Scholarships for Health Professions Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (93.925)

Program

93.925 Scholarships for Health Professions Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Health Resources and Services Administration

Authorization

Public Health Service Act, Title VII, Section 737, 42 U.S.C. 293a; Health Professions Education Partnership Act of 1998, Public Law 105-392.

Program Number

93.925

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

Promotes diversity among health professions students and practitioners by providing scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Eligible health professions and nursing schools apply for funds to make scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who have financial need for scholarships and are enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, as full-time students at the schools.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

SDS funds awarded to schools must be used to award full or partial scholarships to eligible students enrolled in health professions programs on a full-time basis. Scholarships may only be expended for tuition expenses, other reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses incurred while in attendance for the year. The Secretary is required to make available at least 16 percent of the funds to schools that will provide scholarships only for nursing students. Schools are required to agree that, in providing scholarships under this program, preference shall be given to students from disadvantaged backgrounds for who the costs of attending the school would constitute a severe financial hardship and disadvantaged students. The Secretary may not make a grant to a school unless the school is carrying out a program for recruiting and retaining students from disadvantaged backgrounds and have met the eligibility criteria of demonstrating the success of outcome measures.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Accredited public or private nonprofit schools of allopathic medicine, nursing, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, allied health, or schools offering graduate programs in public health, behavioral and mental health or physician assistants.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Students who are citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residence 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 or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia; and enrolled full-time in health professions or nursing schools.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants should review the individual HRSA Guidance documents issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov.

All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions.

Award Procedure

Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Grant Award.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 6 months.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Annual applications are required for all schools.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Each scholarship award is made for 1 year. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Grantees drawdown funds, as necessary, from the Payment Management System (PMS). PMS is the centralized web based payment system for HHS awards.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Performance Report (SDSPR) must be submitted 45 days after the end of the budget period through electronic submission, at http://www.grants.hrsa.gov/webexternal/home.asp. In addition, a financial status report must be submitted 90 days after the end of each budget period. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records for 3 years after the date they submit the FSR. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the award has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In FY 08 awards were made to 248 health professions and nursing schools. Fiscal Year 2009: In FY 09, 300 awards were made to health professions and nursing schools. Fiscal Year 2010: It is estimated in FY 2010, 350 health professions and nursing schools will receive awards.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0350-0-1-550.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $42,420,564; FY 09 est $42,105,260; FY 10 est $52,842,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$1,000 to $650,000 Average $ 142,730.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR Part 92 for State, local and tribal governments and 45 CFR Part 74 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofit organizations and commercial organizations, as applicable.

Related Programs

93.288 National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program; 93.342 Health Professions Student Loans, Including Primary Care Loans/Loans for Disadvantaged Students; 93.364 Nursing Student Loans; 93.908 Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Andrea Stampone, Division of Student Loans and Scholarships, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Public Health Service, Parklawn Building, Room 9-105, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-4776. Use the same numbers for FTS.

Headquarters Office

Andrea Stampone 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9-105, Rockville, Maryland 20857 Phone: (301) 443-4776

Web Site Address

www.hrsa.gov

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Scholarships to students of schools of nursing and health professions schools. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Applications will be reviewed for completeness, accuracy, and to determine if applicant schools meet minimum program requirements.