Functional Statements > Federal Student Aid

Administrative Services

Administrative Services (AS) is responsible for managing within Federal Student Aid activities related to human resources programs and operations, facilities operations and employee development. To accomplish this mission, Administrative Services is divided into the following areas:

• Human Resources Workforce Services Group
• Facilities, Security and Emergency Management Services Group
• Workforce Development Services Group

The immediate office will provide close coordination and alignment of administrative activities with FSA's strategic initiatives. It will also manage the development and oversight of the implementation of the Federal Student Aid Human Capital Plan and organization-wide initiatives that support implementation of the Plan. AS will serve as the coordination point for Human Capital planning, development of Human Capital strategies, and will serve as FSA's administrative coordination point for other Government and Department-wide initiatives related to Human Capital. It will also serve as the FSA hub for implementation of any Human Capital Management implementation initiatives.

Human Resources Workforce Services Group

Human Resources & Workforce Services is responsible for the full spectrum of human resources operational functions and programs, and workforce management services including the development of FSA human resource policies and the provision of advice and assistance to the FSA employees in human resources policy matters. As appropriate, such services shall be provided in coordination with the Department of Education's Human Resources Services and/or the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). To accomplish this mission, the Human Resources Workforce Services is divided into the following Divisions:

• Workforce Administration Division
• Workforce Relations Division

Workforce Administration Division

Workforce Administration Division is responsible for providing the full range of support for the following functional areas:

Staffing & Recruitment Services: Serves as the FSA technical experts for a full range of staffing & recruitment matters. These include all staffing and placement, as well as SF-52 (request for personnel action) processing. These responsibilities also include appointments to the competitive service through the application of FSA's delegated examining authority and noncompetitive appointments to the excepted service.

Classification/Position Management and Organizational Development: Serves as the FSA technical experts for a full range of classification, position management and organizational development matters. These include: facilitating the development of and approving position descriptions; classification of general schedule position descriptions; and facilitating the design, clearance and approval of FSA organizational changes.

Human Resources Systems Administration: Provides the full range of support for the development, testing, implementation, and administration of human resource information and administration systems for processing and reporting human resources and pay data to satisfy FSA information requirements, including position accounting, accession data, employee and pay records systems, and payroll accounting.

Administrative Management Support: Provides coordination and direction to Administrative Officers within Federal Student Aid business units on the completion of crosscutting human resource management initiatives.

FSA Intern Program: Responsible for providing gifted and highly motivated young Americans with some first-hand experience in the process of working at FSA, while potentially attracting these candidates for future employment.

Workforce Relations Division

Workforce Relations Division is responsible for providing the full range of support for the following functional areas:

Employee Relations: Serves as the FSA technical experts for a full range of employee relations matters. These responsibilities include disciplinary/adverse actions; performance management issues; reasonable accommodation issues; appraisals and awards programs; the Drug-Free Workplace Program; and administrative grievances and appeals.

Labor Relations: Provides labor relations advice and assistance. Serves as the point of contact for all labor relations matters. Conducts negotiations with labor organizations. Represents FSA in proceedings before arbitrators or the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and in dealings with OPM and other agencies in labor relations.

Human Resources Work-Life Program: Plans and develops FSA work-life programs and provides advice and assistance to the FSA employees on work-life program matters. Provides information, referral, and support services to FSA employees on matters such as childcare, elder care, flexiplace and telecommuting program implementation, reasonable accommodations, and programs for the accessibility of Department services for people with disabilities.

Facilities, Security and Emergency Management Services Group

Facilities, Security and Emergency Management Services (FSEMS) is responsible for planning, managing, and directing FSA's safety, security, and emergency management programs in coordination with the Department's Office of Management. In particular, FSEMS serves as a liaison to the Department in support of the following functional areas:

Facilities Management: Monitors and manages the utilization of physical space in the Union Center Plaza (UCP) building for Education's staff. This includes providing day-to-day services and support for maintenance, renovation, reconfigurations, Learning Center scheduling and facilitation, garage management, employee transportation and space planning/management services. FSEM also collaborates and coordinates efforts with the Office of Management and theGeneral Services Administrationto address needs and issues related to FSA staff located in Education's regional offices.

Physical Security Management: Serves as the lead for FSA in coordination and liaison with the Office ofManagement Security Services, Federal Protective Services and other Federal agencies on implementation of federal physical security directives. FSEMG serves as a liaison on all aspects of physical security at the UCP building to ensure a safe and secure working environment for all FSA staff and visitors including: coordination of the contract guard force, coordination of security response to all building emergencies, development and maintenance of the FSA Occupant Emergency Plan, and providing technical assistance regarding security issues such as external building and internal workplace threats, suspicious objects, medical emergencies and natural disasters. FSEMG provides leadership on and coordinates all tenant security matters in the UCP building including the issuance, management and control of badge and cardkey systems to control access to FSA occupied space for security purposes.

Personnel Security: Provides support and serves as the liaison to the Department's Security Services office on the personnel security functions required for background checks and the initiation and issuance of Personal Identity Verification (PIV) identification badges for Federal Student Aid workforce and contractor resources.

Emergency Management: In coordination with the Office of Management and FSA CIO, designs, plans and implements programs that respond to a wide variety of disasters and other emergencies, critical situation management, safety, and personnel security. FSEMG participates in the development of FSA's Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP), coordinates FSA's emergency response program, and supports FSA's mission under the Federal Response Plan, which provides delivery of Federal assistance when major disasters or emergencies develop.

Workforce Development Services Group

Workforce Development Services (WDS) has primary responsibility for building a highly competent workforce and advancing organizational performance by providing training, development, and other services leading to the highest performance of people and teams in Federal Student Aid. WDS has responsibilities for, leadership and organizational development, competency assessment and development, curriculum design, and delivery of training programs. WDS performs its functions through the following three divisions:

• Leadership Development and Federal Student Aid Improvement Division
• Employee Development Division
• Skills Development and Business Unit Advisory Division

Leadership Development and Federal Student Aid Improvement Division

Leadership Development and Federal Student Aid Improvement Division (LD & FSAIGD) supports the front office of Administrative Services in the development of the Federal Student Aid Human Capital Plan, Human Capital strategies, and organization-wide initiatives that support implementation of the Plan, especially with respect to ensuring that Federal Student Aid has current leaders with strong skills and a "deep bench" of potential leaders. The Division is responsible for providing information, training, mentoring, coaching, and other services needed to ensure that current and high potential supervisors can obtain the training and development opportunities they need to be successful. LD & FSAID also identifies best practices in human capital management and implements workforce improvement strategies. The Division is also responsible for performing other organization wide initiatives and special projects, such as administration and follow-up to employee surveys and development and delivery of diversity training and awareness programs.

Employee Development Division

Employee Development Division (EDD) is responsible for assisting employees from initial orientation through their careers with Federal Student Aid. EDD ensures that new employees receive orientation and serves as a resource for employees on issues related to their development needs and goals. EDD arranges for the delivery of classes to help employees meet the mission of Federal Student Aid. They handle the communications, logistics, and record keeping related to employee training and development including learning coupon processing.

Skills Development and Business Unit Advisory Division

Skills Development and Business Unit Advisory Division (SDBUAD) serves as a resource to Federal Student Aid's business units and provides advisory services necessary to help them properly diagnose and address issues affecting the performance of their employees and organizations. SDBUAD is responsible for the identification, development and communication of competencies necessary to accomplish the work of Federal Student Aid. SDBUAD designs and delivers or acquires tools and training services, including courses or learning tracks, needed to ensure that competency gaps can be closed.