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IASP: General Information

Background

Rising junior and senior undergraduates, master’s and doctoral candidates, and graduate certificate program students who are U.S. citizens and are at least 18 years of age are eligible for consideration for the program. Information assurance scholarships will pay for the full cost of tuition, select fees, required books, lab expenses, supplies and equipment incurred by students selected for the program. In addition, students selected for the program will be provided a stipend to cover room and board expenses: undergraduate students will receive a stipend of $17,000 and graduate (master’s and PhD) students will receive a stipend of $22,000 per academic year. Disabled students may receive additional allowances. There are no allowances for dependents. Only students at designated National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE) and Centers of Academic Excellence - Research (CAE-R) may apply. (Dartmouth was designated a CAE-R for the academic years 2008-2013.)

Additional years of scholarship awards are dependent upon satisfactory academic progress, internship performance, if applicable, and the availability of funds. Returning students will be given first priority over new students to the program as long as they continue to meet the IASP requirements and appropriate funding is available. Scholarship recipients who successfully complete the terms of an initial one or two year scholarship (for example, complete an undergraduate degree), may apply for a second scholarship of up to two years for completing an advanced degree or graduate certificate program, if the sponsoring agency agrees.

Dartmouth Point of Contact

For questions on the application process at Dartmouth please contact:

Tom Candon
Institute for Security, Technology, and Society
Dartmouth College
6211 Sudikoff Laboratory - Room 067
Hanover, NH 03755
Phone: 603.646.8748
Email

Appointment and Hiring Authorities

Chapter 112, title 10, United States Code anticipates that recipients of information assurance scholarships will participate in experiential learning assignments (called “internships” in the law) at the DoD Components and Agencies while completing their academic degree programs. There are a variety of hiring authorities across DoD and the determination will be by those Agencies in conjunction with the IASP Program Office.

Information Assurance Scholars will be appointed at those General Schedule grade levels for which qualified and selected by DoD component officials. Since the Area of Consideration for scholarship applicants includes rising junior and senior year undergraduates, master’s and doctoral degree candidates, and graduate/doctoral certificate program students, it is anticipated that applicants will (variously) meet minimum qualification standards for Student Trainee appointments at GS-0099-5, GS-0099-7, and GS-0099-9. The Military Departments and DoD Components that select and appoint students will decide at what grade levels successful Information Assurance Scholars will be appointed in light of any applicable component-unique factors such as the target occupations or full-performance position levels for the candidates. To obtain some information on the general salary schedules for FY13 please visit:

https://www.opm.gov/oca/13tables/index.asp.

Application Forms and Materials

On the application you will find instructions for preparing and submitting an application for the IASP, as well as application forms and materials. Please read all information and instructions for application preparation before you begin. The application itself consists of your resume and all of the OF612 supplements. The OF612 Supplemental Competency Statement and Resume must be included or the package will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered.

Please be aware that your CAE is required by the DoD to participate in the evaluation of your application for scholarship assistance under this program. Your CAE may fulfill its responsibilities to evaluate your application in a variety of ways. Your CAE might constitute a panel to review your application materials or conduct interviews with you or other applicants. To fulfill its responsibilities, your CAE may require that you obtain and submit information and/or materials in addition to those required in the application package. Any written information or material that your CAE requires shall become the CAE Supplement to your OF612 and must be included in the final application package that your school transmits to the DoD in order for you to receive consideration.

Therefore, if you are interested in applying for this opportunity, you should check with the Principal Investigator for your school immediately to learn of any additional application requirements.

Privacy and Public Burden Statements

The Office of Personnel Management and other federal agencies rate applicants for federal jobs under the authority of sections 1104, 1302, 3301, 3304, 3320, 3361, 3393, and 3394 of title 5 of the United States Code. Section 1104 of Title 5 allows the Office of Personnel Management to authorize other federal agencies to rate applicants for federal jobs. We need the information requested in this vacancy announcement to evaluate your qualifications, that is, to see how well your education and work skills qualify you for a federal job and for tuition assistance pursuant to Chapter 112, title 10, United States Code and the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 5, Chapter 1, Part 213, Subpart C, Section 213.3202(b)(17). Other laws require us to ask about citizenship and military service, to see whether you are affected by laws we must follow in deciding whom the Federal Government may employ.

We may give information from your records to: training facilities; organizations deciding claims for retirement, insurance, unemployment or health benefits; officials in litigation or administrative proceedings where the Government is a party; law enforcement agencies concerning violations of law or regulation;federal agencies for statistical reports and studies; officials of labor organizations recognized by law in connection with representing employees; Federal agencies or other sources requesting information for federal agencies in connection with hiring or retaining, security clearances, security or suitability investigations, classifying job contracting, or issuing licenses, grants, or other benefits; public or private organizations including news media that grant or publicize employee recognition and awards; and the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Office of Special Counsel, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the National Archives, and congressional offices in connection with their official functions.

We may also give information from your records to: prospective nonfederal employers concerning tenure of employment, civil service status, length of service, and date and nature of action for separation as shown on personnel action forms of specifically identified individuals; requesting organizations or individuals concerning the home address and other relevant information on those who might have contracted an illness or been exposed to a health hazard; authorized Federal and nonfederal agencies for use in computer matching; spouses or dependent children asking whether an employee has changed from self-and-family to self-only health benefits enrollment; individuals working on a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement or job for the Federal Government; non-agency members of an agency's performance or other panel; and agency-appointed representatives of employees concerning information issued to an employee about fitness-for-duty or agency-filed disability retirement procedures.

We estimate the public burden for reporting the employment information will vary from 20 to 240 minutes with an average of 40 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering data, and completing and reviewing the information. You may send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Reports and Forms Management Officer, Washington, DC 20415-0001.

Veteran’s Preference in Hiring

If you served on active duty in the United States Military and were separated under honorable conditions, you may be eligible for veteran’s preference. For further details visit the Office of Personnel Management website at: http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp.

To claim 5-point veterans' preference, attach a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other proof of eligibility, to your Optional Form 612 - Optional Application for Federal Employment, as required at Item 15 of the application.

To claim 10-point veterans' preference, attach an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, plus the proof required by that form, to your Optional Form 612 - Optional Application for Federal Employment, as required at Item 15 of the application.

Applicants with Disabilities

You can find out about alternatives for submitting your application by calling the Office of Personnel Management at 912-757-3000. If you have a hearing disability, call TDD 912-744-2299. You may obtain case-by-case assistance by calling the Department of Defense point of contact for this announcement. The name, address, and email address of the point of contact for this announcement are below:

DoD IASP Program Office
National Security Agency
Attn: NIETP, I083 Suite 6744
9800 Savage Road
Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-6744
AskIASP@nsa.gov

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Department of Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified persons shall receive consideration for this opportunity without regard to political, religious, labor organization affiliation or non-affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, non-disqualifying physical disability, age, or sexual orientation.

Other Important Information About this Opportunity

• Before being hired, the appointing agency (the specific DoD Agency requesting to hire you) will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment or other agency or component specific form to determine your suitability for federal employment and to authorize a background investigation of your suitability. The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. 
• You will be required to obtain and maintain eligibility for a security clearance in order to receive financial (scholarship) assistance or an appointment under the IASP. The appointing agency will ask you to complete certain forms to initiate the security clearance process. These forms require you to reveal many details about your background, including your financial circumstances, and other sensitive matters such as any arrests and/or convictions for offenses of any kind. You must complete these forms as a condition of financial assistance and appointment. 
• If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a federal job. 
• Federal law prohibits officials from appointing, promoting, or recommending their relatives. 
• Federal annuitants (military and civilian) may have their salaries or annuities reduced. All employees must pay any valid delinquent debts or the employee's payroll office may garnish their salary.