SMART Scholarship Program Ed Bujan Liaison, SMART Program

2 Underlying Questions How can the Department of Defense (DoD) recruit top science and technology (S&T) students? How can the DoD better attract students in specific fields to pursue advanced degrees? How can the DoD fill holes in a workforce that has: – 30% eligible for retirement within 5 years; – 60% eligible within next 10 years?

3 Overview What is SMART? Participant Benefits The SMART Process Other Considerations

What is SMART? SMART is a DoD workforce development program conveniently disguised as a scholarship The goals of SMART: – Provide funding to allow Participants to focus on school – Provide Participants with experience and exposure to DoD facilities and the DoD culture prior to graduation – Start the process that will produce the next S&T leaders American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) – Manages the application process for SMART – Provides the mechanism for Participant payments

Participant Benefits Full tuition and fees (up to five years) for AA, BS, MS, and PhD degrees Annual cash award from $25,000 to $41,800 Security clearance (SECRET) Summer internships and travel expenses An experienced Mentor Book and health insurance allowance Post-graduation employment Service Commitment: One-Year of Work for Each Academic Year Funded

The SMART Process ApplicationSelectionAwardsOrientation School InternshipHiringGraduation 15 Aug – 15 DecJanuaryMar - MayJuly Within 30 daysSummer/Fall10 – 12 WeeksAug - May

Application Process – Web-based ( – Open season is August 15 through December 15 Applicant Requirements – United States citizen/18 years of age – Status as a sophomore or beyond at award – Ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance – Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) – Complete week summer internships – Current enrollment or have taken GRE – Approved field of study with an interest in research 7

8 Approved Fields of Study We will support interdisciplinary programs that overlap these fields Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Biosciences Chemical Engineering Chemistry Civil Engineering Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Science Electrical Engineering Geosciences Information Sciences  Materials Science and Engineering  Mathematics  Mechanical Engineering  Naval Architecture  Nuclear Engineering  Ocean Engineering  Oceanography  Operations Research  Physics  Industrial and Systems Engineering

Application Highlights Statement of Educational and Professional Goals – Why should we pick you? – What are you going to do for the DoD? Academic Achievement – Transcripts from all academic institutions – Average GPA for 2009 Participants is References – Signed on letterhead – The higher the position of your reference…the better Desired facilities – Do your homework…tell us where you want to go – Facility desires can be updated any time prior to selection

Selection Process SMART Selection Panel meets in late January – Representatives from DoD and Academia – Panel selects the top 50% – Top 50% are submitted to the DoD facilities DoD facility representatives select the Participants – They will conduct interviews (call, VTC, face-to-face, etc.) – Selections based on degree, field of study, school, etc. Awards are made to those selected by the DoD facilities in April

Participating DoD Facilities Army, Air Force, Navy, DIA, DISA, DMEA, DMDC, DTRA, NSA, NGA, NRO

Orientation to Hiring Orientation – July 15 through July 21 in Monterey, CA – Funded by SMART – mandatory attendance Academic Performance/Requirements – Must maintain above a 3.0 GPA – Submit transcripts and an annual educational work plan Internships – Participate in annual summer internships – 10 to 12 weeks in length Graduation and Hiring – Begin employment within 30 days of graduation – One for one service commitment

Additional Information 13 Web site: – Application is on-line – General program information – Specific questions regarding your personal situation – Ask anything… Ed Bujan, Program Liaison – –

QUESTIONS?

AF Class of 2009