The program was established in 1992 as part of the partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the 1890 Land-Grant Universities. The goal of the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is to increase the number of students studying agriculture, food sciences, natural resource sciences, and other related disciplines. The program is open to high school seniors, college freshmen and sophomores who exhibit exemplary leadership traits and demonstrated community service. The scholarship is highly competitive and provides for full tuition payment, among other benefits, for up to 4 years to participants enrolled or accepted for enrollment at an 1890 Land-Grant University. The 1890 National Scholars Program partners with USDA agencies to provide scholars with professional and educational opportunities. Successful applicants will receive a temporary appointment to the USDA, not to exceed 4 years. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements and the end of the agreement period, the scholar is eligible for conversion to a career conditional appointment in service to USDA without further competition. The application deadline for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is January 31st of each calendar year and can be accessed at https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/1890NationalScholars.
The USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program seeks to increase the number of American Indian and Alaska Native students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and related disciplines. The Program combines classroom study with paid work experience that leads to employment at USDA. Through this program, USDA seeks to boost the number of students studying and graduating in food, agriculture, natural resources, and other related fields of study, and help build the pipeline of future agricultural scientists and professionals while strengthen the USDA partnerships with 1994 land-grant institutions. The program provides full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, and room and board each year for up to 4 years to selected students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, food science, natural resource science, or a related academic discipline at one of 35 federally recognized tribal colleges and universities. The scholarship may be renewed each year, contingent upon satisfactory academic performance and normal progress toward the bachelor's degree. Scholars participating in the program must commit to at least one year of service to USDA for each year of financial assistance provided by the Department. The application deadline for the USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program is January 31st of each calendar year and can be accessed at https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/1994-program.
The HACU National Internship Program is part of the USDA Hispanic-Serving Institutional National Program office (HSINP). This program is designed to expose both undergraduate and graduate students to the federal sector to gain valuable professional experience that complements their education. Students are recruited based on academic performance, leadership, and community service. The program has successfully pipelined qualified and talented students into the Department since 1994. The program is considered an excellent opportunity to identify highly qualified candidates for future employment. In fact, OPM regulations allow federal agencies to apply 320 hours of a HACU internship experience towards the 640- hour requirement needed for conversion under Pathways should they be selected for such an appointment in the future. HACU interns are considered employees of HACU and not of USDA. There are three sessions for the internship; Spring Session (January – April), Summer Session (May – August), and Fall Session (Early September – Late December) and the on-line application is accessible at https://www.hacu.net/hacu/Apply_Online.asp.
The Pathways Programs, through an Executive Order, grants USDA the authority to recruit students and recent graduates to excepted service positions. Upon completion of all program requirements, supervisors may non-competitively convert USDA Pathways participants to career-conditional appointments. The USDA Pathways Program consists of three program elements which identify a specific targeted group of participants to gain access to a systematic training opportunity and meaningful work experience within USDA. Questions regarding any of the three USDA Pathways Programs can be directed to Askusdapathways@dm.usda.gov.
- Internship Program. The USDA Internship Program is designed to provide federal employment experience for students who are in high school, in a home-school program, rehabilitation or vocation school, 1-year full-time certificate program, or in an undergraduate or graduate school program. The program is designed to attract the interest of students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, with paid opportunities to work in USDA and explore federal careers while still in school. Interns may work during the summer, fall, spring or year-round.
- Recent Graduates Program. The program is designed to provide federal career experience for individuals who have recently graduated from a qualifying associates, bachelors, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution, within the previous 2 years or a veteran, as defined in 5 USC 2108, who, due to a military service obligation, was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period, shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon his or her release or discharge from active duty.
- Presidential Management Fellows Program. The program is designed to grant federal work experience for individuals who have recently graduated from a degree seeking institution for no more than 2-years and who hold advanced degrees (law degree, Ph.D., medical degree). Participants selected for the program are provided with a 2-year appointment at USDA that may lead to conversion to a permanent appointment.