|
ARS faces a
continuing need to recruit and develop talented employees to support
it's mission and ensure that its professional, technical, and administrative
needs are met. Appointments made under the Student Educational Employment
Program authority can help meet these needs. Within the Federal
Government, this program provides employment opportunities for people
who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment as degree — seeking
people taking at least a half-time academic, technical, or vocational
course load in an accredited high school, technical, vocational,
2 or 4 year college or university, graduate or professional school.
This program has two components: the Student Temporary Employment
Program (STEP) and the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP).
Use the links
below to learn more about student employment:
What
is the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP)?
Under the STEP
Program, job opportunities offered range from summer jobs to positions
that can last for as long as the student is in school. A STEP appointment
provides maximum flexibility to both students and managers because
the nature of the work does not have to be related to the student's
academic or career goals. Appointments are made for 1 year, and
employees are not entitled to benefits except for sick and annual
leave. If the appointment is less than 90 days
(typical of summer employment), then the employee is not eligible
for annual leave.
What is the Student Career Experience Program
(SCEP)?
Under the SCEP
Program, students are provided valuable work experience directly
related to their academic field of study. A SCEP appointment provides
formal periods of work that enhance the student's academic studies
and it requires a written commitment by the student, the student's
school, and the supervisor. Students hired under SCEP appointments
may be eligible for permanent employment after successfully completing
the educational and work requirements. Remember that students working
under a SCEP appointment should have positions targeted for them
to enter when they complete their academic requirements. Under this
program, students are eligible to enroll in health and life insurance,
participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift
Savings Plan, and earn sick and annual leave.
A written agreement
must be signed by you, the student, and a representative of the
school. This agreement outlines the responsibilities and conditions
associated with employment under the Student Career Experience Program.
Student
Career Experience Program Agreement
A student may
be converted noncompetitively to a career conditional, career, or
term appointment when he or she has—
- Completed
course requirements conferring a diploma, certificate, or degree
at an accredited school within the preceding 120 days;
- Completed
at least 640 hours of career-related work before completion of,
or concurrently with, the course requirements;
- Been recommended
by the supervisor of the position in which the career-related
work was performed;
- Met the qualifications
for the targeted position to which the student is appointed.
Noncompetitive
conversion to a permanent or term appointment can be in the agency
where the training was completed or any other agency in the Federal
government. All students must be U.S. citizens at the time that
they are noncompetitively converted.
What
are the eligibility requirements for STEP and SCEP appointments?
A student is
eligible under the Student Educational Employment Program if he
or she is—
- Enrolled
or accepted for enrollment as a degree — seeking student
(diploma, certificate)
- At
least 16 years old
- Taking
at least half-time academic or vocational and technical course
load in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school,
2- or 4-year college or university, or graduate or professional
school
- A
U.S. citizen or a national (resident of American Samoa or Swains
Island). Noncitizens may be eligible for employment if permitted
by a Federal agency's appropriation act, and eligible to work
under U.S. immigration laws.
What are the pay and promotion policies
for student employees?
The pay students
receive depends on their education and work experience. As they
advance in their education, they may be eligible for promotions
based on their work performance, grade point average, and credits
earned. Discuss individual situations with your HR specialist.
Is there any other information about student
employment that you need to know?
Some other information
to note when hiring students is:
- Students
may work full-time, as long as it does not interfere with their
academic studies.
- Students
under STEP may be appointed for up to 1 year. The initial appointment
may be extended in 1-year increments as long as the individual
meets the definition of a student.
- Students
under SCEP do not have a not-to-exceed date.
- Students
may work in the same agency with a relative when there is no direct
reporting relationship and the relative is not in a position to
influence or control the student's appointment, employment, promotions,
or advancement within the agency.
Additional resources
REE
Policy and Procedure, Student and Volunteer Programs, P&P 413.8
L/A
Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP)
OPM
Student Educational Employment Program
OPM
Student Education Employment Program - Questions and Answers
Student
Career Experience Program Agreement
|
