Frequently Asked Questions for the Federal Service Student Ambassadors

What, exactly, is a federal agency?

For the purposes of this program, we are considering internships in the executive branch as well as internships with the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service. A list of executive branch departments and agencies is located here: http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/Executive.shtml.

I am a graduate student. Am I eligible to be a Federal Service Student Ambassador?

Yes. Both undergraduate and graduate students (including graduate students obtaining a JD or an MBA) are eligible to be an Ambassador. Any student who is returning for another full academic year on their campus after Summer 2009 is eligible to apply. Just think carefully about whether you will have the time and energy to devote to the effort- we estimate Ambassadors will work approximately 7 hours per week on this effort, but this will obviously change from week to week based on various factors.

I do not yet have an internship in a federal agency this summer. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes. However, you must have applied for an internship in a federal agency to be eligible to apply for the Federal Service Student Ambassadors. Just be sure to note on your application if you have applied and are waiting to receive an offer. On the application, you will be asked where you have applied for a federal internship.

I work for a member of Congress or a political campaign. Am I eligible?

No. Unfortunately, these summer experiences do not count as working for a "federal agency." We are only considering internships in the executive branch (for example, internships at the Department of Energy, the FBI, the Environmental Protection Agency, etc.). These agencies are especially in need of talent- around one-third of the full-time permanent workforce will be eligible to retire in the next five years- that's around 500,000 jobs! This is why our focus will be on the executive branch. A list of executive branch agencies is located here: http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/Executive.shtml

I will not be interning in Washington, D.C. this summer. Can I still apply to be an Ambassador?

No. We are only able to accept applications from students who will be interning in Washington, D.C. during the summer of 2009. We will be training Ambassadors in Washington, D.C. throughout the summer and, unfortunately, do not have the funds to pay for travel costs associated with bringing Ambassadors to Washington, DC for this training.

I will be interning in the D.C. Metro Area but not specifically in D.C. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes. If you will be working in the D.C. Metro Area (for example, Arlington, VA or Silver Spring, MD), you are eligible to apply to be an Ambassador. Ask your supervisor at your agency if you are within commuting distance to D.C. or check on a map to see if your office is close to a Metro Station. We will be training Ambassadors in Washington, D.C. throughout the summer. Training sessions will be held at locations that are metro accessible, mostly at the offices of the Partnership for Public Service which are located at Metro Center station.

How much of a time commitment is this program?

We are estimating that Ambassadors will spend approximately 7 hours per week on this initiative. We understand that sometimes Ambassadors will spend less time, for instance, during finals or mid-terms. We also expect that some weeks Ambassadors will spend more than 7 hours, for instance, when they are planning for and coordinating an event on campus.

When should I submit my application?

Applications will begin to be reviewed on May 8, 2009 and will continue to be evaluated on a rolling basis– Apply early!  We will close the application when we have selected all Ambassadors for the 2009-2010 school year.

When will I find out if I am an Ambassador?

As soon as you submit your complete application package, you will receive an email confirming that your materials have been received. If your materials indicate that you will be a good candidate, you may be contacted for additional information. Finalists will be interviewed and we will also speak with references before making a final selection.