This Directive was canceled January 8, 2004.

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT MANUAL

June 28, 1996

Chapter 2: Employment
Section 2: The Student Educational Employment Program

Par.

  1. Purpose

  2. References

  3. Definitions

  4. Explanation of Components

  5. Appointments

  6. Stipulations

  7. Benefits

  1. PURPOSE. To provide instructions and guidelines for student employment under the new Federal Student Educational Employment Program in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The consolidated program reduces the appointing authorities and simplifies regulatory requirements. The program is divided into two components: the Student Temporary Employment Program and the Student Career Experience Program.

  2. REFERENCES. Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 213 and 338.

  3. DEFINITIONS

    1. Student - an individual enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree-seeking (or certificate, diploma, etc.) student taking at least a half-time academic course load. The definition of half-time is the definition provided by the school in which the student is enrolled.

    2. Accredited School - a public or private secondary school (or other appropriate school for mentally retarded students), vocational school, or institution of higher learning which is accredited by local board of education, a technical or professional association, or by any other recognized accrediting body.

    3. Break in Program - a period of time when a program participant is neither attending classes nor working at the Agency.

  4. EXPLANATION OF COMPONENTS

    1. Student Career Experience Program - This component provides career related employment for students, thereby enriching their academic experience. After obtaining a minimum of 640 hours of this career related work experience, students are eligible for non-competitive conversion to a career conditional appointment. This conversion must take place within 120 days after satisfactory completion of the requirements for diploma, certificate, or degree.

    2. Student Temporary Employment Program - This program addresses students' need for flexible, temporary employment which enables them to earn a salary while continuing their studies. Students in this program may be easily converted to the career experience component. In addition, if a student in the temporary component is working in a position related to their academic and career goals, and is converted to the career experience component, the work experience obtained while in temporary status can be credited towards the 640 hours of work experiencerequired for non-competitive conversion to a career conditional appointment. Acceptance into the program is not based on financial need.

  5. APPOINTMENTS. Students in the Student Career Experience Program are appointed under Schedule B 213.3202(d) regardless of the academic program being pursued. Students in the Student Temporary Employment Program are appointed in the excepted service under Schedule B 213.3202(c) regardless of the academic program being pursued. Both components of the Student Educational Employment Program are year-round programs, and appointments may be made at any time during the year, including summer. Students may work full-time or part-time. There are no limitations on the number of hours a student can work perweek. However, the work schedule should not interfere with the student's academic schedule. It is expected that students accepted into the Student Educational Employment Program will at all times either be working at the FHWA, enrolled in classes, or both. Managers may use their discretion in either approving or denying a break in program. The best interest of the student and the Agency must be balanced when making these decisions. Appointments in this component are subject to all of the requirements and conditions governing career or career conditional employment. These students may be investigated to establish qualifications and suitability.

  6. STIPULATIONS.

    1. The minimum age for appointment is 16 years of age.

    2. The restriction on the appointment of relatives applies. Students may work in the same agency with a relative when there is no direct reporting relationship and the relative is not in a position to influence or control the student's appointment, employment, promotion or advancement within the agency.

    3. FHWA offices are not required to pay for all or any part of the students' academic training expenses, although they may elect to do so.

    4. For participants in the Student Career Experience component only, the FHWA may pay for other expenses directly related to training, such as travel and transportation between duty station and school.

    5. Positions of students appointed under these programs are classified to the student trainee series of the occupational group into which they are hired. Grade level is to be set according to the criteria in the appropriate GS or WG classification standard.

    6. The Student Career Experience Program is a formally structured program and requires a written agreement by all parties (the FHWA, school, and student) addressing the following:

        (1) nature of work assignments,

        (2) schedule of work assignments and class attendance,

        (3) evaluation procedures,

        (4) requirements for continuation and successful completion of the program, and

        (5) a reasonable and appropriate time frame for completion of the program.

  7. BENEFITS. Students under this program are eligible for annual and sick leave and may be eligible for health insurance [5 CFR 890.102(c)(2)]. They are generally covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), if they have no prior service or less than five years of prior civilian service.
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