Attachment 2 UGSP_AppPkt_Booklet_0807

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Application Information and Forms
for the 2008–2009 Academic Year
Applications due February 29, 2008

MORE THAN A SCHOLARSHIP, MORE THAN AN INTERNSHIP:
AN OUTSTANDING RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR OUTSTANDING STUDENTS
Competitive scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to
biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research careers

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from
Disadvantaged Backgrounds
Thank you for your interest in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program
(UGSP) for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds.
The UGSP offers scholarship awards to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to
careers in biomedical, behavioral and social science health-related research.
The NIH is one of the world’s foremost centers for biomedical research and research training and is part
of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The UGSP is administered by the Office of Intramural Research, Office of the Director, NIH.
This folder contains an application packet for the 2008–2009 academic year which starts in September
2008. The deadline for receipt of complete applications is February 29, 2008. Please review the
information in this folder, following the instructions carefully. Prepaid return envelopes have been provided
for your convenience.
For those with access to the Internet, our site at www.ugsp.nih.gov should be consulted as many of your
questions will likely be answered after a thorough review of its contents. You may direct your questions to
our toll-free help line at 888-352-3001, by fax at 301-480-3123, or by e-mail at ugsp@nih.gov.
Best wishes in your academic pursuits.

CONTENTS
Information at a Glance ........................................................................................................................... 2
Applying for a Scholarship ....................................................................................................................... 4
Scholarship Benefits ................................................................................................................................ 9
10-Week Summer Laboratory Experience ............................................................................................. 11
Service Obligation after Graduation ....................................................................................................... 13
Deferment Information .......................................................................................................................... 15
Responsibilities of the Academic Institution ............................................................................................ 17
The Fine Print ....................................................................................................................................... 18
Privacy Act Notice ................................................................................................................................ 21
Application Forms .................................................................................................................. back pocket
Envelopes (5) ......................................................................................................................... back pocket
Applicant Survey Reply Card ................................................................................................. back pocket

CONTACT INFORMATION
NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program
2 Center Drive, Room 2E20 (MSC 0230)
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0230

Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
Internet:

888-352-3001
301-480-3123
ugsp@nih.gov
www.ugsp.nih.gov

1

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from
Disadvantaged Backgrounds
INFORMATION AT A GLANCE
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program offers scholarship awards to
students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral and
social science health-related research. The program is sponsored by the NIH, one of the world’s foremost
centers for biomedical research and research training.
The scholarships pay for tuition and reasonable educational and living expenses up to $20,000 per
academic year. In return, recipients are obligated to serve as paid employees in NIH research laboratories
during the summer and after graduation. In addition to financial assistance, the scholarship program
offers invaluable training and mentoring, as well as practical experience in a state-of-the-art research
setting.

Why are these scholarships offered?
The goal of the NIH Undergraduate Scholarship
Program is to help students from disadvantaged
backgrounds pursue educational and career
opportunities in biomedical, behavioral and social
science health-related research. The NIH is
committed to training and nurturing new
researchers and to alerting students to career
possibilities in the fields of biomedical, behavioral,
or social science health-related research. This
program focuses on individuals who may have
had fewer opportunities than others to pursue
research careers.

Biomedical research and the National
Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health is the world’s
largest biomedical research institution and is the
lead Federal agency responsible for basic and
clinical research. The NIH has more than 1,000
laboratories on its 306-acre campus in Bethesda,
Maryland—a suburb of Washington, DC. The
NIH is staffed by more than 18,000 people,
including nearly 4,000 researchers and health
professionals with doctoral degrees. The NIH is
also home to the Warren Grant Magnuson
Clinical Center and the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical

2

Information at a Glance

Research Center, which contain nearly half of all
research hospital beds in the United States.
The NIH mission is to uncover new knowledge
that will lead to better health for everyone. The
NIH works toward that mission by conducting
research in its own laboratories; supporting the
research of non-Federal scientists in universities,
medical schools, hospitals, and research
institutions throughout the country and abroad;
helping to train research investigators; and
fostering the communication of biomedical
information.

What are the benefits?
The NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program
can award each student up to $20,000 per
academic year. This can be used for tuition,
educational expenses such as books and
laboratory fees, and reasonable living expenses.
The scholarships are awarded for 1 year and
may be renewed (no more than 4 years of
scholarship support total). Actual award amounts
are finalized between the UGSP and the financial
aid office of each participant, after a review of
financial need and all available aid. Your
scholarship award cannot exceed your unmet

college expenses. You should also contact your
financial aid office to determine how an outside
scholarship will affect your financial aid
package. Students are required to file an
application for Federal aid by submitting a
Free Application For Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA). Applications can be accessed at
www.ed.gov.

And the obligations?
Although the Undergraduate Scholarship
Program carries service obligations to the NIH,
the obligations themselves can be considered
benefits—providing students with valuable
research experience.
10-week summer laboratory experience.
After each year of the scholarship, each student
is required to work for 10 weeks as a paid
employee in an NIH research laboratory. This
employment occurs during the summer after the
receipt of the UGSP award. This service will be
an opportunity for scholars to gain critical skills
by working with experienced NIH researchers.
Each scholar will be matched to an NIH
researcher, who will serve as a mentor. Students
will also attend formal seminars and participate
in a variety of educational programs.
Employment at the NIH after graduation.
After graduation, scholarship recipients are
required to serve as full-time employees in
an NIH research laboratory. The obligation is
1 year (52 weeks) of full-time employment for
each year of scholarship. Students may defer
service obligations for appropriate graduate
or medical studies.

The basic qualification requirements are as
follows:
1. Have a grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0
scale) or be within the top 5 percent of your
class.
2. Be from a disadvantaged background.*
3. Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a
full-time student for the 2008–2009
academic year at an accredited, 4-year
undergraduate institution.
4. Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or qualified
non-citizen of the United States. (See page 4
for more information.)
*Disadvantaged background means that you
come from a low-income family, as defined on
page 5.

When are applications due?
Complete applications must be received by
February 29, 2008. Applications should be
mailed to:
NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program
2 Center Drive, Room 2E20 (MSC 0230)
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0230
or can be completed online at:
www.ugsp.nih.gov

When will awards be made?
The NIH expects to award up to 15 scholarships
by mid-July 2008.

Am I eligible?
The Undergraduate Scholarships are awarded on
a competitive basis to students who show a
commitment to pursuing a career in biomedical,
behavioral or social science health-related
research at the NIH.

Information at a Glance

3

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from
Disadvantaged Backgrounds
APPLYING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP
Qualification requirements
The following are the qualification requirements
for the program.
Citizenship. Because UGSP participants are
employees of the NIH during their training at the
NIH, you must qualify for Federal employment.
This includes certain citizenship requirements.
You must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a
qualified non-citizen. (Note that some permanent
residents are qualified non-citizens. See below.)
A U.S. national is a person who, although not a
citizen of the United States, owes permanent
allegiance to the United States. They are generally
persons born in outlying possessions of the United
States.
If you are a non-U.S. citizen, a) you must be
eligible to work in the United States, and b) you
must qualify for Federal employment.
a) Non-citizens may work in the United States only
if they are 1) assigned by the Bureau of Citizenship
and Immigration Services (BCIS) to a class of
immigrants authorized to be employed (permanent
residents, for example), or 2) expressly authorized
by the BCIS to be employed. (Because your
employment at NIH will take place in the future,
your employment eligibility must be based on a
permanent status, such as permanent residency.
Individuals authorized to work in the United States
on a temporary basis do not qualify.)
b) In general non-citizens, even if they are eligible
to work in the United States, cannot be hired as
Federal employees; however, there are exceptions
to this rule. For example, if you are a U.S.
permanent resident from a country allied with the

4

Applying for a Scholarship

United States in a defense effort, you are eligible
for Federal employment.
For a list of countries allied with the United States
in a defense effort and for a complete list of
exceptions to this rule visit www.ugsp.nih.gov/
citizenship.htm. This site also contains additional
information on all of the citizenship requirements.
If you are not a U.S. citizen or national, we
recommend that you contact the UGSP before
applying to determine if you meet the
citizenship requirements.
If you become a UGSP finalist, you will be
required to document your citizenship status.
Enrollment in an undergraduate institution.
At the time of application, you must be enrolled
or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student
for the 2008–2009 academic year at an
accredited, 4-year undergraduate institution. The
institution must be accredited by an agency
recognized by the Council on Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA). The institution must also
be located in one of the 50 States, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Territory of
the Pacific Islands (the Republic of Palau), the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the
Federated States of Micronesia.
The UGSP is not intended for students who
already hold a bachelor’s or other post-secondary
degree.
Academic status. To apply, you must have a
grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0

scale) or be ranked within the top 5 percent of
your class.
Disadvantaged background. To be eligible,
you must be from a disadvantaged background.
This means that your undergraduate institution
has certified you as having “exceptional financial
need” (EFN), as defined by the Federal
Government.

The table on this page lists the latest low-income
thresholds used by the Federal Government and
published in the Federal Register. If your family
income for the most recent calendar year is less
than that shown for your family size, you qualify
as having exceptional financial need. If you
qualify, but have not yet been certified by your
school, please consult with your financial aid
officer.

Low-Income Levels Approved by Secretary of DHHS
to Determine Exceptional Financial Need

Persons in Family
(Includes only dependents listed on
Federal income tax forms)

Family Income Level
(Adjusted gross income,
rounded to the nearest $100)

1 ................................................................. $20,420
2 ................................................................... 27,380
3 ................................................................... 34,340
4 ................................................................... 41,300
5 ................................................................... 48,260
6 ................................................................... 55,220
7 ................................................................... 62,180
8 ................................................................... 69,140

Federal Register, Volume 72, Number 96, May 18, 2007, p. 28062.

Applying for a Scholarship

5

Additional requirements
The following requirements also apply to
applicants.
•

You must be eligible for Federal
employment.

•

You must have no conflicting service
obligations.

•

You must be free of Federal judgment liens.

•

You must be free of delinquent Federal
loans.

Further information on each of these is presented
in The Fine Print section on pages 18–19.
Filling out the forms
This application is available online at:
www.ugsp.nih.gov.
Application forms for the 2008–2009 scholarship
program are also enclosed with this packet.
There are four separate forms:
•

Application checklist

•

Applicant information form

•

Undergraduate institution certification form

•

Applicant recommendation forms (3 copies)

Application checklist. The checklist should
serve as a guide to ensure that you have
completed all parts of the application. Please
enclose a copy of the checklist with your
application so that we can use it when we
receive forms from your undergraduate
institution and your references.
Applicant information form. This form
requests basic information such as your address,
daytime and evening telephone numbers, and
undergraduate institution. More important, it asks
you to discuss your commitment to biomedical

6

Applying for a Scholarship

science and to assess your own abilities. This
information—along with the recommendations
provided by your references—will play an
important role in the evaluation of your
application.
You should not discuss your disadvantaged
background in response to the questions on the
application form.
Transcripts and test scores. An official copy
of your school transcript is required as part of
your application. If you are currently a college
freshman, we require both your college transcript
and your high school transcript. If you are a
college student who has attended more than one
post-secondary institution, you must send a
transcript from each institution. If you are
currently a high school senior, we recommend
that you send a photocopy of your ACT and/or
SAT scores.
Undergraduate institution certification form.
The undergraduate institution you are attending
or are about to attend must complete a
certification form as part of your application to
the UGSP. You should fill out Section A of this
certification form and give it, together with one
of the return envelopes, to the financial aid
officer at your undergraduate institution. The
institution will complete the form and return it
directly to the NIH.
If you are not yet enrolled in an undergraduate
institution, or if you are transferring to a new
school, you should contact the school before
submitting the form to explain your situation and
ensure that they have the necessary financial
information from you.
Applicant recommendation forms. Three
recommendations are required as part of your
application. You should select three individuals
who have direct knowledge of your academic
qualities (e.g., science teachers, research or lab

supervisors, academic advisors). Please fill out
Section A of these forms and give the form, along
with an attached return envelope, to each of your
recommenders. They should return the form
directly to the NIH. Recommenders may also
complete the recommendation online. Direct them
to www.ugsp.nih.gov.

•

Relevant extracurricular activities.

•

Other information provided in the applicant
information form.

Application Deadline

First priority. Applicants who have completed at
least 2 years of undergraduate course work,
including four core science courses, and are
classified by their educational institutions as
juniors or seniors as of the beginning of the
academic year of scholarship. (Core science
courses include biology, chemistry, physics, and
calculus; others may be considered.)

Applications for the 2008–2009 school year
must be received by February 29, 2008.
Applicants will be notified of their award status
by mid-July 2008.

Evaluation of applications
The NIH expects to award up to 15 scholarships
for the academic year 2008–2009. Awards will
be made on a competitive basis according to the
selection factors and award priorities described
below.
Screening for completeness and for meeting
basic requirements. NIH UGSP staff will
screen each application for completeness and
basic eligibility. If your application is incomplete
by the deadline or if you do not meet the basic
requirements, you will be notified that you are no
longer under consideration for the scholarship.
Evaluation process. All qualified applications
will be reviewed by an evaluation panel
appointed by the NIH.
A critical consideration for ranking the
qualifications of applicants will be evidence of
the applicant’s commitment to a career in
biomedical, behavioral or social science healthrelated research as an employee of the NIH.
This commitment will be evaluated, in part, on
the following:
•

Your academic achievements.

•

Recommendations and evaluations of your
skills, abilities, and goals.

Award priorities. The following priorities will
be considered in assessing how the scholarships
will be awarded:

Second priority. Applicants who have
completed four core science courses, as defined
above.
Third priority. Applicants who are freshmen or
sophomores.
Fourth priority. Applicants who are high school
seniors and have been accepted for enrollment
as full-time undergraduate students in accredited
colleges or universities.
Personal interviews
At the discretion of the NIH UGSP, interviews
may be conducted with scholarship finalists in
person or by phone. If necessary, these
interviews will take place during the summer.
If you are selected for an interview, the
interviewers will review your research interests,
awards, skills, accomplishments, current projects,
and extracurricular activities—especially those
related to science. The interviewers will also
discuss your understanding of the service
obligations and your post-service career plans. In
addition, the interviewers may ask other
questions raised during the evaluation of your
application.

Applying for a Scholarship

7

Notification of UGSP Application Award
When you apply to the UGSP, the NIH may
contact your school(s) and recommenders to
confirm information provided in your application
materials. Additionally, if you are accepted as a
scholarship recipient, the NIH will send
notification of this prestigious national award to
your school’s financial aid office, your
recommenders, your school’s president, and your
congressional representatives. The notification
will indicate that you are a participant in the NIH
Undergraduate Scholarship Program for
Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds.

8

Applying for a Scholarship

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from
Disadvantaged Backgrounds
SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
NIH Undergraduate Scholarships are awarded for 1-year periods (renewable up to 4 years) and cover
tuition and reasonable educational and living expenses up to $20,000 for each academic year. In return,
recipients commit to two types of service obligation for each year of scholarship: (1) 10-week summer
service as a paid employee in an NIH research laboratory and (2) after graduation, 1 year of full-time
paid employment in an NIH research laboratory. Additional information on the service obligation is
presented in the sections entitled 10-Week Summer Laboratory Experience (pages 11–12) and Service
Obligation after Graduation (pages 13–14).

Scholarship benefits
The NIH UGSP will make payments directly to
your institution, which will be responsible for
administering the funds.
Tuition and fees. The UGSP will pay your
institution directly for tuition and fees. If you
have already paid your tuition and required fees,
you will be reimbursed by the school after
payment is received from the UGSP.
Reasonable educational and living
expenses. The NIH UGSP will make payments
to your school at the beginning of each term or
quarter for reasonable educational expenses.
These expenses may include required books,
laboratory expenses, and graduation fees. The
scholarship will not pay for tuition costs unrelated
to the degree program, membership dues for
student societies or associations, loan processing
fees, and similar expenses.
Scholars may also receive a stipend for
reasonable living expenses during the academic
year. These are based on the school’s average of
allowable expenses incurred per student within
the same class year and major.
Note: The receipt of scholarship funds during the
school year does not mean you are employed by

the Federal Government or that you participate in
any of the benefits available to Federal
employees.

Approval of academic program and
acceptable performance
The NIH must approve your proposed academic
program for the scholarship year, and you must
agree not to alter the program without prior
approval from the NIH. You must send a copy of
your course schedule as soon as it has been set
by the school. In addition, you must maintain an
acceptable level of academic standing, as
determined by your academic institution, in
accordance with regulations issued by the NIH.
If you delay the submission of your academic
program, the release of UGSP funds will also be
delayed.

Questions and answers about scholarship
benefits
Can I receive benefits from other sources?
Receipt of an NIH scholarship does not
automatically mean you cannot receive funds
from other sources, as long as the sources do not
involve service obligations. However, many
student assistance programs are based on
financial need and may cover expenses already

Scholarship Benefits

9

paid by the scholarship. You should contact your
school’s financial aid officer to determine how an
NIH scholarship may affect other assistance.
Usually, the total of all awards cannot exceed
your expenses.
Note: Educational benefits from the Department
of Veterans Affairs (under the G.I. Bill) continue
along with scholarship funds, since these benefits
were earned by prior active duty in a uniformed
service.
Are the benefits taxable? The scholarship is
taxable. It is your responsibility to arrange for the
payment of any Federal, State, and local taxes
that may be owed. Applicants should consult IRS
Publication 520 to determine the potential effect
of scholarship funds on taxable income.
What if I need additional funds? If tuition,
educational, and living expenses exceed $20,000,
the NIH UGSP cannot provide additional funds.
What if I need to repeat courses or take a
lighter schedule? The NIH UGSP will pay
tuition for courses taken for the first time
only. However, if a repeated course is taken in
addition to a full-time course load and the
repeated course does not delay the graduation
date, payment of the stipend will continue, but
the scholarship will not pay for repeated courses.
What if there are breaks in my course
work? Scholars who have breaks in their course
work must submit documentation explaining the
circumstances and demonstrating a continued
commitment to biomedical research. If
scholarship recipients have breaks in their course
work extending beyond 1 year, an interview will
be required before the NIH can resume
scholarship support.
Participants incurring a break in their education
must also submit documentation from a school
official confirming that they (1) are enrolled as
full-time students in courses leading to the
degree for which they received scholarship
support and (2) are not repeating course work.

10

Scholarship Benefits

What if I delay my graduation? The NIH
UGSP will discontinue the payment of all
benefits when: (1) the school has approved a
scholar’s leave of absence for personal or
medical reasons or (2) a scholar’s graduation is
delayed by a requirement to repeat course work
or by a change to a decelerated, nontraditional,
or part-time program.
You are required to notify the NIH UGSP office
in writing when considering a leave of absence,
repeat of course work, or a decelerated,
nontraditional, or part-time program. You must
also forward a letter from your school verifying
the changes made in your undergraduate
program.

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from
Disadvantaged Backgrounds
10-WEEK SUMMER LABORATORY EXPERIENCE
Two kinds of service obligations (forms of payback) are required from each scholarship recipient. After
each scholarship year, you must serve for 10 consecutive weeks (during the summer) as a full-time
employee in an NIH research laboratory. In addition, after graduation you must serve 1 year (52 weeks)
for each year of scholarship support as a full-time NIH employee. You will be paid at established Federal
Government rates for this service. Substantial penalties apply to students who fail to meet their service
obligations.

NIH summer laboratory experience

Compensation

After each year of the scholarship, you will be
required to work as an employee in an NIH
research laboratory for 10 consecutive weeks.
This employment occurs during the summer after
the receipt of the UGSP award. This service
must take place during the months of June, July,
and August, with some flexibility to the actual
start date in June, depending upon your academic
calendar. Students will normally begin service
upon completion of the school year. You must
serve 10 consecutive weeks. Adjustments in the
ending date may be made by the NIH if the
obligation is suspended, interrupted, waived, or
otherwise delayed.

For your 10-week service, you will be hired as a
Federal Government employee (student trainee)
and be paid according to the classification level
of the job. Depending on your educational level
and experience, you will be eligible for positions
in the range of General Service (GS) levels GS-3
to GS-5, which pay approximately $13 to $15 per
hour. As a UGSP student trainee, you will be
eligible for both annual and sick leave and may
purchase subsidized health insurance.

Determination of laboratory assignments.
Laboratory assignments will be made by
matching your interests and skills with research
projects at an NIH laboratory. Normally, scholars
will visit the NIH campus in early January to
meet potential laboratory mentors and be
matched for the summer service period.
If you fail to obtain a placement by the deadlines
announced by the NIH UGSP, you will be
assigned to a position. The NIH reserves the
right to make final decisions on all placements to
comply with the statutory requirements for the
placement of scholars.

Housing. The UGSP summer laboratory
experience is a residential program. The NIH
provides shared accomodations near the NIH
campus as no cost to scholars. Normally, two
students share a one-bedroom suite-style room
with kitchen facilities and a small living room.
Additionally, the UGSP provides a laptop
computer, printer, and Internet access for each
room.
The UGSP housing offers easy access to the
NIH campus and the UGSP Summer Workshop
Series, which takes place in the evenings at the
housing site. Residing in the UGSP housing also
allows scholars to interact with each other and
form a cohesive, supportive group.
The UGSP-provided housing is for UGSP
scholars only. The cost of other short-term
housing in the Bethesda area is extremely
prohibitive. If for any reason scholars do not

10-Week Summer Laboratory Experience

11

reside in the provided housing, the UGSP cannot
provide any compensation in lieu of the UGSPprovided housing. Applicants with spouses or
families should consider these factors prior to
accepting the UGSP scholarship award.
Transportation. Reasonable costs of
transportation to and from your undergraduate
institution or permanent residence to the NIH
will be covered by the UGSP.

NIH mentors
An important goal of the summer research
experience is for you to develop a mentoring
relationship with an NIH researcher. The oneon-one mentor relationship is considered critical
to your development, both professionally and
personally. The mentor will provide support and
advice to guide your development as a
researcher. The NIH mentoring experience is
designed to motivate and encourage you as you
plan a career in research.

Other activities for the 10-week summer
program
Courses. To support your professional
development, the following courses are required
during the 10-week summer experience:
•

Laboratory Safety for Summer Research
Associates

•

Working Safely with HIV and Other
Bloodborne Pathogens in the Research
Laboratory

•

Radiation Safety

•

Ethics for Biomedical Researchers

You will also be required to attend sessions of
the UGSP Summer Workshop Series. (A
schedule will be provided upon arrival at the
NIH.) You should anticipate that the workshop
series is academically rigorous and that it
requires several hours each week, in addition to
the time spent in your lab assignment.

12

10-Week Summer Laboratory Experience

Poster Day. You will be required to participate
in the NIH Poster Day. This will be an
opportunity for you to present information about
your laboratory project. Although results may not
be available from your experiments, you will be
able to present background information, data, and
issues that arose during your research.
Keeping a journal. It is suggested that you
keep a journal describing your experience at the
NIH. At the beginning of the 10-week period,
you will be given guidelines for recording your
personal and professional development in the
journal.
Visit from undergraduate institution mentor.
Your faculty mentor or research advisor from
your undergraduate institution may visit the NIH
campus once during your 10-week laboratory
experience. The visit will offer an opportunity for
the faculty mentor to learn about your research
project, to assess your progress, and to discuss
your experiences with your NIH research
mentor. It will also provide an opportunity to
integrate your NIH research project with your
academic program at your undergraduate
institution. This visit usually coincides with the
activities of NIH Poster Day.
Evaluations and assessments. At the start of
the summer program, you will be given an
opportunity to conduct a self-assessment of your
skills and to set goals for the 10-week
experience in terms of professional and personal
development.
In addition, assessment and evaluation
measurements may be developed in conjunction
with your NIH laboratory mentor. The
evaluations are intended to provide you with
information on your strengths and areas that
need further development.

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from
Disadvantaged Backgrounds
SERVICE OBLIGATION AFTER GRADUATION
As an NIH Undergraduate Scholar, you will incur 1 year (52 weeks) of obligated service at the NIH for
each full or partial year of support. The maximum service obligation is 4 years. Scholars are obliged to
serve as full-time NIH employees in an NIH research laboratory.

Service obligation

Position assignments at the NIH

You must begin your service within 60 days of
completing the requirements for your
undergraduate degree, unless a deferment is
granted by the NIH UGSP (see below).

Scholars must fulfill their service obligation in
approved positions at NIH intramural research
laboratories. These positions may include
placement at NIH facilities in the following
locations: Bethesda, Poolesville, Frederick, and
Baltimore, Maryland; Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina; Hamilton, Montana; and
Phoenix, Arizona.

The last day of the service obligation is
determined in whole years from the starting date.
Adjustments in the ending date may be made by
the NIH if the obligation is suspended,
interrupted, waived, or otherwise delayed.
Note: The end of your obligated service, of
course, does not necessarily mean the end of
your employment at the NIH. A primary goal of
the program is to attract you to a long-term
career at the NIH.

Licensure requirement
Scholars who fulfill their service obligation after
completion of a medical degree must meet the
requirements for licensure and residency training
specific to the NIH program for which they are
applying. Federal employees who are medical
doctors involved in clinical care are required to
be licensed. Responsibility for obtaining the
required license prior to the service start date
rests with the scholars.

You will be advised about seeking a research
position at the NIH. If you fail to obtain a
placement in one of the listed vacancies by the
deadline announced by the NIH, you will be
assigned to a position.
The NIH reserves the right to make final
decisions on all placements in satisfaction of its
statutory requirements for placement of scholars.

Breach of contract
As explained in The Fine Print section on page
19 and in the contract, there are substantial
penalties for failing to begin or to complete the
service obligations.

Service Obligation after Graduation

13

Deferments for graduate or medical studies
Scholars will ordinarily begin serving as full-time
NIH employees within 60 days after obtaining
their undergraduate degrees. Generally, the NIH
UGSP will defer the post-graduation service
obligation to enable scholars to complete
accredited graduate or medical education
programs that will lead to careers in biomedical
research.
For more information on deferments, see
Deferment Information, beginning on page 15.

Possible placements
The following should give you an idea of the
types of placements that are possible for the
post-graduation service obligation. Please note
that the salary amounts indicated are those
currently in effect. These may change by the
time of your service.
If you have a bachelor’s degree
If you have a B.S. or a B.A. degree, you may be
eligible for entry-level or trainee research
positions at $28,000 to $32,000 as of May 2006,
dependent upon academic achievement and
experience. Potential positions could include
biologist, microbiologist, chemist, or computer
specialist.
If you have a doctoral degree
If you have received a deferment and have
obtained a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or M.D.), you
may be eligible for a post-doctoral fellowship to
fulfill the post-graduation service obligation.
Post-doctoral training positions, depending upon
education and experience, may start at $45,000
to $51,000 as of May 2006. These positions are
available in two pathways:
Laboratory Research Pathway. You will
engage in pure laboratory research. Applicants
for this training pathway must have either a
graduate doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D./
Ph.D.) or a professional degree (e.g., M.D.,

14

Service Obligation after Graduation

D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D., Pharm.D., or D.V.M.),
accompanied by previous research laboratory
experience.
Combined Clinical and Research Pathway.
You will receive clinical subspecialty training at
the NIH as well as training in clinical and/or
basic research. To qualify for this pathway, you
must possess a degree in medicine or dentistry.

Deferring the Service Obligations of the NIH Undergraduate
Scholarship Program
DEFERMENT INFORMATION
For each year of scholarship support, you will incur two service obligations to the NIH: (1) a 10-week
summer service as a paid employee in an NIH research lab and (2) after graduation, 1 year of full-time
paid employment in an NIH research lab.
Your post-graduating service obligation, however, may be deferred while you complete graduate or
medical programs leading to a doctoral degree, as well as the completion of your medical residency, if
applicable.

Deferment as an Undergraduate

Deferment for Fellowship Training

If you do not receive a renewal of your
scholarship and remain as full-time
undergraduate, you must submit annual
verification of your continued enrollment. (See
“Terms and Conditions of Deferment” below.)
No prior approval is required; however,
deferments cannot be granted for training
conducted by any entity that imposes a service
obligation, such as a branch of the U.S. Armed
Forces.

A deferment for fellowship training is not
automatic and must be pre-approved by the NIH
Deputy Director for Intramural Research. To
request a deferment for fellowship training, you
must send your request to the UGSP before
accepting a fellowship position. (This often
occurs more than a year in advance.) If your
deferment is approved, you must submit annual
verification of your participation in a fellowship
training program. (See “Terms and Conditions of
Deferment” below.)

Deferment for Graduate Training, Medical
Training, and Residency
If you are enrolled full-time in a graduate or
medical program leading to a doctoral degree
that prepares students for careers in biomedical,
behavioral or social science health-related
research, or if you are completing your medical
residency, you must submit annual verification of
your enrollment. (See “Terms and Conditions of
Deferment” below.)
In general, you do not need prior approval;
however, programs that culminate in a master’slevel degree are not eligible for a deferment.
Additionally, deferments cannot be granted for
training conducted by any entity that imposes a
service obligation, such as a branch of the U.S.
Armed Forces.

The Terms and Conditions of Deferment
You must:
1. Inform the UGSP in advance of your
intended graduate/medical program,
residency, or fellowship. The UGSP will
inform you if a formal request is needed.
2. Submit annual documentation to the UGSP
of your training status. (Each year the UGSP
will mail you a Deferment Form. This form,
once completed by you and your school,
serves as verification of your enrollment or
training status.)
3. Make no changes in your period or type of
training without prior written approval from
the UGSP.

Deferment Information

15

4. Notify the UGSP in writing within 30 days of
any change of address, intent to terminate
training, or similar change.
5. Commence service payback within 60 days
of the end of the deferment.

Ending Training to Begin Service
If you decide at any time during your deferment
to discontinue your training and begin payback of
your service obligation, you should promptly
contact the UGSP for guidance. You should plan
approximately six months to find an appropriate
position at NIH and begin your service
obligation.
You are cautioned that once you start your NIH
UGSP service obligation, you must complete 52
weeks of your obligation before resuming
additional training. An exception may be granted
in extraordinary circumstances (such as an
unavoidable conflict with an approved graduate
or medical training program’s start date, which
was unknown to you at the beginning of service
payback period). Requests for exceptions must
be submitted in writing to the UGSP.

Medical and Personal Postponements
Postponements may be granted by the UGSP in
intervals of up to 1 year. The UGSP determines
if compliance with the obligation is temporarily
impossible based on information from you and
independent documentation from health
professionals treating you that you suffer from a
physical or mental disability resulting in your
temporary inability to comply with your
scholarship service obligation. A postponement
may also be granted if you can document any
problems of a personal nature such as a physical
or mental disability, or terminal illness in your
immediate family, which the UGSP determines
would temporarily render you unable to perform
the service obligation you have incurred. “Family
member” includes the following relatives of
scholars:

16

Deferment Information

(a) spouse and spouse’s parents;
(b) children, including adopted children, and their
spouses;
(c) parents;
(d) brothers and sisters, and their spouses;
(e) any individual related by blood or affinity
whose close association with the scholar is
the equivalent of a family relationship.
Requests for postponements must be submitted
in writing to the UGSP.

Failure to Meet the Terms and Conditions of
Deferment
You are responsible for ensuring that your school
submits annual documentation of your training
status by the deadline assigned by the UGSP.
(Submission of a Deferment Form satisfies this
requirement.) If you fail to submit the form, or
fail to comply with the terms and conditions of
your deferment, you are subject to the default
provisions of the UGSP described in The Fine
Print section on page 19 and in the contract.

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from
Disadvantaged Backgrounds
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTION
Your academic institution must provide information to be submitted as part of the application. During the
scholarship period, the institution will administer funds, provide information to the NIH, provide academic
guidance, and provide access to the Internet.

Pre-award information
As part of the application, the academic
institution must provide information about the
applicant’s enrollment, academic, and financial
status (i.e., whether the applicant qualifies as
having exceptional financial need). The institution
must certify tuition expenses and estimate
reasonable expenses related to approved course
work and reasonable living expenses based on
the institution’s standards.
Once the award is made, the institution will
accept scholarship award payments from the
NIH and distribute funds on behalf of the
scholar.

Faculty member to serve as mentor and
advisor
The undergraduate institution must appoint a
faculty member to serve as the scholar’s mentor
and advisor. This faculty member should be able
to respond sensitively to the developmental and
educational needs of an individual from a
disadvantaged background who is pursuing a
career in biomedical, behavioral, or social
science health-related research. The faculty
mentor’s roles include the following:
•

Provide curriculum guidance and assist the
student in selecting appropriate courses.

•

Meet with the scholar at least once a month
to assess progress and provide advice about
any difficulties that may arise.

•

Complete a sequence of evaluations,
provided by the NIH, to assess the scholar’s
progress during the scholarship year.

•

Visit the NIH campus (reasonable travel
expenses covered by the NIH) during the
scholar’s 10-week laboratory experience to
assess progress and set goals for the coming
academic year.

Scholarship supplements
The undergraduate institution will be encouraged
to supplement tuition, educational, and living
expenses that exceed $20,000.

Access to the Internet
The undergraduate institution should provide the
scholar with access to the Internet and the World
Wide Web. This will allow access to biomedical
research information as well as information
about the UGSP that is posted on the World
Wide Web. Internet access and an e-mail
account also will facilitate communication with
NIH mentors and other scholars. Under
exceptional circumstances, undergraduate
institutions without Internet access or computer
equipment may request assistance from the
UGSP to satisfy this requirement.

Responsibilities of the Academic Institution

17

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from
Disadvantaged Backgrounds
THE FINE PRINT
Before you apply for an NIH Undergraduate Scholarship, you and your parents or guardians should read
the enclosed contract and be aware of all the conditions and obligations that apply to the award. This
page summarizes the most important issues.

Discrimination prohibited
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42
U.S.C.A. 2000d) states:
No person in the United States shall, on the
basis of race, color, or national origin, be
excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination,
under any program or activity receiving
Federal financial assistance.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
and its implementing regulations (45 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 86) provide that no
person in the United States shall, based on his/
her sex, be denied the benefits of, or be
subjected to discrimination under any educational
program or activity receiving Federal financial
assistance.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C.A. 794), as amended, provides that no
otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the
United States shall, solely by reason of his/her
handicap, be excluded from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be subject to
discrimination under any program or activity
receiving Federal financial assistance.

On December 6, 1993, the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) stated:
To foster an atmosphere of continuous
improvement in our products and services,
we must create an environment that fully
utilizes the talents and capabilities of each
and every one of us, from all
backgrounds…. And to do this, we must
strengthen our commitment to a workplace
that is free of discrimination… a workplace
where no one is denied the opportunity to
contribute fully because of race, color,
religion, gender, national origin, age, disability,
or sexual orientation.
On January 26, 2005, the NIH Director wrote:
Equal employment opportunity means
decisions are made on the basis of merit,
without regard to race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation,
disability, or reprisal for engaging in a prior
protected activity.

Other requirements
In addition to the application requirements, there
are several other requirements that you should
consider before making an application.
You must be eligible for Federal
employment. As a scholarship recipient, you
will fulfill your service obligation as a salaried
employee of the Federal Government at the
NIH. Therefore, you must be eligible to hold an

18

The Fine Print

appointment for Federal civil service with the
NIH. (Prior to fulfilling your service
requirements, you will receive current
information about Federal civil service
appointment mechanisms and benefits.)
To fulfill the service obligation after graduation,
you must have obtained the skills, education,
experience, certificates, and licenses necessary
to satisfy requirements of the specific NIH
position of interest.
You must have no conflicting service
obligations. Applicants who are already
obligated to a Federal, State, or other entity for
professional practice, or for an extended period
of service after academic training, are not
eligible for UGSP awards. An exception may be
made if the obligating entity provides
documentation that there is no conflict in fulfilling
the service obligation and that the NIH UGSP
service obligation will be served first.
Scholarship recipients who subsequently enter
into other service obligations, or who otherwise
are not immediately available after authorized
training deferments to fulfill their scholarship
service obligations, or who interrupt NIH UGSP
service to satisfy other service, will be subject to
the breach-of-contract provisions described
below.
Scholarship recipients should not expect to be
assigned for service in a State, community, NIH
grantee institution, or other entity to which they
may already owe an obligation for service. All
service obligations will be fulfilled at the NIH.
You must be free of Federal judgment liens.
Applicants who have a lien against their property
arising from a court judgment entered against
them for a debt owed to the United States or
arising from a civil or criminal proceeding
regarding a debt are not eligible for a scholarship
until the judgment lien has been paid in full or
otherwise satisfied. A State court judgment
relating to a Federal debt will also disqualify an

applicant. The Applicant Information form
includes a statement of certification that the
applicant is free of such a judgment lien against
his or her property.
You must be free of delinquent Federal
loans. The application also includes a
certification that the applicant is not delinquent
on repayment of any Federal debt. Delinquent
borrowers are not eligible to apply. Delinquency
in repaying Federal debts includes, but is not
limited to, federally guaranteed or federally
sponsored student loans that are more than 31
days past due on a scheduled payment.

Breach of contract: Defaulting on the
scholarship obligation
What circumstances can lead to default?
Failure to complete academic training.
Scholarship recipients who are dismissed from
school for academic or disciplinary reasons, or
who voluntarily terminate academic training
before graduation from the educational program
for which the scholarship was awarded, will be
declared in breach of contract and held liable to
the United States for repayment of all
scholarship funds paid to them and to the school
on their behalf. The amount owed must be paid
in full within 3 years from the date of default. No
interest will be charged on any part of this debt
to the United States within the 3-year period. If
payment in full is not made within the 3-year
period, interest at the prime rate level on the date
of execution of the contract will be assessed
thereafter.
Failure to begin or complete the service
obligation or meet the terms and conditions
of deferment. Scholarship recipients who, for
any reason, fail to comply with the terms and
conditions of deferment described earlier or fail
to begin or complete their service obligations
after completion of academic training will be in
breach of their contracts. When recipients
breach their contracts for these reasons, the
United States shall be entitled to recover:

The Fine Print

19

a. the total of the amounts paid by the
Secretary on behalf of the participant for any
period of obligated service; and

individual, and if enforcement of the service or
payment obligation would be against equity and
good conscience.

b. an amount equal to the product of the
number of months of obligated service not
completed by the applicant, multiplied by
$7,500; and

Compliance would be considered impossible if
the UGSP Director determined that the
participant suffered from a physical or mental
disability resulting in the total and permanent
inability of the recipient to perform the service or
other activities that would be necessary to
comply with the obligation. To determine
whether the performance of the obligation would
impose an undue hardship and be against equity
and good conscience, the UGSP Director will
consider:

c. interest on the amounts described in (a) and
(b) of this paragraph at the maximum
prevailing rate, as determined by the
Treasurer of the United States, from the date
of the breach; except that the amount the
United States is entitled to recover shall not
be less than $31,000.
How will delinquent debts be collected?

1. The recipient’s present financial resources
and obligations.

Litigation. If the debt is not repaid in 1 year or
3 years (as applicable) and subsequent collection
efforts are unsuccessful, the case will be
referred to the U.S. Department of Justice. All
delinquent debts will be reported to commercial
credit bureaus and are subject to collection costs.

2. The recipient’s estimated future financial
resources and obligations.

IRS tax refund offsets and Medicare offset
agreements and exclusions. The Public
Health Service is authorized by Section 2653 of
the Deficit Reduction Act to request the Internal
Revenue Service to offset income tax refunds
due to delinquent defaulters, crediting the refunds
to their UGSP financial debts.
Under what circumstances can there be a
waiver or suspension of the service or
payment obligation?
Scholarship recipients seeking a waiver or
suspension of the service or payment obligation
must submit a written request to the UGSP
Director. The request must state the underlying
circumstances and be supported by
documentation.
Suspensions or waivers of the service or
payment obligation will be considered and may
be granted by the UGSP Director whenever
compliance by the individual would be impossible
or would involve extreme hardship to the

20

The Fine Print

3. The extent to which the recipient has
problems of a personal nature, such as
physical or mental disability, or terminal
illness in the immediate family, which so
intrude on the recipient’s present and future
ability to perform as to raise a presumption
that the individual will be unable to perform
the obligation incurred.
All obligations are canceled in the event of a
scholarship recipient’s death.

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) LOAN REPAYMENT AND
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
PRIVACY ACT NOTICE
The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a)
requires that a Federal agency provide the
following notification to each individual
whom it asks to supply information. This
information is contained in the System of
Records of the Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS) numbered 09-250165, entitled National Institutes of Health
Office of Loan Repayment and Scholarship
(OLRS) Records System, HHS/NIH/OD. An
update of this system of records was published
in the Federal Register on February 8, 2002
(67 Fed. Reg. 6043).
•

The authority for collection of the requested
information is contained in Sections 487A-F
and Section 485G of the PHS Act
(42USC288-1,2,3,4,5,5a,6; and 42USC287c33), and Public Laws 100-607, 101-597,
103-43, 106-310, 106-505, 106-525, and 106554. The Internal Revenue Code at 26 USC
6109 requires the provision of the Social
Security number (SSN) for the receipt of
funds.

•

The principal purposes of information that
you, the applicant or participant, furnish are
(1) to determine your eligibility for loan
repayment or scholarship under Sections
487A-F and Section 485G of the PHS Act,
including verification of the existence and
purpose of your educational loan(s), and
determination of the amount(s) that are
eligible for repayment under the NIH Loan
Repayment and Scholarship Programs
(LRSPs); and (2) to negotiate and verify the
transfer of loan repayments, scholarship
awards, and tax reimbursements to
participants and to the Department of the
Treasury (Treasury), Internal Revenue
Service (IRS).

•

The principal purposes of information that
you, the lender, furnish are (1) to determine
an individual applicant or participant’s
eligibility for loan repayment under Sections
487A-C, E and F, and Section 485G, of the
PHS Act, including verification of the
existence and purpose of an individual’s
educational loan(s), determination of the
amount(s) that are eligible for payment under
the NIH LRSPs; and (2) to negotiate and
verify the transfer of a loan repayment to a
participant’s loan account.

•

The principal purposes of the information
that you, the undergraduate institution,
furnish are (1) to determine an individual
applicant or participant’s eligibility for
scholarship award under Section 487D of the
PHS Act, including verification of the
amounts of tuition and qualifying educational
expenses, including room and board; and (2)
to determine an applicant’s disadvantaged
background status.

•

While disclosure of the information is not
mandatory, you must provide the information
requested to obtain loan repayment and
scholarship benefits authorized by Sections
487A-F and Section 485G of the PHS Act.

•

The information you provide will be made
available to Federal employees responsible
for administering the NIH LRSPs to
determine your eligibility for loan repayment
and scholarship awards, as described above.

•

The information you provide will not be
disclosed without your consent to anyone
outside of DHHS in a manner that identifies
you, except as permitted by the Privacy Act.

Privacy Act Notice

21

(See Routine Uses 1-17 for Additional
Disclosures.)
•

•

Certifying on NIH 2674-1, “Applicant
Information,” authorizes the disclosure of
information that confirms you are not under
a service obligation, certifying on NIH 26744, “Loan Information,” authorizes the
disclosure of information to the lenders and
their authorized collection agents to confirm
that your loans are current in their
repayment status, and certifying on NIH
2674-10, “Institutional Information,”
authorizes the disclosure of information to
the extramural research institutions and their
authorized officials to confirm that you are
eligible for the loan repayment program and
able to fulfill the two-year service obligation.
Certifying on NIH 2762-1, “Undergraduate
Scholarship Applicant Information,” NIH
2762-2, “Applicant Information:
Recommendation,” and NIH 2762-3,
“Undergraduate Institution Certification,”
authorizes the disclosure of information to
the undergraduate institution to determine
your eligibility for participation in the
Undergraduate Scholarship Program, to
confirm your eligibility for disadvantaged
background status and non-delinquent loan
status, and to disclose your educational
expenses.

Provision of Your Social Security Number
Under Public Law 93-579, Section 7(b), Privacy
Act of 1974
•

Provision of your SSN is required for
participation of the LRSPs. This provision is
required, as provided in the Internal Revenue
Code 26 USC 6109.

•

Provision of your SSN is needed to verify
the financial information provided in your
application. Your SSN will be given to the
Treasury to disburse Federal funds in
connection with the program benefit. Your
SSN will be used for identification with the
records of the Treasury and DHHS in the
event of the loss or theft of repayment
checks or scholarship awards or other

22

Privacy Act Notice

difficulties arising from this transaction. Your
SSN will be given to consumer reporting
agencies to obtain a commercial credit report
that verifies your ability to repay debts owed
to the Federal Government.
•

Your SSN will be disclosed to the IRS when
making loan repayments or scholarship
awards and tax reimbursement payments to
the IRS for the benefits you receive under
the LRSPs. Your SSN will be disclosed to
the IRS to obtain a current mailing address if
you default on your service obligation, and to
other Federal agencies, commercial credit
bureaus, or collection agencies to offset or
collect delinquent debts.

Routine Uses as Permitted by the Privacy Act
Disclosure of information may be made to:
1. A Congressional office in response to a
written request by the applicant or
participant concerning his or her record;
2. The Department of Justice or to a court in
the event of litigation;
3. The appropriate agency, whether Federal,
foreign, State, local, or tribal, in the event
that a system of records indicates a violation
or potential violation of law;
4. DHHS contractors for the purpose of
processing or refining records, and/or for the
purpose of evaluating the programs covered
by the system;
5. Private parties such as present and former
employers, references listed on application
and associated forms, other references, and
educational institutions to determine if an
applicant is suitable for participation in the
NIH LRSPs;
6. A consumer reporting agency (credit bureau)
to obtain a commercial credit report to
establish an individual’s creditworthiness; to
assess and verify his or her ability to repay
debts owed to the Federal Government; and
to determine and verify the eligibility of loans
submitted for repayment;

7. Another Federal agency so that the agency
can effect a salary offset for debts owed by
Federal employees, or so that the agency
can effect an authorized administrative
offset; or to the IRS to request an
individual’s current mailing address to locate
him or her to collect or compromise debt, or
to have a commercial credit report prepared;

16. Officials or representatives of grantee
institutions in connection with the review of a
Loan Repayment Program (LRP) application
or performance or administration under the
terms and conditions of the LRP award; or in
connection with problems that might arise in
performance or administration of the LRP
contract.

8. Another agency that has asked DHHS to
effect a salary or administrative offset to
help collect a debt owed to the United
States;

17. Designated school coordinators to determine
scholarship support, to inform recipients
about their service obligations to NIH, and to
verify service deferments for certain
Undergraduate Scholarship Program
participants; and

9. The IRS to find out whether the applicant
has a delinquent tax account;
10. The IRS to report as taxable income the
written-off portion of a debt owed by an
individual to the Federal Government when a
debt becomes partly or wholly uncollectible;
11. Debt collection agents, other Federal
agencies, and other third parties who are
authorized to collect Federal debts and
information necessary to identify a
delinquent debtor or defaulting participant;

18. DHHS contractors to recruit, screen, and
match health professionals for NIH
employment in qualified research positions;
and to references, medical licensing boards,
and NIH officials to evaluate the applicant’s
professional qualifications, experience, and
suitability.

12. Any third party that may have information
about a delinquent debtor’s or defaulting
participant’s current address;
13. Other Federal agencies that also provide
loan repayment or scholarship at the request
of these Federal agencies in conjunction with
a matching program conducted by these
agencies to detect or curtail fraud and abuse
in Federal loan repayment and scholarship
programs, and to collect delinquent loans or
benefit payments owed to the Federal
Government;
14. The IRS to offset any income tax refunds
that may be due to the individual against the
debt;
15. Other Federal agencies, debt collection
agents, and other third parties who are
authorized to collect a Federal debt to
identify an individual who is delinquent in
loan benefit payments owed to the Federal
Government and the nature of the debt;

Privacy Act Notice

23

A P P L I C AT I O N F O R M S A N D E N V E L O P E S
You may also apply online at www.ugsp.nih.gov/applying.htm

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Undergraduate Scholarship Program
2 Center Drive, Room 2E20 (MSC 0230)
Bethesda, MD 20892-0230
www.ugsp.nih.gov
ugsp@nih.gov
888-352-3001