The IHS Scholarship Program offers
qualified American Indian and Alaska Native health profession
students a unique opportunity to establish an educational
foundation as they prepare to pursue a career in Indian health.
Each scholarship (Preparatory, Pre-Graduate and health professions)
is defined by applicant and degree program eligibility and provides
generous financial aid packages (information available at
www.ihs.gov/scholarship). The ultimate goal of the program is to
develop health care providers and the next leaders of Indian health
communities. Since IHS began providing scholarship support to
American Indian and Alaska Native students to pursue health
profession careers in 1978, the program has grown to support,
educate and place health care professionals within medically
underserved Indian health programs throughout the continental
United States and Alaska. Today, nearly 7,000 American Indian and
Alaska Native students have received scholarship awards and many
have committed to serving their health profession careers at IHS;
some have even returned to serve their own Tribal
communities.
The online application process
decreased the number of scholars completing hard copy forms
IHS-856-3, IHS-856-5, and IHS-856-6. While IHS has incorporated
these forms in the online application process (i.e., forms IHS-
856-3, IHS-856-5 and IHS-856-6) the applicants still need to
provide this information as part of the online, electronic
application.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.