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 b

The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program provides 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

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.

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. Indirect costs for training awards cannot exceed 8% of modified total direct costs. Student scholarship awards shall equal an amount no less than 50 percent of the student's annual tuition costs. Student scholarships must not exceed $50,000 per academic year for dental students or $40,000 per academic year for all other health and nursing professionals. The scholarship may not exceed a recipient's cost of tuition expenses, other reasonable educational expenses and reasonable living expenses incurred in attendance at such school. The scholarship also may not exceed the student's financial need. 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. Funds may not be used for administrative costs. Funds can only be used for direct costs; indirect cost are unallowable. Student scholarship awards shall equal an amount no less than 50 percent of the student's annual tuition costs up to a maximum amount of $40,000 to cover the cost of attendance. No student can be awarded SDS funds greater than $40,000 per year. The scholarship may not exceed a recipient's cost of tuition expenses, other reasonable educational expenses and reasonable living expenses incurred in attendance at such school. The scholarship also may not exceed the student's financial need. Funds may not be used for administrative costs.

Funds may not be used for administrative costs.

This funding opportunity provides support for a five-year project period. Student scholarships are provided in one-year awards.

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.

Notification is made in writing (electronic) by a Notice of Award.

Approximately 120 - 180 days after receipt of applications.

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.