Preparatory and Pre-Graduate Scholarships

Recipient Orientation

Agenda• Scholarship Program Overview

• Preparatory and Pre-Graduate Scholarships

• Recipient Forms and Documentation

• Scholarship Extension Application

• IHS Extern Program

• Contact Information

Program Overview

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

IHS Scholarship Program — 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 Branch Chief

• Reta Brewer — Program Analyst

• Brenda Miller — Program Analyst

• Eric Pinto — Program Analyst

• Vickye Santiago — Program Analyst

Scholarship Overview

ScholarshipsPreparatory Scholarship

•To support recipients in their undergraduate and preparatory course studies in preparation for entry to health professional schools, such as nursing, pharmacy and others, as needed.

Pre-Graduate Scholarship

•To support recipients in undergraduate courses leading to a bachelor’s (BS or BA) degree in pre-professional programs in preparation for entry into health professional schools, such as medicine, dentistry, podiatry and optometry, as needed.

Maintaining EligibilityScholarship recipients must:

• Be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 2.0.• 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 enrollment status throughout the current academic year.

• Maintain the required hours to meet the graduation or completion of training date agreed to in your application.

Financial SupportFinancial aid covers tuition, required fees and reasonable education and living expenses:

• Preparatory Scholarship — Up to two academic years full time or four academic years part time.

• Pre-Graduate Scholarship — 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 paid for a

10-month period.

Financial Support — Summer SchoolSummer School Request (IHS-856-21) form

• Must be submitted by April 22.

•Up to $700 in tuition and required fees for full-time recipients.

•Up to $350 in tuition and required fees for part-time recipients.

Education ExpensesIHS will provide one annual payment as part of your August deposit to cover the following items:

•School-required books, laboratory expenses, dental/medical/optometric equipment and other miscellaneous educational expenses.

•Tutorial services — IHS will include $400 (full time) or $200 (part time) as part of your August payment to assist with tutorial services or licensure/board certification preparatory classes.

•$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:

• School bookstore invoices.• Desktop or laptop computers (purchased, leased or rented).• Health 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 and associations and similar expenses.

• School terms prior to the scholarship award period.• Uniforms.• Parking fines.• Credit card debt.

Recipient Forms and Documentation

Mailing Addresses• Send all forms, documentation and official transcripts to your

Program Analyst via email or mail to the following address:

Indian Health ServiceScholarship Program801 Thompson Ave., TMP Suite 450ARockville, MD 20852

• Send Lost Stipend Payment forms and inquiries regarding tuition/fees payments to your Grants Scholarship Coordinator to the following address:

Indian Health ServiceGrants Scholarship Coordinator801 Thompson Ave., TMP Suite 360Rockville, MD 20852

Required Forms and DocumentationRecipient’s Initial Program Progress Report (IHS-856-8)

•You must submit this form to the Scholarship office 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 DocumentationOfficial Transcripts

• Must be received within 30 days of the end of each academic term.

• Send via secure e-file or postal service.• Envelopes 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 advisor or the registrar’s office if an official transcript will not be ready within 30 days.

Additional Forms and DocumentationNotification 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 immediately of a change in your enrollment status, including:

– Transferring schools or seeking dual enrollment.

– Change in graduation date.

Additional Forms and Documentation (cont.)Summer School Request (IHS-856-21)

•Used to request approval of payment for summer school courses, regardless of whether you are enrolled in a year-round program of study.

•Must:

– Be submitted by April 22.– Be 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 your Grants Scholarship Coordinator 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 your Program Analyst immediately.

Request for Credit Validation (IHS-856-23)

•Submit to your Program Analyst immediately.

Scholarship Extension Application

Online ApplicationYou must apply annually for an extension of scholarship support or to change your status as a scholarship recipient.

•Your updated status options when submitting an extension application are:

• Request an extension of scholarship support in your current degree program.

• Advance to a Health Professions scholarship degree program. • Request a change in your Preparatory or Pre-Graduate degree

program.• Request a leave of absence.• Decline additional financial support.

Application PacketsThe following documentation must be submitted as part of all application packets:

• Application — Print after submitting the online application.• Application Checklist — Print after submitting the online

application.• Letter of 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.

• Course Curriculum Verification (IHS-856-6): This form must have an original signature.

Application Packets (cont.)Advancing from a Preparatory or Pre-Graduate scholarship to a Health Professions scholarship.

Transfer/Dual Enrollment

•You must also include the following forms if you fall into either of these categories:

– 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.

Application Packets (cont.)Change in Graduation Date/LOA Request

•You must also include the following form if you are changing your graduation date or requesting a leave of absence:

– Change of Status (IHS-856-10)

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 for you as a new applicant.

IHS Extern Program

Overview• Provides a practical, hands-on experience working among

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 through 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.

• You must create a user account.

• IHS Extern Program Student Training positions are listed as Series 0669.

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.

BenefitsThe personnel system you choose determines your salary.

• Civil service pay is based on your experience and the number of completed semester hours per Office of Personnel Management rules and regulations.

• Tribal/Urban Indian program pay is comparable to that of 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• 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 officewhere you choose to work.

Contact Information

Support StaffFor assistance, contact: 

• IHS Scholarship Program Analyst — (301) 443-6197• Grants Scholarship Coordinator — www.ihs.gov/scholarship• Area Scholarship Coordinator — www.ihs.gov/scholarship• IHS Discipline Chiefs — www.ihs.gov/scholarship• IHS Extern Coordinator — vickye.santiago@ihs.gov• For additional information, visit www.ihs.gov/scholarship

or consult your Student Handbook.