[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21568-21573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8517]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Indian Health Professions Preparatory, Indian Health Professions 
Pregraduate and Indian Health Professions Scholarship Programs

    Overview Information: Indian Health Professions Preparatory, Indian 
Health Professions Pregraduate and Indian Health Professions 
Scholarship Programs.
    Announcement Type: Initial.
    CFDA Numbers: 93.971, 93.123, and 93.972.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: May 7, 2012, for continuing students.
    Application Deadline: May 7, 2012, for new students.
    Application Review: May 21-25, 2012.
    Application Notification: First week of July, 2012.
    Award Start Date: August 1, 2012.

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 provide 
health care services to Indians. The IHS is committed to the 
recruitment of students for the following programs:
    <bullet> The Indian Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship 
authorized by section 103 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act 
(IHCIA), Public Law 94-437 (1976).
    <bullet> The Indian Health Professions Pre-graduate Scholarship 
authorized by section 103 of the IHCIA, Public Law 94-437 (1976).
    <bullet> The Indian Health Professions Scholarship authorized by 
section 104 of the IHCIA, Public Law 94-437 (1976).
    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

    Awards under this initiative will be administered using the grant 
mechanism of the IHS.
    Estimated Funds Available: An estimated $14.0 million will be 
available for FY 2012 awards. Of this estimated $14.0 million in 
funding, no more than $1.0 million will be set aside for Preparatory 
and Pre-graduate Scholarships, with the remaining balance to be used 
toward Health Professions Scholarships. The IHS program anticipates, 
but cannot guarantee, due to possible funding changes, student 
scholarship selections from any or all of the following disciplines in 
the 103, 103P and 104 Programs for the Scholarship Period 2012-2013. 
Due to the rising cost of education and the decreasing number of 
scholars who can be funded by the IHS Scholarship Program (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 provider needs of the IHS and its Tribal and Urban 
Indian health care system partners.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: Approximately 25 awards will be made 
under the Health Professions Preparatory and Pre-graduate Scholarship 
Programs for Indians. The awards are for tuition and fees only and the 
average award to a full-time student is approximately $10,701.35. An 
estimated 280 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 Other Related Costs (ORC). The average 
award to a full-time student is approximately $48,056.05. In FY 2012, 
an estimated $9,500,000 is available for continuation awards, and an 
estimated $3,500,000 is available for new awards.
    Project Period--The project period for the IHS Health Professions 
Preparatory Scholarship support, tuition and fees only, 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 support, 
tuition and fees only, 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 support, tuition, 
fees and Other Related Costs (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.

III. Eligibility Information

    This announcement is a limited competition for awards made to 
American Indians (Federally recognized Tribal members, state recognized 
Tribal members, and first and second degree descendants of Federal or 
state recognized Tribal members), or Alaska Natives only. Continuation 
awards are non-competitive.

1. Eligible Applicants

    The Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship awards are made to 
American Indians (Federally recognized Tribal members, first and second 
degree descendants of Tribal members, and state recognized Tribal 
members, first and second degree descendants of Tribal members), or 
Alaska Natives who:
    <bullet> Have successfully completed high school education or high 
school equivalency; and
    <bullet> Have been accepted for enrollment in a compensatory, pre-
professional general education course or curriculum; and
    The Health Professions Pre-graduate Scholarship awards are made to

[[Page 21569]]

American Indians (Federally recognized Tribal members, first and second 
degree descendants of Tribal members, and state recognized Tribal 
members, first and second degree descendants of Tribal members), or 
Alaska Natives who:
    <bullet> Have successfully completed high school education or high 
school equivalency; and
    <bullet> Have been accepted for enrollment or are enrolled in an 
accredited pre-graduate program leading to a baccalaureate degree in 
pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, 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 or 
Alaska Native as provided by section 4(c), and 4(d) 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 4(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 and Other Federal Sources

    Awardees of the Health Professions Preparatory or Health 
Professions Pre-graduate scholarship may accept outside funding from 
other scholarship, grant, fee waiver and student loan programs to 
assist with their education and other related expenses. Awardees of the 
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. These outside funding 
sources must be reported on the student's invoicing documents submitted 
by the college or university they are attending. Student loans accepted 
by Health Professions scholarship recipients will have no effect on the 
IHS Scholarship program payment made to their college or university.

IV. Application Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    New applicants are responsible for contacting and requesting an 
application packet from their IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator. They 
are listed on the IHS Web site at http://www.scholarship.ihs.gov/area_coordinators.cfm.
    This information is also listed below. Please review the following 
list to identify the appropriate IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator for 
your State. Application packets may be obtained by calling or writing 
to the following individuals listed below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
  IHS Area office and States/locality
                 served                  Scholarship coordinator/address
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aberdeen Area IHS:
    Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South  Ms. Kim Annis, IHS Area
     Dakota.                              Scholarship Coordinator,
                                          Aberdeen Area IHS, 115 4th
                                          Avenue SE., Aberdeen, SD
                                          57401, Tele: (605) 226-7466.
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium:
    Alaska.............................  Ms. Courtney Bridges,
                                          Alternate: Ms. Tasha Hotch,
                                          IHS Area Scholarship
                                          Coordinator, 4000 Ambassador
                                          Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508,
                                          Tele: (907) 729-1913, 1-800-
                                          684-8361 (toll free).
Albuquerque Area IHS:
    Colorado, New Mexico...............  Ms. Cora Boone, IHS Area
                                          Scholarship Coordinator,
                                          Albuquerque Area IHS, 5300
                                          Homestead Road, NE.,
                                          Albuquerque, NM 87110, Tele:
                                          (505) 248-4418, 1-800-382-3027
                                          (toll free).
Bemidji Area IHS:
    Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,         Mr. Tony Buckanaga, IHS Area
     Minnesota, Wisconsin.                Scholarship Coordinator,
                                          Bemidji Area IHS, 522
                                          Minnesota Avenue NW., Room
                                          209, Bemidji, MN 56601, Tele:
                                          (218) 444-0486, 1-800-892-3079
                                          (toll free).
Billings Area IHS:
    Montana, Wyoming...................  Mr. Delon Rock Above,
                                          Alternate: Ms. Bernice Hugs,
                                          IHS Area Scholarship
                                          Coordinator, Billings Area
                                          IHS, Area Personnel Office,
                                          P.O. Box 36600, 2900 4th
                                          Avenue, North, Suite 400,
                                          Billings, MT 59103, Tele:
                                          (406) 247-7215.
California Area IHS:
    California, Hawaii.................  Ms. Mona Celli, IHS Area
                                          Scholarship Coordinator,
                                          California Area IHS, 650
                                          Capitol Mall, Suite 7-100,
                                          Sacramento, CA 95814, Tele:
                                          (916) 930-3981, ext. 311.
Nashville Area IHS:
    Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut,      Ms. Michelle Marshalek, IHS
     Delaware, Florida, Georgia,          Area Scholarship Coordinator,
     Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,          Nashville Area IHS, 711
     Maryland, Massachusetts,             Stewarts Ferry Pike,
     Mississippi, District of Columbia,   Nashville, TN 37214, Tele:
     New Hampshire, New Jersey, New       (615) 467-1505.
     York, North Carolina, Ohio,
     Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
     Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont,
     Virginia, West Virginia.
Navajo Area IHS:
    Arizona, New Mexico, Utah..........  Ms. Aletha John, IHS Area
                                          Scholarship Coordinator,
                                          Navajo Area IHS, P.O. Box
                                          9020, Wndow Rock, AZ 86515,
                                          Tele: (928) 871-1360.
Oklahoma City Area IHS:
    Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma.........  Mr. Keith Bohanan, IHS Area
                                          Scholarship Coordinator,
                                          Oklahoma City Area IHS, 701
                                          Market Drive, Oklahoma City,
                                          OK 73114, Tele: (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, Suite 510,
                                          40 North Central Avenue,
                                          Phoenix, AZ 85004, Tele: (602)
                                          364-5256.
Portland Area IHS:

[[Page 21570]]

 
    Idaho, Oregon, Washington..........  Ms. Laurie Veitenheimer, IHS
                                          Area Scholarship Coordinator,
                                          Portland Area IHS, 1414 NW
                                          Northrup Street, Suite 800,
                                          Portland, OR 97209, Tele:
                                          (503) 326-6983.
Tucson Area IHS:
    Arizona, Texas.....................  Ms. Trudy Begay (See Phoenix
                                          Area).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Content and Form Submission

    Each applicant will be responsible for submitting a completed 
application (Forms IHS-856-1 through 856-6) and one copy to the: IHS 
Scholarship Program Branch Office, 801 Thompson Ave, Suite 450 (TMP), 
Rockville, MD 20852. Electronic applications are being accepted for 
this cycle. Go to www.scholarship.ihs.gov for more information on how 
to apply electronically. The on-line portal will be open on December 
12, 2011. The application will be considered complete if the following 
documents (original and one copy) are included;
    a. Completed and signed application Checklist.
    b. Original, signed, complete application form IHS-856 (for 
continuation students-Data Sheet in place of IHS-856).
    c. Current Letter of Acceptance from College/University or Proof of 
Application to a College/University or Health Professions Program.
    d. Official transcripts for all colleges/universities attended (or 
high school transcripts or Certificate of Completion of Home School 
Program for applicants who have not taken college courses).
    e. Cumulative GPA: Applicant's calculations.
    f. Applicant's Documents for Indian Eligibility.
    i. 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, or
    3. Other evidence of Tribal membership satisfactory to the 
Secretary of the Interior.
    ii. If you are a member 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.
    iii. 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.

    Note: If you meet the criteria of B or C, you are eligible only 
for the Preparatory or Pre-graduate Scholarships.

    <bullet> Two Faculty/Employee Evaluations with original signature.
    <bullet> Reasons for Requesting the Scholarship.
    <bullet> Delinquent Debt Form.
    <bullet> Course Curriculum Verification with original signature.
    <bullet> Acknowledgement Card (if submitting a hard copy 
application).
    <bullet> Curriculum for Major.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Receipt Date: The application deadline for New 
applicants is Monday, May 7, 2012.
    Applications (original and one copy) shall be considered as meeting 
the deadline if they are received by the IHS Scholarship Program Branch 
Office, located in Rockville, Maryland, and 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 will not be considered for 
funding. Once the application is received, the applicant will receive 
an ``Acknowledgement of Receipt of Application'' (IHS-815) card that is 
included in the application packet, if submitting a hard copy 
application. 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 42 CFR 136.320, 136.330 and 136.370 and this information will be 
published in all IHSSP Applications and Student Handbooks as they 
pertain to the Indian Health Service Scholarship Program.

6. Other Submissions Requirements

    New applicants are responsible for using the online application or 
contacting and requesting an application packet from their IHS Area 
Scholarship Coordinator. Continuation students are also encouraged to 
use the online application process; however, the Division of Grants 
Management will also mail continuation students an application packet. 
If you do not receive this information, please contact your IHS Area 
Scholarship Coordinator or

[[Page 21571]]

your IHS Scholarship Program Analyst to request a continuation 
application.
    Continuing students must submit a complete application (original 
plus one copy) and meet the deadline of Monday, May 7, 2012; there will 
be no exceptions.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    Applications will be reviewed and scored with the following 
criteria.
<bullet> Needs of the IHS (Health Personnel Needs in Indian Country)
    Applicants are considered for scholarship awards based on their 
desired career goals and how these goals relate to current Indian 
health personnel needs. Applications for each health career category 
are reviewed and ranked separately.
<bullet> 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. Health Professions applicants with a 
cumulative GPA below 2.0 are not eligible for award.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Stated Reasons for Asking for the Scholarship and Stated 
Career Goals (30 Points)
    Applicants must provide a brief written explanation of reasons for 
asking for the scholarship and of their career goals. The applicant's 
narrative will be judged on how well it is written and its content.
    <bullet> 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 receives funding 
before freshmen and sophomores.
<bullet> Priority Categories
    The following is a list of health professions that will be 
considered for funding in each scholarship program in FY 2012.
<bullet> Indian Health Professions Preparatory Scholarships
    A. Pre-Clinical Psychology (Jr. and Sr. undergraduate years).
    B. Pre-Nursing.
    C. Pre-Pharmacy.
    D. Pre-Social Work (Jr. and Sr. preparing for an MS in social 
work).
<bullet> Indian Health Professions Pre-Graduate Scholarships
    A. Pre-Dentistry.
    B. Pre-Medicine.
    C. Pre-Podiatry.
<bullet> Indian Health Professions Scholarship
    A. Bio Medical Engineering--BS.
    B. Bio Medical Technology--AAS.
    C. Chemical Dependency Counseling--Master's Degrees.
    D. Clinical Psychology--Ph.D. or Psy.D.
    E. Dentistry: DDS or DMD degrees
    F. Diagnostic Radiology Technology: Associates and B.S.
    G. Environmental Health/Sanitarian: B.S.
    H. Health Records Administration: R.H.I.T. and R.H.I.A.
    I. Medical Technology: B.S.
    J. Medicine: Allopathic and Osteopathic.
    K. Nurse: Associate and Bachelor Degrees and advanced degrees in 
Psychiatry, Geriatrics, Women's Health, Pediatrics, Family Health, and 
Nurse Anesthetist.
    (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 Act and Education Assistance 
Act (Pub. L. 93-638) and its amendments; or in a program assisted under 
Title V of the IHCIA.)
    L. Occupational Therapy: B.S. or Masters.
    N. Pharmacy: Pharm.D.
    O. Physician Assistant: PA-C.
    P. Physical Therapy: M.S. and D.P.T.
    Q Podiatry: D.P.M.
    R. Public Health Nutritionist: M.S.
    S. Respiratory Therapy: BS Degree.
    T. Social Work: Masters Level only (Direct Practice and Clinical 
concentrations).
    U. Ultrasonography (Prerequisite: Diagnostic Radiology Technology).

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. Each 
reviewer will not be allowed to review an application from his/her Area 
or his/her own Tribe. Each application will be reviewed by three 
reviewers. The average score of the three reviews provide 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 section, health discipline, enrollment status, 
date of graduation, and score. If several students have the same date 
of graduation and score within the same discipline, computer ranking 
list will randomly sort and will not be sorted 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 continuing applicants will be notified in 
writing during the first week of June and new applicants will be 
notified in writing during the first week of July 2012. An Award Letter 
will be issued to successful applicants. Unsuccessful applicants will 
be notified in writing, which will include a brief explanation of the 
reasons 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 health professions eligible for 
consideration for the award of IHS Indian Health Professions 
Preparatory and Health Professions Pre-graduate Scholarships and IHS 
Health Professions Scholarship. Section 104(b)(1) of the IHCIA, as 
amended by the Indian Health Care Amendment of 1988, Public Law 100-
713, authorizes the IHS to determine specific health professions for 
which Indian Health Scholarships will be awarded.
    Awards for the Indian Health Professions Scholarships will be made 
in accordance with 42 CFR 136.330.
    Awardees shall incur a service obligation prescribed under section 
338A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 2541) which shall be 
met by service, through clinical practice:
    (1) In the IHS;
    (2) In a program conducted under a contract or compact entered into 
under the Indian Self-Determination Act 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

[[Page 21572]]

    (4) In a private practice option of his or her profession 
(physicians, dentists, and clinical psychologists, only) 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 Indians as determined by the Secretary in 
accordance with guidelines of the Service. The percentage of 
substantial number of Indians was increased in FY 2012 due to the 
significant vacancies for health professionals in IHS, Tribal and urban 
Indian health programs and the need to demonstrate service to a more 
substantial number of Indians in the private practice option to warrant 
the choice of this option over options 1-3. This change will apply 
prospectively for new scholarship applicants only.
    Pursuant to the Indian Health Amendments of 1992, (Pub. L. 102-
573), an awardee of an IHS Health Professions Scholarship may, at the 
election of the awardee, meet his/her service obligation prescribed 
under section 338A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 2541) 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 requirement that is supported both by 
statutes and contract, which must be performed at an approved service 
payback facility.
    Moreover, the Director, IHS, 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, Public Law 94-437, as amended by Public Law 100-713, and Public 
Law 102-573, and Public Law 111-148 Sec.  10221 (2010), 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 Health Professions Scholarship Program of the Indian Health Care 
Improvement Act must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average 
(GPA), remain in good academic standing each semester/trimester/
quarter, maintain full-time student status (minimum number credit 
hours, based upon what is considered ``full-time'' by the applicant's 
school). In addition to these requirements, a Health Professions 
Scholarship program awardee must be enrolled in an approved/accredited 
school for a Health Professions degree. An awardee of a scholarship 
under the IHS Health Professions Pre-Graduate and Health Professions 
Preparatory Scholarship authority must maintain a minimum 2.0 
cumulative grade point average (GPA), remain in good standing each 
semester/trimester/quarter and be a full time student (minimum of 12 
credit hours or the number of credit hours considered by your school as 
full-time). Part-time students for the three scholarship programs must 
also maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA and must take at least six credit 
hours (undergraduate) each semester/trimester/quarter, but less than 
the number of hours considered full-time by your school. Scholarship 
awardees must be approved for part-time status at the time of 
scholarship award. Scholarship awardees may not change from part-time 
status to full-time status or vice versa in the same academic year.
    The following reports must be sent to the IHS Scholarship Program 
at the identified time frame. Each scholarship awardee will be provided 
with an IHS Scholarship Program Student Handbook where the needed 
reports are located. If a scholarship awardee fails to submit these 
reports as required, they will be ineligible for continuation of 
scholarship support and scholarship award payments will be 
discontinued.
A. Recipient's Enrollment and Initial Progress Report
    Within thirty (30) days from the beginning of each semester/
trimester/quarter, scholarship awardees must submit a Recipient's 
Enrollment and Initial Progress Report (Form IHS-856-8, page 69 of the 
Student Handbook).
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/Change
    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, page 71 of the 
Student Handbook).
D. Change of Status
<bullet> Change of Academic Status
    Scholarship awardees must immediately notify the IHS Area 
Scholarship Coordinator and their Scholarship Program Analyst if they 
are placed on academic probation, dismissed from school, or voluntarily 
withdraw for any reason (personal or medical).
<bullet> Change of Health Discipline
    Scholarship awardees may not change from the approved IHS 
Scholarship Program health discipline during the school year. If an 
unapproved change is made, scholarship payments will be discontinued.
<bullet> Change in Graduation Date
    Any time that a change occurs in a scholarship awardee's expected 
graduation date, they must notify their IHS Area Scholarship 
Coordinator and their Scholarship Program Analyst immediately in 
writing. Justification must be attached from the school advisor.

VII. Agency Contacts

    Please address application inquiries to the appropriate IHS Area 
Scholarship Coordinator. Other programmatic inquiries may be addressed 
to Dr. Dawn A. Kelly, Chief, Scholarship Program, 801 Thompson Avenue, 
Suite 120, Rockville, Maryland 20852; Telephone (301) 443-6622. (This 
is not a toll-free number). For grants information, contact the Grants 
Scholarship Coordinator, Division of Grants Management, Indian Health 
Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP 360, Rockville, Maryland 20852; 
Telephone (301) 443-5204. (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

[[Page 21573]]

related to the priority area of Education and Community-Based Programs. 
Potential applicants may download a copy of Healthy People 2020, at 
http://www.healthypeople.gov.
    Interested individuals are reminded that the list of eligible 
health and allied professions is effective for applicants for the 2012-
2013 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: April 4, 2012.
Randy Grinnell,
Deputy Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-8517 Filed 4-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-P