Idaho Bulletin 360-5-4
February 15, 2005
SUBJECT:
PER - 2005 Education Grants Program
TO: All Employees,
NRCS, Idaho
Purpose. To announce the 2005
Education Grants Program
Expiration Date. September
30, 2005
Action Required by: April 6,
2005
Program Description
The Education Grants Program is one component of the S.O.A.R. Program
(Supplying Opportunities for Advancement and Redirection). The Education Grants
Program is a scholarship program which provides developmental opportunities for
employees in grades GS 1-10 or wage grade equivalent. The program is designed to
give highly motivated employees opportunities for career growth, development and
change. We anticipate that this program will meet the needs of both NRCS and
participating employees, and will help establish a more diverse and
high-performing workforce at all grade levels. The program is nationally
administered, competitive and designed to comply with all applicable merit
principles. Through this program, eligible employees may submit applications
outlining proposals for developmental opportunities. If selected, participants
will receive funding for the developmental activities and other related
expenses.
Such developmental activities include, but are not limited to, Government and
non-Government training (college courses, USDA Graduate School, correspondence
courses, training offered by various private organizations, etc.), developmental
details and rotational assignments outside of the applicant’s geographic area.
The training may or may not be related to the applicant’s present position. All
training activities under this plan must be related to the mission of NRCS.
Who is eligible to apply?
Employees of NRCS, who have career or career-conditional status, and who are
in positions at grade levels GS 1-10, or wage grade equivalent, at the time of
application to the Education Grants Program.
In accordance with training rule 5 U.S.C. 4107 (a), this program is
short-term training only. Therefore, participation in this program will be
limited to two consecutive years. If individuals have already participated
during the last two years the program was offered, they need not apply for the
2005 program. This limitation will apply across the board to all NRCS employees
in the 2005 program. If in the accomplishment of such training, an employee
receives an academic degree, the degree is an incidental by-product of the
training.
What aspects of the developmental activity will
be funded?
The National Employee Development Center (NEDC) will pay tuition, books and
other related expenses for those employees applying and selected for
classroom-type training. Training must be within applicant’s commuting area (or
by correspondence, satellite, etc.). Travel and per diem expenses will not be
paid for classroom-type training.
NEDC will pay travel and per diem expenses for those employees applying and
selected for developmental details or rotational assignments outside of their
commuting area.
The employing office will pay salaries of selected employees.
How many applications can my local organization
nominate for national competition?
The Education Grants Program selection process is two-tiered: a local
competition and a national competition. This is necessary because the National
Employee Development Center is not equipped to process the literally thousands
of applications which could be generated by this program. We also believe that
local organizations are well equipped to manage a process, which will result in
the selection of the very best candidates.
Local organizations are defined as states, centers, institutes, national
technology support centers, NHQ, the Pacific Basin and the Caribbean Area. A
local organization can send forward applications equal to 10 percent of its
employees in grades 1-10 or wage grade equivalent. For example, if an
organization has 50 employees in grades 1-10, it can forward up to 5
applications. Applications that have not gone through the “local organization”
selection process will not be considered.
How will the selection process work?
National technology support offices, states, centers, NHQ, the Pacific Basin
and the Caribbean Area will employ a local selection process prior to submitting
nominated applications to the Education Grants Program. The local selection
process must be based on the selection criteria listed below, and the number of
employees selected limited as explained below. Thus, applications to the
Education Grants Program must be submitted locally, where an appropriate number
will be selected based on the selection criteria, and then forwarded for
national competition.
Once the applications have been selected at the local level, they are to be
forwarded to the National Employee Development Center where they will be
screened for completeness. The applications will be forwarded to a panel that
will change every year. Panels will be comprised of a diverse group of
employees from throughout NRCS, including individuals from the technical,
management, administrative and executive ranks. The panel will rate and rank
the applications based on the selection criteria outlined in the attached
program rules.
What are the obligations and entitlements if
selected for this program?
Selected employees are expected to do their best during the
training. A mobility agreement will not be required. After the training, the
employee will return to his or her normal duty station and his or her same
position.
This program does not entitle an employee to anything
beyond participation in the approved developmental activity. While we expect
that an employee’s career opportunities will be enhanced through participation
in this program, there is no assurance that an employee will be promoted,
selected for a new position, reassigned or reap any other short- or long-term
benefit.
All other requirements and restrictions for application to
this program are outlined in the announcement.
All approved training for this program must be completed by
September 30, 2006.
Applications should be submitted through supervisors to
Bobbi Teigen Human Resources Officer, Boise state office by April 6, 2005.
Questions concerning the 2005 Education Grants Program can be directed to
Susan Tharp, State Administrative Officer/Training Officer, at (208) 378-5704 or
Bobbi Teigen at (208) 378-5712.
Documents in this package include:
- Announcement and Policy Guidance (Attachment A)
- Application (Attachment B)
/s/
RICHARD SIMS
State Conservationist
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