38 C.F.R. § 17.601 Definitions.
Title 38 - Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief
For the purpose of these regulations: (a) Acceptable level of academic standing means the level at which a student retains eligibility to continue in attendance in school under the school's standards and practices in the course of study for which the scholarship was awarded. (b) Act means the Department of Veterans Affairs Health-Care Amendments of 1980, Pub. L. 96–330, (38 U.S.C. 7601–7655), as amended by Pub. L. 97–251, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health-Care Programs Improvement and Extension Act of 1982, Pub. L. 99–576, Veterans Benefits Improvement and Health Care Authorization Act of 1986, and Pub. L. 100–322, the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988. (c) Affiliation agreement means a Memorandum of Affiliation between a Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility and a school of medicine or osteopathy. (d) Advanced clinical training means those programs of graduate training in medicine including osteopathy which (1) lead to eligibility for board certification or which provide other evidence of completion, and (2) have been approved by the appropriate body as determined by the Administrator. (e) Secretary means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or designee. (f) Under Secretary for Health means the Under Secretary for Health for Veterans Health Administration or designee. (g) Citizen of the United States means any person born, or lawfully naturalized in the United States, subject to its jurisdiction and protection, and owing allegiance thereto. (h) Degree means a course of study leading to a doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, doctor of dentistry, doctor of optometry, doctor of podiatry, or an associate degree, baccalaureate degree, or master's degree in a nursing specialty needed by VA; or a baccalaureate or master's degree in another direct or indirect health-care service discipline needed by VA. (i) Full-time student means an individual pursuing a course of study leading to a degree who is enrolled for a sufficient number of credit hours in any academic term to complete the course of study within not more than the number of academic terms normally required by the school, college or university. If an individual is enrolled in a school and is pursuing a course of study which is designed to be completed in more than 4 years, the individual will be considered a full-time student for only the last 4 years of the course study. (j) Other educational expenses means a reasonable amount of funds determined by the Secretary to cover expenses such as books, and laboratory equipment. (k) Required educational equipment means educational equipment which must be rented or purchased by all students pursuing a similar curriculum in the same school. (l) Required fees means those fees which are charged by the school to all students pursuing a similar curriculum in the same school. (m) Scholarship Program or Scholarship means the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program authorized by section 216 of the Act. (n) Participant or Scholarship Program Participant means an individual whose application to the Scholarship Program has been approved and whose contract has been accepted by the Secretary and who has yet to complete the period of obligated service or otherwise satisfy the obligation or financial liabilities of the Scholarship Contract. (o) School means an academic institution which (1) provides training leading to a degree in a direct or indirect health-care service discipline needed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and (2) which is accredited by a body or bodies recognized for accreditation by the Secretary. (p) School year means, for purposes of the stipend payment, all or part of the 12-month period from September 1 through August 31 during which a participant is enrolled in the school as a full-time student. (q) State means one of the several States, Territories and possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (r) Part-time student means an individual who is a Department of Veterans Affairs employee permanently assigned to a Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility who has been accepted for enrollment or enrolled for study leading to a degree on a less than full-time but not less than half-time basis. (s) Department of Veterans Affairs employee means an individual employed and permanently assigned to a VA health care facility. (t) Degree completion date means the date on which a participant completes all requirements of the degree program. (u) VA health care facility means Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, medical and regional office centers, domiciliaries, independent outpatient clinics, and outpatient clinics in regional offices. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7633) [47 FR 10810, Mar. 12, 1982, as amended at 48 FR 37399, Aug. 18, 1983; 54 FR 28674, July 7, 1989; 55 FR 40170, Oct. 2, 1990; 61 FR 21969, May 13, 1996]
Title 38: Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief
PART 17—MEDICAL
VA Health Professional Scholarship Program
§ 17.601 Definitions.
