NIATEC Application

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

This document contains the application form for the NSF Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service program (http://www.sfs.opm.gov) for students at one of the following partner institutions: Idaho States University.

Eligibility requirements:

• 3.5 or better GPA
• United States citizenship – Not dual National
• Full-time student or applicant within two years of graduation in an undergraduate or graduate program at one of the partner institutions 
  member of Infragard

Scholarship recipients shall:

• Pursue an academic program in information assurance or computer security at their home institution or through consortium registration at one of the partner institutions
• Participate in two years of study and related activities in information assurance or computer security
• Maintain a 3.5 or better GPA
• Receive full tuition support as well as payment of related expenses such as textbooks and fees
• Participate actively in an internship/practicum within the National Information Assurance Training and Education Center (NIATEC) to gain experience in Information Assurance
  receive an annual stipend of $37,000 for graduate students
• Seek and participate in a paid summer Information Assurance internship with a federal agency at the end of their first year of support
• Upon graduation be required to work for a federal agency for two years in fulfillment of their Federal Cyber Service commitment

Application requirements:

• Application form
• Personal statement
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Transcripts from home institution and any previous institutions attended (may be unofficial)
• Resume

Transcripts and recommendations should be sent to fax: (208) 282-4167

All other application materials should be sent electronically to the contact at your home institution.

Personal Statement Instructions:

In a separate document, with your name on each page, please write a personal statement that describes:

Any awards, academic recognition, honors, or distinctions that you have received (one page or less, single spaced).

Although you are not expected to be an expert in all areas, state your knowledge and ability in each of the six competency areas below (one page or less, single spaced per competency area):

• Knowledge of the techniques of the information security discipline, including encryption, access control, physical security, training, threat analysis, and authentication
• Knowledge of the human factors in information security, 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; be tactful, compassionate and sensitive, and treat others with respect
• Ability to make clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals or groups; listen effectively and clarify information as needed; facilitate an open exchange of ideas and foster an atmosphere of open communication
• Ability to express facts and ideas in writing in clear, convincing and organized manners appropriate to the audience and occasion

Any factors that uniquely or specially qualify you to receive this scholarship (one page or less, single spaced).