Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) (93.264)
Program
93.264 Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)
Federal Agency
HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HRSA), DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, Title VIII, Section 846A, as amended; Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002, Public Law 107-205.
Program Number
93.264
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
The Secretary of HHS, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, enters into an agreement with schools of nursing for the establishment and operation of a student loan fund to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty. Institutions provide loans to students in need of financial assistance to pursue a course of study in eligible advanced degree nursing programs with an education component. This is a loan cancellation program with a service commitment for recipients of the loan to serve as nurse faculty in a school of nursing.
Types of Assistance
Direct Loans.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Institutions may award a maximum loan amount of $30,000 to students for an academic year, or the amount of the student's financial need. Upon completion of the program, an amount up to 85 percent of the loan shall be cancelled by the institution as follows: upon completion of the first, second, and third year of employment as faculty in a school of nursing, 20 percent of the principal of, and interest on, the amount of the unpaid loan shall be cancelled; upon completion of the fourth year of employment as faculty in a school of nursing, 25 percent of the principal of, and interest on, the amount of the unpaid loan shall be cancelled. Institutions must ensure that loans are made to full-time nursing students who are citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents of the United States or the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico or the Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Funds are made to schools of nursing to capitalize loan funds.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include all accredited public and nonprofit private schools of nursing that prepare full-time advanced degree nursing students to serve as faculty at schools of nursing; and that do not discriminate against students because of race, color, origin, sex, or handicapping conditions, are eligible to apply for funds to be disbursed to qualified nursing students.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Eligible nursing students must be a citizen or national of the United States, or a lawful permanent resident of the United States, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. A student who remains in this country on a student or visitor's visa is not eligible.
Credentials/Documentation
Institutional Accreditation(s).
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Consultation and technical assistance are provided to nursing education institutions wishing to share in loan funds. Program information may be obtained from the Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions office. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Schools of nursing must complete the Application (Form 6025-1) to participate in the Nurse Faculty Loan Program and return to the Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions office by the due date specified in the application materials. This program is subject to the provisions of Title VIII, Section 846A of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for the Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr) Grants Page is http://www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/grants.htm. This year BHPr has decided to use Adobe Acrobat and Word to publish the grant documents on the Web page. In order to download, view and print Adobe Acrobat grant documents, you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader. This can be obtained without charge from the Internet by going to the Adobe Web page (www.adobe.com) and downloading the version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader which is appropriate for your operating system, i.e., Windows, Unix, Macintosh, etc. A set of more detailed instructions on how to download and use the Adobe Acrobat Reader can be found on the BHPr Grants Web page under "Notes on this WWW Page."
Award Procedure
A Notice of Award is issued in writing from the Headquarters office and is sent to School's contact person notifying the school of the amount of Federal funds allocated for loans prior to the beginning of the academic year in which the award is to be utilized.
Deadlines
Application deadlines can be obtained via the Internet at: http://www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/reinvestmentact.htm.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Appeals are available only to grantees.
Renewals
Schools reapply each year.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Schools participating in loan programs must match the Federal capital contribution with an amount not less than one-ninth of the Federal allotment.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Length and time of assistance to the institution is one year and is subject to availability of funds.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
The "Annual Operating Report" is submitted annually by the institution.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by HHS and other Federal government officials.
Records
Financial records must be kept until such time as agreed upon with the Secretary of HHS in accordance with 42 CFR 57.315.
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0350-0-1-550.
Obligations
FY 02 $0; FY 03 est $3,000,000; and FY 04 est $3,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$15,000 to $60,000 (Estimated).
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
None.
Related Programs
93.364, Nursing Student Loans; 84.038, Federal Perkins Loan Program_Federal Capital Contributions; 84.063, Federal Pell Grant Program.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Program Contact: Denise Thompson, Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 9-36, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-6333. Fax: (301) 443-0791. Email: dthompson@hrsa.gov.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Applications will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy, and to determine if applicant schools meet minimum program requirements.
