Scholarships for Health Professions Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

 

The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program increases diversity in the health professions and nursing workforce by providing awards to eligible health professions schools for use in awarding scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have financial need, including students who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups. The SDS program aims to increase the: 1) number of graduates practicing in primary care, 2) enrollment and retention of full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including students who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and 3) number of graduates working in medically underserved communities (MUCs). Schools provide scholarships, maintain and operate a program to recruit and retain students from disadvantaged backgrounds that encourages completion of school and service in primary care and in medically underserved communities.

Active 93.925 Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2018 In Academic Year 2017-2018, the SDS Program provided scholarships to 3,047 students from disadvantaged backgrounds, slightly below the FY 2017 target but an increase from the prior year of 2,811 scholarships. This was due in large part to fewer grants being awarded in FY 2016 as well as a significant increase in the scholarship limit per student (increased from $15,000 to $30,000), resulting in more substantial investments in fewer individuals. The adjustment to the scholarship cap was made to reflect the increasing costs of health professions education programs. The majority of students were considered under-represented minorities (URMs) in their prospective professions (64 percent). Additionally, 1,051 students who received SDS-funded scholarships successfully graduated from their degree programs by the end of Academic Year 2017-2018. Upon graduation, 68 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in medically underserved communities, and 52 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in primary care settings.
Fiscal Year 2019 In Academic Year 2017-2018, the SDS Program provided scholarships to 3,047 students from disadvantaged backgrounds, slightly below the FY 2017 target but an increase from the prior year of 2,811 scholarships. This was due in large part to fewer grants being awarded in FY 2016 as well as a significant increase in the scholarship limit per student (increased from $15,000 to $30,000), resulting in more substantial investments in fewer individuals. The adjustment to the scholarship cap was made to reflect the increasing costs of health professions education programs. The majority of students were considered under-represented minorities (URMs) in their prospective professions (64 percent). Additionally, 1,051 students who received SDS-funded scholarships successfully graduated from their degree programs by the end of Academic Year 2017-2018. Upon graduation, 68 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in medically underserved communities, and 52 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in primary care settings.
Fiscal Year 2020 In Academic Year (AY) 2019-2020, the SDS Program provided scholarships to 2,992 students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The majority of students were considered under-represented minorities (URMs) in their prospective professions (65 percent). Additionally, 1,325 students who received SDS-funded scholarships successfully graduated from their degree programs by the end of AY 2019-2020. Upon graduation, 70 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in medically underserved communities, and 49 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in primary care settings.
Fiscal Year 2021 In Academic Year (AY) 2020-2021 the SDS Program provided scholarships to 2,664 students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The majority of students were considered under-represented minorities (URMs) in their prospective professions (65 percent). Additionally, 801 students who received SDS-funded scholarships successfully graduated from their degree programs by the end of AY 2020-2021. Upon graduation, 69 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in medically underserved communities, and 49 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in primary care settings.
Fiscal Year 2022 In Academic Year (AY) 2021-2022 the SDS Program provided scholarships to 2,676 students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The majority of students were considered under-represented minorities (URMs) in their prospective professions (69 percent). Additionally, 1,193 students who received SDS-funded scholarships successfully graduated from their degree programs by the end of AY 2021-2022. Upon graduation, 54 percent currently work in medically underserved communities and 28 percent work in primary care settings. SDS students also trained in a variety of clinical settings: 67 percent in medically underserved communities, 37 percent in primary care settings, and 15 percent in rural areas. Furthermore, SDS students received additional training on topics such as health equity (50 percent) and integrating behavioral health into primary care (30 percent). Section 737 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293a) Accredited public or non-profit private schools of medicine, nursing, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, allied health, public health, a school offering a graduate program in behavioral and mental health practice, or an entity providing programs for the training of physician assistants. 1) At least 20 percent of the total enrollment (full-time enrolled) of a degree program over three specified academic years period must be students from disadvantaged backgrounds; and 2) At least 20 percent of the total graduates (who were full-time students) of a degree program over three specified academic years period must have been from disadvantaged backgrounds. Faith-based and community-based organizations, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government and Native American Organizations are eligible to apply if all other eligibility requirements are met. 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 Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the American Samoa, 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. A student who is in this country on a student or visitor's visa is not eligible. Applicants should review the individual HRSA Notice of Funding Opportunity issued under this assistance listing for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov. All eligible, 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. Notification is made in writing (electronic) by a Notice of Award. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 120 to 180 days. Approximately 120 - 180 days after receipt of applications. Not applicable. Depending on Agency priorities and availability of funding, during the final budget year of the approved project period competing continuation applications may be solicited from interested applicants. Procedures for assessing the technical merit of grant applications have been instituted to provide an objective review of applications and to assist the applicant in understanding the standards against which each application will be judged. Critical indicators have been developed for each review criterion to assist the applicant in presenting pertinent information related to that criterion and to provide the reviewer with a standard for evaluation. Competing applications are reviewed by nonfederal reviewers for technical merit recommendations. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated against the following criteria: (1) Purpose and Need; (2) Response to Program Purpose; (3) Impact; (4) Organizational Information, Resources and Capabilities; and (5) Support Requested. See most recent Notice of Funding Opportunity for detailed review criteria. 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. 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 has met the eligibility criteria of demonstrating the success of outcome measures. In providing scholarships under the SDS program, schools are required to give preference to students for whom the cost of attendance would constitute a severe financial hardship and to former recipients of scholarships under sections 736 [Scholarships for Students of Exceptional Financial Need] and 740(d)(2)(B) [Financial Assistance for Disadvantaged Health Professions Students] (as such sections existed on the day before the date of enactment of this section) of the Public Health Service Act. Not applicable. Not applicable. Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records 3 years after the date they submit the Federal Financial Report (FFR). 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. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. Additional Information: The recipient must agree to maintain non-federal funding for grant activities at a level which is not less than expenditures for such activities during the fiscal year prior to receiving the award. This funding opportunity provides support for a five-year project period. Student scholarships are provided in one year awards. Recipients draw down funds, as necessary, from the Payment Management System (PMS), the centralized web based payment system for HHS awards. None/Not specified. Denise Sorrell, Division of Health Careers and Financial Support, Bureau of Health Workforce,
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15N78,
Rockville , MD 20857 US
SDSProgram@hrsa.gov
Phone: (301) 443-1173 https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-grant 75-0350-0-1-550 (Project Grants) FY 22$49,387,659.00; FY 23 est $50,811,515.00; FY 24 est $50,136,772.00; FY 21$47,749,999.00; FY 20$47,826,377.00; FY 19$45,354,203.00; FY 18$45,726,127.00; FY 17$43,120,389.00; FY 16$42,621,413.00; - FY 2022: range : $166,754 to $650,000 Average $575,581 FY 2023; range : $200,000 to $1,000,276 Average est. $600,138 FY 2024 range (est): $200,000 to $1,000,276 Average est. $600,138 All administrative and audit requirements and the cost principles that govern Federal monies associated with this activity will be subject to the Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 as codified by HHS at 45 CFR 75. HRSA awards are also subject to the requirements of the HHS Grants Policy Statement (HHS GPS) that are applicable based on recipient type and purpose of award. The HHS GPS is available at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/hhsgrantspolicy.pdf. Not applicable.