Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program

Frequently Asked Questions
 

Applicants are required to submit all the items below to ORISE for an application to be screened for eligibility.

• Completed application form.
• College transcript(s) (one for each institution attended sent to ORISE by the institution).
• At least two references (sent to ORISE by the persons providing the references).

For further information about the scholarship, contact ATTN: NOAA/Hollings Scholarship, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, P.O. Box 117, MS 36, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-0117, HollingsScholarship@orau.gov, 865-241-8240 or NOAA Office of Education at noaa.education@noaa.gov or
(301) 703-9437 ext. 125.

What is NOAA and what is NOAA’s mission?

Established in 1970, NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a federal science agency in the Department of Commerce (www.doc.gov). Its mission is:
 

To understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs.
 

To achieve this mission, NOAA has identified four goals in which to focus agency activities:

• Ecosystems: protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to management.
• Climate: understanding variability and change to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond.
• Weather and Water: serve society’s needs for weather and water information.
• Commerce and Transportation: support the nation’s commerce with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation.
   

NOAA has also identified “promoting environmental literacy” as a cross-cutting priority essential to achieving NOAA’s mission in all four of the goal areas. To learn more about the broad range of NOAA sciences, services, and stewardship activities that contribute to the agency’s mission, goals, and priorities, please explore the NOAA website (http://www.noaa.gov/).

What is the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)?

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) was established by the U.S. Department of Energy to undertake national and international programs in education, training, health, and the environment.  ORISE is operated by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) through a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy.  Established in 1946, ORAU is a consortium of 91 colleges and universities.

What is the ORISE role in the NOAA Hollings Scholarship Program?

During my scholarship appointment, what is my relationship to ORISE?

During your scholarship appointment, you will be a NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholar associated with ORISE through an ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.  As a scholar, you are not an ORAU/ORISE employee, but rather an ORISE program participant.

Am I eligible to receive a Hollings Scholarship?

To be eligible to receive a Hollings Scholarship, at the time of application you must be:

• A U.S. citizen.
• Enrolled or planning to matriculate as a junior-level, full-time student in Fall 2006 in an accredited college or university within the United States or U.S. territories.
• Have a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent on other identified scale) in all completed undergraduate courses and in the major field of study.
• Have declared a major in a discipline including, but not limited to, oceanic, environmental, biological, and atmospheric sciences, mathematics, engineering, remote sensing technology, physical and social sciences including geography, physics, hydrology, geomatics, or teacher education that support NOAA's programs and missions.

Related discipline areas of study may include: biological, social, and physical sciences; mathematics; engineering; computer and information sciences; behavioral sciences; and teacher education.

The eligibility requirements state that applicants must have full-time junior academic status in fall 2006.  If I will be a senior in fall 2006, am I eligible to apply?

If my major is not listed as one of the options under the areas of discipline, am I still eligible to receive a Hollings Scholarship?

Yes, awards are limited to the areas of discipline identified, but not limited to the majors listed under those areas of discipline.  In your application, we asked that you select a field of study title that most closely describes your field of study or select “other” and identify your exact academic program title. We recognize that the titles of academic programs vary greatly among colleges and universities, and that a wide variety of general undergraduate academic programs can be applicable to NOAA’s mission. Reviewers will look specifically at your statements of academic and career interest to assess how your particular course of study relates to NOAA and provides the training you will need to pursue a NOAA-related career. Please refer to the NOAA Website (http://www.noaa.gov/) for additional information.

If I receive another scholarship from NOAA, am I still eligible to receive a Hollings Scholarship?

How will my application be evaluated?

Evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

What is the selection process?

An initial administrative review of applications will be conducted to determine compliance with requirements and completeness of applications. Only complete applications in compliance with the requirements will be considered for review.  Applications identified as incomplete or not in compliance with the requirements will be destroyed. All complete and eligible applications will be included in a merit review by a panel of experts in the areas of study related to the Hollings Scholarship.  The panel members will rate applications based on the evaluation criteria.  A numerical ranking will be assigned to each application based on the average of the panelist’s ratings. The Selecting Official, the Director of Education, will award in rank order unless the application is justified to be selected out of rank order based on one or more of the selection factors.

What selection factors might be considered in the determination of scholarship awards?

In determining final awards, the selecting official reserves the right to select candidates out of rank order based on availability of funds and program-specific objectives and to ensure reasonable distribution across academic disciplines, type of institution, and geographic location.

What are the requirements of the internship?

If you are selected as a Hollings scholar, you are required to visit the selected summer internship site during your spring break, and complete a 10-week paid internship during the summer between your junior and senior years.  The purpose of this internship is to provide “hands-on” multidisciplinary educational training experience in NOAA-related scientific, research, technological, policy, management, and education activities.  Opportunities to complete the internship are available throughout the United States and U.S. territories.  NOAA offices, programs, and laboratories offer a wide variety of options for the internship experience.  You can explore the range of NOAA opportunities available at your desired location by contacting the NOAA Office of Education or exploring the NOAA website at http://www.noaa.gov.  If you are awarded a Hollings Scholarship, you will receive information about the various options and assistance to identify or develop an appropriate internship opportunity to help fulfill your academic and career objectives. If that opportunity requires you to relocate for the summer, you will be eligible to receive travel and housing subsidies under the terms of your scholarship award.

What happens if I fail to meet the eligibility requirements of the program after receiving a Hollings Scholarship award?

Award benefits will be contingent on compliance with all eligibility requirements.  If you are selected as a Hollings scholar, ORISE will contact your college or university to verify your status as a full-time junior-level student in your stated academic degree program for Fall 2006 before beginning your academic award payments.  You, your major advisor, the registrar, the academic dean, and other departments in your college or university may also receive periodic requests from ORISE for information to verify your eligibility status (for example: official academic transcripts at the completion of each semester or quarter). If you fail to maintain eligibility, future benefits of the award will be terminated or postponed. Full repayment of award benefits will be required if a recipient is determined, in obtaining or using the scholarship, to have engaged in fraudulent conduct or failed to comply with any term or condition of the scholarship.

How often do I receive the academic award and internship stipend payment?

During the academic year, you will receive your academic award payment at the start of each academic semester monthly from ORISE according to a prearranged schedule.  During your summer internship, you will receive your stipend payment every two weeks from ORISE according to a prearranged schedule.  Direct deposit is available for both the academic award payment and the internship stipend payment.

What are the health insurance requirements?

Scholars are required to have insurance coverage under a health insurance plan during their internship appointment.

How do I go about finding an appropriate internship experience?

The purpose of the internship is to provide multidisciplinary training and experience related to NOAA’s mission.  It is intended to enhance your academic experience and broaden your career opportunities.  Such experience can be achieved in a number of ways by working with NOAA or with a NOAA partner on NOAA-related activities.  Because the Hollings Scholarship program is managed by NOAA, the scholarship program will work directly within the agency to develop, identify, and advertise appropriate opportunities in NOAA during your Hollings internship.  You can expect to see notices of such opportunities beginning in late November.  Selection of interns for such opportunities is likely to be competitive, so you are encouraged to have your resume or curriculum vitae, academic records, and recommendations up to date, so you can respond in a timely fashion to the opportunities that interest you.

To ensure the widest range of possibilities, you are encouraged to explore both methods to identify an internship that will complement your academic and career goals.  Once you have selected an internship (by January 2007), you are required to visit the site and meet with your internship mentor.  After spring break, you are required to provide the Hollings Scholarship program with a work plan developed by you and your internship mentor.

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