Primary medical and behavioral health care fields are facing significant workforce shortages. A competent skilled workforce is indispensable to support the health of residents across the state, especially in rural Alaska. Hands-on clinical experiences are a required component of most primary and behavioral health care educational programs including, but not limited to, professions such as Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA), Medical Assistants, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Registered Nurses (RN), social workers or clinical psychologists. Unfortunately, affording to live while learning to become a primary or behavioral health professional has been a significant challenge due to the limited ability to work while completing clinical rotations and/or costs associated with completing clinical rotations away from one’s home town. 

The University of Alaska (UA) is excited to offer this Clinical Health Placement (CHP) funding opportunity for eligible students in health program across the UA system. This program provides partial financial aid support for Alaska’s next generation of health professionals as they further their education to help the state. The support is designed to help alleviate necessary expenses during the clinical portion of their health academic programs. 

The CHP financial aid funds must be used during FY24 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024). Funds cannot be used for clinical placements starting after June 30, 2024 or for placements in which the majority of clinical hours occur after June 30, 2024.

Note: The FY24 application process is now closed. Please check back for future application.

Prior to applying students are advised to contact your University’s Financial Aid Department to discuss your individual financial situation and circumstances. This funding may affect your financial aid status and/or be applied directly toward your school debt. It is the students’ responsibility to understand how this funding may affect their own particular financial aid status.

By applying for these funds, UAA, UAF and UAS students understand the following:

1. “Additional resources" are any sources of money that you have received which were not factored into your cost of attendance estimate. If additional resources become available to you, the Office of Financial Aid may reduce previously paid or anticipated awards in order to keep the student's aid package within the estimated cost. If additional resources become available to you at any time during the enrollment period that exceed your eligibility for assistance, federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to reduce previous awards that have been previously offered and or disbursed (this does include grants, scholarships, and loan funding).
   
   All or part of any loan funds may be returned to the lender if additional resources become available to you that were not originally considered when eligibility for the loan was determined. Returned funds will therefore be applied to reduce your loan debt. Undisbursed, anticipated loan funds may also be canceled or reduced prior to disbursement, if these resources exceed the need calculation.
   
   
2. If you are a student enrolled or participate in a UAA partnership program which may be engaged in a consortium agreement, prior to applying check with your home institution to see if you are eligible to receive financial aid. If you do not verify your eligibility this may result in funds being awarded that will need to be reversed.
   
   
3. Students will receive an award for only one semester for their clinical health placements. Students must select their semester in which they would like the award to be applied.
   
   
4. Students in paid health placements are not eligible for these funds. 

The University of Alaska System’s Office (UASO), UAA, UAF and UAS will not be held responsible for any loss of or reductions to a student's financial assistance (ie: tuition assistance, VA benefits, etc.) if the student accepts this funding or if these funds get applied to past due balances.

Students who meet eligibility, program and location criteria may qualify for financial aid to alleviate expenditures during their health placement in addition to travel expenses. All applications must be approved by the health degree program director/manager, UAA department manager, fiscal processing, and the UAA Financial Aid Department. Travel will be based on home location and health placement location.

*The State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Research and Analysis Section defines rural/remote Alaska as all regions and communities EXCEPT for the Municipality of Anchorage, the Mat-Su Borough, the Fairbanks North Star Borough, the Kenai Peninsula and the City and Borough of Juneau.

The Clinical Health Placement Project is starting later than anticipated, therefore students must stipulate in their application the semester in which they would like their award to be paid based on the semester their placement will take place. If a student was in a Summer 2023 placement or in a Fall 2023 placement that has already taken place or has started, please select the semester of your choice, as valid retroactive applications will be considered.

Note: The FY24 application process is now closed. Please check back for future application.

• Student Eligibility
  • This partial funding support is available for UAA, UAF and UAS full- and part-time students enrolled in specific health degree programs (as listed) that require a clinical health placement of three weeks or more in rural Alaska, out of state or in the student’s established home community (non-rural).
  • Students in health OEC or certificate programs are eligible for a one-time $500.00 award during the semester of their choice.
  • Students in paid clinical placements are not eligible to receive CHP funding.
  • Funding preference will be given to students whose clinical placement requires that they relocate out of state or away from their home community.
  • Students who remain in their home community or established place of residence participating in a clinical health placements of three weeks or more may apply for financial aid.
  • Requests for retroactive financial aid or stipend support for summer and fall 2023 will be considered as funding allows.
  • Students must research and understand the implications to all of their financial aid resources if their application is funded. Student are advised to speak with their financial aid department before applying to understand fully how the clinical health placement award may impact their financial status. UA, UAA, UAF and UAS will not be held responsible for any loss of financial aid (ie: tuition assistance; VA benefits, etc.)
• Eligible Programs

  UAA Programs

  Applied Behavior Analysis — BA, BS, MS

  Clinical Community Psychology — PhD

  Clinical Psychology — MS

  Social Work – BSW, BA

  Social Work, UAA – MSW

  Dental Hygiene – BS

  Dietetics and Nutrition – MS pre-professional track

  Diagnostic Medical Sonography – AAS

  Doctor of Medicine — MD

  Certified Nurse Aid — CNA

  Human Services — AAS, BHS

  Medical Laboratory Science — BS

  Medical Laboratory Technology — AAS

  Medical Assisting — AAS

  Nursing — AAS, BSN

  Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner — FNP

  Paramedical Technology — AAS

  Phlebotomy — OEC

  Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner — PMHNP

  Radiologic Technology – AAS

  Physical Therapist Assistant — AAS

  Social Work — BSW, MSW

  Surgical Technology – AAS

   

  UAF Programs

  Clinical Mental Health — M.Ed

  Dental Assistant — AAS, Certificate

  UAF Programs, continued

  Medical Assisting — AAS, Certificate

  Medical Scribe – Certificate

  Nurse Aide — OE

  Paramedic — Training Program

  Paramedicine – AAS

  Phlebotomy — Training Program

  School Counseling — M.Ed, Graduate Licensure

  Social Work Practicum — BA

   

  UAS Programs

  Medical Assisting —  Certificate

• Application Process
  • Students may apply for only one semester during FY24.
  • Submitted applications will go directly to the health degree program director in which the student is enrolled for verification, approval and processing.
  • Applications will be approved and awarded on a first come, first served basis with preference given to full or part-time students relocating away from their home community or established residence. Non-rural placements and OECs and certificates will be awarded as funds are available and as stipulated in the student eligibility section. 

  Note: The FY24 application process is now closed. Please check back for future application.

For additional information, please contact uaa_healthplacement@alaska.edu.