Jr. and Sr. undergraduate years only). K. Medicine: Allopathic and Osteopathic. L. Nurse: Associate and Bachelor Degrees and advanced degrees in Psychiatry, Geriatric, Women's Health, Pediatric Nursing, Midwifery, Nurse Anesthetist, and Nurse Practitioner. (Priority consideration will be given to Registered Nurses employed by the IHS; 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; or in a program assisted under Title V of the IHCIA). M. Optometry: OD. N. Pharmacy: PharmD. O. Physician Assistant: PA-C. P. Physical Therapy: MS and DPT. Q. Podiatry: DPM. R. Public Health Nutritionist: MS. S. Respiratory Therapy: BS Degree. T. Social Work: Masters Level only (Direct Practice and Clinical concentrations). U. Ultrasonography (Prerequisite: Diagnostic Radiology Technology degree/certificate). 2. Review and Selection Process The applications will be reviewed and scored by the IHS Scholarship Program's 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 first week of June 2016 and new applicants will be notified in writing during the first week of July 2016. An Award Letter will be issued to successful applicants. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing, which will include a brief explanation of the reason(s) the application was not successful and provide the name of the IHS official to contact if more information is desired. 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 IHS Indian Health Professions Preparatory and Pre-graduate Scholarships and IHS Indian Health Professions Scholarships. 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 Indian Health Professions Scholarships 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), which shall be met by service, through full- time clinical practice (as detailed on page 18 of the IHS Scholarship Program Service Commitment Handbook at http://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% 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 an IHS Health Professions Scholarship may, at the election of the awardee, meet his/her 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 IHS 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, which 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 IHS, or one of its Tribal or urban Indian partners, consistent with IHCIA, as approved for scholar obligated service payback. 3. Reporting Scholarship Program Minimum Academic Requirements It is the policy of the IHS that a scholarship awardee funded under the Indian 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. New recipients may not request a Leave of Absence during the first year of their funding. In addition to these requirements, a Health Professions Scholarship awardee must be enrolled in an approved/accredited school for a health professions degree. An awardee of a scholarship under the IHS Health Professions Preparatory and Health Professions Pre-graduate Scholarship authority must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, remain in good standing each semester/trimester/quarter and be a full-time [[Page 80375]] 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 and Pre-graduate awardee may not change from part-time status to full-time status or vice versa in the same academic year. New recipients may not request a Leave of Absence during the first year of their funding. 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 Web site 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 (30) 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 Web site at http://www.ihs.gov/scholarship/programresources/studentforms/). B. Transcripts Within thirty (30) 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 six 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 Web site at www.ihs.gov/scholarship). 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. 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: 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: (07E57B), Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone: (301) 443-0243 (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 http://www.healthypeople.gov. Interested individuals are reminded that the list of eligible health and allied professions is effective for applicants for the 2016- 2017 academic year. These priorities will remain in effect until superseded. Applicants who apply for health career categories not listed as priorities during the current scholarship cycle will not be considered for a scholarship award. Dated: December 16, 2015. Robert G. McSwain, Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service. [FR Doc. 2015-32352 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165-16-P
![80370 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices
(2) Availability for service earlier than IHS. Participants extending their Office identifies supplemental monies
other applicants (first come, first contracts may receive up to the for dentists. Only the dental positions
served). maximum amount of $20,000 per year within the Albuquerque Area will be
(3) Date the individual’s application plus an additional 20 percent for funded with the supplemental monies
was received. Federal withholding. consistent with the national ranking and
C. Anticipated Announcement and site index within that area.
VII. Agency Contact Should an IHS service unit contribute
Award Dates Please address inquiries to Ms. to the LRP, those funds will be used for
Not applicable. Jacqueline K. Santiago, Chief, IHS Loan only those sites located in that service
VI. Award Administration Information Repayment Program, 5600 Fishers Lane, unit. Those sites will retain their
Mail Stop: OHR (11E53A), Rockville, relative ranking from the national site-
A. Award Notices Maryland 20857, Telephone: 301/443– ranking list. For example, Whiteriver
Notice of awards will be mailed on 3396 [between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Service Unit identifies supplemental
the last working day of each month. (Eastern Standard Time) Monday monies for nurses. The Whiteriver
Once the applicant is approved for through Friday, except Federal Service Unit consists of two facilities,
participation in the LRP, the applicant holidays]. namely the Whiteriver PHS Indian
will receive confirmation of his/her loan Hospital and the Cibecue Indian Health
VIII. Other Information
repayment award and the duty site at Center. The national ranking will be
which he/she will serve his/her loan IHS area offices and service units that used for the Whiteriver PHS Indian
repayment obligation. are financially able are authorized to Hospital (Score = 77) and the Cibecue
provide additional funding to make Indian Health Center (Score = 89). With
B. Administrative and National Policy awards to applicants in the LRP, but not a score of 89, the Cibecue Indian Health
Requirements to exceed $35,000 a year plus tax Center would receive priority over the
Applicants may sign contractual assistance. All additional funding must Whiteriver PHS Indian Hospital.
agreements with the Secretary for two be made in accordance with the priority Dated: December 16, 2015.
years. The IHS may repay all, or a system outlined below. Health
Robert G. McSwain,
portion, of the applicant’s health professions given priority for selection
Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health
profession educational loans above the $20,000 threshold are those Service.
(undergraduate and graduate) for tuition identified as meeting the criteria in 25
[FR Doc. 2015–32354 Filed 12–23–15; 8:45 am]
expenses and reasonable educational U.S.C. 1616a(g)(2)(A) which provides
BILLING CODE 4165–16–P
and living expenses in amounts up to that the Secretary shall consider the
$20,000 per year for each year of extent to which each such
contracted service. Payments will be determination: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
made annually to the participant for the (i) Affects the ability of the Secretary
HUMAN SERVICES
purpose of repaying his/her outstanding to maximize the number of contracts
health profession educational loans. that can be provided under the LRP Indian Health Service
Payment of health profession education from the amounts appropriated for such
loans will be made to the participant contracts; Indian Health Professions Preparatory,
within 120 days, from the date the (ii) Provides an incentive to serve in Indian Health Professions Pre-
contract becomes effective. The effective Indian health programs with the greatest Graduate and Indian Health
date of the contract is calculated from shortages of health professionals; and Professions Scholarship Programs;
the date it is signed by the Secretary or (iii) Provides an incentive with Announcement Type: Initial
his/her delegate, or the IHS, Tribal, respect to the health professional
urban, or Buy Indian health center involved remaining in an Indian health CFDA Numbers: 93.971, 93.123, AND 93.972
entry-on-duty date, whichever is more program with such a health professional Key Dates
recent. shortage, and continuing to provide
In addition to the loan payment, primary health services, after the Application Deadline: February 28,
participants are provided tax assistance completion of the period of obligated 2016, for continuing students
Application Deadline: March 28, 2016,
payments in an amount not less than 20 service under the LRP.
Contracts may be awarded to those for new students
percent and not more than 39 percent of Application Review: May 9–23, 2016
the participant’s total amount of loan who are available for service no later Continuation Award Notification
repayments made for the taxable year than September 30, 2016 and must be in Deadline: June 6, 2016
involved. The loan repayments and the compliance with any limits in the New Award Notification Deadline: July
tax assistance payments are taxable appropriation and 25 U.S.C. 1616a not 5, 2016
income and will be reported to the to exceed the amount authorized in the Award Start Date: August 1, 2016
Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The tax IHS appropriation (up to $36,000,000 Acceptance/Decline of Awards
assistance payment will be paid to the for FY 2016). In order to ensure Deadline: August 15, 2016
IRS directly on the participant’s behalf. compliance with the statutes, area
LRP award recipients should be aware offices or service units providing I. Funding Opportunity Description
that the IRS may place them in a higher additional funding under this section The Indian Health Service (IHS) is
tax bracket than they would otherwise are responsible for notifying the LRP of committed to encouraging American
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
have been prior to their award. such payments before funding is offered Indians and Alaska Natives to enter the
to the LRP participant. health professions and to assuring the
C. Contract Extensions Should an IHS area office contribute availability of Indian health
Any individual who enters this to the LRP, those funds will be used for professionals to serve Indians. The IHS
program and satisfactorily completes his only those sites located in that area. is committed to the recruitment of
or her obligated period of service may Those sites will retain their relative students for the following programs:
apply to extend his/her contract on a ranking from the national site-ranking • The Indian Health Professions
year-by-year basis, as determined by the list. For example, the Albuquerque Area Preparatory Scholarship authorized by
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices 80375
student (institutional definition of academic probation, dismissed from DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
‘‘minimum hours’’ constituting full-time school, or voluntarily withdraw for any HUMAN SERVICES
enrollment applies, typically 12 credit reason (personal or medical).
hours per semester) or a part-time • Change of Health Discipline National Institutes of Health
student (institutional definition of Scholarship awardees may not change
‘‘minimum and maximum’’ hours from the approved IHSSP health National Center for Complementary &
constituting part-time enrollment discipline during the school year. If an Integrative Health; Notice of Meeting
applies, typically 6–11 credit hours). unapproved change is made, Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
The Preparatory and Pre-graduate scholarship payments will be Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
awardee may not change from part-time discontinued. amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is
status to full-time status or vice versa in • Change in Graduation Date hereby given of a meeting of the
the same academic year. New recipients Any time that a change occurs in a National Advisory Council for
may not request a Leave of Absence scholarship awardee’s expected Complementary and Integrative Health.
during the first year of their funding. graduation date, they must notify their The meeting will be open to the
The following reports must be sent to Scholarship Program Analyst public as indicated below, with
the IHSSP at the identified time frame. immediately in writing. Justification attendance limited to space available.
Each scholarship awardee will have must be attached from the school Individuals who plan to attend and
access to online Student and Service advisor. need special assistance, such as sign
Commitment Handbooks and required language interpretation or other
VII. Agency Contacts
program forms and instructions on reasonable accommodations, should
when, how, and to whom these must be 1. Questions on the application notify the Contact Person listed below
submitted, by logging into the IHSSP process may be directed to the in advance of the meeting.
Web site at www.ihs.gov/scholarship. If appropriate IHS Area Scholarship The meeting will be closed to the
a scholarship awardee fails to submit Coordinator. public in accordance with the
these forms and reports as required, 2. Questions on other programmatic provisions set forth in sections
they will be ineligible for continuation matters may be addressed to: Chief, 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
of scholarship support and scholarship Scholarship Program, 5600 Fishers as amended. The grant applications and
award payments will be discontinued. Lane, Mail Stop: OHR (11E53A), the discussions could disclose
Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone: confidential trade secrets or commercial
A. Recipient’s and Initial Progress (301) 443–6197 (This is not a toll-free
Report property such as patentable material,
number). and personal information concerning
Within thirty (30) days from the 3. Questions on payment information individuals associated with the grant
beginning of each semester/trimester/ may be directed to: Mr. Craig Boswell, applications, the disclosure of which
quarter, scholarship awardees must Grants Scholarship Coordinator, would constitute a clearly unwarranted
submit a Recipient’s Initial Program Division of Grants Management, Indian invasion of personal privacy.
Progress Report (Form IHS–856–8, Health Service, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail
Name of Committee: National Advisory
found on the IHS Scholarship Program Stop: (07E57B), Rockville, Maryland Council for Complementary and Integrative
Web site at http://www.ihs.gov/ 20857, Telephone: (301) 443–0243 (This Health.
scholarship/programresources/ is not a toll-free number). Date: February 5, 2016.
studentforms/). Closed: Closed: 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
VIII. Other Information
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
B. Transcripts The Public Health Service (PHS) is applications.
Within thirty (30) days from the end committed to achieving the health Place: National Institutes of Health,
of each academic period, i.e., semester/ promotion and disease prevention Building 31, Conference Room 6, 31 Center
trimester/quarter, or summer session, objectives of Healthy People 2020, a Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Open: 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
scholarship awardees must submit an PHS-led activity for setting priority Agenda: A report from the Institute
Official Transcript showing the results areas. This program announcement is Director and other staff.
of the classes taken during that period. related to the priority area of Education Place: National Institutes of Health,
and Community-Based Programs. Building 31, Conference Room 6, 31 Center
C. Notification of Academic Problem Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Potential applicants may download a
If at any time during the semester/ copy of Healthy People 2020 from Contact Person: Martin H. Goldrosen,
trimester/quarter, scholarship awardees http://www.healthypeople.gov. Ph.D., Director, Division of Extramural
are advised to reduce the number of Activities, National Center for
Interested individuals are reminded
credit hours for which they are enrolled Complementary and Integrative Health, NIH,
that the list of eligible health and allied 6707 Democracy Blvd., Ste. 401, Bethesda,
below the minimum of the 12 (or the professions is effective for applicants for MD 20892–5475, (301) 594–2014, goldrosm@
number of hours considered by their the 2016–2017 academic year. These mail.nih.gov.
school as full-time) for a full-time priorities will remain in effect until Any interested person may file written
student or at least six hours for part- superseded. Applicants who apply for comments with the committee by forwarding
time students, or if they experience health career categories not listed as the statement to the Contact Person listed on
academic problems, they must submit priorities during the current scholarship this notice. The statement should include the
this report (Form IHS–856–9, found on name, address, telephone number and when
cycle will not be considered for a
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
the IHS Scholarship Program Web site at applicable, the business or professional
scholarship award. affiliation of the interested person.
www.ihs.gov/scholarship). In the interest of security, NIH has
Dated: December 16, 2015.
D. Change of Status Robert G. McSwain, instituted stringent procedures for entrance
onto the NIH campus. All visitor vehicles,
• Change of Academic Status Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health
including taxicabs, hotel, and airport shuttles
Scholarship awardees must Service.
will be inspected before being allowed on
immediately notify their Scholarship [FR Doc. 2015–32352 Filed 12–23–15; 8:45 am] campus. Visitors will be asked to show one
Program Analyst if they are placed on BILLING CODE 4165–16–P form of identification (for example, a
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Document Created: 2015-12-24 02:25:41
Document Modified: 2015-12-24 02:25:41
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Dates | August 1, 2016 Acceptance/Decline of Awards Deadline: August 15, 2016 | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 80370 |
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