Health Professions Scholarship Recipient Orientation Agenda Program Overview

Health Professions Scholarship Recipient Orientation

Agenda • Program Overview • Health Professions Scholarship • Recipient Forms and Documentation • Scholarship Extension Application • IHS Extern Program • Additional Information

Program Overview

Indian Health Service — Mission To raise the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level.

Purpose • To assist students in their efforts to achieve their health education goals. • To provide health services for Native people. • To train future leaders of the Indian health system.

IHS Scholarship Program — Personnel • Robert Pittman — Acting Director • Reta Brewer — Program Analyst • Brenda Miller — Program Analyst • Eric Pinto — Program Analyst • Vickye Santiago — Program Analyst

Program Communications • Website • Facebook • HTML e. Newsletters • Handbooks

Scholarship Overview

Health Professions Scholarship The Health Professions Scholarship supports scholarship recipients in their pursuit of an undergraduate or graduate degree in a health professions program and toward the fulfillment of a service commitment at an Indian health system facility.

Maintaining Eligibility You must meet the following academic requirements to maintain your eligibility: • Be in good academic standing according to the school’s degree program policies. • Be enrolled as a full-time (12 credit hours or the equivalent) or part-time (six to 11 credit hours) student for each academic term. • Maintain your full-time or part-time enrollment status throughout the academic year. • Submit a letter from the institution’s program director verifying your full- or part-time status. • Maintain the required hours to meet the graduation or completion of training date as agreed to in your application.

Financial Support Financial aid covers tuition, required fees and reasonable education and living expenses: • Up to four academic years full time or eight academic years part time. • Includes lab, health unit and parking permit fees. • A monthly stipend of no less than $1, 500 full time, or $750 part time, paid for a 12 -month period.

Financial Support Summer School: • Summer School Request (IHS-856 -21) form — Must be submitted by April 22. • Full financial support of all tuition and fees.

Education Expenses IHS will provide one annual payment as part of your August deposit to cover the following items: • School-required books, laboratory expenses, rental of dental/medical/optometric equipment and other miscellaneous educational expenses. • Tutorial services — IHS will include $400 (full time) or $200 (part time) to assist with tutorial services or licensure/board certification preparatory classes. • School parking permits (only basic permits required by school to park on campus). • $300 to offset travel expenses to and from school for the year. • $35 to offset the expense for a post office box rental.

Education Expenses (cont. ) IHS will not pay for the following items: • On-campus room and board. • School bookstore invoices. • Dental/medical equipment rented from sources other than the school. • Desktop or laptop computers (purchased, leased or rented). • Health or disability insurance. • Additional travel expenses incurred over the $300 allowed.

Education Expenses (cont. ) IHS will not pay for the following items: • Membership dues for student societies, associations and similar expenses. • School terms prior to the scholarship award period. • Uniforms. • Parking fines. • Credit card debt.

Tax Liability • The IHS Scholarship Program deducts federal taxes from the monthly stipends paid directly to the recipient. • The IHS Scholarship Program does not deduct taxes from financial aid paid directly to the school for: – Tuition. – Required fees. – Summer school.

Tuition Payment • IHS pays tuition directly to the institution. Recipients must provide the bursar’s office with a copy of their scholarship award letter notifying the institution of his or her IHS scholarship. • Recipients may decline all other scholarship or grant awards to take advantage of the full financial aid package provided. • IHS will deduct the total of other accepted scholarships or grants from the institution invoice and only pay the remaining portion, unless the other scholarships or grants specifically state they may not be used for tuition and fees.

Leave of Absence • Submit Change of Status (IHS-856 -10) form to your Program Analyst. • Approvable reasons include: – Medical or personal issues. – Poor grades that will affect your ability to take required courses. • First year scholarship recipients are not eligible to request a Leave of Absence (LOA). • Update status online during scholarship extension application cycle.

Breach of Contract and Default You will be in breach of your IHS Scholarship Contract and placed in default if you: • Are dismissed from school for academic or disciplinary reasons. • Voluntarily terminate academic training before graduation and fulfillment of your service commitment. • Pursue an unapproved post-graduate clinical training program. • Fail to serve in the health profession for which you received financial aid.

Breach of Contract and Default Liability • Recipients who complete their degree and pursue an unapproved post-graduate clinical training program or fail to serve in their chosen health profession will be liable to: – Repay three times the amount of scholarship funding plus interest. – Repay the scholarship funds plus interest within one year of the default date.

Recipient Forms and Documentation

Submitting Forms and Documentation • Send all forms and documentation to the program office via email or to the following address: Indian Health Service Scholarship Program 801 Thompson Ave. , TMP Suite 450 A Rockville, MD 20852 • Email: scholarship@ihs. gov

Required Forms and Documentation Recipient’s Initial Program Progress Report (IHS-856 -8) • Within 30 days of the beginning of each academic term. • Your advisor or the registrar’s office must sign this form to confirm your full- or part-time enrollment for the current academic term.

Required Forms and Documentation (cont. ) Official Transcripts • Must be received within 30 days of the end of each academic term. • Send via secure e-file or postal service. • Transcripts must have an official seal and/or the registrar’s signature. • Envelopes should not be opened or tampered with. • You must submit an official grade report or documentation of grades signed by your instructors and your advisor if an official transcript will not be ready within 30 days.

Additional Forms and Documentation Notification of Academic Problem (IHS-856 -9) • Used to notify your Program Analyst of any academic problems, including: – Poor grades resulting in a reduction in enrollment status. – Cancelled course. – Academic probation. – Withdrawal from school. – Dismissal from school. • Submit to your Program Analyst immediately. • Do not withdraw from a course or school without first consulting your Program Analyst.

Additional Forms and Documentation (cont. ) Change of Status (IHS-856 -10) • Used to notify your Program Analyst of a change in your enrollment status including: – Transferring schools or seeking dual enrollment. – Change in graduation date. – Requesting an LOA. • Submit immediately.

Additional Forms and Documentation (cont. ) Summer School Request (IHS-856 -21) • Used to request approval of payment for summer school courses. • Required for recipients enrolled in year-long programs. • Must be: – Submitted by April 22. – Signed by your school advisor. – Include an attached Curriculum for Major. – Include documentation of summer school tuition and fees.

Additional Forms and Documentation (cont. ) Summer School Request (IHS-856 -21) • The following courses are approved to receive financial assistance: – Required courses toward your health profession degree program. – Required courses that must be repeated due to poor academic performance.

Additional Forms and Documentation (cont. ) Lost Stipend Payment (IHS-856 -19) • Submit to the program office after the seventh day of the month following the month missed (for example, submit after September 7 if you did not receive your August stipend). Change of Name or Address (IHS-856 -22) • Submit to the program office immediately. Request for Credit Validation (IHS-856 -23) • Submit to the program office immediately. Note: Contact your Program Analyst immediately if you are changing your preferred email address. A form does not need to be submitted, but notification will avoid delay in or loss of communication with the program.

Scholarship Extension Application

Online Application • All scholarship recipients must annually submit a scholarship extension application to apply for an extension of scholarship support or change their status as a recipient. • This year’s deadline is February 28. • There are three status options when submitting an extension application: – Request an extension of scholarship support in your current degree program. – Request a leave of absence. – Decline additional scholarship support from the program. • The scholarship application log-in page can be found at www. ihs. gov/scholarship/online_application. • Keep your username, password and mailing address updated throughout the academic year via this portal.

Application Packets The following documentation must be submitted as part of all application packets: • Application — Print after submitting the online application. • Application Checklist — Print and sign after submitting the online application. • Letter of Enrollment and Good Academic Standing — Your advisor must complete and sign your letter documenting good academic standing. • Delinquent Federal Debt (IHS-856 -5) — This form must have an original signature and must be submitted even if you do not have any qualifying debts. • Course Curriculum Verification (IHS-856 -6) — This form must be completed documenting courses that will be taken during the following academic year and must have an original signature. Attaching a Curriculum for Major is not sufficient.

Application Packets (cont. ) Transfer/Dual Enrollment — You must also include the following forms if you are transferring schools or seeking dual enrollment: • Letter of Acceptance/Proof of Application • Change of Status (IHS-856 -10) form. • Faculty/Advisor Evaluation (IHS-856 -24) forms — Submitted online. You can submit two hard copies if selected evaluators cannot access the online form. • Curriculum for Major — Must be attached to Course Curriculum Verification (IHS-856 -6) form.

Application Packets (cont. ) Change in Graduation Date — You must also include the following form if you are changing your graduation date: • Change of Status (IHS-856 -10) form.

Application Packets (cont. ) Additional Documentation — You must provide the following documentation if you missed a deadline or experience a change in coursework: • Official Transcript — Required if you did not submit within 30 days of the completion of your most recent academic term. • Curriculum for Major — Required if your curriculum has changed from the curriculum that was approved as a new applicant.

Missed Application Deadline Applicants who miss the scholarship extension application deadline have one of three options: • Apply as a new applicant in your degree program. • Request an LOA for the next academic year. • Decline additional scholarship funding.

IHS Extern Program

Overview The Extern Program: • Provides a practical, hands-on experience working amongst other health professionals at an Indian health facility. • Provides the opportunity to experience different work locations throughout the United States. • Offers up to 120 days of employment per calendar year in either the civil service, direct Tribal hire or the US Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. • Places health professions students in positions during non-academic periods.

Priorities for Selection • Health Professions Scholarship recipients. • Health Professions students (non-recipients) who are American Indian or Alaska Native. • Health Professions students (non-recipients) who are not American Indian or Alaska Native. • Preparatory or Pre-Graduate scholarship recipients.

Personnel Systems • Civil Service — the federal civil service personnel system. • Direct Tribal/Urban Indian program hire — employment through Tribal/Urban Indian program facilities. • Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (COSTEP) — a program of the USPHS Commissioned Corps.

How to Apply • You must submit your application via USAJOBS (USAJOBS. gov). • You must create a user account. • IHS Extern Program Student Training positions are listed as Series 0669. • COSTEP applicants must also apply to the USPHS Commissioned Corps via www. usphs. gov.

How to Apply (cont. ) You are required to upload the following documents as part of your application: • Resume • Extern Site Preference Request (IHS-856 -17) form. • Proof of immunity to measles and rubella. • Documentation of school enrollment for fall term.

How to Apply (cont. ) You are required to upload the following documents as part of your application: • Copy of your: – School transcripts. – Social Security card. – Driver’s license. Note: Obtaining a copy of your fingerprints from your local police department will help to expedite the security clearance and hiring process.

Benefits The personnel system you choose determines your salary. • Civil service is based on your experience and the number of completed semester hours per Office of Personnel Management (OPM) rules and regulations. • Tribal/Urban Indian program pay is comparable to the federal civil service system. • A Commissioned Corps extern serves as an Ensign (O-1). • Salary is waived if the externship fulfills a required academic field placement or an internship. IHS will pay the required tuition and fees.

Benefits (cont. ) • Travel reimbursement is available for one round trip to your extern site. • Housing is your responsibility. Information is available through the Area Scholarship Coordinator serving the IHS Area office where you choose to work. Contact Information • Vickye Santiago, Extern Coordinator — vickye. santiago@ihs. gov

Contact Information

Support Staff • IHS Scholarship Program Analyst — www. ihs. gov/scholarship/contact/programanalysts/ • Grants Scholarship Coordinator — www. ihs. gov/scholarship/contact/othercontactinformations/ • Area Scholarship Coordinator — www. ihs. gov/scholarship/contact/areascholarshipcoordinators/ • IHS Discipline Chief — www. ihs. gov/scholarship/contact/disciplinechiefs/ For additional information: • Visit www. ihs. gov/scholarship or consult your Student Handbook, which can also be found on this website.