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III. Actions Taken in Response
to Problem
Special Projects to Increase Awareness
Since June 2003, NSF has supported several special projects, most aimed
at increasing awareness about the SFS program among potential students
and employers:
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Pilot project: Forming Academic Partnerships with Local Federal
Activities, a Florida State University effort to hire an individual
dedicated to recruiting and placing SFS students in the region. (Award
#0342008)
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A workshop to define a National Cyber Defense Exercise Competition,
a showcase for SFS students intended to raise visibility of the SFS
program, particularly among the Armed Forces community. West Point
Military Academy and George Washington University representatives
are among those involved in this effort. (Award #0342739)
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Federal Cyber Service Initiative: Computer Forensics Curricula.
(Award #0342296)
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Regional information assurance (IA) workshop for underrepresented
groups. (Award #0342794)
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IA educational support program: workshop for course development
and more. (Award #0343292)
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Partners in Securing Cyberspace through Education and Service Capacity
Building. (Award #0338494)
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A summer workshop for beginning information systems security educators.
(Award #0341259)
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Trustworthy Computer Systems: Undergraduate Research Experience.
(Award #0342038)
Students Awaiting Security Clearances
The program has limited funds available to support graduates who have
not been placed or are waiting for security clearances. So far, seven
institutions have requested such funds, and the total has reached about
$170,000. NSF emphasized that these support funds are limited, and PIs
should continue to seek placement opportunities for graduates as soon
as possible after graduation.
Program Rules Revised
New solicitations are to be published three months before the January
2004 deadline. The fiscal year 2004 SFS program solicitation includes
the following revised language:
It is important for all PIs and SFS scholarship students to understand
that OPM expects and needs active participations on your part to help
assist with both summer internship and permanent placement at a Federal
agency. The program has a (as near as possible to) 100 percent placement
goal, which can only be reached through active cooperation between all
parties involved. Material to assist PIs in this process developed at
a recent NSF workshop dealing with this issue is available. Contact
the lead program director for SFS for details.
NSF and OPM Raise Awareness About the Program
NSF, OPM, and a number of SFS Principal Investigators and their students
have given numerous presentations and attended numerous conferences to
raise awareness about the SFS program among potential employers. They
have addressed Department of Defense (DOD) Computer Forensics Laboratory
representatives, as well as the Committee for National Security Systems,
which involved representatives from 23 Federal agencies. Upcoming presentations
include the NSF/National Institute of Standards and Technology Invitational
Workshop on Cybersecurity: Workforce Needs, Assessment, and Educational
Innovation and the Interagency Resources Management Conference. Presentations
will be provided as frequently as feasible and suggestions for opportunities
to reach gatherings of potential employers are welcome.
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