Compensation

Our program is free to all students. Additionally, we have funding partners that provide compensation to eligible students to remove barriers and increase access to participation. Compensation criteria vary by funder, are eligible to change, and may include:

• Students with financial need (qualify for Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program)
• Are or were recently homeless, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
• Are or were recently in the foster care system, as defined by the Administration for Children and Families
• Students from communities with limited access to research opportunities (including rural and urban schools)
• Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Students from our community partner schools and organizations
• Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree (see the S. Department of Education definition)
• Are or were recently eligible for Federal Pell grants
• Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child
• Grew up in a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, or in a center for medically underserved populations or health professional shortage area (qualifying zip codes are included in the file)
• Students who face other barriers to participating in summer research experiences

Compensation decisions are determined through a need-based process similar to undergraduate financial aid, with specific criteria varying by funding source.

Those wishing to apply for compensation may do so on their online application form. Those who are awarded compensation must complete the following paperwork and submit it to Hillman Academy management upon acceptance into the program:

• I9 form
• Complete residency payroll form
• Complete local income form
• W4 and direct deposit forms
• Copies of SS card and photo ID

Volunteers

Scholars who do not receive compensation will be brought into the program as volunteers and, therefore, may be required to complete UPMC volunteer paperwork in additional to the Hillman Academy onboarding paperwork, prior to the start of the program. Volunteer paperwork may include but is not limited to:

• An online volunteer application
• Two (2) reference forms (can be taken from your application)
• An online volunteer orientation
• A parental consent form (for applicants under 18) ora criminal background history (for applicants 18 and over)
• A pre-assignment questionnaire
• A volunteer agreement
• Driver’s license/photo ID (for American citizens) or Permanent resident card (for those who are not American citizens) or Copy of I-94, visa and passport (for non-immigrants)

TB Testing

Tuberculosis (TB) test results are required for scholars participating in operating room (OR) tours scheduled by their respective sites. The TB test results must be negative and no older than 12 months.