scholarship for service

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The need for Cybersecurity professionals

Cybersecurity has emerged as a critical domain of global competition that reaches across the social, economic, political and military realms of influence. The growth of the Internet and its infusion into nearly every aspect of our life presents a target opportunity for adversaries. It is essential to develop new operational doctrines, cyberwarfare capabilities, and the necessary human capital needed to maintain our interests in cyberspace. Meeting these challenges requires developing qualified professionals who understand this environment and its opportunities or risks. The Computer Science Department at FSU is an NSA/DHS Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE_IAE) (since 2001) and Research (CAE_R) (since 2009), and stands ready to help build the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

CyberCorps®: Scholarship For Service (SFS)

Focused on Information Assurance education, the Scholarship For Service program gives students scholarship funds in exchange for service in the federal government for a period equivalent to the length of their scholarship (up to three years). As a result of the SFS program, federal agencies are able to select from a highly qualified pool of student applicants for internships and permanent positions, and students get a guarantreed job. The SFS program is offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and co-sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The NSF has awarded the Florida State University Information Security program funding to support 30-45 CyberScholars for the period 2010-2014. Scholarship recipients shall pursue academic prosgrams in Information Assurance for up to two years at MS level. They will participate as a cohort during their studies and activities, including a summer internship in a federal agency at the end of their first year of support. The recipients will become part of the Federal CyberCorps whose responsibility is to ensure the protection of the United States Government’s information infrastructure. Upon graduation, the CyberScholars will be required to work for a federal agency for as long as they were funded (min one year) in fulfillment of their Federal Cyber Service commitment.
The SFS provides funding to students in the information assurance and cybersecurity fields. Scholarship recipients shall pursue academic programs in information assurance for the :

final two years of their master's-level program,
final three years of study where the student is receiving both the bachelor's and master's degree,
final three years in combined bachelor's and master's degree ("five year") programs; or for the
final three years of research-based doctoral-level study.

During the scholarship period, the students will participate in meaningful summer internships but doctoral students may be allowed to replace their summer internship with a research activity. In return for their scholarships, recipients will work after graduation for a Federal, State, Local, or Tribal Government organization in a position related to cybersecurity for a period equal to the length of the scholarship. A limited number of students may be placed in National Laboratories and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs).
The SFS supports two- to three years of stipends, tuition and allowance for students in the general area of information assurance and cybersecurity. The scholarships provide academic year stipends of :

$20,000 per year for undergraduate students
$25,000 per year for master's degree students and
$30,000 per year for doctoral students.

In addition, SFS scholarships cover expenses normally incurred by full-time students in the institution, such as: tuition and education related fees but do not include items such as meal plans, housing, or parking); a health insurance reimbursement allowance up to $1,200 per year; a professional development allowance (travel, professional certification etc.) of $1,300 and a book allowance of $1,000 per academic year.

Note: This scholarship is only available to U.S. citizens.

Program Documents and Forms

The Information Security (InfoSec) master's in Computer Science is ideally suited for students who want to assume leadership positions in the Information Assurance area. Graduates of the InfoSec program become security experts equipped to manage the growing complexities associated with securing data and networks.
Several Documents and Forms are listed below. The first gives a thorough description of the SFS program with helpful recommendations on meeting its requirements and finding a successful career. It includes a section on SFS FAQs for Students and a copy of the SFS Student Service Agreement. Look for tips on interviewing and job hunting for Federal jobs. In particular, tips for writing a government resume, a technical resume, a cover Letter; tips for telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, and how to dress for face-to-face interviews. The second documents covers FAQs. The third on hiring SFS Cyberscholars. The fourth has some general guidelines and requirements for FSU applicants. The fifth is the Program of Study. Then come the policy of C-SAIT for SFS and a copy of the Service Agreement. The last two concern CyberCorps scholars and the National Training Standards Certificate for Information Security Professional.

Scholarship Benefits:

A stipend of $20,000 for bachelor's, $25,000 for master's and $30,000 for doctoral students, in addition to education related fees, health insurance reimbursement (up to $1,200), a professional development allowance (up to $1,300), and a book allowance (up to $1,000).
Internships and job opportunities with the world’s leading security organization.

NSF publication on the Scholarship for Service

For more information visit the NSF publication on the Scholarship for Service and review the SAIT Scholarship Program Policy.

How & When to Apply

Important: Participating in this program obliges you to a period of service in the federal government. For details check SFS FAQ.
If accepted, you will need to commit to a Service Agreement with the federal government.

Each applicant should provide the following:

Letter expressing interest in the NSF Cyber Training Scholarship program that includes a statement that indicates an understanding of the two year degree seeking nature of the program and of the two year commitment to the federal government after graduation
Transcripts of all college work
Standardized test scores (SAT, GRE)
Statement of purpose and description of goals in your computer science MS degree program and in the field of computer security and information assurance
Recommendation letters from at least two faculty members or employment managers familiar with the student’s background
Official acceptance into Florida State University
Current personal Resumé

Read ``What Makes a Great IASP Scholarship Application''.
Send your complete application to:

Kristan McAlpin

Graduate Coordinator

203D Love Building

Florida State University

Tallahassee

FL

32306-4530

Eligibility Requirements

The following minimum requirements must be met for eligibility:

You must be a citizen of the United States.
You must have completed at a minimum an undergraduate degree program and be eligible to begin the first or second year of a MS degree program and complete a graduate certificate program in Information Assurance.
You must be a full time student within two years of graduation at Florida State University with MS degree in Computer Science.
Successful applicants will demonstrate in the application process academic merit as well as indicators of future professional success.
You must meet selection criteria for federal employment (you may be required to undergo a background investigation).

Assessment of Applications

Applications will be evaluated in three stages:

Verification – Upon receipt of an application, the Department of Computer Science will review it for completeness and ensure that the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the program. The applicant will then be marked as “Insufficient Potential”, “Sufficient Potential”, “Average Potential”, “High Potential”, or “Superior Potential” based upon his or her transcript, GPA, academic honors, distinctions or awards and letters of reference.
Classification – Upon completion of the application period, a panel of Information Security professors will objectively rate the applicants as “No Knowledge or Ability”, “Basic Knowledge or Ability“, ”Intermediate Knowledge or Ability“, “Advanced Knowledge or Ability”, “Superior Knowledge or Ability” based on the selection criteria.
Ranking – The FSU Principal Investigator will compile a list of students who have been selected for the awards and forward the names to NSF for confirmation.

Criteria for Selection

The criteria used to classify and rank applicants are:

Cumulative Undergraduate/Graduate GPA
Major Undergraduate/Graduate GPA
Academic record (course content)
Standardized test scores
Evaluation of the student’s statement of purpose.
Two (2) Letters of Reference from current/former faculty members or current/former supervisors
Demonstrated leadership, participation in team activities, prior social service, and/or evidence of creative and independent thinking and/or acting
Knowledge of the techniques of the information technology and/or information security (assurance) discipline, including encryption, access control, physical security, training, threat analysis, and authentication
Knowledge of the human factors in the information technology and/or information security (assurance), including human computer interaction, design, training, sabotage, human error prevention and identification, personal use policies, and monitoring
Ability to identify and analyze problems, distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical decisions, and provide solutions to individual and organizational problems
Ability to consider and respond appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of different people in different situations; is tactful, compassionate and sensitive, and treats others with respect
Ability to make clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals or groups; listens effectively and clarifies information as needed, facilitates an open exchange of ideas and fosters an atmosphere of open communication
Ability to express facts and ideas in writing in a clear, convincing and organized manner appropriate to the audience and occasion

More Information

Contact:

Kristan McAlpin

Graduate Coordinator

203D James J. Love Building

Florida State University

Tallahassee

FL

32306-4530

850

645

4975

mcalpin@cs.fsu.edu