What is the shortest period for which I may be funded? The shortest period for which a scholarship may be granted is one semester.
If I am funded for less than a year, am I entitled to the full stipend? No. You are entitled to a prorated amount. For example, if you receive a scholarship
for only one semester, you are entitled to only half the stipend. If you receive a
scholarship for only three semesters (one-and-a-half academic years), you are entitled
to only half the stipend during the year you receive funds for only one semester.
At what grade level will I be appointed when I serve the internship and when I am
placed after graduation? The grade level at which you will be appointed depends on your qualifications at
the time of appointment. In general, students with a bachelor’s degree and superior
academic achievement may be appointed at the GS-7 level. Master’s degree recipients
may be appointed at the GS-9 level. Recipients of a doctorate degree may be appointed
at the GS-11 level. It is important to note that the pay rates for information technology
professionals are higher than for other jobs.
Can time spent in an internship beyond the required 10 weeks be credited toward my
post-graduation employment commitment? No, there are no provisions to credit any time served in an internship toward your
post-graduation employment commitment.
Will I be paid moving expenses when I receive placement to fulfill my internship and
employment commitment upon graduation? The program does not contain provisions that provide for the payment of travel or
lodging expenses associated with the internship, or moving expenses to the first post
of duty. We suggest you ask prospective Federal employers if they have the authority,
flexibility, and funds to cover any such expenses.
How do I enroll in the program once I am selected by the Principal Investigator (coordinator)
to participate? The Principal Investigator nominates you. Your nomination is reviewed, and your participation
approved, by the Scholarship For Service Program Office, San Antonio Services Branch,
U.S. Office of Personnel Management. After you are approved, you will be asked to
sign a service agreement. This agreement stipulates the nature and conditions of the
scholarship and the service obligation you will incur with the Federal Government.
Once the SFS Program Office receives your signed agreement, it will send you, via
the Principal Investigator, instructions on how to register for the program.
Why is it important that I begin my job search early? It is very important that you begin your job search immediately for a variety of
reasons. Students who receive scholarship funds for more than one academic year are
required to serve an internship performing information assurance-related work. Internships
are intended to enhance the students’ information assurance knowledge by exposing
them to field-related work experiences. If an internship is not secured early, it
may jeopardize the value of the experiences due to a lack of time in the position.
Delaying to find opportunities may also cause the student to miss out on an internship
altogether. For both internships and post-graduation commitment, most positions will
require some type of security clearance and these along with the Federal hiring process
can sometime be very time consuming.
May I contact agencies with which I would like to serve the internship or be placed
to fulfill my post-graduation employment commitment? Yes. In fact, students are required to find placement opportunities on their own.
The program office provides many tools and resources to assist that include contact
information for agencies interested in hiring Information Assurance Specialists, website
link to current IA announcements, and an annual job fair.
What positions are open to me? Students can apply for any position that includes duties in Information Assurance
at a Federal Agency, Independent Agency, Government Corporation, Commission, or Quasi-Official
Agency, a National Laboratory, a Federally Funded Research Development Center, or
other approved organization. If a student is unsure if a particular position meets
program requirement they should contact the SFS Program Office at sfs@opm.gov for
verification.
What constitutes a reasonable offer? A reasonable offer is one where the grade level (salary) is equivalent to the student’s
qualifications based on education at the time of placement. In general, students
with a bachelor’s degree and superior academic achievement must accept a GS-7 (or
equivalent) or higher. Master’s degree recipients must accept a GS-9 (or equivalent)
or higher. Recipients of a doctorate degree may be appointed at the GS-11 level.
If a student is unsure if a position is reasonable they should contact the SFS Program
Office at sfs@opm.gov for verification.
Do I have to serve the internship at the Federal agency that will employ me upon graduation? No. You may serve the internship at another Federal agency as long as the nature
of the work assignments meet program requirements. However, it is highly beneficial
that the internship be served at the agency that will ultimately hire you. The internship
provides you the opportunity to meet and work with the agency’s information assurance
professionals and become familiar with their needs and programs. It also gives the
student a chance to create a bond with the employer. Additionally, the internship
should be an integral part of a mentoring process that should span throughout the
entire academic and employment phases of the program. You should also keep in mind
that agencies make significant investments in their interns in terms of effort, time,
and resources. Therefore, if you plan on seeking post-graduation employment with an
agency other than where you serve your internship, you are encouraged to inform them
of your plans.
Am I guaranteed permanent placement with a Federal Agency? No. Students are responsible for their own job search. The Program Office makes several
tools available to assist students in their job search efforts. These tools include
the SFS program website, resume posting, dedicated job fairs, and job activity logs.
Can I defer my employment commitment to further my education? Yes, under certain circumstances you may defer your service obligation to the Federal
government for up to two years to continue your education. The additional education
must enhance your marketability to Federal Agencies as an Information Assurance Professional.
This deferment must be approved by the Program Office; the continued education cannot
be funded by the SFS program; and you must continue to fulfill SFS participant responsibilities
as indicated in an addendum to your Service Agreement.
Can I meet my employment commitment by working as a contractor for the Federal Government? No, your commitment must be in the Federal Executive Branch at a Federal Agency,
Independent Agency, Government Corporation, Commission, or Quasi-Official Agency,
a National Laboratory, a Federally Funded Research Development Center, or other approved
organization.
Do I have to claim the funds (tuition, books, room & board, stipend, etc.) I receive
for the scholarship as income when I file my taxes? You should seek the advice of a tax professional to determine what part may be taxable.