17.603—Availability of scholarships.
Scholarships will be awarded only when necessary to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in alleviating shortages or anticipated shortages of personnel in particular health professions. The existence of a shortage of personnel will be determined in accordance with specific criteria for each health profession, promulgated by the Under Secretary for Health. The Secretary has the authority to determine the number of scholarships to be awarded in a fiscal year, and the number that will be awarded to full-time and part-time students.