The Federal Government values the contributions made by students and recent graduates of all ages and backgrounds. We have been placed at a competitive disadvantage, though, compared to other sectors in recruiting and hiring students and recent graduates. To address these difficulties, President Obama signed Executive Order 13562 , entitled "Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates," on December 27, 2010.

This Executive order established two new programs and modified another. They are the Internship Program for current students; the Recent Graduates Program for people who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs (2 years from the date the graduate completed an academic course of study); and the reinvigorated Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program for people who obtained an advanced degree (e.g., graduate or professional degree) within the preceding two years. These programs, collectively the Pathways Programs, are streamlined developmental programs tailored to promote employment opportunities for students and recent graduates in the Federal workforce.

As directed by the Executive order, OPM issued a final Pathways Rule to implement these programs. The final rule aims to improve recruiting efforts, offer clear paths to Federal internships for students from high school through post-graduate school and to careers for recent graduates, and to provide meaningful training and career development opportunities for individuals who are at the beginning of their Federal service.

Internship Program

The Internship Program is for current students. It replaces the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP). The new Internship Program provides students in high schools, colleges, trade schools and other qualifying educational institutions with paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while completing their education.

Recent Graduates Program

The Recent Graduates Program provides developmental experiences in the Federal Government. It is intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who, within the previous two years, graduated from qualifying educational institutions with an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from qualifying educational institutions. To be eligible, applicants must apply within the previous two years of degree or certificate completion except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who will have up to six years after degree or certificate completion to apply. For more information about Federal employment information for veterans, go to OPM's Feds Hire Vets website.

Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program

For more than three decades, the PMF Program has been the Federal Government's premier leadership development program for advanced degree (e.g., masters or professional degree) candidates. Executive Order 13562 expands the eligibility window for applicants, making it more "student friendly" by aligning it with academic calendars and allowing those who have received a qualifying advanced degree within the preceding two years to participate. It also directs OPM to set eligibility requirements and minimum qualification standards, and to make the PMF experience more robust and substantive for participants.

Internship Program

The Internship Program replaces the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP). This Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job in the civil service. Additional information about the Internship Program can be found at USAJOBS. Here are some key provisions of the Internship Program.

Eligibility

• Current students in an accredited high school, college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate.

Program Administration

• The Internship Program is primarily administered by each hiring agency.
• Agencies may hire Interns on a temporary basis for up to one year for an initial period, or for an indefinite period, to complete the educational requirement.
• Interns may work either part- or full-time.
• Each agency must sign a Participant Agreement with the Intern that sets forth the expectations for the internship.
• Intern's job will be related to the Intern's academic career goals or field of study.
• When the final Pathways rule takes effect this July, agencies will have to provide OPM with information regarding their internship opportunities and post information publicly about how to apply for specific positions.

Program Completion and Conversion

• Interns may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances, to a term position lasting 1-4 years) within 120 days of successful completion of the program.
• To be eligible for conversion, Interns must:
  • Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program
  • Complete their degree or certificate requirements
  • Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted
  • Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement, and
  • Perform their job successfully.
• Agencies may waive up to 320 of the required 640 hours of work for Interns who demonstrate high potential as evidenced by outstanding academic achievement and exceptional job performance.
• In addition, students working in agencies through third-party intern providers may count up to 320 of the hours they work toward the 640 hour requirement.
• Time spent under previous Internship Program appointments may count towards required work experience hours.

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Recent Graduates Program

The Recent Graduates Program affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who will have up to six years after degree completion to apply). Successful applicants are placed in a dynamic, developmental program with the potential to lead to a civil service career in the Federal Government. The program lasts for 1 year (unless the training requirements of the position warrant a longer and more structured training program). Here are some key provisions of the Recent Graduates Program.

Eligibility

• Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.
• Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.

Program Administration

• The Recent Graduates Program is administered primarily by each hiring agency.
• Each agency must sign a Participant Agreement with the Recent Graduate that sets forth the expectations for the Program.
• When the final Pathways rule takes effect this July, agencies will have to provide OPM with information regarding their opportunities and post information publicly about how to apply for specific positions.

Training and Development

• Orientation program for Recent Graduates hired for the program.
• Mentorship throughout the program.
• Individual Development Plan to create and track Recent Graduates' career planning, professional development, and training activities.
• At least 40 hours of formal, interactive training each year of the program.
• Positions offer opportunity for career advancement.

After Program Completion

• Recent Graduates may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances a term appointment lasting 1-4 years).
• To be eligible for conversion, Recent Graduates must have:
  • Successfully completed at least 1-year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the Program.
  • Demonstrated successful job performance.
  • Met the qualifications for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted.

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Presidential Management Fellows Program

The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program is a flagship leadership development program at the entry-level for advanced degree candidates. Created more than three decades ago, the Program attracts and selects from among the best candidates and is designed to develop a cadre of potential Federal Government leaders. Here are some key provisions of the PMF Program.

Eligibility

• Individuals who have completed within the past two years, a qualifying advanced degree (e.g., masters or professional degree).
• An individual may apply for the PMF Program more than once as long as he or she meets the eligibility criteria. However, if an individual becomes a Finalist and subsequently applies for the PMF Program during the next open announcement, the individual will forfeit his or her status as a Finalist.

Program Administration

• The PMF Program is centrally administered by the PMF Program Office within OPM.
• OPM announces the opportunity to apply for the PMF Program (usually in the late summer or early fall).
• Applicants go through a rigorous assessment process to determine Finalists.
• OPM selects Finalists based on an evaluation of each candidate's experience and accomplishments according to his or her application and results of the assessments.
• OPM publishes and provides agencies with the list of Finalists.
• Agencies provide OPM with information about their PMF opportunities and can post PMF appointment opportunities for those who are Finalists on the PMF website year-round. In addition, a job fair is typically held for Finalists each year.
• Finalists who obtain an appointment as a PMF serve in a two-year excepted service position.

Training and Development

• The PMF Program Office provides newly hired PMFs an opportunity to participate in its Orientation and Training Program.
• Senior-level mentorship throughout the program.
• Individual Development Plan to create and track a PMF's career planning, professional development, and training activities.
• Developmental opportunities in the occupation or functional discipline the PMF would most likely be placed.
• At least 80 hours of formal, interactive training each year of the program, for a total of 160 hours.
• PMFs are placed on a performance plan and must obtain a successful rating each year.

After Program Completion

• After successful Program completion and job performance, the PMF may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances a term appointment lasting 1-4 years) in the competitive service.

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The Student Educational Employment Program provides Federal employment opportunities to students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment as degree seeking students taking at least a half-time academic, technical, or vocational course load in an accredited high school, technical, vocational, 2 or 4 year college or university, graduate or professional school. The Student Educational Employment Program established December 16, 1994, is a streamlined program which replaces the old Federal Student Employment Program by consolidating four programs:

• Cooperative Education Program
• Federal Junior Fellowship Program
• Stay-In-School Program
• Harry S. Truman Scholarship Program

This new, streamlined program is comprised of two components: the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP), and the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP). The STEP provides maximum flexibility to both students and managers because the nature of the work does not have to be related to the student's academic or career goals. The SCEP, however, provides work experience which is directly related to the student's academic program and career goals. Students in the SCEP may be noncompetitively converted to term, career or career-conditional appointments following completion of their academic and work experience requirements.

The Student Educational Employment Program benefits both agencies and students. Agencies can discover first-hand the abilities of a potential employee. In the case of SCEP, agencies can bring well educated graduates into their workforce while at the same time give their managers the ability to evaluate the student's performance in real work situations. Students, on the other hand, can avail themselves of such flexibilities as year round employment and flexible work schedules and assignments. Students in the SCEP gain exposure to public service while enhancing their educational goals and shaping their career choices.

We encourage agencies to utilize the Student Educational Employment Program authority for several reasons. Even in an era of downsizing, there is a continuing need to recruit and develop talented employees to support changing agency missions, ensure that the Government can meet its professional, technical, and administrative needs, and achieve a quality and diverse workforce. Appointments made under the Student Educational Employment Program authority can help agencies meet these needs.

Hiring During Traditional Summer Months

The Office of Personnel Management has eliminated language in title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, that placed certain restrictions on agency hiring during the traditional summer months. These changes (62 FR 19899) became effective April 24, 1997. This means that agencies wishing to hire individuals on a temporary basis during the traditional summer months should use competitive temporary appointments or excepted student temporary appointments. In addition, other excepted appointments (e.g., the appointment of individuals with mental or physical disabilities) may be used as appropriate. Agencies are encouraged to review the following provisions:

• Written test requirements are waived for competitive temporary appointments that do not exceed 120 days (including extensions).
• Agencies may non-competitively appoint previous summer hires in accordance with 5 CFR 316.402. [This provision is similar to the old "summer rehire" provision]. However, agencies must adhere to the requirements of the Career Transition Assistance and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs concerning competitive temporary appointments.
• Agencies filling time-limited jobs competitively must conduct open recruitment. They must enter their job summaries and full text vacancy announcements into OPM's Federal Jobs Database for delivery through the Governmentwide Automated Employment Information System.

Agencies recruiting under the Student Educational Employment Program are strongly encouraged to enter their vacancies into the database. The Governmentwide Automated Employment Information System is readily accessible to the academic community via the world wide web, computer bulletin boards, and telephone. This information system contains specific searches for jobs being filled during the summer months. It is an effective and cost efficient way to reach high quality candidates worldwide.

In making these competitive or excepted appointments, just as with other appointments, the rules on veterans' preference, nepotism, and priority referral of displaced Federal employees apply.

Also, agencies must use the appropriate coding instructions contained in the Guide to Processing Personnel Actions

The following lists some of the documents referenced in the final regulations.

• Final Rule - Excepted Service, Career and Career-Conditional Employment; and Pathways Programs
• Implementation and Transition Guidance - For Students & Recent Graduates to Federal Careers
• Executive Order 13562 of December 27, 2010 – Recruitment and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates
• Public Hearing on Pathways to Federal Service for Students and Recent Graduates, June 25, 2010
  Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3 – OPM transcript and videos of Public Hearing
• Improving the Federal Recruitment and Hiring Process, May 11, 2010 – Presidential Memorandum issued by President Obama to the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
• Attracting the Next Generation: A Look at Federal Entry-Level New Hires, February 8, 2008 – A report to the President and the U.S. Congress by the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board
• Reforming Federal Hiring – Beyond Faster and Cheaper, September 1, 2006 – A report to the President and the U.S. Congress by the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board
• Federal Employment Information Fact Sheets – Student Educational Employment Programs (STEP/SCEP)