Health Care Professions Loan/Scholarship for Undergraduates (HCP-UG)

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Health Care Professions Loan/Scholarship for Undergraduates (HCP-UG)

Program Overview
The primary objectives of this program are to provide education opportunities to students who are interested in majoring in speech pathology and psychology and address Mississippi’s health care shortage area’s by providing a constant source of qualified speech pathologists and psychologists. HCP-UG awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a bachelor's degree at one of Mississippi's institions of higher learning in exchange for employment in a state health institution in the State of Mississippi.

Important Dates
Application dates: January 1 – March 31
Document deadline: March 31, except for the Enrollment Verification or Letter of Acceptance, which may be submitted through July 31.
The dates are important as the number of awards and recipients are dependent upon available funds.

Eligibility
You are eligible if all the following apply:
You will be a Junior or Senior student for the upcoming school year
You are a current legal resident of Mississippi
You are enrolled full-time
You must not presently or previously have defaulted on an educational loan
You are majoring in Speech Pathology or Psychology
Click here for a complete listing of eligibility requirements.
Award Amount
The HCP awards up to $1,500 per academic year not to exceed two (2) calendar years.
All undergraduate recipients must maintain a 2.5/4.0 or higher grade point average each semester/trimester in order to continue to receive funds under the renewal process.

Service Obligation
The loan to service obligation can be discharged on the basis of one year’s service for one year of loan received. Service must be rendered at an eligible state operated health institution.
Awarding Priorities
The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid will make awards on a first-come first-served based upon our level of funding. However, priority is given to renewal applicants who complete the renewal process by the deadlines.

To Apply
Complete the online application. This online application must be completed each academic year whether you are a prior recipient or a first-time applicant.
Send email to Susan Eckels at seckels@mississippi.edu certifying that you have reviewed the service requirements and required service obligation that must be performed at one of the state operated health institutions listed under the service obligation section of this information and would like to submit an application. Please include your full name, last four digits of your social security number, and telephone number where you may be reached.

Submit the following supporting documents:
Signed copy of the first two pages of parent’s State Tax Return for the current tax filing year. Independent students would provide signed copy of student’s State Tax Return for the current year. Am I dependent or Independent?
Copy of valid Mississippi driver license, unless you elected to submit it electronically during the online application
An official letter of acceptance from the chosen educational institution, showing date admitted and entering classification or an enrollment verification letter from the registrar at the school applicant is enrolled, showing major and classification.

Frequently Asked Questions
THE HCP PROGRAM REQUIRES AN OFFICAL LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE FROM THE CHOSEN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, SHOWING MAJOR, DATE ADMITTED AND ENTERING CLASSIFICATION OR AN ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION LETTER FROM THE REGISTRAR AT THE SCHOOL THE APPLICANT IS ENROLLED, SHOWING MAJOR AND CLASSIFICATION. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE SCHOOL THAT NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE WILL NOT BE FORWARDED TO ME UNTIL AFTER THE MARCH 31ST DEADLINE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
The only exception to the submission of documents is the Letter of Acceptance or the enrollment verification which may be submitted after the deadline but must be submitted before July 31st.

IS HCP AVAILABLE TO ME FOR SUMMER SCHOOL?
No. HCP is available during the regular academic year only.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY HCP AWARD IF I DROP CLASSES DURING THE SEMESTER?
Each semester your HCP award is calculated based on your enrollment status at the time of registration. If your award is paid based on full-time status and you drop below full-time during the semester, then your award for the following semester will be cancelled.

WHY MUST I REAPPLY FOR HCP EVERY YEAR?
Current legislation requires "...the board shall create a renewal application for each student who received the award for one or more terms during the immediately preceding academic year." At a minimum, a student must file an on-line application no later than the close of business on the deadline date of March 31st.

WHAT IF MY SEMESTER GRADE POINT AVERAGE DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT?
If your semester/trimester gpa is less than 2.5 at the end of a semester/trimester, you will lose the HCP for the next semester/trimester of enrollment during a normal academic year. In order to regain eligibility your semester/trimester gpa must meet the minimum 2.5gpa requirement.

I KNOW THAT AS A RECIPIENT UNDER THE HCP PROGRAM I HAVE A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO WORK IN A STATE OPERATED HEALTH INSTITIUTION IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. WHAT IF I AM UNABLE TO FIND A JOB IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMPLETING MY DEGREE?
Upon completion of the degree program and at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, all recipients are eligible for a one year grace period while seeking employment.