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Return to Article: New bill would provide grad student scholarships for service

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  There are already many out of work computer programmers who have training as well as engineers and others in these critical areas. Those fields have been very impacted by outsourcing and layoffs. Why not just attract those who are already trained to government employment? Do they really need a big spending bill to train yet more.

  anne Posted August 5, 2009 10:55 PM
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  I believe that this is great idea. As graduate student I have about $60,000 in loans from undergraduate and graduate studies. The plan sounds good and this would help me a lot.

  Regina Posted July 2, 2009 7:32 PM
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  I think perplexed is way off base. As a former HR Specialist for the Army (right out of undergrad) I was amazed to see how many potential candidates the government lost due to competition from the private sector. In no way does the government have the means to compete and if they could, many of us would be crying waste/fraud/abuse as Perplexed claimed. The government may not be able to compete by offering glorified jobs or stellar paychecks, but they can offer free education. With the cost of grad school now adays, I think anyone with this opportunity would be a fool not. As other have pointed out, why not promote from within? It's been known for some time now that the baby boomer crowd accounted for a majority of the government workforce. Now that they are retiring, there are few to promote. If there are those that are bright enough to get accepted to grad school (competition is rising faster than oil prices) and complete the program with good grades, they are a good candidate for positions. Of course they'd need training and lack real-world experience but they've at least demonstrated the capacity to learn. Lastly, grad school is a far different world from the undergraduate keg parties.

  Jackie Posted June 4, 2008 4:32 PM
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  "If it sounds too good to be true ... "

  Exactly! I was promised financial help with my graduate degree and tailored my thesis to accommodate the tight parameters under which I could accept the Navy's "assistance." Today, $40K out of my own pocket, (no money to make good on the promise, but too late: I'd already registered and started class!), I changed activities, and I'm writing my thesis MY way now.

  I'm holding out for the Bush deal--if it ever gets signed!--whereby we pay our own student loans for 10 years while working civil service (I've been at this game for 18 years now and made my own investment with the government as a "free rider" to my personal investment!), and after 10 years the balance is forgiven. That would be the one thing Congress could approved right now. Will they? Probably not. If they ever get their act together, though, they need to grandfather the rest of us in!

  Suckered in Puget Sound ...

  Suckered in Puget Sound Posted June 2, 2008 4:24 PM
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  This is sad, sad, sad, and pure waste, fraud, and abuse. It is great in theory, but what performance measurement is addressed to ensure these selectees are acting as ambassadors for their respective institutions of higher learning? Does that mean they talk about government service during a kegger party or do they not binge drink during such ambassadorial evening romps? Plus, do we need to spend this amount of money for one federal internship? I'm trying to figure out which elected official(s) is readying his or her relatives for free college with this insult to the taxpayer. If we spent more time hiring the best and brightest, promoting from within, and all-the-while ensuring we have the fortitude to fire the vast amount of lazy federal workers currently on the rolls that are bleeding the system dry, we would be in better shape than bandaging the problem with flimsy programs that do nothing more than tell our American citizens that we have failed them again in terms of superior management and leadership.

  Perplexed Posted June 2, 2008 8:36 AM
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  These comments are right on. This will be another guarantee of help that will not materialize. I've been working for two years for the Army out of grad school and I'm still waiting for my "student loan repayment program" that was used as an benefit to working for the government. Every few months I ask and the answer is "no money." As usual, the worst enemy of the federal government is itself.

  Army Civilian Posted May 28, 2008 8:15 PM
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  Here is the way the program will work:

  September 2008: Applicant applies for scholarship.

  August 2009: Applicant never heard back from government, so s/he just takes out loans to pay for grad school.

  May 2011: Applicant gets Master's degree.

  June 2011: Applicant applies to numerous government agencies, and receives no response. Accepts high-paying job in private sector.

  October 2012: Government responds to applicant, asking if s/he is still interested in receiving money for grad school. S/he is not.

  January 2013: Congress whines that nobody is interested in civil service. To counter this, they pass more worthless legislation.

  Joe Posted May 28, 2008 2:10 PM
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  I would like to read this bill. This story leaves a lot of unanswered questions, such as whether or not this scholarship will also apply to current federal employees, what are considered "mission critical" courses, if there will be an age restriction imposed, and if there will be a penalty for repayment.

  Depending on the answers to these questions, this may be a good thing. I have petitioned my congress representatives for something like this for quite a while. The country of Thailand has a program that gives scholarships currently serving federal employees with a good record in exchange for a certain amount of years of service, but also has a penalty clause that enforces repayment of 3 times the amount of the scholarship if that service obligation is not fulfilled. If a developing nation like Thailand can do it, why can't we?

  A Concerned Federal Employee Posted May 28, 2008 11:50 AM
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  My agency cannot even pay for classes of its existing employees who have a lot to offer and would like to advance. Another bill with no justification. I have friends who are grad students who cannot get a break into the federal government, and they're not seeking financial assistance.

  Misanthrope Posted May 28, 2008 10:04 AM
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  Please disregard MudPie's uneducated comments. In order to receive any tuitional assistance for a degree and educational certifications in the DOD, a Standard Form 182 must be filled out and on page 4 is the "continued service agreement". You need to read the fine print carefully in regards to time obligated to your agency. Failure to fulfill your committment, will result in your repayment of the entire amount.

  Ex. DOD is paying for my Master's program (off duty hours at night) and accordingly I owe my agency 1 month of service post completion of each course. I have seen folks not pay attention to the fine print and when they accepted a promotion to another agency, they had to repay the gov't $12K. Read thoroughly......

  jojo Posted May 28, 2008 9:58 AM
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  "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The feds are notorious for promising help with education and then not funding the programs fully, if at all. Many a federal employee has gotten half way through school and the money ran out leaving them with no resources."

  Just ask Contracting Specialist interns at the Navy Yard.

  CS Posted May 27, 2008 1:20 PM
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  Another bill searching for a problem, total waste of money. You offer incentives when your having trouble recruiting for positions. When it comes to the gov, there are waiting lines to come in so what is the justification?? If its done then it has to be tailored to specific skills that are in short supply nation wide

  Dan ketter Posted May 27, 2008 11:26 AM
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  Some agencies already fund tuition assistance for existing employees. Some DoD agencies include Master's and Doctoral programs as well with no commitment.

  mudpie Posted May 27, 2008 11:16 AM
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  There are some Federal Agencies that already have paid undergraduate degrees in exchange for Federal Service. Look at State Department and others. This is just looking at Graduate Students but there are available Undergraduate Student opportunities.

  Dedicated Civil Servant Posted May 27, 2008 10:26 AM
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  This should not have been restricted to grad students only. Undergrads are an excellent investment, just as needed, and are all the more likely to stay on having gotten their all important first start from Uncle Sam.

  Concerned Citizen Posted May 27, 2008 9:41 AM
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  Would current employees be eligble to apply? Would a graduate program benefit the current employees for advancement?

  Mary Lynn Zoeller Posted May 27, 2008 9:38 AM
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  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The feds are notorious for promising help with education and then not funding the programs fully, if at all. Many a federal employee has gotten half way through school and the money ran out leaving them with no resources.

  Then, there's the other fine print like the government only paying for classes it deems relevant, leaving students without the needed classes to graduate. Some agencies fund their management favorites and leave some of their brightest minds wanting.

  Federal employment is where everything is political and promises are as easily broken as made. So, read the fine print before signing on.

  Robert M Posted May 27, 2008 8:16 AM
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  Future leaders...how about promoting the current employees on board into leadership positions. Also, I wonder if there will be an age restriction on this scholarship program. Grad programs are no longer just for the younger set.

  A concerned, almost, not quite senior Posted May 23, 2008 3:08 PM