Lynn Kratcha Memorial Rural Bursary
This bursary was founded in 2001 by Lynn Kratcha MD as the North Dakota Rural Bursary. Dr Kratcha was a rural doctor in North Dakota, USA, who undertook parts of his undergraduate and postgraduate training in North Queensland. Dr Kratcha passed away in 2012 and the bursary has been renamed in his honour. The purpose of the bursary is to support a medical student undertaking an international rural elective.
Student Type | Undergraduate, 2nd year |
---|---|
Area of Study | Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery |
Total Value | Varies |
Duration | 1 year |
Number of Scholarships available | Up to 6 |
Applications Closed | Closed |
From North Queensland to North Dakota - Medicine Student Placement
If all the below statements describe you and your current situation, you can apply for this scholarship:
- I am or will be enrolled full-time in my second year of the Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery;
- I am able to demonstrate an interest in rural medicine;
- I am able to undertake a rural elective.
The bursary consists of a four-week rural placement. The bursary will include support for travel and accommodation, and can be undertaken as the 4-week Year 2 rural placement.
If funding allows there may be more than one bursary awarded under these rules. Winners must be prepared to provide an oral and written report on their return.
NOTE: Due to current COVID international travel restriction the location of this Bursary will be in Australia e.g. 2020 recipients went to Weipa, St. George or Thursday Island.
Prior to submitting an application, you should carefully read the Scholarship Rules below and the Description of Tasks.
There are three components to the bursary, each of which contributes to the final mark:
- a written task – book review;
- an interview; and
- an oral presentation.
The written task will be used to shortlist a small number of applicants who will be invited to proceed to the next two stages.
Please find description of tasks here.
When applying for a scholarship it is very important that you answer all the questions and include all relevant documents. Your application and relevant documents must be submitted before the closing date. If an application is incomplete, it will not be considered.
Your application is checked for completeness and eligibility, and you will receive an email confirmation it has been received. After the closing date it will be individually assessed and put forward to a selection committee who will rank your application against others who have applied. Applicants may be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process.
Introduction
This bursary was founded in 2001 by Lynn Kratcha, MD as the North Dakota Rural Bursary. Dr Kratcha was a rural doctor in North Dakota, USA, who undertook parts of his undergraduate and postgraduate training in North Queensland. Dr Kratcha passed away in 2012 and the bursary has been renamed in his honour. The purpose of the bursary is to support a medical student undertaking an international rural elective.
This bursary is subject to the provisions of James Cook University’s Coursework Scholarships, Bursaries and Grants Policy.
Nature of the Scholarship
The value of the bursary shall be a return economy airfare from North Queensland to the location of the elective, and support for living expenses, or such amount as the Selection Committee determines from time to time. Up to 6 bursaries will be awarded each year as determined by the Selection Committee, to a maximum total value of $17,000.
Eligibility Criteria
The Lynn Kratcha Memorial Rural Bursary shall be open to competition among candidates who:
- are enrolled full-time in Year 2 of the Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery;
- who are able to demonstrate an interest in rural medicine;
- who are able to undertake an rural elective.
Selection Criteria
The Selection Committee will, in the exercise of their absolute discretion, afford consideration to the following criteria:
- academic merit or potential;
- the character of the candidate for the award; and
- any other criteria that the Selection Committee deems appropriate, including whether the candidate has, or will receive any other bursary assistance during their studies.
Application Procedures
Applications must be submitted no later than the advertised closing date for the year in which the award is to be made.
Applicants must follow the application procedures set by the selection committee supply any other supporting documentation that would assist the Selection Committee in developing an opinion as to the merit of the application.
The application procedures may include a written submission, an interview and oral presentation. Guidelines for applications will be advertised by the selection committee in the year of the award.
The applicant authorises the Selection Committee to make such enquiries as to the applicant's good character and/or suitability to receive the bursary, which includes authorisation for the Selection Committee to examine the applicant's academic record, and seek opinions from relevant members of the academic staff of this University or any other academic institution.
Selection Process
The award of the bursary shall be made in the absolute discretion of the Selection Committee, which shall comprise of:
- Dean, College of Medicine & Dentistry, (Chair), or nominee
- Head of Discipline, General Practice & Rural Medicine or nominee
- Academic staff member/s from the Discipline of General Practice & Rural Medicine responsible for delivery of Year 2 in the College of Medicine & Dentistry
- Lynn Kratcha Memorial Bursary recipient from previous year.
The Selection Committee reserves the right:
- to award one or more bursaries in any year
- not to award a bursary in any year if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, there is no candidate of sufficient merit to warrant an award;
- to award a bursary for a period of one or more years; and
- to extend a bursary for the existing recipient.
The Selection Committee may require applicants to undertake an interview as part of their application.
The Selection Committee will determine all matters relating to the bursary.
Conditions of the Bursary:
If the holder of an award fails to comply with any of these provisions or any provision relating to a particular award, the Council may terminate the award or withhold any further emoluments or take such action as it may deem necessary to enforce compliance with the provision or performance of the condition by the holder.
The recipient of the bursary shall continue to receive the award on condition that in the opinion of the Selection Committee, and on advice from the head of the College in which the recipient is undertaking a course of study, that the recipient maintains a satisfactory level of performance. Where it is determined that the level of academic performance is unsatisfactory the Selection Committee may in its absolute discretion cancel the award or suspend the award for such time as it may determine and/or until academic performance is considered satisfactory. Where an award is cancelled pursuant to the provisions to this clause it may, for the remainder of the term for which the original holder would have been entitled to it, be awarded to another suitable candidate.
In the event the Selection Committee cancels or suspends the student's bursary, a student may lodge a request for review of decision in accordance with the provisions of the Student Appeals Policy.
The bursary shall not be awarded to another suitable candidate before the Appeal Panel makes a final decision on the review. The Appeal Panel shall comprise the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or nominee (Chair); two staff members of the appropriate Faculty appointed by the Executive Dean; and either the Student Association Academic Support Services Coordinator or the Student Association Welfare Coordinator. The staff members appointed by the Executive Dean shall have no association with the teaching of the subject(s) in which the unsatisfactory academic performance is alleged. Unless the circumstances are exceptional, the Appeal Panel shall consider only: the student's grounds for requesting the review; any documents relevant to the finding of unsatisfactory academic performance; and the reasons for the decision by the Selection Committee.
The requirements of the bursary shall not make the awarding of the bursary conditional upon the recipient providing unremunerated services or products to the donor.
In the event that the recipient suspends their study, the bursary shall be suspended.
Administration of the Bursary
The bursary shall be administered by the College of Medicine & Dentistry on behalf of the Selection Committee.
The funds of the bursary shall be held in an account in the name of the University and shall be administered by the officer of the University charged with administering the bursary.
Where there is a fund maintaining the award, the annual value of the award shall be approximately equal to the annual income from the fund.
Income from a fund not expended on the award which it maintains, shall be added to and become part of the fund.
Monies payable in any year to the holder of an award shall be paid at such times and in such amounts as the Registrar deems appropriate to the circumstance of each case.
Where a special provision relating to an award provides for the award to be paid in cash, the Vice-Chancellor may direct that in lieu of cash the award to be made in whole or in part in the form of books, instruments or equipment necessary to the awardee's course to a value approximately equal to the stated amount of the award, unless the terms of any trust or the conditions laid down by the donor of the award expressly provide otherwise.
Where an award provides some benefit to the recipient from a body external to the University, or an obligation upon a body external to the University, the University, its servants and agents, shall not be liable for that benefit or obligation.
Please refer to Glossary of Terms