[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3008-3013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00257]


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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, 2017, for continuing students
Application Deadline: March 28, 2017, for new students
Application Review: May 8-22, 2017
Continuation Award Notification Deadline: June 5, 2017
New Award Notification Deadline: July 5, 2017
Award Start Date: August 1, 2017
Acceptance/Decline of Awards Deadline: August 15, 2017

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 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) 
2017 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 2017-2018. Due to the rising cost of 
education and the decreasing number of scholars who can be funded by 
the IHSSP, the IHSSP has

[[Page 3009]]

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 20 new and 10 continuing 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 
263 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 $48,500.00.

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_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
                 served                  Scholarship coordinator address
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Plains Area IHS: Nebraska, Iowa,   Ms. Holly Blacksmith, IHS Area
 North Dakota, South Dakota.              Scholarship Coordinator, Great
                                          Plains Area IHS, 115 4th
                                          Avenue SE., Aberdeen, SD
                                          57401, Tel: 605-226-7502.

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Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium:  Ms. Laura Hudson, IHS Area
 Alaska.                                  Scholarship Coordinator,
                                          Alaska Area Native Health,
                                          3900 Ambassador Drive,
                                          Anchorage, AK 99508, Tel:
                                          (907) 729-4592.
Albuquerque Area IHS: Colorado, New      Ms. Jeanette Garcia, IHS Area
 Mexico.                                  Scholarship Coordinator,
                                          Albuquerque Area IHS, 4101
                                          Indian Schools Rd., NE., Suite
                                          225, Albuquerque, NM 87110,
                                          Tel: (505) 256-6729.
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,
                                          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........  Mr. Sergio Islas, IHS Area
                                          Scholarship Coordinator,
                                          California Area IHS, 650
                                          Capitol Mall, Suite 7-100,
                                          Sacramento, CA 95814, Tel:
                                          (916) 930-3983 ext. 724.
Nashville Area IHS: Alabama, Arkansas,   Ms. Alyssa Janis, 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) 467-1502.
 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, 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 
required 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 20, 2016. The 
application will be considered complete when the following documents 
are received:
     Online application is submitted by deadline.
     Current Letter of Acceptance from college/university or 
proof of application to a college/university or health professions 
program.
     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 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

[[Page 3011]]

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 faculty evaluators 
identified, evaluations transmitted and completed in the online 
applicant portal.
     Online narratives-reasons for requesting the scholarship.
     Delinquent Debt Form completed in the online applicant 
portal.
     Course Curriculum Verification completed in the online 
applicant portal.
     Curriculum for Major.

3. Submission Dates

    Application Receipt Date: The online continuation application 
submission deadline for continuation applicants is Tuesday, February 
28, 2017. No supporting documents will be accepted after this postal 
date, except final Letters of Acceptance, which must be submitted no 
later than postal date Tuesday, May 30, 2017.
    Application Receipt Date: New applicants must submit their 
application to include all supporting documents by the postal deadline 
of Tuesday, March 28, 2017. No supporting documents will be accepted 
after this date, except final Letters of Acceptance, which must be 
submitted no later than Tuesday, May 30, 2017.
    Supporting documents 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. Receipts of any kind will not be 
accepted as proof in meeting the postal deadline.
    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 Sec. Sec.  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 2017.
    [cir] Indian Health Professions Preparatory Scholarships limited to 
junior year and above students pursuing the following degrees.
    A. Pre-Clinical Psychology.
    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 limited 
to junior year and above students pursuing the following degrees.
    A. Pre-Dentistry.
    B. Pre-Medicine.
    C. Pre-Optometry.
    D. Pre-Podiatry.
    [cir] Indian Health Professions Scholarship.
    A. Medicine--Allopathic and Osteopathic doctorate degrees.
    B. Nursing--Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
    C. Nursing--Bachelor of Science (BSN) (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).
    D. Nursing (NP, DNP)--Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse in 
Family Practice, Psychiatry, Geriatric, Women's Health, Pediatric 
Nursing.
    E. Nursing--Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM).
    F. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
    G. Physician Assistant (certified).
    H. Dentistry--DDS or DMD degrees.
    I. Social Work--Master's degree.
    J. Chemical Dependency Counseling--Master's degree.
    K. Clinical Psychology--Ph.D. or PsyD.
    L. Counseling Psychology--Ph.D.
    M. Optometry--OD.

[[Page 3012]]

    N. Pharmacy--PharmD.
    O. Podiatry--DPM.
    P. Physical Therapy--MS, DPT.

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 2017 and new applicants will be notified in writing during the 
first week of July 2017. 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 C.F.R Sec. Sec.  
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 unless 
approved in advance by the Branch Chief of Scholarships. New recipients 
may request a Leave of Absence during the first year on a case by case 
basis. New recipients may not request a leave of absence prior to the 
start of the first academic year. All requests for leave of absence are 
to be approved in advance by the Director, Division of Health 
Professions Support. All leave of absence requests during the first 
year must include the following. A written request from the scholarship 
recipient, an official letter from the academic program administrator 
supporting the leave of absence and certification from the academic 
program that the scholar recipient has been approved a leave of 
absence, has not been removed or withdrawn from the academic program 
and will be fully returned to the original academic program upon return 
from the approved leave of absence. 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 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

[[Page 3013]]

the same academic year unless approved in advance by the Branch Chief 
of Scholarships. New recipients may not request a Leave of Absence 
prior to the start of the first academic year.
    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. Approvals must be made by the Branch Chief of Scholarships.

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 2017-
2018 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: January 3, 2017.
Elizabeth A. Fowler,
Deputy Director for Management, Operations Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-00257 Filed 1-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-16-P