Student Educational Employment Program
Introduction
The Student Educational Employment Program provides Federal
employment opportunities to students who are enrolled or accepted
for enrollment as degree seeking students 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. The Student Educational
Employment Program established December 16, 1994, is a streamlined
program which replaces the old Federal Student Employment Program
by consolidating four programs:
- Cooperative Education Program
- Federal Junior Fellowship Program
- Stay-In-School Program
- Harry S. Truman Scholarship Program
This new, streamlined program is comprised of two components: the Student
Temporary Employment Program (STEP), and the Student Career Experience
Program (SCEP). The STEP 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. The SCEP, however, provides
work experience which is directly related to the student's academic program
and career goals. Students in the SCEP may be noncompetitively converted
to term,
career
or career-conditional
appointments following completion of their academic and work experience
requirements.
The Student Educational Employment Program benefits both agencies and
students. Agencies can discover first-hand the abilities of a potential
employee. In the case of SCEP, agencies can bring well educated graduates
into their workforce while at the same time give their managers the ability
to evaluate the student's performance in real work situations. Students,
on the other hand, can avail themselves of such flexibilities as year round
employment and flexible work schedules and assignments. Students in the
SCEP gain exposure to public service while enhancing their educational
goals and shaping their career choices.
We encourage agencies to utilize the Student Educational Employment
Program authority for several reasons. Even in an era of downsizing, there
is a continuing need to recruit and develop talented employees to support
changing agency missions, ensure that the Government can meet its professional,
technical, and administrative needs, and achieve a quality and diverse
workforce. Appointments made under the Student Educational Employment Program
authority can help agencies meet these needs.
