Scholarship Program

The next Department of Defense (DoD) Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP) will be awarded in August 2013. The IASP program is designed to provide financial assistance and post graduate employment to students in National Centers of Academic Excellence in IA (including UD) who are studying information assurance/information security. Students are encouraged to review the website below before deciding to pursue the IASP:

http://dodcio.defense.gov/Home/Initiatives/InformationAssuranceScholarshipProgramIASP.aspx

If you are interested in applying for the Fall 2012-2013 Information Assurance Scholarship Program, please fill out the application found on the website above.

As a reminder, official transcripts (unopened) are required from all of the schools that you have attended. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or submitted for the scholarship. Carefully follow the instructions for your Letters Of Reference. It may be helpful for you to draft the letters (containing all information in the instructions) for the individuals you are wanting to complete and sign your reference letters.

To be considered for the IASP your completed application and all documents must arrive in one package at the University of Dallas Irving Office - Attn: Dr. Sandra Blanke by Monday, January 21, 2013 at 5pm CST.

If you have any questions, please e-mail sblanke@udallas.edu.

Students interested in the IASP must complete the application and submit a hard copy, with supporting documents, to Dr. Blanke at the following address:

University of Dallas College of Business
Attn: Dr. Sandra Blanke
1845 E. Northgate Drive
Irving, Texas 75062

ALL MATERIALS, INCLUDING ORIGINAL TRANSCRIPTS, MUST BE RECEIVED IN HARD COPY BY 5:00 PM ON JANUARY 21, 2013. LATE OR INCOMPLETE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

• Each student who submits a complete application package within the acceptable timeframe will be included in the proposal submitted by UD to the DoD. Potential employers will evaluate the applications and select students from those submitted. UD will receive and distribute funds for those students selected.
• Students must be a US citizen to apply for the IASP scholarship.
• Students offered the scholarship have 30 days to accept or decline the scholarship. Students that accept the scholarship must agree to employment within a DoD agency upon completion of their degree requirements. Employment and relocation may be required.
• 2013 funding will not be available to selected students until August 2013.
• UD students who are a current federal employee, active duty military, or in the national guard cannot currently apply for the IASP through UD. They are eligible to apply for the scholarship through their current DoD employer.

As a reminder, official transcripts (unopened) are required from all of the schools that you have attended. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or submitted for the scholarship. Carefully follow the instructions for your Letters Of Reference. It may be helpful for you to draft the letters (containing all information in the instructions) for the individuals you are wanting to complete and sign your reference letters.

 

Recruitment Program (College Students)

Eligibility Requirements

• 18 years of age or older and a U.S. citizen at time of application.
• Currently enrolled at, or accepted for enrollment, at a National CAE; or enrolled at an institution selected by a CAE as a collaborative partner for these purposes.
• Pursuing a course of study and/or have a declared major with an IA concentration in one of the scientific, technical or managerial disciplines related to computer and network security.
• For graduate applicants, must be eligible to begin the first or second year of a master's degree program; pursue doctoral studies; or complete a graduate IA certificate program.
• GPA must be at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or an analogous rank based on a comparable scale).
• Recommended by the CAE for the scholarship program. Able to obtain a security clearance.

Payback

In exchange for scholarship funding, students incur a service commitment which is typically fulfilled as a permanent, full–time DoD civilian employee and commences upon graduation. The obligation period is one year of service for each year, or partial year of scholarship received, in addition to an internship, if applicable. Individuals who choose military service as their payback commitment serve on active duty for a minimum of four years.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Who is eligible to apply for a DoD IA Scholarship?

A:You are eligible to apply for a DoD IA Scholarship if you meet the following criteria:

• You must be a rising junior or senior undergraduate, master's or doctoral candidate, or graduate certificate program student.
• You must be a U.S. citizen at the time of application.
• You must be at least 18 years of age.You must be enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) in one of the Centers of Academic Excellence (CAEs) listed at this web site, or enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) at an institution selected by a CAE as a collaborating partner for these purposes.
• You must be at the following stage of your studies (depending on your academic program and the level of scholarship for which you're applying):
  • have completed (or will have completed by the start of the scholarship period) the first two years of an undergraduate degree program and be eligible to begin either the third or fourth years of an undergraduate degree program;
  • beginning the first or second year of a master's degree program;
  • beginning or pursuing doctoral studies; or
  • beginning or completing a graduate (post-baccalaureate) certificate program in information assurance.
• You must be pursuing a course of study and/or have declared a major in one of the scientific, technical, or managerial disciplines related to computer and network security, with a concentration in an information assurance function. For these purposes the disciplines related to computer and network security include such areas as: : biometrics, cyber operations, digital and multimedia forensics, electrical engineering, electronics engineering, computer crime investigations, computer and computer information science, computer engineering, software engineering, computer programming, computer systems analysis, database administration, data management, information security (assurance), network management, mathematics and business management or administration.
• Your undergraduate grade point average (GPA) must be at least 3.2 out of a 4.0; or, as a graduate student, you must have a 3.5 GPA out of a 4.0, or an analogous rank based on a comparable scale.
• You must be recommended for the scholarship by your school (CAE).

Q:For what length of time will I receive scholarship support?

A:Initial awards will be made for one year; second-year scholarship awards will be dependent on satisfactory academic progress, internship performance, and the availability of funds. Scholarship recipients who successfully complete the terms of an initial one or two–year scholarship (for example, complete an undergraduate degree) may apply for a second scholarship of up to two years for completing an advanced degree or graduate certificate program.

Q:Can I apply for a scholarship if I am not enrolled at one of the CAEs or their collaborating partner institutions?

A:All scholarship recipients must already be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a CAE at the time of application.

Q:Why is the Scholarship Announcement also called a "Vacancy" announcement?

A:Your application for scholarship assistance is also an application for a DoD (federal) job. Regulations require that DoD identify an opening now for you to be employed as an intern or as a full–time employee. As an IASP Scholar, you will receive job experience in information security internships during breaks in your academic studies. Upon successful completion of your academic program and intern assignments, and when other conditions of employment have been met, you will be appointed to a full-time, permanent position in DoD in order to satisfy your obligation of employment with the DoD. Alternately, you may complete a period of obligated service as an active duty military member if accepted for military service.

Q:How long do I have to serve in DoD to meet the required service obligation?

A:If you elected to serve your period of obligated service as a civilian employee, you are obligated to serve in DoD in a full–time civilian position one calendar year for each academic year, or partial year, for which you receive scholarship assistance. DoD internships undertaken while you are completing your academic program do not count toward satisfying the service obligation.

Q:Can I meet my payback obligation by joining one of the Armed Forces?

A:You may elect to complete your period of obligated service by joining the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces may have a minimum service requirement that is longer than the original service obligation you incur in accepting an Information Assurance scholarship.

Q:Are there other conditions I must meet?

A:Yes. Before awarding you a scholarship or hiring you, the appointment agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment, or other DoD form to determine your suitability for federal employment and to authorize a background investigation of your suitability. The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application. You will be required to obtain and maintain eligibility for a security clearance in order to receive financial (scholarship) assistance or a federal job appointment within DoD under the Information Assurance Scholarship Program. Before awarding you a scholarship or hiring you, the appointing agency will ask you to complete certain forms to initiate the security clearance process. If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a federal job. On appointment, you will be required to sign an agreement to accept assignments that involve travel or changes in duty stations, assignments in different organizations and functional areas, and assignment in different geographic areas during your internship and while serving in any permanent, full–time position to which you are converted on program completion.

Q:What are the requirements for obtaining a security clearance?

A:In order to obtain a security clearance, you will be required to complete an extensive security questionnaire and undergo a background investigation. Elements of this investigation include employment and law enforcement checks, questioning of references, and a personnel interview. Expect to be questioned about your family background, past work and life experiences, health, use of alcohol or drugs, financial affairs, prior record of arrests/convictions, foreign travel, and other pertinent matters. In addition, some DoD organizations may require drug testing, polygraph examinations and psychological reviews as part of the security clearance process. The following website: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/l/blsecmenu.htm provides both military and civilian personnel additional guidance on obtaining a personnel security clearance.

Q:What happens after I am selected?

A:The DoD agency that wants to appoint you as a Student Trainee, or hire you, will contact you to extend a tentative offer of employment (contingent on satisfaction of all appointment prerequisites) and to initiate new-hire processing. You may be asked to travel to a location the agency specifies for processing, to include initiation of suitability and security clearance processes. (Travel costs will be covered through the CAEs scholarship program grant, or by the DoD agency.) After all preliminary processing steps are completed satisfactorily, you will be given a final offer of appointment and appointed as a Student Trainee or an employee of a specific agency. You will receive instructions about when, where and how to report for any new employee orientation and your intern assignments at that time.

Q:Where will I serve my internship and where will I complete my service obligation after I earn my degree?

A:You will serve your internship and may be employed in a full–time, civilian position with one of the Department of Defense Military Departments (the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, or the Department of the Air Force) or with another DoD Component. These DoD organizations have installations world–wide. Service obligation through the Armed Forces would be performed at any duty location to which you are ordered, world–wide.

Q:Will I be assigned a mentor?

A:Yes. In addition to your regular supervisor, DoD will assign a mentor to you during the period of your Information Assurance Scholarship Program participation. The mentor's job will be to get to know you, provide you general guidance and support, help you to resolve any major difficulties you may encounter while completing program requirements, and give you professional, career–related advice during your program participation.

Q:Will I really be given meaningful work during my intern assignments?

A:Your intern assignments will be tailored to your grade level, your experience background, the work available at your DoD agency duty location, your academic studies, and your academic schedule. Every effort will be made by your DoD agency to ensure that all or nearly all of your intern assignments present you with learning opportunities that will allow you to contribute in meaningful ways to accomplishment of the hiring agency's performance goals and objectives.

Q:Will I receive any non–academic training while I am participating in the Information Assurance Scholarship Program?

A:Your employing DoD agency may direct you to undergo certain specialty training while you are a program participant, if necessary to perform your intern assignments, or to further your development in a certain area, if there is time available.

Q:Does DoD have a formal career program for information assurance professionals?

A:The Deputy Secretary of Defense has endorsed the concept of a DoD certification program for IA personnel. The certification program for information assurance professionals includes certain competency–based and role–based development. Your supervisor and mentor can help you assess your education and experience background and prepare for certification after you receive your appointment as a Student Trainee.