CyberCorps®: SCHOLARSHIP FOR SERVICE
The Scholarship for Service (SFS) program is managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF), in collaboration with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in accordance with the The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 (Public Law No: 113-274), as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2018 (15 U.S. Code § 7442). This initiative reflects the critical need for Information Technology (IT) professionals, industrial control system security professionals and security managers in federal, state, local and tribal governments. Students identified by their institutions for SFS Scholarships must meet selection criteria based on prior academic performance, likelihood of success in obtaining the degree, and suitability for government employment. Upon graduation, scholarship recipients are required to work for a Federal, State, Local, or Tribal Government organization in a position related to cybersecurity for a period equal to the length of the scholarship. Since 2001, SFS scholarships have been awarded to more than 3,500 students and there are 70 institutions currently offering SFS scholarships to students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Recruiting 
Finding the talent needed to protect the information systems at federal agencies can be challenging. The SFS program helps hiring managers at federal agencies by selecting the finest candidates to participate through a competitive process at institutions across the nation that have demonstrated strong academic programs in cybersecurity. Students become part of a select pool of candidates you may recruit for internships during their academic term and permanent placement after graduation. 

Program Costs and Agency Responsibility 
While the SFS program covers the costs of study, the employing agency is responsible for the student’s salary and applicable benefits during the internship and employment periods, as well as any costs associated with acquiring the required level of security clearance. 

Hiring Procedures 
In December 2014, the President of the United States (POTUS) signed into law the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-274), https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1353/text. Section 302 of Public Law 113-274 addresses SFS specifically and states that agencies appoint CyberCorps® SFS participants into the excepted service and then once they complete their obligation they can be non-competitively converted to career conditional. Because this is law and it does not state that the Office of Personal Management (OPM) will regulate this, there will be no additional guidance/policy set by OPM so the agency can determine how to apply this. When making appointments (for both internships and post-graduation employment) federal agencies will cite the statute as the legal authority, and use the general Nature of Action (NOA) code for excepted appointments based on a law (these are described in the guide to processing personnel actions (Guide to Processing Personnel Actions (GPPA))). When converting the students, agencies would again cite the statute as the legal authority and consult the GPPA for the appropriate NOA for conversions. It would be left to the agency to track the appointments to know when they can convert them and to set any internal policy on making appointments under this law. State, local, and tribal government agencies and federally Funded Research Development Centers should use the appointing authorities that are appropriate under the regulations that govern their employment practices.

Additional Information 
Hiring Managers and Human Resources Consultants interested in recruiting from the SFS can gain access to this talented Information Assurance (IA) candidate pool by visiting sfs.opm.gov and registering as an agency official or contacting the program office at sfs@opm.gov. The only requirement is that interested persons are actively involved in the recruiting and/or hiring of IA personnel. 

Contact
Stephanie Travis, sfs@opm.gov, 202-579-4951