Office Support Professional Personnel

The Training Scholarship Program is intended to assist in professional development of individual(s) through funding for conferences, workshops, short courses, or other appropriate short-term experiences. Eligibility, Criteria and Application Process are outlined below.

REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP

PURPOSE:

The Training Scholarship Program is intended to assist in professional development of individual(s) through funding for conferences, workshops, short courses, or other appropriate short-term experiences.

ELIGIBILITY:

• Applicants for this scholarship must be permanent ARS employees who have successfully completed one year of continuous employment with the Agency.
• Applicants must have a current fully successful or above performance rating.

CRITERIA:

• Completed applications will be accepted annually. Deadline for applications will be May 1. Scholarship will be awarded by June 1.
• Applications are evaluated but not automatically funded.
• An individual/group can receive only one scholarship per year.
• Individual scholarships will not exceed $1,000.
• Scholarship awards are not valid on completed training that has been already funded by the unit.
• Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria: relevance of the training to the applicant's position, ability to enhance the applicant professionally/personally, and the benefit to others.
• Scholarship recipients will submit a written report to Debbie Roland, SAA ACOP Chair, through appropriate supervisory channels, summarizing the activity within 30 days following completion of the training.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Application forms will be available on the council website.  (Application Form)

Submit scanned form, signed by supervisor and/or RL, and all supporting documentation to Debbie Roland, SAA ACOP Chair at Debbie.Roland@ars.usda.gov.  Recipients will complete a Form SF-182 upon approval.