2000 Diversity Intern Program
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 09:26:03 -0500
From: "Catherine L. Hill"
To: "A - Division Chief and Staff",
"DC - All District Chiefs",
"B - Branch Chiefs and Offices",
"AO - All Administrative Officers",
Connie L Smith , Carole A Coburn ,
"Rudolph MJr. Partida" ,
"Beverly F Culla, Human Resources Mgmt Spec, Reston, VA"
CC: Catherine L Hill , Barbara J Gunderson ,
Michelle L Frederick ,
"Alice C Dilandro, Secretary (S), Reston, VA" ,
Katherine M Long , "C. Larry Togans" ,
"Norman EJr. Schmidt"
Subject: 2000 Diversity Intern Program--Response Requested by Nov. 29
In Reply Refer To:
Branch of Human Resources
Management Support
Mail Stop 406
MEMORANDUM
November 17, 1999
To: WRD Human Resources Management Committee
District Chiefs
Branch Chiefs
Administrative Officers
Regional HRM Representatives
From: Catherine L. Hill /signed Stephen E. Hammond, Acting)
Associate Chief Hydrologist for Program Operations
Subject: 2000 Diversity Intern Program
RESPONSE REQUESTED BY NOVEMBER 29, 1999
We have completed another year of the Department of the Interior Diversity
Intern Program. The division hired a total of eight students. I appreciate
the time and effort you contributed to this process.
The purpose of this memorandum is to determine your interest in participating
in this year's Intern Program. The internship dates are as follows:
Spring - January 24 - May 5, 2000
(Final selections made not later than January 7, 2000)
Summer - June 5 - August 11, 2000
(Final selections made not later than May 5, 2000)
Fall - August 28 - December 8, 2000
(Final selections made not later than August 4, 2000)
Competition is very keen for these students. Therefore, to get the best
qualified students, we must start the process now. Once again, the Branch
of Human Resources Management Support is coordinating the program for the
division. To facilitate proper planning for the upcoming 2000 Diversity
Intern Program for this spring, summer, and fall intern period, please
return a completed copy of the attached assignment/description form to
Barbara J. Gunderson, Branch of Human Resources Management Support
(BOHRMS), Mail Stop 406, Reston, Virginia 20192 by close of business
November 29, 1999.
The estimated cost per DOI intern is $11,200 for the 15-week spring and
fall programs, and $8,300 for the 10-week summer program. This includes the
intern's stipend and travel, and administrative costs such as recruitment,
screening, logistics, workshops/seminars, counseling, evaluation, liaison
with DOI, overhead, etc.
We must continue to develop a pool of talented minority students being
oriented and trained to compete for Department of the Interior (DOI) career
positions in the future. This is an excellent opportunity for us to support
the diversity commitment of the Secretary, the Director, and the Chief Hydrologist,
while at the same time, providing hands-on science experience for some outstanding
minority. We are strongly encouraged by the department to participate.
Further details on the DOI Diversity Intern Program are outlined in the attached
Fact Sheet. Thank you in advance for your support, and if your have any questions
or need further information, please contact Barbara in the Branch of Human
Resources Management Support at 703-648-5245.
Attachment 1
Diversity Intern Program Assignment/Description Form
(Please email in the following format)
Please indicate intern period:
Spring Intern Dates: January 24 - May 5, 2000
Summer Intern Dates: June 5 - August 11, 2000
Fall Intern Dates: Augusts 28 - December 8, 2000
Bureau/Office:
Account Number for Billing Purposes:
Supervisor's Name:
Supervisor's Address:
Supervisor's Phone:
Supervisor's Fax:
Educational background desired (level and major):
Projects/duties to be performed by intern:
Special skills desired or other requirements:
** Is there a specific applicant you would like to request?
Name: College/University:
** If you like, you can recruit an individual locally and have that
individual apply to one of the partner organizations. You can then name
select the student and have that individual be assigned to your work site.
Applications can be requested through Carolyn Cunningham, Office of
Educational Partnerships at 202-208-3866. All applicants to the Diversity
Intern Program must meet the program requirements listed in the partner
application.
Attachment 2
Guidelines on Diversity Intern Program Application Review, Selection and
Placement Process
Following are guidelines on how to proceed with the diversity intern
application review, selection and placement process. The Diversity Intern
Assignment Description form which you send to Barbara will be
forwarded to the Office of Educational Partnerships for transmittal to the
nonprofit partners. The nonprofit partners are the Hispanic Association of
Colleges and Universities (HACU), Minority Access, Inc., (MAI), Haskell
Indian Nations University (HINU), Student Conservation Association (SCA),
and the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC). As
soon as the partners receive your assignment description sheet, they will
each send you a minimum of two student applications that as closely as
possible match the credentials and interests you have prescribed. When you
have narrowed down your selections, please email Barbara your
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th (if appropriate) choices for each position.
Also please indicate the University/College the students are located and
the Partnering Organization from which each student was selected. Please note
that these students may be referred to all Federal agency requestors. You
will be notified by the partner organization when the selection has been
confirmed. Making your selections as quickly as possible and following the
above process will give you the best chance for getting your top choice(s).
It will also help us achieve the broadest possible diversity for the
program. The partner organization will make the official offer to the
student and explain the necessary logistical information regarding the
program. When selection is final, the partner organization will notify the
Supervisor and mail a Supervisor's Handbook before the intern arrives.
Attachment 3
Fact Sheet - The Department of the Interior Diversity Intern Program
The Department of the Interior (DOI) strives to increase diversity in its
workforce by providing internship opportunities to qualified ethnically
diverse and disabled students. Interns work during the fall and spring
semesters and summer months for bureaus and offices nationwide. The Office
of Educational Partnerships in Washington, D.C., provides project
coordination and oversight of the Program. Administration of internships
is provided by four nonprofit partner organizations: Haskell Indian
Nations University (HINU), Hispanic Association of Colleges and
Universities (HACU), Minority Access, Inc., (MAI), Student Conservation
Association (SCA) and the Washington Center for Internships and Academic
Seminars (TWC).
Since its inception in 1994, the program has been highly successful. Over
510 talented and hardworking interns have had the opportunity to explore
careers through the Nation at various DOI sites.
Objectives of the Diversity Intern Program:
1. Merge academic study with practical applications for students majoring
in relevant fields and related disciplines.
2. Create a pool of talented students to explore and understand
professional practices through exposure to research and development,
technology, administration, and the Government environment.
3. Provide professional experience for ethnically diverse students and
students with disabilities that will enable them to make educated career
choices.
4. Create a channel of future employees who have had positive, meaningful
work experience with the Federal Government, and who might consider Federal
service as a serious career choice.
Key Features of the Diversity Intern Program:
1. Students will earn academic credit for the fall and spring 15-week
programs.
2. The organizations recruit, screen, and pay a stipend to students from
their Hispanic-Serving, Historically Black, Native American, and natural
resources/conservation higher education institutions, respectively, to
serve internships at DOI sites in the Washington D.C. area and field
locations.
3. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; be currently
enrolled students of Sophomore or above standing; and be Permanent Legal
Residents or U.S. citizens.
4. Department of the Interior bureaus/offices identify internship
opportunities, specify preferred education, skills and other credentials,
make final selections, and provide intern supervision and mentoring.
5. The interns are on the payroll of the respective nonprofit partner
organizations. They do not count against full-time equivalent (FTE)
ceilings.
6. The interns receive a weekly stipend and allowance for travel to and
from their internship locations. Special orientations, workshops, field
trips, and counseling are provided as specified by DOI.
Attachment 4
Roles and Responsibilities:
It is the responsibility of each field intern to finalize arrangements for
housing. The partner organizations will work closely with the interns to
find housing, however, I am asking host sites to assist interns in finding
safe and affordable housing within commuting distance of the work site.
Host sites may provide low-cost or free housing to interns if they have
quarters available. I encourage supervisors to explore all options. In
instances where several interns are working at the same site or in close
proximity to one another, an effort will be made on the partnering
organizations to help them find common housing.
Attachment 5
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What if an intern doesn't work out?
Partner organizations work with sites to resolve any issues that may exist
between interns and host sites. If the problems cannot be resolved, the
internship can be terminated.
2. If an intern is sent to a 3-day seminar in another city, who pays the
expenses?
Host sites must treat interns as if they were employees with regard to
training expenses. The site would pay for any registration fee, travel,
lodging and per diem as if the intern were a staff member.
3. If a student interns with me during the fall and I want him/her to
intern for the spring or summer, can I do that?
Yes, you can name request a student to fill your internship positions as
long as they are currently enrolled in school at the time. You will need
to indicate which of the four nonprofit partner organizations you would
like that student to be supported through on your assignment/description
form. The student then completes the application process with that partner
organization.