Forward. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
 

Data Coverage and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .   1
 

Information about Student Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...     3
 

Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      9
 

Agency Conversions to Permanent Positions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....    10
 

Statistical Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..    11
 

Student Employment
 

Student Employment Workforce Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . ...                12
 

Distribution of Students by Mission Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . .                13
 

Student Employees by Gender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . .                 13
 

Representation of Black Students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .                 14
 

Representation of Hispanic Students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                    15
 

Representation of Asian and Pacific Islander Students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . .                  16
 

Representation of Native American Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                  17
 

Representation of White Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                     18
 

Students by Race and National Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                    19
 
 

FOREWORD
 
 
 

The Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) has developed a Student Employment Program Report (SEPR). SEPR is an important recruiting resource designed to help agencies eliminate the under representation of minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities in the Department of Agriculture (USDA).
 

The SEPR should be used by each agency as a tool to help develop plans to improve diversity and to monitor the results of targeted recruitment or employment efforts. We suggest that the SEPR be distributed widely.
 
 

ii
 

DATA COVERAGE AND DEFINITIONS
 

The student employment statistics used in this report were collected from the Mission Area Student Educational Employment Program Managers.The report represents nationwide data. It includes students who were enrolled in the student programs as of July 2001. It also includes information about the student programs, and information on the number of students who were converted from student appointments to Career or Career Conditional Federal assignments. OHRM made every effort to collect and use the most accurate data in developing this report.
 

Students are participants of the following student programs:
 

• Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Intern
• American Indian Higher Education Consortium-Washington Internships for Native Students Internship (AIHEC-WINS)
• Career Experience
• D.C. Federal Jobs Initiative
• D.C. Summer Works
• Government Connection Apprenticeship
• Greater Washington Urban League Summer Youth
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and University Intern (HACU)
• Other Programs (Includes the International Intern Program and Other Agency Programs)
• Student Temporary Employment
• Summer Intern
• USDA/1890 National Scholars and Woodrow Wilson Fellows
• Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities

 

Departmental Administration (DA) Serviced Agencies

Office of Budget and Program Analysis

Office of Civil Rights

Office of Human Resources Management

Office of Operations

Office of Procurement Property and Emergency Preparedness

Office of the Chief Economist

Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)

Office of the Chief Information Officer

Office of the General Counsel

Office of the Secretary

Office of Inspector General (OIG)

Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS)

Farm Service Agency

Foreign Agricultural Service

Risk Management Agency
 

Food Safety

Food Safety and Inspection Service
 

Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services (FNCS)

Food and Nutrition Service
 

Natural Resources and Environment (NRE)

Forest Service

Natural Resources Conservation Service
 

Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP)

Agricultural Marketing Service

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
 

Research, Education and Economics (REE)

Agricultural Research Service

Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service

Economic Research Service

National Agricultural Statistics Service
 

Rural Development (RD)
 

OCFO-National Finance Center (NFC)
 

INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENT PROGRAMS

Additional information on student programs may be obtained from the Mission Area Student Programs Managers or from the other individuals that may be identified in the write-ups. Information about the student programs listed in this report and about others is as follows:
 

Nationwide:

Federal Student Educational Employment Program - Co-op Component
 

These students can be recruited at any time during the year. Some work summers and school vacations; some work part-time throughout the year; and still others work full-time for one or more semesters. These students can be hired directly into the Excepted Service and immediately converted to the Competitive Service after graduation if they have worked at least 640 hours. Specialized variations of this program include:
 

USDA/1890 National Scholars

Each year, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides 34 or more full 4-year scholarships to any of the 17 Historically Black 1890 Institutions as part of the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program. The scholarship program is open to students completing their senior year of high school, who score a minimum of 1000 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or a score of 21 or higher on the American College Testing examination. Candidates must also have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or better. Scholars must major in agricultural related fields, food or natural sciences, or other allied disciplines such as computer science, pre-veterinary medicine, and biological sciences. Students normally work during the summers. For additional information you may access the USDA/1890 Internet site at: http://1890scholars.program.usda.gov or contact the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program Manager, Linda Oliphant, at (301) 504-2223 or write to:

USDA, Natural Resources and Conservation Service
Attn: USDA/1890 National Scholars Program Manager
STOP 5474
5601 Sunnyside Avenue
Beltsville, Maryland 20705
 

Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area:

Government Connection Apprenticeship

The Government Connection Apprenticeship Program is a partnership between the Prince George's County Maryland Public School System and USDA which moves the classroom into the Department to facilitate the training of students to fill clerical and administrative support positions. USDA is partnered with High Point High School. The Government Connection Apprenticeship Program provides challenging work for students as well as, income, and will allow students to obtain permanent employment after graduation, or will allow them to pursue their goals for higher education. The program is open to students in their senior year at High Point. Selections are normally made in the spring. Students normally work the summer before their senior year of high school and throughout the senior year. Students may be obtained using either the Federal student regulations or the Agency's contracting authority. They are paid at the GS-1 rate of $7.52 per hour, which may be increased to the GS-2 hourly rate after 6 months.
 

Nationwide:

Federal Student Educational Employment Program - Student Temporary Employment Component

These students can be recruited at any time during the year to work for up to 1 year, but some work for a summer. Students may be converted from this component to the Co-op component at any time to perform career related duties. Students may also be reappointed to the Co-op component. Student temporaries have no conversion eligibility. They are sometimes screened by third parties. Variations of this program include::
 

Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities

The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities (WRP) is designed to assist students with disabilities gain employment with Federal agencies. This program is coordinated by the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and the Department of Defense, with a consortium of 16 other Federal agencies participating. In addition to summer opportunities, this program also provides opportunities for college students with disabilities to explore permanent Federal job options.

All students hired under WRP are provided the necessary workplace accommodations such as sign language interpreting services, microcomputer accessible technologies, and telecommunication devices for the deaf. In order to successfully perform essential job functions, the Department of Defense lends equipment to the employing agency for the duration of the WRP student's employment. Additional information may be obtained from Bill Haig, USDA Disability Employment Program Manager, Departmental Administration, Office of Human Resources Management, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250 at (202) 720-0516 voice or (202) 720-7850 (fax), or william.haig@usda.gov (e-mail).
 

USDA Summer Intern

USDA offers paid summer internships involving substantive work assignments to college students, or to high school graduates who have been accepted by a college, as part of the USDA Summer Intern Program. Internships are located in Washington, D.C., and throughout the nation. Summer Intern opportunities are posted on the Internet at www.usda.gov/da/employ/intern.htm. Agency's estimates for this program are due by the end of November each year. The first applications in response to the opportunities are normally screened by the end of February or early March of the following year. Agencies may also elect to announce other summer opportunities to meet their needs.
 

Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area:

D.C. Federal Jobs Initiative

The D.C. Federal Jobs Initiative is a White House/Federal/Washington, D.C., Government initiative that provides employment for D.C. youth. Most USDA initiative candidates are college students. However, agencies can request high school students. Students may be employed for the summer only or they may be employed year-round. They earn approximately $9 - $10 per hour or less depending on the nature of their assignment, and their qualifications. Candidates are referred by the D.C. Office of Employment Services in the spring. Also, students who live in Washington, D.C., or who are permanent residence of D.C., and who are identified by a manager may also be selected as part of the initiative.

Law School Civil Rights Intern

The Law School Civil Rights Intern Program is a USDA/Howard University initiative that provides temporary year-round, or summer internships for second and third year Howard University Law School students to work in USDA's Agencies. These interns can work in any office notwithstanding the name of the program. Interns earn approximately $14 per hour. Additional information may be obtained from the Howard University Law School Placement Office at (202) 806-8001.
 

Student Host Assignments Funded by USDA

These students are paid by third parties and are not USDA employees. They have no conversion eligibility when they graduate. However, if the student has sufficient time before graduation to work the minimum number of hours for a cooperative education appointment, they can usually be appointed under that program at the beginning of the next semester.

Nationwide:

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Internships

The USDA E.(Kika) De La Garza Internship Program is one of the building blocks of the partnership between USDA and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). Through this program outreach efforts are focused to advance USDA's vision of increasing educational and employment opportunities for academically qualified students of Hispanic Serving Institutions, as well as other students that participate in this program. The program offers spring, fall and summer internships. Costs for the summer 2001 internship program was $8,500 and approximately $11,700 for the fall 2001 and spring 2001. Additional information may be obtained from agency HACU liaisons or Maria Patterson, National Program Director, at (202)720-6506.

Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area:

American Indian Higher Education Consortium-Washington Internships for Native American Students-(AIHEC-WINS):

USDA participates in the Washington Internships for Native American Students (WINS) Program in partnership with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. AIHEC-WINS is a distinctive paid 10-week learning experience for future Native American leaders. AIHEC-WINS interns are not USDA employees, but USDA pays a fee for each intern. Costs for the program are $9,500 per student. Bonafide Alaska Native American, or other Native American college students who will be sophomores or juniors as of May, and who have a GPA of 2.5 or above are eligible for the program. Additional information may be obtained from:

Washington Internships for Native Students
The American University WINS, Nebraska Hall, Room 104
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016-8126
(202) 895-4967
 

Student Host assignments, Free to USDA

These students are either paid by a third party or not at all. They are not USDA employees and have no conversion eligibility. However, if the student has sufficient time before graduation to work the minimum number of hours for a Co-op appointment, you can appoint them under that program at the beginning of the next semester.

Nationwide:

Student Volunteer

USDA provides unpaid internships as part of the Federal Student Volunteer Program. Volunteer positions may be made at anytime with only a letter of understanding between the USDA Agency or Mission Area and a student's accredited institution such as a high school, trade school, college or university. Student volunteers are not considered Federal employees except for injury compensation or laws related to Tort Claims.
 

Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area:

Greater Washington Urban League Summer Youth

The Greater Washington Urban League Summer Youth Program provides short-term employment for students. The Urban League funds students' salaries and Federal agencies provide work sites. In the spring, Agencies identify the number of students they need to serve for two 1 week sessions during the summer. Candidates apply to the Urban League and are referred to work sites in the summer.

D.C. Summer Works:

The D.C. Summer Works Program provides paid employment for District of Columbia youth. The D.C. Government pays the youth's salaries, and Federal agencies provide work sites. Agencies identify their needs in the spring. Candidates are referred for placement by the D.C. Office of Employment Services in July.
 

Nationwide Agency Programs:

ARS Intern Programs:

The ARS Intern Programs are not required to be formally advertised. Management may recruit for student positions on their own (e.g., contacting local schools) to solicit applications. Managers work directly with their Human Resources Specialist in hiring students. Students can go to the website http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/areas.htm and contact locations directly to see if management has positions they are seeking to fill.

Research Apprentice Program - The program is targeted to high school students who have an interest in science, maintain satisfactory grade averages and are referred by local high school science teachers. These federal positions are appointed temporarily during the summer for 8 weeks full-time.

Summer Medical and Research Training (SMART) Program - Provides summer internships at the Agricultural Research Service-Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX, for college students in the pre-medical/research field. Eligibility is based on academics. The SMART Program positions are funded by the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX. Eligible pre-medical and science college students submit applications to BCM for a paid temporary 8-week summer intern position. Students hired are BCM employees. Students are not considered federal employees.

Teacher Research Fellowship Program - This program is directed toward elementary, junior, and senior high school biological or physical science or mathematics teachers. The prime objective is to acquaint teachers with modern Agricultural Research Service research in a hands-on laboratory settings, thus enabling them to better communicate career opportunities to their students. This appointment is a federal temporary appointment for an 8-week full time assignment at the GS-5 to GS-7 grade levels.
 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OHRM's student report indicates that USDA's recruitment of students increased tremendously for 2001while strides were made with efforts to hire women and minorities. SERP shows the number of students Departmentwide(headquarters and field) increased by almost 65 percent from 5,320 students in Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 to 8,765 in FY 2001. Minorities represent 2,454 individuals of the Departmentwide total students. This is an increase over last year's total of 1,888 students. The large increase in students was led by the Forest Service. Hispanic students increased by 1.4 percent including an increase in their participation in the Career Experience Program. (Career Experience positions may be converted to permanent positions once students complete their education.) Black students showed good representation at 12.7 percent of all students. Asian and Pacific Islander students showed a small increase in their numbers rising from 212 students in 2000 to 297 in 2001. Native Americans showed a decrease in their numbers and in their percentage in the student population. However, Native American students did show an increase in the number of students in the Career Experience Program rising from 47 students in 2000 to 61 students in 2001. White students showed the largest increase rising from 3,432 students in 2000 to 6,313 in 2001. They represent 72 percent of all students.

The SEPR shows the number of Career Experience Program positions increased by more than 14 percent from 1,031 positions in FY 2000 to 1,177 positions in August 2001. Also, women students in USDA almost doubled from 2,760 women in 2000 to 4,151 in 2001.

The Benefits of Increased Student Employment

As USDA anticipates the retirement or the eligibility for retirement of a substantial portion of its 85,000 employees within the next few years, USDA needs to prepare for this increased turnover. Additionally, USDA needs to be able to more quickly respond to changes in priorities, to increase entry-level hiring, and to improve workforce diversity. USDA's increased use of student programs places it in a good position to meet these challenges. Use of the student programs allows managers to preview the performance of prospective permanent employees, and the ability to convert students to permanent appointments in the case of the Career Experience Program. (Career Experience positions can be used as feeder positions to fill scientific, professional, technical, administrative, support and blue color positions. Students who attend accredited educational institutions on at least a half-time basis at the High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED), Vocational/Technical Certificate, Associate Degree, Baccalaureate Degree, Graduate Degree, and Professional Degree may be employed under the Career Experience Program.)

Students are Cost Effective

They earn between $8.00 to $10.00 per hour for the approximately 8,500 students who are on USDA's payroll; $8,500 to $9,500 for the 121 students who are paid under contracts with third parties such as the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities; and free for the 47 students who are paid by others.

The Flexible Schedules of Student Employees

Most students work part-time. However, under the Student Temporary Employment Program students can also work full-time. This flexibility allowed the Forest Service to use some students during the fire season.

Conversion of Students to Permanent Positions

USDA's mission areas reported the conversion of students from the Career Experience Program to permanent positions. Information on the conversions is as follows:
 
 

MISSION AREA/AGENCY	NUMBER OF CONVERSIONS
Food and Nutrition Service	2
Food Safety and Inspection Service	2
Foreign Agricultural Service	7
Forest Service	89
Marketing and Regulatory Programs	24
Natural Resources Conservation Service	24
Office of Human Resources Management	1
Office of Operations	1
TOTAL	150

STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Minorities represent 28 percent of the student employment in USDA. Other highlights in Student Employment are as follows:

• Hispanic students increased by 1.4 percent including an increase in their participation in the Career Experience Program.
• The representation of white students rose significantly. They represented 72 percent of all students in 2001. White students constitute 6,313 students.
• The representation of women students in USDA almost doubled from 2,760 women in 2000 to 4,151 in 2001.
• The representation of Asian and Pacific Islander students in USDA rose slightly from 212 students in 2000 to 297 students in 2001.
• The representation of Blacks increased from 976 students in 2000 to 1,116 students in 2001. However, their percentage fell from 18.3 percent to 12.7 percent.
• The Natural Resources and Environment Mission Area employed 68.4 percent of all students. This is an increase of 8.2 percent.
• The Forest Service continues to be the leader in employing students.

Source: Mission Area 2000 and 2001 Student Program data.
 
 

Source: 2001 Department of Agriculture Mission Area/Agency supplied data. Includes students paid by USDA, and by others.
 
 

Source: 2001 Department of Agriculture Mission Area/Agency supplied data. Includes students paid by USDA, and by others.
 

REPRESENTATION OF BLACK STUDENTS
 

• The representation of Black students in USDA increased from 976 in FY 2000 to 1,116 in August 2001. Blacks constitute 12.7 percent of the student workforce.

• Black women represent 665 students or 7.6 percent of the total students participating in all student programs.
• Black men represent 451 students or 5.1 percent of the total student body.

 

Source: 2001 Mission Area Student Program data. Includes students paid by USDA, and by others.
 

REPRESENTATION OF HISPANIC STUDENTS
 

• The representation of Hispanic students in USDA stands at 781 in August 2001. This includes 158 individuals who are in the career path Career Experience Program. Hispanics constitute 8.9 percent of the student workforce.

 

• Hispanic women represent 361 students or 4.1percent of the total students participating in all student programs.

 

• Hispanic men represent 420 students or 4.8 percent of the total student body.

 

Source: 2001 Mission Area Student Program data. Includes students paid by USDA, and by others.
 

REPRESENTATION OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER STUDENTS
 

• The number of Asian and Pacific Islander students in USDA increased from 212 in FY 2000 to 297 in August 2001. Asian and Pacific Islander students constitute 3.4 percent of the total student population.

 

• Asian and Pacific Islander women represent 162 students or 1.8 percent of the total students participating in all student programs.

 

• Asian and Pacific Islander men represent 135 students or 1.6 percent of the total student body.

 

Source: 2001 Mission Area Student Program data. Includes students paid by USDA, and by others.
 

REPRESENTATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS
 

• The number of Native American students in USDA decreased from 302 in FY 2000 to 258 in August 2001. USDA's continued participation in efforts such as the Native American Higher Education Consortium-Washington Internships for Native Students Internship will help to bring more students to the Department. Native American students constitute 2.9 percent of the total student population.

 

• Native American women represent 106 students or 1.2 percent of the total students participating in all student programs.

 

• Native American men represent 152 students or 1.7 percent of the total student body.

 

Source: 2001 Mission Area Student Program data. Includes students paid by USDA, and by others.
 

REPRESENTATION OF WHITE STUDENTS
 

• The representation of white students in USDA stands at 6,313 as of August 2001. White students constitute 72 percent of the total student population.

 

• White women represent 2,852 students or 32.5 percent of the total students participating in all student programs.

 

• White men represent 3,461 students or 39.5 percent of the total student body.

Source: 2001 Mission Area Student Program data. Includes students paid by USDA, and by others.
 
 

Source: 2001 Mission Area Student Program data. Includes students paid by USDA, and by others.