Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) Guideline

Purpose

The DCMA Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) is one of the tools DCMA uses to support the recruitment, selection, and development of entry-level employees, to rebuild a viable professional workforce in the future. This guideline describes the processes used to define entry-level employee requirements, and the recruitment, selection, training, and conversion process to career/career conditional positions.  The desire is for SCEP employees to transition into the Keystone (intern) Program for further development to the journeyman level.

Applicability

This guideline applies to all DCMA Headquarter elements, including Centers, DCMA Divisions and Contract Management Offices (CMO), and their subordinate offices.

Procedures

DCMA Human Resource Center (DCMA-HRC) will serve as DCMA’s primary resource for SCEP information and data.  The DCMA-HRC is responsible for assessing the SCEP overall effectiveness.

DCMA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against potential employees based on race, sex, age, national origin, religion or physical or mental disability.

Qualification Standards for Undergraduate Level - Schedule B SCEP Trainee Positions

This standard describes the qualification requirements for General Schedule, career-related, undergraduate level Schedule B student trainee positions authorized under Executive Order 12015. This standard is not applicable to students who are temporarily employed during summer vacations and who have not been appointed to a career-related student trainee program as described above.

Recruitment DCMA Field Recruiters, through established relationships with colleges and universities, recruits students pursuing college degrees to participate in the DCMA SCEP program. The Office of Personnel Management permits SCEPs to be hired from high school (age 16) through college; however, DCMA has targeted its program to students attending a four-year college in pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree or higher.  Preference is for students who are in the last two years of a four-year program or master level students. A formal Memorandum of Agreement is required between DCMA and the school that outlines the responsibility of both. Students will complete and submit the SCEP Application form along with a resume to the DCMA recruiter for processing.  This application must be signed by a representative of the school, DCMA, and the student. There is no restriction on a son or daughter from working at the same agency as his/her parent. The only requirement is that the parent and student have no direct reporting relationship and that the relative not advocate the employment, promotion or advancement of the student. (See 5 CFR Part 310 Subpart A or 5 CFR 213.3202.)

Requirements for Initial Appointment

Student trainees with no previous related education or experience may qualify as described below.  Additional information can be found at Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions - Part E.4(b) - E.4 (h) and Group Coverage Qualifications Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions.  Students must maintain a 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale to enter and remain in the SCEP program.

Grade Requirement

Grade Requirements
Grade	Level of Education
GS-3	Completion of 1 year of post-high school study
GS-4*	Completion of 2 academic years of post-high school study or associate's degree
GS-5	Completion of 4 academic years of post-high school study leading to a bachelor's degree
GS-7	Completion of 1 academic year of graduate-level education or bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement
GS-9	Completion of 2 academic years of graduate level education, a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree
*Typical entry for the DCMA Student Career Experience Program is at the GS-4 level.

The required education must be (a) related to the field in which student trainees will receive training on the job or (b) applicable under Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions - Section III-A for the target occupation series. SCEP job series end in 99 (i.e. XX99).

Special Provisions for Student Trainees With Previous Related Education or Experience

For both initial appointment to and concurrent with the conversion from a student trainee program, the applicant's previous education and/or experience (both student trainee and non-student trainee experience) should be evaluated using the qualification standard for the target position to determine whether it is creditable. If any portion of the education or experience meets the requirements in the qualification standard for the target position, then both initial appointment and conversion may be made at the highest grade level for which the applicant is qualified and eligible.   Requirement for Promotion

Student Trainees may be promoted to higher graded trainee positions based on their Federal Government student trainee work experience, as follows:

To GS-4: (a) Completion of 1 academic year (30 semester hours) of study and two periods (640 hours) of student trainee work experience, or (b) completion of 1 1/2 academic years (45 credit hours) of study and one period (320 hours) of student trainee work experience.

To GS-5: (a) Completion of 3 academic years (90 credit hours) of study leading to a bachelor's or higher degree and one period (320 hours) of GS-4 student trainee experience; or (b) completion of 2 1/2 academic years (75 credit hours) of study leading to a bachelor's or higher degree and 6 months (at least 960 hours) of GS-4 student trainee work experience.

To GS-7 (a) Completion of Bachelor’s degree with Superior Academic Achievement for two-grade interval positions and one period (320 hours) of GS-5 student trainee experience; or (b) completion of one academic year of graduate education (or law school, as specified in qualification standards or individual occupational requirements) and one period (320 hours) of GS-5 student trainee experience.

To GS-9 (a) Completion of Master's (or equivalent graduate degree such as LL.B. or J.D. as specified in qualification standards or individual occupational requirements) and one period (320 hours) of GS-7 student trainee experience; or (b) two academic years of progressively higher level graduate education and one period (320 hours) of GS-7 student trainee experience.

Additional information can be found at Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions - Part E.4(b) - E.4 (h)

Training

Training opportunities will be provided in keeping with the student’s degree program and future career series.  SCEP employees will be provided learning opportunities in a career field not just serve in a clerical capacity.

A training plan will be developed for SCEP employees that includes on-the-job training and computer based courses. However, funding for tuition or travel is the responsibility of the local office.  No funds are provided from a central program for SCEP training. 

SCEP employees are not eligible for tuition assistance or the Centralized Development Program.

Tracking

DCMAC-DE Keystone Program Manager is responsible for maintaining a SCEP roster including projected graduation dates.  The Keystone Operations Manager will contact SCEP employees 6 months prior to graduation to ascertain their decision regarding conversion to the Keystone Program.  This information will be forwarded to the Keystone Program Manager for inclusion in the Keystone Recruitment Plan.

Conversion

Within 120 days after earning a baccalaureate degree, SCEP employees may be converted noncompetitively to permanent career or career conditional employment into the DCMA Keystone Program, with entry at the highest grade for which the qualify under OPM guidelines with target grade to the GS-11 (GS-12 for GS-018 and GS-800 series positions).  In cases here the SCEP has been hired in job series other than those in the Keystone Program, conversion may be to a non-Keystone position.  Students must have satisfactorily completed one work period (320 hours) at the GS-5 level and must have performed at least 640 hours of work related to their academic studies or be otherwise eligible. The required work experience must be gained prior to, or concurrent with the completion of the student's education. Activities may also promote students noncompetitively using this standard immediately prior to conversion to the Keystone Program.

When converting students, the following conditions must be met:

1. Students must meet the qualification standard for the position, including any minimal educational licensing, or certification requirements; however, students who are converted at the same level as their final student trainee grade need not meet any length of experience requirements for that grade level;
2. The position must be in the field, or in a closely related field, for which the students were trained.
3. Students must meet all the program requirements of work experience as a student trainee and all degree requirements.
4. Students must be citizens of the United States.
5. Students must be able to obtain a security clearance.
6. Students must agree to sign a Conditions of Employment (COE) Agreement.
7. DCMA may waive 320 of the 640 hours of required work experience for those completing a bachelors degree.

DCMA-HRC is responsible for administering the provisions of this instruction.

Conversion Process

It is critical that local management initiate the conversion RPA within 120 days of degree completion.  The following steps should be taken to convert a SCEP employee into the Keystone Program:

1. If eligible for promotion, a promotion Request for Personnel Action (RPA) should be processed while the employee is still in the SCEP program.  This action may be completed simultaneously with the conversion RPA.
2. An RPA will be submitted to convert the employee from the SCEP position to a Keystone position within 120 days of graduation.  (Work experience must have been completed prior to the graduation.)
3. A copy of the college transcript (not diploma) showing graduation must accompany the RPA.

The signed COE must be sent to DCMA-HRC for signature.  Copies of the CoE will be forwarded to Army CPOL, the employee’s supervisor, and the Keystone Manager.