DLA Pathways Internship Program
The DLA Pathways Internship Program (formally known as the Student Educational Employment Program, which included the STEP and SCEP programs) provides federal employment opportunities to students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment as degree seeking students taking at least a half-time academic, technical, or vocational course load in an accredited high school, technical, vocational, 2 or 4 year college or university, graduate or professional school.
For students, the DLA Pathways Internship Program provides work experience which is directly related to the student's academic program and career goals. Students may be noncompetitively converted to term, career or career-conditional appointments following completion of their academic and work experience requirements.
The DLA Internship Program benefits both agencies and students. Agencies can discover first-hand the abilities of a potential employee. This internship provides managers the ability to evaluate the student's performance in real work situations. Students, on the other hand, can avail themselves of such flexibilities as year round employment and flexible work schedules and assignments. Students in an internship gain exposure to public service while enhancing their educational goals and shaping their career choices. Select for more information at USAJOBS or view the fact sheet on an internship.
DLA Pathways Programs Authority
On December 27, 2010, President Obama signed Executive Order 13562, entitled “Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates”. This executive order established the Pathways Programs, which consist of three excepted-service avenues for entering the federal workforce; the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program, and the Presidential Management Fellows Program.
- The Internship Program is the new avenue for students currently enrolled in educational institutions. It replaces the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) and the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP); and is called the DLA Internship Program.
- The Recent Graduates Program is the avenue for those who have recently graduated from a qualifying educational institution, and will be used along with Competitive Examining, Merit Promotion, and Special Hiring Authorities such as Veterans and Disabled to fill DLA’s Corporate Program.
The final rule implementing the Pathways Programs was published on May 11, 2012 and is effective on July 10, 2012. DLA may use the Internship Program (former STEP/SCEP) immediately in accordance with the centralization processes. The use of the Recent Graduates authority will become available for use after the effective date of the final rule and the completion of a memorandum of understanding with DOD and OPM. Details on each program are available at the OPM website.
Further Reading:
Final Pathways Rule: