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Students can be an excellent source of qualified people with disabilities.
Many colleges and universities have career centers and/or disability resource
centers that work with students with disabilities to help them find employment,
both short and long term. Agencies can work with these centers to find qualified
students with disabilities who are interested in Federal employment and can
contribute to the work of the agency. Following are two websites that are available
resources on jobs for students. This section also describes hiring authorities
available for employing students.
RESOURCES
Workforce Recruitment Program
The
can provide agencies with a list of students with disabilities who are interested
in employment. Coordinated by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of
Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Department of Defense, the Workforce
Recruitment Program aims to provide summer work experience, and in some cases
permanent employment, for college students and recent graduates with disabilities.
The program partners with other Federal agencies, each of which makes a commitment
to provide summer jobs. The WRP saves agencies significant time in locating
students who have disabilities and are interested in Federal employment.
Studentjobs.gov
is a website that provides applicants with comprehensive
information about Federal jobs and internships for students with or without
disabilities. Federal agencies can use the site to provide information about
jobs for students within the agencies.
HIRING AUTHORITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
These programs are available to hire students, with or without disabilities,
for Federal employment.
Student Education Employment Program
The Student Educational Employment Program allows for the hiring of students
attending any accredited high school, college, or vocational/technical school
year round. Under this flexible hiring program, students can be appointed to
temporary positions or a work study (cooperative education) program. The work
study program provides eligibility for conversion to permanent employment upon
successful completion of educational and program requirements. The program has
two components:
- Component 1 - Student Career Experience Program (SCEP): The SCEP
is a component of the Student Educational Employment Program, and is available
to all levels of degree-seeking students (who are accepted for enrollment
or enrolled, and taking at least a half-time course load) in an accredited
academic institution from high school through graduate school. It provides
for formal periods of work and study while the student is enrolled in school.
SCEP can be used to develop traditional cooperative education programs or
other work-study formats. [5 CFR 213.3202 (b)]
Requirements: The work performed in the SCEP must be
related to the academic course of study. The agency, the school, and the
student complete a written agreement which contains information on work
assignments, schedule, etc. The grade level at which the student is appointed
depends on the qualification requirements of the position, and the employee's
experience and academic level.
Type of Appointment: Excepted service.
Conversion to Permanent Position: Students are eligible for conversion
to the competitive service for up to 120 days following completion of
the requirements (education and work requirements) of the program. [5
CFR 213.3202(b) (10) (ii)]
- Component 2 - Student Temporary Program (STEP): The STEP is a component
of the Student Educational Employment Program and is available to all levels
of degree-seeking students (who are accepted for enrollment or enrolled, and
taking at least a half-time course load) in an accredited academic institution
from high school through graduate school. [5 CFR 213.3202 (a)]
Requirements: The job for which the student is hired
need not be related to the academic field of study. The grade level at
which the student is appointed depends on the qualification requirements
of the position, and the employee's experience and academic levels.
Time Limits: Appointments are made for a period not-to-exceed 1
year, and may be extended if the student remains enrolled in school on
at least a half-time basis.
Type of Appointment: Excepted service.
Conversion to Permanent Position: There is no provision for conversion
to appointments in the competitive service under this authority. However,
employees may be converted to another excepted appointment in the SCEP.
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