U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

Implementation Guidelines

This section presents guidelines for:

• Fellowships, Scholarships, and Similar Programs
• Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)
• Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP)
• Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program

Fellowships, Scholarships, and Similar Programs. The agencies that use this authority tailor their programs to meet individual agency requirements; hence, there are no specific implementation guidelines. Programs generally require leadership/management sponsorship and effective and efficient administrative procedures.

Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)

• Step 1: Develop a strategic plan. Develop an overall strategic hiring plan and identify which positions would be a good match for SCEP requirements. Review your agency's Human Capital Strategic Plan to target skill gaps and positions related to changing mission requirements.
• Step 2: Select positions. Select only those positions that you strongly believe will have openings for student(s) after the appointment ends. Remember that work must be related to the student's career field or academic study.
• Step 3: Determine qualification standards for positions. Students may be evaluated by either agency-developed standards or by the OPM qualification requirements for the target position. Any OPM test requirements are waived.
• Step 4: Determine recruiting strategies. Consider the following methods:
• Posting announcements or using electronic bulletin boards at local schools, colleges, and universities.
• Posting features of SCEP on your agency's Web site for potential candidates to see.
• Entering vacancies into OPM's Federal Student Jobs database for delivery through the Governmentwide Automated Employment Information System. This system is readily accessible to the academic community via the World Wide Web, computer bulletin boards, and telephone.
• Traveling to schools, colleges, and universities to participate in job fairs.
• Establishing working relationships with college placement office representatives, heads of departments, and others.
• Step 5: Develop examining procedures. Schedule B appointments are exempt from the usual competitive examining procedures. (Reference: 5 CFR 213.3201) Students appointed under the excepted service Schedule B Student Career Experience Program are also exempt from the rating and ranking requirements otherwise applicable for appointment in the excepted service. (Reference: 5 CFR 302.101)
• Step 6: Develop a formal agreement. Once you have selected potential candidates, SCEP requires that you establish a formal agreement among all parties (school, agency, and student). (Reference 5 CFR 213.3202(b)) Components of the agreement include:
• Nature of work assignments.
• Schedule of work assignments and class attendance.
• Evaluation procedures.
• Requirements for continuation and successful completion of the program.

Remember that, as with other appointments, in most cases, merit principles, veterans' preference, and the rules on nepotism apply.

Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP)

The agencies that use this authority tailor their programs to meet individual agency requirements; hence, there are no specific implementation guidelines. Programs generally require leadership/management sponsorship and effective and efficient administrative procedures.

Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program

The Presidential Management Fellows Program is being revised. Implementation guidelines will be available when the final regulations are published in the Federal Register.

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