(a) Evaluation Criteria. The following criteria will be used to evaluate applicants:      
        (1) a personal statement indicating a background and interest in rural veterinary practice;       
        (2) a personal statement regarding future intent and goals in veterinary medical practice;       
        (3) experience in an active veterinary medical practice in a rural county;       
        (4) experience as a licensed veterinarian in Texas;       
        (5) relevant work or volunteer experience related to rural veterinary medicine;       
        (6) involvement in professional or educational activities relating to rural veterinary medicine;       
        (7) if the applicant is a student at the time of application, whether they are in good academic standing;       
        (8) if the applicant is a graduate at the time of application, whether they are licensed in good standing;       
        (9) letters of recommendation; and       
        (10) financial need.       
      (b) Evaluation of applications for each application round.      
        (1) After the deadline for applications, the presiding officer will select three committee members to evaluate each application.       
        (2) The evaluators will individually score eligible applications using the scoring rubric published with the application.       
        (3) The average score of the evaluators will be the applicant's final score.       
        (4) Applicants will be ranked based on their final scores.       
      (c) Final selection for each application round. The committee will select participants from the ranked applicants. The number of participants selected and the loan repayment assistance or payment of tuition and fees offered is contingent on available funding for each application round. Available funds will be distributed on a priority basis based on ranking.     
      (d) Following final selection, the commission will:      
        (1) notify the participants selected by the committee;       
        (2) provide information to the participants on the conditions of loan repayment assistance or payment of tuition and fees and additional steps the participant must take to receive loan repayment assistance or payment of tuition and fees; and       
        (3) inform the participant of any deadlines to complete the additional steps.       
      (e) If a participant voluntarily withdraws their application after final selection or fails to complete the requirements to participate in the program by a specified deadline, the committee shall consider the participant's application denied for the application round and that participant will no longer be able to participate in the program during the application round.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §42.13 adopted to be effective May 24, 2023, 48 TexReg 2567