42 U.S.C. § 288–4 — Undergraduate scholarship program regarding professions needed by National Research Institutes

(a) Setting up the program. Subject to section 288(a)(1)(C) of this title, the Secretary, acting through the Director of NIH, may run a program of contracts with certain individuals under which: the Director agrees to give the individual scholarships to pursue an undergraduate degree, at an accredited college, in a field useful for careers NIH needs; and the individual agrees to work as an NIH employee, for the period described in subsection (c), in a position NIH needs and that the individual is qualified for. To qualify for one of these contracts, an individual must be enrolled or accepted as a full-time undergraduate at an accredited college, and must come from a disadvantaged background. (b) Encouraging interest in NIH careers. While employing individuals under these contracts, the Director must take steps to build up their interest in pursuing careers as NIH employees. (c) Length of required service. The individual's required service, in months, equals 12 months for every academic year they got a scholarship, unless paragraph (2)(A) changes that. Before giving a scholarship, the Director must also get the individual to agree that: they will work full-time as an NIH employee for at least 10 weeks each year they are in school and getting the scholarship, on top of the service they already owe after graduating; and no later than 60 days after finishing their degree, they will start working full-time as an NIH employee to satisfy that after-graduation service. The Director may put off (defer) an individual's after-graduation service obligation if the Director decides that's appropriate. While an individual is doing service under either of these obligations, they can be appointed as an NIH employee without following the usual Title 5 rules on appointment and pay. (d) Scholarship rules. Before giving a scholarship for an academic year, the Director must first approve the individual's proposed academic program for that year, and the individual must agree not to change the program without the Director's approval. The Director cannot give a scholarship for a year unless the individual agrees to keep up an acceptable academic standing, as the college decides under the Secretary's regulations. A scholarship for one academic year cannot exceed $20,000. Scholarship money can only be spent on tuition, other reasonable school costs, and reasonable living expenses while attending school. For a scholarship at a particular college, the Director may contract with that college to pay tuition and other school costs directly to the college. (e) Penalties for breaking the contract. The penalty rules that apply to the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program under section 254l–1 of this title also apply to this scholarship program, in the same way. (f) Application required. The Director cannot give a scholarship unless the individual submits an application, in whatever form, manner, and with whatever agreements, assurances, and information the Director decides are needed to run this section. (g) How long the money stays available. Money set aside for scholarships under this section stays available until the end of the second fiscal year after the fiscal year it was appropriated for.