Illinois Optometric Education Scholarship Program (OESP)
Optometric Education Scholarship Program (OESP)
CSFA Number: 691-00-1389
STATE AGENCY INFORMATION
Agency Name
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (691)
Agency Identification
0009
Agency Contact
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Short Description
The Optometric Education Scholarship Program provides scholarship assistance to encourage eligible students to pursue a graduate degree in optometry.
Federal Authorization
N/A
Illinois Statue Authorization
110 ILCS 947/65.70 and 20(f)
Illinois Administrative Rules Authorization
23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE CH. XIX, SEC. 2741
Objective
The program encourages eligible students to pursue a graduate degree in optometry.
Illinois Optometric Education Scholarship Program (OESP) awards are available only for students attending the Illinois College of Optometry.
Eligible Applicants
Individuals;
Applicant Eligibility
A qualified applicant must be:
a) a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen;
b) a resident of Illinois; and
c) enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, on a full-time basis in the Illinois College of Optometry.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Individuals
Types of Assistance
Direct Payments for Specific Use
Subject / Service Area
Education
Credentials / Documentation
Each fall, the college is required to verify the enrollment statuses for recipients in any program with practice agreement requirements. Verification of enrollment status is required for all recipients who, according to ISAC records, previously received Illinois OESP funds and may have been enrolled during the prior academic year.
Preapplication Coordination
N/A
Application Procedures
N/A
Criteria Selecting Proposals
N/A
Range of Approval or Disapproval Time
N/A
Uses and Restrictions
An Optometric Education Scholarship Program recipient must practice in Illinois as a licensed optometrist for a period of not less than one year for each year of scholarship assistance received. The recipient must also begin practicing optometry in Illinois within one year following completion of the academic program for which he or she was awarded the scholarship and practice on a continuous basis until the obligation is fully completed. If the requirement to practice optometry in Illinois is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan and the recipient must repay the entire amount of the scholarship prorated to the fraction of the obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5 percent.
Account Identification
N/A
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
N/A
Program Accomplishments
The program encourages eligible students to pursue a graduate degree in optometry.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
https://www.isac.org/e-library/documents/administrative-rules/2023-24-isac-rules/2741-Optometric.pdf
The Optometric Scholarship Program is exempt from the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (30 ILCS 708) because scholarships are paid on behalf of an individual beneficiary.
Regional or Local Assistance Location
N/A
Headquarters Office
1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015-5209
Program Website
https://www.isac.org/isac-gift-assistance-programs/optometric-education-scholarship/index.html
Published Date
12/28/2021
FUNDING INFORMATION
Funding By Fiscal Year
FY 2015 : $50,000
FY 2016 : $50,000
FY 2017 : $50,000
FY 2018 : $50,000
FY 2019 : $50,000
FY 2020 : $50,000
FY 2021 : $50,000
FY 2022 : $50,000
FY 2023 : $50,000
FY 2024 : $50,000
FY 2025 : $50,000
Federal Funding
None
Notice of Funding Opportunities
| Agency ID | Award Range | Application Range |
ACTIVE AWARDS