The Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) provides for long-term, committed, career-track work experience which must be directly related to the student’s academic field of study and career goals.  Participants of the SCEP Program may be non-competitively converted to term, career-conditional, or career appointments following the successful completion of all academic and work experience requirements within a certain time limitation.  The SCEP Program is designed to combine classroom learning with practical on-the-job experience and training; as well as to assist in the development of students for opportunities at entry-level positions.  It enables the student to apply the theory and skills learned in the classroom to the on-the-job training.  The program provides for a solid foundation of training and developmental experiences for students working within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).  

A student accepted for participation into the SCEP Program is referred to as a student trainee and is appointed to excepted service.

Student Eligibility Requirements

• The student eligibility requirements for the SCEP Program remain consistent with U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Code of Federal Regulations (5 CFR 213.3202).  In order to be appointed, a SCEP Program participant must be:  
   

• A student enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree - (diploma, certificate) seeking student with a half-time academic / vocational or technical course load in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, two or four year college or university, graduate or professional school.  Half-time for undergraduate students is generally nine (9) credit hours; while for graduate students it is generally six (6) credit hours.

• A student must be in good standing with his or her academic institution.

• A student must have and maintain a cumulative academic grade point average (GPA) of a 2.5 or better.

• A United States citizen at the time of non-competitive conversion to a term, career-conditional, or career appointment.  The Bureau may appoint non-citizens provided that the student is lawfully admitted to the United States as a permanent resident or otherwise authorized to be employed.

• An individual of sixteen years of age or older.  No maximum age restrictions exist for the overall SCEP Program (5 CFR 338.601).  However, age restrictions do apply for arduous and/or targeted positions only, such as wildland firefighter, law enforcement, and surveying.

In addition, the 5 CFR 213.3202(d) (8) authorizes agencies to develop qualifications standards for evaluating SCEP Program participants.  Thus, the Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Land Management Qualification Standards for Student Trainees discusses evaluation, initial appointment, promotion, and conversion requirements for the student employees.  

Optional Work Schedules

     The student trainees’ employment and work experience can be part-time and/or full-time based on the supervisor’s needs for a particular position.  The work schedule and job responsibilities cannot interfere with the students’ academic courses and program curriculum.  Whatever, the work schedule agreed upon; the SCEP Program requires that all participants be either working and/or attending school at all times.  The following optional work schedules are possible:  

      ·        Parallel Work Schedule - part-time work year-round with concurrent school attendance; works well if attending an academic 
            institution near the work site.

      ·        Alternative Work Schedule - full-time school attendance when classes are traditionally in session (fall, spring, winter); and 
            full-time work, typically in summer, when school is not traditionally not in session.

·        Combination of part-time and full-time work; typical with a changing academic course schedule (fall, spring, winter).

·        “Breaks in program” are permitted but must be approved by the supervisor and the SEEP Program Coordinator.

Student Agreement

Only SCEP Program participants and their academic institutions are required to complete a written student agreement (or contract) with the agency for the following reasons:  

·        The written agreement allows for the development of relationships, a mutual understanding of expectations, and a confirmation of accountabilities and responsibilities between the Federal agency, the academic institution, and the student.  

·        The written agreement states the student trainees’ agency program requirements; the nature of the work schedule and assignments; and how both will be integrated into class attendance, evaluation and performance procedures, and requirements for continuation in and successful completion of the SCEP Program.  

·        Sample Student Agreement.

Law Enforcement SCEP

The primary duty of a BLM law enforcement officer is to enforce all federal laws and regulations pertaining to the use, management, and development of public lands and their resources.

Thus, in addition to all of the above SCEP Program requirements, law enforcement student trainees must also meet the following law enforcement program specific requirements:  

·        A student must be 18 to 37 years of age.  

·        A student must be able to meet the arduous and physical requirements of the position, and successfully pass a criminal background investigation and drug testing.  

·        A student must have the flexibility to relocate to a training duty station.  

·        A student must be willing to travel and accept a position anywhere in the western United States.  

There are several requirements and steps involved in the law enforcement students’ training program:  

·        The initial training phase includes an orientation to the BLM, a variety of management programs, and resources law enforcement.  If successful, the trainee may then be qualified to move to the second phase of the training program.  

·        The second training phase is an assessment of performance and training to determine if eligible for conversion.  

·        The third training phase involves completing a 17-week course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Georgia.  

·       The final training phase involves an intensive Field Training and Experience Program as a Law Enforcement Officer.  

If successful at completing all academic and SCEP Program requirements related to the law enforcement career field, the student trainee will then be considered for conversion to a law enforcement officer position at any available location within the Bureau.

SCEP Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program (WFAP)

This apprenticeship program is designed to take an entry level firefighter and provide education, training, and work experience that will develop and enhance today’s wildland firefighter with the skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform as tomorrow’s competent and effective leaders.  

In order to qualify for the wildland firefighter apprenticeship SCEP Program, a candidate must have some experience as a firefighter in either fire suppression or fuels management; education may also be considered and used to substitute for experience.  Student trainees of this program are not required to be a student enrolled in an accredited academic program and to maintain a 2.5 GPA or better; however, they are required to successfully complete (80% or better) two four-week long residential apprenticeship academies (Wildland Fire Training and Conference Center – McClellan, California; www.wfap.net), a prescribed program of Required Supplemental Technical Training and 4,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training.  Upon successful completion of the requirements, an apprentice will be considered for conversion to a Senior Firefighter with a Federal Wildland Agency (http://www.firejobs.doi.gov/index.php?action=home; and http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/people/employment/index.html).  Additional minimum requirements for this wildland firefighter program are as follows:  

·        A student must be 18 to 37 years of age.  

·        A student must have graduated from an accredited high school or received a general equivalency diploma (GED).

      ·        A student must have met the minimum physical fitness standards established by the 
            sponsoring agency/field office for the career path of wildland firefighter at the arduous level.  

·        A student must possess and maintain a valid State (any state) Drivers’ License during the term of apprenticeship.

      ·        A student must enter into a written apprenticeship agreement signed by the apprentice, the 
            supervisor, the State Apprenticeship Coordinator, the State SEEP Coordinator, and the National 
            Apprenticeship Coordinator.  

• Areas of formal instruction are offered in the following:

• Nutrition, wellness, and physical fitness

• Fire prevention

• Medical first responder

• Wildland fire skills and safety

• Fire behavior

• Leadership

• Fuels management and fire use

• Basic air operations  
  

• The SCEP Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program (www.wfap.net) operates under an interagency agreement with the Department of Labor, USDA Forest Service, USDI Bureau o f Land Management and the National Park Service, and is hosted by the Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region.

• It is the responsibility of the student and supervisor to ensure that the SCEP Program participant submits all of the items listed below to ensure continuing compliance with and to remain eligible for the SCEP Program.  Failure to adhere to the above will inhibit promotion and award opportunities, as well as result in removal / termination from the SCEP Program:  
   

• Grade report (must include a cumulative academic GPA; not just the current school term GPA) at the end of each academic school term,
  
• Course schedule for the upcoming academic school term, 
  
• Employee Performance Plan and Results Report (EPPRR) at the end of each fiscal year,
  
• Individual Development Plan or Training Plan progress report at the end of each fiscal year,
  

• Note:   If a student plans to return to school before the end of the fiscal year, efforts should be made to finalize the reporting process and the submission of requested information prior to the students’ departure.  

Tuition Assistance and Repayment

Only SCEP Program participants are eligible for tuition assistance.  

Tuition Assistance and Repayment – The terms of a SCEP Program participant’s eligibility is also stated in the Student Agreement signed by the student, the supervisor, the mentor, the academic institution advisor, and the State SEEP Program Coordinator.  Tuition assistance for students participating in the agency’s SCEP Program shall be in accordance with the following:

·        All grade levels are eligible for tuition assistance, but the assistance is not guaranteed.  If funded by BLM Nevada (Field Office, Field Station, Division, Branch), tuition assistance may not exceed $1,500 per fiscal year.  For students who are nationally funded, tuition assistance may not exceed $2,000 per year for in-state students and $3,000 per year for-out-of-state students.

 ·     Tuition assistance will be granted for paid expenses only and directly related to agency employment over and above grants, scholarships, and any other private or public assistance.  

Note:   These expenses must be certified to as the student's 'out-of-pocket' expenses by the educational institution.  An original receipt must substantiate any expenses claimed.  The agency will not pay for courses unrelated to the student trainee position or other non-related expenses (i.e. yoga, basket weaving, basketball, health care fees, counseling fees, etc.).  

The assistance covers only the following (any unspecified expenses are excluded):  

      1) Tuition fees                                     3) Laboratory or related materials/supplies 
2) Laboratory services                        4) Purchase and rental of books  

Note:  Travel and transportation are handled outside of the above policy statements.  If books are purchased, they become the property of the government and must be turned in upon completion and/or the termination of the position.  

In return for tuition assistance, the student participant agrees to continue employment with the agency for one month for every month of tuition assistance received (1:1 ratio).  If a student fails to continue his / her education, refuses an offer of permanent employment upon graduation, or voluntarily leaves the agency before completing the period of obligated service, the student may be asked to reimburse the Federal government for the tuition fees paid for his/her educational expenses.  

Any amount due to the agency as a result of failure on the student's part to complete the entered into Student Career Experience Program Agreement may be withheld from any monies owed to the student by the Federal government or may be recovered by such other methods approved by law.  

The Student Career Experience Program Agreement does not in any way commit/guarantees the agency to continue the student's employment.  If for any reason (other than misconduct or performance) the agency terminates the appointment, it will waive the student's obligation for re-payment of monies expended under the Student Agreement.  

Travel Assistance

The SCEP Program participant is only entitled to travel assistance related to the student trainee position, travel that will be required for the benefit of the agency.  

If work related training is scheduled for a student, they are entitled to the same travel rights and obligations as any other permanent Federal employee (i.e. transportation, per diem, etc.).  

If the student is expected to travel more than 50 miles one-way (100 miles round trip) outside of their normal commuting area, to get to and from his/her work site at the beginning of the school term and then at the end of the school term, the student is eligible for travel assistance.  This assistance may be provided in the form of mileage (by personal vehicle and in accordance with travel regulations) or an airline ticket.

Note: The mileage amount approved and provided to a student cannot exceed the dollar amount of an airline ticket.

Probation

Though the entire tenure of a SCEP Program participants’ student trainee work experience is served on a trial basis, the first 12 months of the student’s participation in the program is critical.  If after periodic performance appraisals to evaluate and determine progress, a student does meet work and trainee expectations, a student may be removed / terminated from the program without appeal rights.  However, if beyond the first 12 months and the student is still not meeting work and trainee expectations, the student may still be removed / terminated from the program but the student will be entitled to appeals rights.  

So it is important for the student and supervisor to know that the student trainee experience is just that, a student who is in training and requires consistent performance evaluations to determine suitability for long-term employment with the agency.  

DOI BLM Qualification Standards

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), 5 CFR 213.3202(d) (8), authorizes agencies to develop qualifications standards for evaluating SCEP Program participants.  Thus, the Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Land Management Qualification Standards for Student Trainees discusses evaluation, initial appointment, promotion, and conversion requirements for the student employees.