Forward
 

Data Coverage and Definitions
 

Information about the Student and Internship Programs
 

Executive Summary
 

Agency Conversions to Permanent Positions
 

Statistical Highlights
 

Student and Intern Employment
 

Student and Intern Employment Workforce Overview
 

Distribution of Students and Interns by Mission Area
 

Student and Intern Employees by Gender
 

Representation of African American Students and Interns
 

Representation of American Indian Students and Interns
 

Representation of Asian and Pacific Islander Students and Interns
 

Representation of Hispanic Students and Interns
 

Representation of White Students and Interns
 

Students and Interns by Race and National Origin
 
 
 

FOREWORD
 
 
 

The Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) has developed a Student and Internship Program Report (SIPR). SIPR 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 SIRP 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 SIRP be distributed widely.
 
 

DATA COVERAGE AND DEFINITIONS
 

The student and intern employment statistics used in this report were collected from the Mission Area Student Educational Employment Program Managers. The report represents nationwide data. It includes individuals who were enrolled in the student and intern programs as of August 2003. It also includes information about the student and intern programs, and information on the number of individuals who were converted from student and intern appointments to Career or Career Conditional Federal assignments. OHRM made every effort to collect and use the most accurate data in developing this report.
 

USDA's students and interns are participants of the following student and internship programs:
 

• Agricultural Intern
• Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Intern
• American Indian Higher Education Consortium-Washington Internships for Native Students (AIHEC-WINS)
• Career Experience
• Career Intern
• D.C. Federal Jobs Initiative
• D.C. Summer Works
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and University Intern (HACU)
• Law School Civil Rights Intern
• Other Programs (Includes Other Agency Programs)
• Presidential Management Intern
• Student Temporary Employment
• Student Volunteer
• Summer Intern
• USDA/1890 National Scholars
• Workforce Recruitment Program

 

Departmental Administration (DA) Serviced Agencies

Office of the Secretary

Global Change and Analysis

Office of Budget and Program Analysis

Office of Civil Rights

Office of Communications

Office of Human Resources Management

Office of Operations

Office of the Chief Economist

Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)

Office of the Chief Information Officer

Office of the Executive Secretariat

Office of the General Counsel
 

Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services(FFAS)

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 THE STUDENT AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS

Additional information on student and intern programs may be obtained from the Mission Area Student Programs Managers who are listed on the Internet at http://www.usda.gov/da/employ/intern.htm or from the other individuals that may be identified in the write-ups. Information about the student and intern programs listed in this report and about others is as follows:

Nationwide:

Career Intern

The Career Intern Program is designed to attract exceptional men and women to the Federal workforce who have diverse professional experiences, academic training, and competencies, and to prepare them for careers in public service. Throughout the 2-year internship, individuals participate in a formal training program and job assignments to develop competencies appropriate to the agency's mission and needs. The program is a tool that allows agencies to hire promising external and internal candidates with minimal red tape. 
 

Presidential Management Intern

The Presidential Management Intern (PMI) Program is the Federal Government's premiere program for bringing persons with advanced degrees into Federal Service. It was established by Executive Order in 1977 to attract to the Federal service outstanding individuals from a wide variety of academic disciplines who have an interest in, and commitment to, a career in the public service. By drawing graduate students from diverse social and cultural backgrounds, the PMI Program provides a continuing source of trained men and women to meet the future challenges of public service. The PMI Program is an excellent source of high potential candidates for management and program analyst jobs.
 

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 Public Service Scholars

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Public Service Scholars Program is designed to promote public service and to create access to higher education for undergraduate and graduate students. USDA is making an investment in building the future workforce with talented men and women dedicated to
public service who are choosing agriculture as a profession.

Students are selected for the program based on their strong academic ability, leadership skills and commitment to public service. Public Service Scholars become permanent employees of USDA upon completion of their degrees. Until then, they work as student employees and receive a scholarship covering their full tuition, book stipend, use of a personal computer, mentoring, career development assistance and leadership training. Additional information may be obtained from Maria Goldberg, National Program Director, at (202)720-6506.
 

USDA/1890 National Scholars

Each year, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides 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, Office of Human Resources Management

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 (WRP) is designed to assist students with disabilities gain employment with Federal agencies. This program is coordinated by the Office of Disability Employment Policy 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, assistive technology, 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 Samantha Schmucker, USDA WRP Coordinator, at (202) 720-3263 voice, or (202) 720-7850 (fax), or samantha.schmucker@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 listed in the annual Summer Intern Brochure which is issued in December of each year, and 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:

Agricultural Intern Program:

USDA's Agricultural Intern Program will prepare exceptional men and women who are pursuing education in the agricultural sciences for careers in these areas. Interns will participate in a semester long program that is designed to fine tune their skills and abilities. Students are nominated for the program by the dean, director, or chairperson of their academic degree program at participating institutions. Nominations are screened, and evaluated by USDA officials. The criteria used by the officials may include: academic performance, quality of accomplishments, demonstrated leadership, realistic career goals, potential for future professional growth, and quality of written expression. The best candidates may be interviewed either in person or via telephones.
 

Students are appointed under an Excepted Service appointment for a semester long internship at the GS-4, 5, 7, or 9 levels depending on their experience and education. These internships differ from most internships in their emphasis on hands-on experience in the various USDA Mission Areas and Agencies. Through a variety of work, shadow, and rotational assignments interns are encouraged to be exposed to a wide range of management areas and issues. At the successful completion of the semester long internship, the student will return to school with hands on experience in USDA's career growth fields.

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 may request high school students. Students may be employed for the summer only or they may be employed year-round. They earn approximately $10 - $11 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 officenotwithstanding the name of the program. Interns earn approximately $15 per hour. Additional information may be obtained from the Howard University Law School Placement Office at (202) 806-8135.
 

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 2003 internship program was $8,500 and approximately $11,700 for the fall 2003 and spring 2003. Additional information may be obtained from agency HACU liaisons or Maria Goldberg, National Program Director, at (202)720-6506.
 

Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area:

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

USDA participates in the Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS) Program in partnership with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. AIHEC-WINS is a distinctive paid 10-week learning experience for future American Indian leaders. AIHEC-WINS interns are not USDA employees, but USDA pays a fee for each intern. Costs for the program are $10,000 per student. Bonafide Alaska American Indian, or other American Indian 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, the student, 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:

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.
 

Foreign Agricultural Service International Internship Program

The Foreign Agricultural Service International Internship Program provides a small number of international agricultural internships to college students that will assist them in making career choices. Complete information about the International Internship Program is available in the program brochure on the Internet at http://www.fas.usda.gov/admin/student/IIP_Brochure.pdf. Additional information may also be obtained from:
 

USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service Civil Rights Office

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Room 6508 South Building

Washington, D. C. 20250

Telephone: (202) 720-7233
 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

USDA's new Career Intern Program was launched in 2002. It is off to a good start in terms of allowing agencies to easily fill mainstream occupations in the sciences and in administration/professional areas. The number of Career Interns almost tripled in 2003. A diverse group of 205 individuals has been selected so far. Most of the selectees possessed either a Bachelor's or a Master's Degree.

OHRM's student and intern report also indicates that USDA's recruitment of students and interns remained almost constant for 2003 while strides were made with efforts to hire women and minorities. In 2003 USDA's women students and interns exceeded the number of men in these categories. Minorities represent 2,106 individuals or 26.8 percent of the Departmentwide total students and interns. This is an increase over last year's percentage of 26.2 percent. The Forest Service lead USDA in its employment of students and interns even though it has experienced work force adjustments. All minorities maintained good representation as follows:

Hispanic students increased their participation in the Career Experience and Career Intern Programs. (Career Experience positions may be converted to permanent positions once students complete their education. Career Intern positions lead to permanent positions once the internship is completed.) The SIRP shows the number of Career Experience Program positions increased almost 6 percent from 1,377 positions in FY 2002 to1445 positions in August 2003.
 

The Benefits of Increased Student and Intern Employment

As USDA anticipates the retirement or the eligibility for retirement of a substantial portion of its almost 100,000 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 be able to increase entry-level hiring, and to improve workforce diversity. USDA's increased use of student and intern programs places it in a good position to meet these challenges. Use of the student and intern programs allows managers to preview the performance of prospective permanent employees, and the ability to convert students and interns to permanent appointments in the case of the Career Experience, Career Intern, and Presidential Management Intern Programs. (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. The Career Intern and Presidential Management Intern Programs are geared to recent college graduates. Although persons with outstanding experience backgrounds may be considered for the Career Intern Program.)
 

Students and high skilled and/or degree bearing interns are cost effective.

Students earn between $10.00 to $11.00 per hour for the approximately 7,690 students who are on USDA's payroll; $8,500 to $10,000 for the 130 students who are paid under contracts with third parties such as the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities; and free for the 17 students who are paid by others, and the 19 students who are volunteers. Degree holding and/or high skilled interns in the Career Intern Program earn between $26,429 to $40,044 in the Washington, D.C. area depending on their qualifications and/or education. PMI's in the Washington, D.C. area earn $40,044.
 

The Flexible Schedules of Student and Intern 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. Degree holding and/or high skilled interns work full time and have full benefits packages.
 

Agency Conversions to Permanent Positions

USDA's mission areas reported the conversion of students and interns from the Career Experience Program, USDA/1890 National Scholars, and Career Interns to permanent positions. Information on the conversions is as follows:
 
 
 

MISSION AREA/AGENCY/OR PROGRAM	NUMBER OF CONVERSIONS
Food and Nutrition Service	8
Food Safety and Inspection Service	2
Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services	9
Marketing and Regulatory Programs	8
Natural Resources Conservation Service	52
Research, Education and Economics	4
USDA/1890 National Scholars	18
Career Interns	3
TOTAL	104

 

STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS
 

Minorities represent 26.8 percent of the student and intern employment in USDA. Other highlights in Student and Intern Employment are as follows:
 

• Hispanics constitute 9.3 percent of the student and intern workforce. They also increased their participation in the Career Experience Program.

 

• White students represented 73.2 percent of all students and interns in 2003. They constitute 5,750 students and interns.

• Women are now the leading gender for students and interns. This is the first year that this has been the case. Women represented 4,163 of the student and intern population in 2003.

• The representation of African Americans remained good at 12.2 percent in 2003.

• The Natural Resources and Environment Mission Area employed 62.7 percent of all students and interns.

 
• The Forest Service continues to be the leader in employing students.

 

STUDENT AND INTERN EMPLOYMENT WORKFORCE OVERVIEW
 

The student and internship employment covered in this report remained almost constant for 2003. Also, the percentage of minority students remained good. Women are now the leading gender in terms of numbers for students and interns. Women represent 53 percent of all students and interns.
 
 

Source: Mission Area 2002 and 2003 Student and Internship Program data.
 
 

Source: 2003 Department of Agriculture Mission Area/Agency supplied data. Includes students and interns paid by USDA, paid by others, and volunteers.
 
 

Source: 2003 Department of Agriculture Mission Area/Agency supplied data. Includes students and interns paid by USDA, paid by others, and volunteers.
 

REPRESENTATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS AND INTERNS
 

• African Americans are well represented at USDA at 12.2 percent of all students and interns in August 2003.

 
• African American women represent 7.5 percent of the individuals participating in student and intern programs. This is an increase over last year's percentage.

• African American men represent 4.6 percent of the individuals participating in student and intern programs. This is a slight increase over last year's percentage.

 

Source: 2003 Mission Area Student and Internship Programs data. Includes students and interns paid by USDA, paid by others, and volunteers.
 

REPRESENTATION OF AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENTS AND INTERNS
 

• American Indians are well represented at USDA at 2.4 percent of all students and interns in August 2003. USDA's continued participation in efforts such as the American Indian Higher Education Consortium-Washington Internships for Native Students will help to bring more students to the Department.

 
• American Indian women represent 1.4 percent of the total individuals participating in student and intern programs.

 
• American Indian men represent 1 percent of the total individuals participating in student and intern programs.

 

Source: 2003 Mission Area Student and Internship Program data. Includes students and interns paid by USDA, paid by others, and volunteers.
 
 
 

REPRESENTATION OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER STUDENTS AND INTERNS
 

• Asian and Pacific Islanders are well represented at USDA at 3 percent of all students and interns in August 2003.

• Asian and Pacific Islander women represent 1.6 percent of the individuals participating in student and intern programs.

 
• Asian and Pacific Islander men represent 1.4 percent of the individuals participating in student and intern programs.

 

Source: 2003 Mission Area Student and Internship Program data. Includes students and interns paid by USDA, paid by others, and volunteers.
 

REPRESENTATION OF HISPANIC STUDENTS AND INTERNS
 

• The representation of Hispanic students and interns in USDA stands at 729 individuals in August 2003. This includes 179 individuals who are in the career path Career Experience Program. This is an increase over last year's total in this program. Hispanics constitute 9.3 percent of the student and intern workforce.

 
• Hispanic women represent 4.7 percent of the individuals participating in student and intern programs. This is an increase over last year's percentage.

 
• Hispanic men represent 4.6 percent of the individuals participating in student and intern programs.

The majority of the Hispanic students participate in the Student Temporary Employment Program. There are 397 Hispanic students enrolled in this program. The second largest program in which students participate is the Career Experience Program. The Forest Service hired the most Hispanic students in these programs with a total of 358 individuals.The Agricultural Research Service had the second highest total of Hispanic students in these programs with a total of 115 individuals.
 
 

Source: 2003 Mission Area Student and Internship Program data. Includes students and interns paid by USDA, paid by others, and volunteers.
 

REPRESENTATION OF WHITE STUDENTS AND INTERNS

• The representation of white students and interns in USDA stands at 5,750 as of August 2003. They constitute 73.2 percent of the total student and intern population.

 
• White women represent 37.8 percent of the total individuals participating in student and intern programs. This is an increase over last year's percentage.

 
• White men represent 35.4 percent of the total individuals participating in student and intern programs.

 

Source: 2003 Mission Area Student and Internship Program data. Includes students and interns paid by USDA, paid by others, and volunteers.
 
 

Source: 2003 Mission Area Student and Internship Program data. Includes students and interns paid by USDA, paid by others, and volunteers.