DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR APPOINTING AUTHORITY
(§ 9810 of S.610)

PURPOSE: The Distinguished Scholar Appointment authority provides a new hiring authority for scientific and professional positions at grades GS-7 through GS-12 that have positive education requirements. It allows NASA to properly recognize academic excellence of recent graduates in hiring individuals for such positions. By aligning workforce needs more appropriately to the applicant pool, the hiring process is streamlined and more effective.

KEY FEATURES

• This hiring authority may be used to fill scientific and professional positions at grades GS-07 through GS-12 in occupations covered by the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions. These are positions in science, engineering, mathematics, accounting, auditing, and other professional fields.

• Candidates must meet the relevant OPM qualification standards for the position based upon education alone and have received the qualifying degree from an accredited university within two years of the effective date of the appointment. Since possession of the appropriate degree must meet the OPM qualification requirements for the possession, this authority can be used to appoint individuals to GS-12 research positions only.

• In addition, candidates must meet specified academic requirements at the time of graduation. (Note: All grade point averages (GPAs) are expressed in terms of a 4.0 scale)

GS-7 Level: Achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a GPA of 3.5 or higher for courses in the field of study required for the position.

GS-9 Level: Achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher in graduate coursework in the field of study required for the position.

GS-11 Level: Achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher in graduate coursework in the field of study required for the position.

GS-12 Level (Research Positions Only): Achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher in graduate coursework in the field of study required for the position.

• If the position being filled is classified as an Aerospace Technology (AST) position, applicants will be required to meet any additional AST qualification requirements. Typically, applicants who meet the AST qualifications also meet the OPM qualification requirements for the occupational series. However, any candidate who meets the AST qualifications, but does NOT meet the OPM qualifications for the series may not be appointed under the Distinguished Scholar Appointment authority.

• Candidates who meet the qualification requirements under this authority may be referred without further ranking or category distinctions.

• Public notice is required, and veterans’ preference will apply.

• Individuals eligible for placement assistance under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) and the Reemployment Priority List will receive the priority consideration to which entitled.

• Those hired under this authority are given career or career-conditional appointments in the competitive service.