Scholarships

“The Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Scholarship Program (CySP) is authorized by Chapter 112 of title 10, United States Code, Section 2200. The purpose of the program is to support the recruitment of new cyber talent and the retention of current highly skilled professionals within the DoD cyber workforce. Additionally, this program serves to enhance the national pipeline for the development of cyber personnel by providing grants to institutions of higher education”

Rising community college, junior and senior undergraduates, master’s and doctoral, who are U.S. citizens and are at least 18 years of age are eligible for consideration for the program. Students in the second year of a two-year degree program, who are continuing to a partner university to pursue a bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply.

• Full tuition, books, and required fees.
• Stipend to cover room and board.
  1. $20,000 for community college students
  2. $25,000 stipend for undergraduate students
  3. $30,000 stipend

Appointment and Hiring Authorities
Chapter 112, title 10, United States Code anticipates that recipients of scholarships will participate in experiential learning assignments (called “internships” in the law) at the DoD Components and Agencies while completing their academic degree programs. There are a variety of hiring authorities across DoD and the determination will be made by those Agencies in conjunction with the CySP Program Office. (see solicitation Attachment C for more detail).

Minimum Eligibility for Scholarship and Appointment

1. You must be 18 years of age or older.
2. You must be a citizen of the United States at the time of application. Note, if family members are not U.S. Citizens, some DoD Agencies may be unable to process the applicant (student) to the security clearance level required. Every effort will be made to assign eligible students at an Agency without such restrictions.
3. You must be enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) in one of the identified NCAE-C colleges or universities listed in this announcement, or enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) at an institution selected by a NCAE-C as a collaborative partner for these purposes.
4. You must have:
   1. completed (or will have completed) at a minimum:
      1. the first year of an associate’s degree; or
      2. first two years of an undergraduate degree program; or
      3. a bachelor’s degree; or
      4. a master’s degree
   2. And be eligible to:
      1. begin a second year of an associate’s degree (with continuation to a 4-year degree program); or
      2. begin either the third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program; or
      3. begin the first or second year of a Master’s degree program; or
      4. pursue doctoral studies
5. You must be pursuing a course of study and/or have a declared major in one of the scientific, technical, or managerial disciplines related to cyber or with a concentration in cybersecurity. (see solicitation for further detail on cyber security disciplines).
6. Ability to obtain a security clearance (see solicitation for further detail on fulfilling the necessary security requirements).

Academic Sufficiency

• Applicants must be recommended by their school for the scholarship.
• The applicant is pursuing a course of study and/or has a declared major in one of the scientific, technical or managerial disciplines related to computer and network security that are enumerated under Section 4.E. (see solicitation).
• As a community college or undergraduate student, the applicant has a 3.2 out of a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) or, as a graduate student, the applicant has a 3.5 GPA out of 4.0, or an analogous rank based on a comparable scale.
• NCAE-Cs shall review the factors enumerated below and shall exclude from further evaluation and not recommend any candidate unable to achieve a minimum score of 2 points on a 5-point scale. Scale values range from:
  1. Insufficient Potential (One),
  2. Sufficient Potential (Two),
  3. Average Potential (Three),
  4. High Potential (Four), and
  5. Superior Potential (Five)

• Factors to be considered in arriving at the rating for “demonstrated potential” are:
  1. The applicant’s original transcript(s) from all institutions of higher education attended
  2. The applicant’s current Grade Point Average (GPA)
  3. Academic honors, distinctions and awards
  4. Letters of reference

Knowledge and Ability
The NCAE-C shall use Attachment E, Student Endorsement and Ranking Form, to document its evaluation of each applicant meeting administrative and academic sufficiency requirements against the following competencies, using a 5-point scale of values, to assess and report on each of the six competencies below. The rating scale is:

• No Knowledge or Ability (One)
• Basic Knowledge or Ability (Two)
• Intermediate Knowledge or Ability (Three)
• Advanced Knowledge or Ability (Four)
• Superior Knowledge or Ability (Five)

Evaluations of the following factors shall be based on the supplemental application material provided by the candidates, letters of reference, and any additional information provided by the applicant in response to NCAE-C requests made for this purpose.

• 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 other 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.

The NCAE-C shall also provide in written paragraph form the reason for one of the following recommendations:

• Highly Recommended
• Recommended
• Not Recommended

Basic Student Obligations

1. Students selected to participate in the DoD CySP will be required to sign a written agreement obligating them to work for the DoD, as a civilian employee for one calendar year for each year of scholarship assistance.
2. Students will also be required to serve in internship positions, if timing permits, with the DoD organizations during the time they are receiving scholarship support until they complete the course of study provided for by the scholarship. These internships will be arranged by the DoD to occur during the summer or other breaks between school terms, as appropriate to the individual’s circumstances and the institutions’ calendar. The internship does not count toward satisfying the period of obligated service incurred by accepting the CySP scholarship.
3. Students will be required to formally accept or decline the scholarship with in 15 days of notification. Non-acceptance by this date will mean the scholarship will be offered to the next available student.
4. Students will be required to complete a security investigation questionnaire to initiate the process for a background investigation in preparation for their internships, if applicable, and as a condition of future employment with the DoD. Drug tests or other suitability processing will occur as appropriate. Students will also be required to sign an agreement stating that they will accept assignments requiring travel or change of duty stations as interns or employees. Individuals who voluntarily terminate employment during intern appointments or before the end of the period of obligated service required by the terms of Chapter 112, title 10, United States Code, will be required to refund the United States, in whole or in part, the cost of the educational assistance provided to them. Web pages have been provided in the Application Background and Application Package for review about security clearances to assist both PIs and the students in understanding these requirements before they apply.
5. Community College (pilot program) Undergraduate scholarship recipients will be required to maintain a 3.2 out of 4.0 grade point average or the equivalent; graduate students will be required to maintain an overall 3.5 out of a 4.0 grade point average, or equivalent. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress will constitute grounds for termination of financial assistance and termination of internship and/or employment appointment. Additionally, students who fail to complete the degree program satisfactorily or to fulfill the service commitment upon graduation shall be required to reimburse the United States, in whole or in part, the cost of the financial (scholarship) assistance provided to them. NCAE-Cs will be responsible for monitoring student progress and will notify the DoD CySP Program Manager should any student scholar fail to attain minimum academic standards required for continuing scholarship support.
6. Except for small achievements award, not to exceed $5,500 in an academic year, a student may not accept simultaneous remuneration from another scholarship or fellowship. The DoD CySP is a first pay scholarship program.

Student Application Process

1. The CySP Student Application completely filled out (typed) and signed (Attachment D)
2. Separate sheet highlighting recognitions, honors and awards. You may attach a separate sheet of plain 8 ½” x 11” paper on which you record your responses or the continuations of your responses. On each such page, indicate your name.
3. Supplemental Academic Sufficiency Statement. You must complete the Statement of Academic Sufficiency supplement to the OF612, to which you must attach the following additional supplemental statements:
4. Resume a template has been provided in the application. Applicants are required to use the template.
5. One (1) Letter of Reference from a current faculty member who is fully knowledgeable of your potential for successful learning, your knowledge, and your ability. See remainder of application package for instructions about the content of this Letter of Reference. Letters must be on University letterhead and contain the full name and contact information of the faculty member (phone, email, and address).
6. One (1) additional Letter of Reference from either a current or former faculty member, or a current or former supervisor who is fully knowledgeable of your potential for successful learning, your knowledge, and your ability. See remainder of application package for instructions about the content of this Letter of Reference. Letters must be on official letterhead and contain the full name and contact information of the faculty member or current/former supervisor (phone, email, and address).
7. Official (certified) Transcripts from all the institutions of higher learning you have attended. Electronic transcripts may be accepted as long as they are certified by the institution. NOTE: University POCs processing applications for submission may open the transcripts.
8. Supplemental Competency Statement: Knowledge, Skills and Attributes: You must complete the OF612 Supplemental Competency Statement with narrative responses that describe the level of your attainment of the knowledge and ability factors indicated. See remainder of application package for instructions about the content of this supplemental statement.
9. Signature of the Supplemental Statement of General Academic and Employment Conditions. If you agree with the all of the academic and employment conditions required for your receipt of scholarship assistance and appointment under the CySP, and wish to be considered for it, you must sing the OF612 Supplemental Statement of General Academic and Employment Conditions, which the last page of the Attachment D, Student Application.