Final Funding Preferences for Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

Final Funding Preferences for Scholarships for Disadvantaged

Students

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces

the final funding preferences for fiscal year (FY) 1994 for the

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program authorized under

the authority of section 737 of the Public Health Service Act (the

Act), title VII, Part B, as amended by the Health Professions Education

Extension Amendments of 1992, Pub. L. 102-408, dated October 13, 1992.

Purpose

The SDS program is a program of grants to health professions and

nursing schools for the purpose of assisting such schools in providing

scholarships to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who are

enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) as full-time students in the

schools, as well as to undergraduate students who have demonstrated a

commitment to pursuing a career in health professions.

Statutory Preference

The law requires that in providing SDS scholarships, the school

give preference to students who are from disadvantaged backgrounds and

for whom the cost of attending an SDS school would constitute a severe

financial hardship. Severe financial hardship will be determined by the

school in accordance with standard need analysis procedures prescribed

by the Department of Education for its Federal student aid programs.

Final Funding Preference

A proposed funding preference was published in the Federal Register

on June 20, 1994, at 59 FR 31643, for public comment. Three comments

were received during the 30-day comment period which were in support of

the proposed funding preference. One commentor called attention to

congressional report language which directs the Department to give

highest priority, among allied health applicants, to dental hygiene

programs.

In accord with the Congress' directive, the final funding

preference will be revised as follows:

For fiscal year 1994, among allied health schools or programs,

preference will be given to the following baccalaureate and graduate

programs: dental hygiene, medical laboratory technology, occupational

therapy, physical therapy and radiologic technology. The priority for

dental hygiene will be implemented by taking the total funds allocated

to the allied health disciplines in the initial allocation and

recalculating this part of the allocation. Dental hygiene schools will

receive double credit for their disadvantaged enrollments in the

reallocation of the allied health funds.

Additional Information

Programmatic questions should be directed to: Mr. Bruce Baggett,

Chief, Student and Institutional Support Branch, Division of Student

Assistance, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services

Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 8-34, 5600 Fishers Lane,

Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone: (301) 443-4776, FAX: (301) 594-

6911.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for the

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program is 93.925. This program

is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372,

Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs (as implemented through 45

CFR part 100).

This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting

Requirements.

Dated: August 23, 1994.

Ciro V. Sumaya,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 94-21291 Filed 8-29-94; 8:45 am]

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