Eligibility Requirements Guidelines

Transcription

1 Guidelines 1 Purpose The purpose of this policy is to explain how applicants are determined to be eligible for federal grant funding through the Clinical Laboratory Initiative to Mentor Baccalaureate Students (CLIMBS). This document also outlines procedures to be used in capturing eligibility documentation. 2 Scope The UTMB/CLIMBS General Eligibility Standard applies equally to all individuals applying for educational and development grants for the state of Texas in areas of the career ladder including: categorical certification, 2+2 BSCLS program, and LEAP career ladder program. 3 Definitions For the purposes of this Procedure, the following definitions will apply: U.S. Citizen Individual born in the United States, individuals born in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or Swain s Island; foreign-born children, under age 18, residing in the U.S. with their birth or adoptive parents, at least one of whom is a U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization; and individuals granted citizenship status by Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS). Lawful Permanent Resident - Any person not a citizen of the United States who is residing in the U.S. under legally recognized and lawfully recorded permanent residence as an immigrant. Also known as "Permanent Resident Alien," "Resident Alien Permit Holder," and "Green Card Holder. Continued on next page Page 1 of 7

2 Guidelines Naturalized Citizen - Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). In most cases, an applicant for naturalization must be a permanent resident (green card holder) before filing. Except for certain U.S. military members and their dependents, naturalization can only be granted in the United States. U.S. National - A person whose only connection to the U.S. is through birth in an outlying possession (which as of 2005 is limited to American Samoa, Swains Island, and the unincorporated US Minor Outlying Islands), or through descent from a person so born, acquires U.S. nationality Texas residency To qualify as a Texas resident, an individual who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident immigrant must live in Texas for at least 12 consecutive months and establish a domicile as required under the residency rules. 4 Policy Guidelines CLIMBS will make available applications and information, preceding application deadline. In order to be eligible to apply for the CLIMBS program, potential participants must provide documentation supporting: U.S. citizenship (either U.S. born or naturalized) or U.S. National; and Lawful Permanent Resident Texas residency Acceptable forms of documentation: U.S. Citizenship: Birth Certificate from State of Birth Social Security Card or documentation from Social Security Administration U.S. Passport Certificate of Naturalization Certificate of Citizenship Continued on next page Page 2 of 7

3 Guidelines Tribal enrollment or membership card and certification of degree of Indian blood by a federally recognized Indian tribe. Certification of Report of Birth Certification of Birth Abroad Final adoption decree or letter from adoption agency showing place of birth Texas Residency and Verification of Identity (Must document 12 months Texas residency): Texas Driver s license with picture or other identifying information Texas ID Card with picture or other identifying information Texas School ID with picture Utility Bill W-2 Satisfactory performance appraisals (if employed) Document support of department head or supervisor (if employed) Applicants: To be considered for the CLIMBS program in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, applicants must be one of the following: Long Term unemployed workers (>27 weeks) Unemployed (>27 weeks) United States Armed Forces Veteran and Spouses Underemployed workers (>27 weeks) MLT on career ladder to BSCLS (LEAP online program) Be eligible for future enrollment or accepted as a full-time student in the UTMB Clinical Laboratory Sciences program There are 25% of slots available for LEAP students who have not been long-term unemployed. Other students may be part of the 25% allocation. Have completed all prerequisites for the program that they are applying for with the grade of C or better. A science GPA of less than 2.5 will be Continued on next page Page 3 of 7

4 Guidelines considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants for CLIMBS funding are ineligible if they have any of the following: Any judgment liens against your property arising from a debt owed to the United States, and A breach of a prior service obligation, or Judgment lien(s) arising from Federal debt, or Are excluded, debarred, suspended, or disqualified by a Federal Agency. A criminal conviction which disqualifies you from securing employment in a health care facility An educational program that cannot be completed within the time frames put forth by this grant. (Completed education, pass ASCP exam and be gainfully employed for 6 months prior to November 2015). Information on how to apply and application forms will be available on the CLIMBS website. The website will also contain all qualification/eligibility requirements and appropriate contact information. Procedures Information on how to apply and application forms will be available on the CLIMBS website. The website will also contain all qualification/eligibility requirements and appropriate contact information. The CLIMBS Program Academic Advisor will be responsible for: Receiving applications and supporting documentation. Contacting applicants if information is missing or unclear. Communicating efficiently and effectively with students and CLS personnel. Capturing documentation in applicant folders. Should an applicant not meet eligibility requirements, the CLIMBS Academic Advisor will notify the applicant by in the form of a formal denial letter. Documentation Continued on next page Page 4 of 7

5 Guidelines of ineligibility will be captured within the applicant folder. 5 Reporting/Measurements Reporting guidelines, milestones, measures that will be utilized to influence/determine outcomes/monitor. All information will captured within participant files, Clinical Laboratory Initiative to Mentor Baccalaureate Students Tracking Database and the United States Department of Labor Data System 6 7 References Appendices UTMB CLIMBS Program Description UTMB CLIMBS Application Packet CFDA Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants. See attached appendices: Policy Guidance on Long-Term unemployed & Underemployment 8 Approval Vicki Freeman, Principal Investigator Policy Owner Chantele Singleton CLIMBS Program Coordinator csinglet@utmb.edu Continued on next page Page 5 of 7

6 Guidelines H 1B Technical Skills Training Grants (TST) & H 1B Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge Grants (JIAC) Policy Guidance Topic: Long Term Unemployed Definition of Long Term Unemployed Eligibility for H 1B grant program participants To be considered Long Term Unemployed a participant must meet the following conditions at the time of enrollment: A. An individual is without a job for 27 weeks or more and wants and is available to work and is able to provide documentation of Unemployment Insurance (UI) eligibility; OR B. Lost their job during the recent recession (commencing January 1, 2008 forward), and have exhausted unemployment benefits; OR* C. Has not yet reconnected with a job that provides comparable responsibility and pay (underemployment); OR* D. Is working a part time job(s) when they want a full time job, or who have become discouraged and have stopped looking for a job.* *If the individual meets criteria B, C, or D no UI eligibility or benefits documentation is required however, case notes in case files must be added for auditing purposes. For example, self attestation forms can be used. FAQs Q: What documentation is required to document long term unemployment? A: Formal documentation is only necessary to prove an individual is UI eligible and/or receiving benefits and has been without a job for 27 weeks or more. If the individual meets Criteria B, C, or D as demonstrated above, no documentation is required however, case notes in case files must be added for auditing purposes. For example, self attestation forms can be used. Q: If an individual was never eligible for UI due to insufficient earnings or performing work not covered by UI compensation law or self employed; are they still eligible for H 1B programs? A: Yes Q: Can individuals unemployed for 27 weeks or more but are still receiving UI eligible to participate in H 1B programs? A: Yes Continued on next page Page 6 of 7

7 Guidelines Q: Does a long term unemployed individual have to fully exhaust UI payments before enrolling in an H 1B program? A: No Q: Are individuals eligible for H 1B programs if they quit a job and have not been employed for 27 weeks or more, even if they did qualify for UI? A: Yes. See criteria B through D above for more detail. Page 7 of 7