Nursing Scholarship Program

Applicant Information Bulletin: School Year 2009-2010
Executive Summary

The Nursing Scholarship Program Application Information Bulletin (AIB) provides a summary of the rights and liabilities of applicants who are selected to become participants in the Nursing Scholarship Program (NSP).  This AIB also contains instructions for completing the application and all required forms.  The information outlined below includes important information for successfully applying for the NSP and describes some of the changes implemented during this application cycle. 

1. Electronic Submission of the Application
   
   All individuals applying for this funding opportunity are required to submit the application electronically no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on May 14, 2009.
   
   
2. Electronic Submission of BCRSIS Banking Information
   
   All applicants who meet the first funding preference (see item 4 below) are required to submit the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service Information System (BCRSIS) banking information (for direct deposit of stipend payments) electronically no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on May 14, 2009.  The applicant must also print a copy of the “BCRSIS Receipt of Submission.”  A copy of the “BCRSIS Receipt of Submission is required supporting documentation to complete the application packet.  See item 3 below.
   
   If you are unable to print a copy of the “BCRSIS Receipt of Submission,” please complete the following 2 steps:
   

• Contact the HRSA Call Center to log a help-ticket toll-free at 1-800-221-9393 (TTY: 1-877-897-9910), Monday-Friday (except Federal Holidays), 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
• Complete the Banking Update form (PDF - 112 KB). The completed form must be received or postmarked by May 14, 2009.  Please mail the completed form to: Division of Applications and Awards, Scholarship Branch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-37, Rockville, MD 20857.
  
  Only the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) staff can enter changes   to the electronic banking information once it has been submitted through BCRSIS and a “BCRSIS Receipt of Submission” has been printed. If changes are required, applicants must complete the Banking Update Form (PDF - 112 KB) and mail the completed form to the Division of Applications and Awards, Scholarship Branch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-37, Rockville, MD 20857.
  

3. Submission of Supporting Documentation to Complete Application Package
   
   In addition to submitting the electronic application and banking information through the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service Information System (BCRSIS), all applicants who meet the first funding preference (see Item 4 below) must submit all required supporting documentation including a copy of the “BCRSIS Receipt of Submission,” described in this Applicant Information Bulletin, by May 14, 2009 (postmark date) to:

   Nursing Scholarship Program
   c/o HRSA Call Center
   12530 Parklawn Drive, Suite 350
   Rockville, MD 20852 
   

   Any applicant in the first funding preference who fails to submit all required documents by the deadline will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered for funding under this announcement.  Application packages deemed incomplete (i.e., missing, inconsistent, or incomplete supporting documents) will not be considered for funding. The NSP will not accept submission or re-submission of incomplete, rejected, or otherwise delayed applications after the deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit a complete application package.
   
   The educational information submitted in the online application must be consistent with what is reported by the school on the Verification of Enrollment/ Good Standing form.
   
   

4. Funding Preference
   
   First funding preference will be given to qualified applicants with the greatest financial need (those who have an expected family contribution [EFC] of zero) and are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited undergraduate nursing program as full-time students.  Because of the competitive nature of the NSP, scholarship awards since the inception of the program in 2003 have not gone beyond this funding preference.  Therefore, please do not submit the BCRSIS banking information and supporting documents unless you meet the funding preference referenced above.  In the unlikely event that the program would reach a lower funding preference, lower preference applicants will be given an opportunity to submit the BCRSIS banking information and other required documentation at a later date.
   
   To receive an EFC determination, applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Department of Education.  In response to the FAFSA, the Department of Education will provide the applicant with a Student Aid Report (SAR), which will contain the EFC determination.  It takes a minimum of 2 weeks from the date of submission to receive an original FAFSA.  Therefore, it is recommended that you complete the FAFSA form before completing the Nursing Scholarship Program application or as soon as possible. 
   
   
5. NSP and Taxes
   
   The scholarship consists of payment for tuition, fees, other reasonable educational costs, and a monthly support stipend.  All of these benefits are subject to Federal income taxes.
   
   
6. Program Changes for New Applicants
   

• Summer School
  
  The NSP will only pay tuition and fees for pre-approved summer school sessions when summer school is an academic term normally required by the school for all students in the same program.
  
  
• NSP School Year
  
  All NSP scholarship contracts are for a specific year.  The school year is defined as July 1 through the following June 30 during which an applicant is enrolled in a school.  If, for example, a student is in a 24-month program that begins on August 3, 2009, and he/she signs contracts for 2 school years, the student will receive stipend, ORC and tuition payments through June 30, 2011.  Funding for the extra months of the program beyond June 30, 2011, would require a request for a third year of scholarship funding, and if granted, obligates the recipient to 3 full years of service commitment.  If a student is in a 24-month program that begins on May 3, 2009, and he/she signs contracts for 2 school years, the student will receive a stipend, ORC and tuition payments from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011, or the month the recipient completes the required classes for graduation, whichever comes first.  
  

7. Telephone Conferences for Applicants
   
   The NSP will conduct two (2) telephone conferences for applicants who may have questions during the Fiscal Year 2009 application cycle. The telephone conferences will be held on April 23, 2009 and May 7, 2009.  The telephone conferences will be available for 2 hours from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, ET.  If you are interested in participating in a telephone conference please register for the event.  There are a limited number of lines available for this call, early registration is recommended.
   
   To register for this event:
   
   
   • Register for the April 23 call
   • Register for the May 7 call

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