Cover page of the USDA 2008 Summer Intern Program

Table of Contents

Director's Message

Introduction and Eligibility Requirements

Application Guidelines, Travel and Housing Information, and Benefits and Subsidies

Experience and Education Qualifying Factors

Additional Information

Mission Areas, Agency, and Internship Information

Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services

Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Natural Resources and Environment

Rural Development

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I. INTRODUCTION

USDA's mission is to provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, and related issues based upon sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. We work hard to ensure that our programs, policies, and advice meet the needs of the American people in the areas of nutrition, rural home ownership, natural resources conservation, national forest management, and quality standards for agricultural products.

The Summer Intern Program (SIP), a paid internship, is a great strategic way of bringing passionate and vibrant young minds into the Federal workforce to accomplish our mission. It is also a wonderful tool to recruit young people to USDA's highly-skilled diverse workforce for the summer months. The SIP not only allows students to demonstrate their creativity, but gives them valuable work experience for future employment opportunities at USDA.

If you are selected for a SIP position in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, you will have access to the National Mall, which is adjacent to the National Monument and historic museums. Most importantly, you will spend the summer months at USDA gaining a myriad of educational experience while being exposed to an assortment of activities to enhance your development:

Intern Forums - where you will meet the Secretary of Agriculture's sub-cabinet officials and discuss important issues of the day.
Scheduled Tours - Capitol Hill, USDA National Arboretum, and the Agriculture Research Service Visitor Center (USDA's Farm).

II. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To apply, you must be:

A U.S. citizen;

At least 16 years of age at the time of appointment;

Currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree seeking student and taking at least a half-time academic course load in an accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school; and

In good standing with an accredited institution.

III. APPLICATION GUIDELINES

A. HOW TO APPLY:

Students may submit a resume or Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612). The OF-612 is available at http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/of.asp . Students must submit a separate Resume Cover Sheet, a resume or OF-612, and an official college or university transcript of completed courses for each position for which they are applying.

B. OTHER DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:

Students claiming veteran preference must submit a DD-214.

C. WHERE TO APPLY:

RESUME COVER SHEET, A RESUME OR OF-612, AND OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT should be mailed or faxed to the appropriate MAILING ADDRESS listed at the bottom of each announcement. However, for vacancy announcements listed in Foreign Agricultural Service, please apply online at www.usajobs.com . The deadline on each vacancy announcement is listed.

IV. TRAVEL AND HOUSING

Transportation and housing subsidies may be provided to the students selected depending on available funding and need. Individual students will be notified by the selecting official if they will receive subsidies.

V. BENEFITS AND SUBSIDIES

If you are selected for a SIP position, you may also be entitled to receive the following benefits and subsidies:

Annual and Sick Leave - accrued annual and sick leave each pay period;

Paid Federal holidays - excused absences from work with pay to observe holidays that fall within your regularly scheduled tour of duty; and

Transit Subsidy - partial or complete subsidized transportation costs if you take public transportation, depending on duty station.

VI. EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION QUALIFYING FACTORS

Students must be enrolled in a qualified education program. Generally, the following qualification requirements for the GS-2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 grade levels apply:

GRADE

EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

GENERAL

SPECIALIZED

GS-2

3 Months

None

High School graduation or equivalent

GS-3

6 Months

None

1 year above high school with courses related to the occupation, if required. (30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours = 1 year)

GS-4

1 year

None

2 years above high school with courses related to the occupation, if required. (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours = 2 years)

GS-5

None

1 year at least

equivalent to

GS-4

4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses, related to the occupation, if required. (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours = 4 years)

GS-7

None

1 year at least

equivalent to

GS-5

1 full year of graduate education directly related to the work to be performed or superior academic achievement. (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours = 1 year)

Superior academic achievement is based on 1) class standing, 2) grade point average, or 3) honor society membership.

1) Class Standing - A student must be in the upper third of the graduating class in his/her college or university.

2) Grade Point Average - (a) A student must have a 3.0 GPA or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on college transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) a 3.5 GPA or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
3) Honor Society Membership - A student can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed in the Association of College Honor Societies.

VII. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For questions about SIP, please contact the individual named on the position announcement

or Marilyn Jenkins, Departmental Student Program Manager, at (202) 720-7168 or Marilyn.Jenkins@usda.gov .

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

2008 SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM

RESUME COVER SHEET

PLEASE SUBMIT A COPY OF THIS FORM WITH EACH RESUME/APPLICATION
Job Number: ________________________________________________
Name: ______________________________________________________	Social Security Number: ___________________________
Address: __________________________________________________	Phone: (Home) _________
(After April 15, 2008)	(Work) __________
_____________________________________________________	(Cell) ___________
School: _____________________________________________________	Major: ___________________________________________
Total Credits Earned: (Quarter) _____ (Semester) _____	Classification: ____________________________________
(College transcript must be attached - student copy accepted)	(Graduate Student, Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman)
Number of Credits in Progress: ________________________________	Expected Graduation Date: ________________________

Work Experience

Position title: ______________________________________________________

Date (From/To): ____________________________________________________

Employer's name: __________________________________________________

Employer's address: ________________________________________________

Supervisor's name and phone number: _______________________________