NORTH GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY

OPPORTUNITIES FOR M.P.A. STUDENTS
 

1. GEORGIA GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

The Georgia Government Finance Officers Association awards two $3000 scholarships annually to students who are enrolled in Georgia universities and who wish to pursue a career in public finance, accounting, or a related field.

If you would like to apply for such a scholarship, please visit the association's Web site at this URL address:

     http://www.ggfoa.org

The deadline for applying for a scholarship this year is June 30.  (E-mail message of 4/30/03)

2. GEORGIA CITY-COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

The Georgia City-County Management Association (GCCMA) has established and sponsors the Harold F. Holtz Jr. M.P.A. Scholarship Program.  The program awards up to three scholarships to qualified students interested in pursuing a career in local government in Georgia.  The maximum amount of each scholarship is $1500 for two academic semesters (i.e., $572.50 per semester) plus $355 for a summer session or to be applied to the next semester.  The student must attend a university within the University System of Georgia.  "Persons who do not wish to consider a career in local government, who cannot articulate what appeals to them about local government service, or whose graduate course preparation will not include instruction on the forms, function and policy processes of local government, should not consider applying for a GCCMA scholarship."

Obtain application forms and information from Dr. Friedman.  Questions may be referred to R. Lee Gilmour at (478) 988-2703 or Scot Wrighton at (706) 542-8120.  The deadline for applications is October 1, 2005.  (Source of information:  letter dated August 1, 2005.)

PAID INTERNSHIPS

1. PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWS PROGRAM

Note:  The Presidential Management Intern program was renamed (Executive Order 13318, November 21, 2003).  In 2005, students are eligible to apply between September 1 and October 14; they must be scheduled to graduate between September 1, 2005, and August 31, 2006.

A. Brief description of the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program.

The PMF Program is a leadership development program that provides opportunities to work with and impact public policy, to serve one's country, and to receive competitive pay, benefits, and career advancement.  America is looking for outstanding master's, law, or doctoral-level students to work in the Federal service.  Created in 1977 as the Presidential Management Intern (PMI) program, and reorganized in 2003 and redesignated as the PMF program, the PMF is a rigorous two-year paid program includes 80-hours of training each year, challenging rotations, accelerated promotions, and opportunities to network between agencies.  Fellows are hired by agencies to work on domestic and international issues in public administration, technology, science, criminal justice, health, financial management, national security, and many other fields.

 The PMI Program seeks the best and the brightest Americans who want to make a difference in the public service. Students are eligible to apply for the PMI Class of 2004 if they meet the degree requirements for a master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited school between September 1, 2003 , and August 31, 2004 . Although any eligible student may apply, only those nominated by their school are eligible to participate in an assessment process to determine PMI Finalists, and ideally hired by federal agencies as PMIs. Under the auspices of the Office of Personnel Management, the PMI Program is an integral component of succession planning strategies to meet the federal government’s urgent human capital needs.

 B. New guidance for deans, academic chairs and program directors and career service staff to recruit and nominate students.

The PMI Program is launching a new online process that will require new procedures for both student applicants and school nomination officials. All students will now be able to apply online, although not all will be nominated by their schools. The following outline briefly summarizes the new process, and more details will be posted to the PMI website at www.pmf.opm.gov as soon as they are finalized. This process represents our best collective efforts in a limited timeframe, and the PMI program staff is committed to continuing to improve the process in future years.

• The dean, chairperson or program director of each degree-granting school, college or university designates a PMI Nomination Coordinator that oversees the recruitment, application and nomination process for a specific school or for multiple colleges within a university. Together they will determine the specific nomination requirements, competitive process and deadlines for that school. They are responsible for publicizing the PMI Program to students, and taking steps to specifically recruit minority candidates and people with disabilities. Information given to students about the PMI Program should contain: a) the Nomination Coordinator’s name, title (dean, chairperson, program director or career professional) and email address, b) the school’s nomination criteria and any applicable deadlines, and c) the PMI website and application deadlines.

• Students can submit PMI Applications online between September 1 and Midnight, October 15, 2003 EST. Students will be required to provide contact information about their school’s Nomination Coordinator as part of their application. They will also submit resume information including education and work experience, and an Accomplishment Record that will later be used in an assessment process to determine PMI Finalists. Students will receive email confirmation that their Application has been received. Based on the email contacts provided by the student, the Nomination Coordinators will receive emails from the PMI Program office on September 12 and 26, and October 10, listing the names of the applicants from their school with the ability to view each student Applicant’s education, work experience, and other resume information. To avoid duplicating the criteria used to evaluate Applicants, the Accomplishment Record will not be shared with the Nomination Coordinators.

• Nomination Coordinators will receive an alphabetical summary of all of the PMI Applicants from their school on October 16^th and will have until Midnight on October 31^st EST to nominate students. Applications that receive no action from the Nomination Coordinator by that deadline will not be nominated. That email will contain a website link that can be shared with others on the school’s nomination team. Each school must conduct a competitive nomination process to select their highest quality candidates. Schools are allowed to nominate up to 10% of the total of each degree-granting school or college (such as the Wagner School at NYU) or a total of five candidates, whichever is greater. Criteria for school nominations must include breadth and quality of accomplishments, capacity for leadership, and demonstrated commitment to a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. Each school can develop additional criteria for nominations, keeping in mind that grade point averages are not effective predictors of future performance and may have adverse impacts on low income or minority students.

Veterans who meet eligibility for the PMI Program and qualification for the school’s specific nomination criteria must be nominated (schools may require proof of status). Schools are encouraged to nominate women, minorities and people with disabilities to the program. Schools may start their own nomination process before the above dates if they provide advance information to students. Nomination Coordinators will need to submit the Federal School Code for each Applicant, as well as the specific Department or School within the College or University the student attends. They will be given the opportunity to nominate, decline or take no action on each applicant, and will receive email confirmation of their decisions.

• Nominees will then participate in an assessment process by the Office of Personnel Management to determine PMI Finalists. Accomplishment Records will be pre-screened based on the three competencies of analytical thinking, demonstrated leadership, and interpersonal and team skills. Assessment panels will enter numerical ratings for each competency with cumulatively averaged scores.  Selected Nominees will be asked to participate in a day-long Assessment Center process that will include a proctored written exercise with randomly selected questions, as well as an oral presentation and group exercises. Nominees and Nomination Coordinators will be notified by the end of March about those who have been chosen as Finalists.

• Finalists participate in a process to be hired by a specific Federal agency as a Presidential Management Intern. Most Finalists participate in the Job Fair held in Washington , DC , in mid-April. Others utilize the online Projected Position System to find, apply and interview with the agencies, and at locations, of their choice. Once a Finalist is hired, and completed a security background check if required for that position, by December 31, 2004 , they become a PMI. Applicants not nominated, Nominees not selected as Finalists, and Finalists not hired by the end of the year will receive information about other federal service opportunities throughout the process. Nomination Coordinators will receive information confirming the new PMI’s from their school.

 C. Sample campus recruitment language.

Seeking Applicants to the Presidential Management Intern Program.  Exceptional students interested in public service and meeting master’s or doctoral-level degree requirements between September 1, 2003 , and August 31, 2004 , are eligible to apply to this prestigious two-year paid internship program working with Federal agencies. This leadership development program includes 80-hours of training each year, challenging rotations, accelerated promotions, and opportunities to network between agencies. Apply online at www.pmf.opm.gov between September 1 and Midnight , EST, on October 15, 2003 . Applicants must consult with their school’s Nomination Coordinator, insert name, title and email address here, to compete for the school’s nomination into the program.

D. Join PMIcampus Listserv for information and updates.

This new listserv will post approximately four messages each year to college and university staff interested in the PMI program. It will provide brief guidance for recruitment, applications and nominations; PMI Finalist and hiring updates; and assessment and job fair information. Simply email listserv@listserv.opm.gov using plain text formatting (without signature or attachments) -- in the body of the email enter: SUBSCRIBE PMIcampus Your School, First name Last name, Title. You will receive confirmation as a subscriber, and can unsubscribe using the same procedure. Please encourage others at your school who are interested in the PMI program to subscribe.

E. Attend the PMI academic stakeholders meeting on Monday, August 11, 2003.

All deans, academic chairs, program directors, career professionals and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend the meeting scheduled for 9:30am to 4:00pm on Monday, August 11, 2003 , at American University’s School of Public Affairs in Washington, D. C. (registration begins at 9 a.m.). The agenda for the meeting will include information about the new online application process, guidance for school nomination processes, updates on the revised assessment process, proposed Executive Order and Regulation changes to the program, and a discussion about various components of the PMI Program from the Job Fair to the Graduation.

 Please RSVP your attendance to PMF@opm.gov with the subject as “Academic RSVP.” The meeting will be held at the Ward Circle Building , Room 1 on the Terrace level, located at the intersection of Nebraska and Massachusetts Avenues in NW Washington. Free parking is available in the Nebraska Avenue parking lot across from the Ward Circle Building . The red line, Tenley Town metro stop, is a 12-15 minute walk to AU, or a free AU shuttle leaves from the metro stop in front of the Hollywood Video store every 10 minutes – just tell the driver you’re attending a meeting at AU. AU recommends the Embassy Suites Hotel at 4300 Military Road NW DC , 202-362-9300, for out of town participants. If you are unable to attend in person, but are interested in virtual attendance, please email the same address with the subject as “Virtual Academic RSVP” and if we have been able to arrange something we will instruct you about how to participate. We hope to see you there.

F. Website and contact information: www.PMF.opm.gov.

Please review the above website for more detailed information about the PMI Program, and consider a link to our website from your own. The website contains information about eligibility, applications, nominations, participating federal agencies, program guidance, training opportunities and much more. It is our intention to create a campus contact page on our website in the near future. Please check the “Program News” from the “General Information” page under “Program Policy” for up-to-date information. Additional questions about issues not covered in the website can be emailed to PMF@opm.gov or contacting us below. Thank you for your participation in this important program.

Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program
Office of Personnel Management
1900 E Street NW, Washington , DC 20415-9820
Phone: 202-606-1040, Fax: 202-606-5049
James Wilson, Deputy Director
Kim Bauhs, Senior Program Analyst
Rob Timmins, Resource Manager
Kye Briesath , Policy Analyst, PMI

(E-mail message on 7/18/03, with some revision on 9/28/05)

2. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

3. U. S. OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT "SCHOLARSHIP FOR SERVICE" PROGRAM

*****OPM POSTS NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WEBSITE*****

The Office of Personnel Management's website for the "Scholarship For Service" program, designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals, is now available.

The goal of the Scholarship For Service program is to help provide a high-quality workforce to better protect the government's critical information infrastructure. The program provides scholarships that fully fund the typical costs that students pay for books, tuition, and room and board while attending an approved institution of higher learning. Additionally, participants receive stipends of up to $8,000 for undergraduates and $12,000 for graduate students.

While still in school, students funded for more than a year will also serve a paid internship at a federal agency. The agency may offer students other paid employment while they are on scholarship if it does not interfere with their studies. In exchange for the scholarship and stipend, students agree to work for the federal government for a period equivalent to the length of the scholarship or one year, whichever is longer.

Kay Coles James, the director of OPM, said federal agencies that participate by providing internship and long-term placement opportunities for these students accomplish several objectives. "Besides responding to Congress' concern that their lines of defense are inadequate, they take a step forward in pursuing a central goal of this Administration: the protection of our country and its citizens," she stated.

Information on the SFS program is available at www.sfs.opm.gov .  (E-mail, 4/3/03)

4. GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE INTERN PROGRAM

The Governor’s Intern Program is looking for bright, hard-working and enthusiastic young people to intern at the State Capitol* this summer. Our interns range in age from college juniors to recent college graduates to graduate or law school students. Governor’s Interns work in a fast-paced environment and gain a wide-range of experience in politics and government.

*Most of our thirteen-week internships are based in Atlanta. A limited number of internships may be available in other Georgia cities.