CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service

CyberCorps® Scholarship For Service (SFS) is a unique program designed to recruit and train the next generation of information technology professionals, industrial control system security professionals, and security managers to meet the needs of the cyber security mission for Federal, State, local, and tribal governments. This program provides scholarships for up to 3 years of support for cyber security undergraduate and graduate education. The scholarships are funded through grants awarded by the National Science Foundation. In return for their scholarships, recipients must agree to work after graduation for the U.S. Government, in a position related to cyber security, for a period equal to the length of the scholarship.

CyberCorps SFS
NSF

SFS@BAMA

SFS@BAMA is a trans-disciplinary scholarship program for students interested in careers in cyber security-related professions (examples include, but are not limited to the following: Network Attack, Network Defense, Cyber Crime Investigation, Cyber Ops Planner, Security Architect, Cyber Policy and Strategy Manager). The SFS@BAMA (NSF-1946599) program seeks to address the growing national need for highly-trained, well-rounded cyber security professionals by recruiting a diverse set of scholars from three academic programs at the University of Alabama: Computer Science, Cyber Security, Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Management Information Systems. Students who receive an SFS@BAMA scholarship will participate in a summer internship and become part of the Federal CyberCorps®, whose mission is to ensure the protection of critical U.S. government infrastructure. Upon graduation, SFS@BAMA scholars are required to serve in a paid cyber security position in the government for a period equal to the length of the scholarship. The SFS@BAMA program provides support for identifying potential summer internships as well as the post-graduation position.

Scholarship Benefits

Each SFS@BAMA recipient will receive all of the following:

  1. Full-time tuition and education related fees (does not include items such as meal plans, housing, or parking)
  2. Stipend: $25,000 per year for undergraduate students and $34,000 per year for graduate students
  3. Professional development allowance (travel, books, professional certification, etc.) up to $6,000 per academic year

Eligibility for SFS@BAMA Scholarship

To be eligible for consideration for the SFS@BAMA scholarship, the student must meet all of the following:

  1. United States citizen or Permanent Resident
  2. Current full-time student in Computer Science, Cyber Security, Criminology and Criminal Justice, or Management Information Systems at the University of Alabama who have a strong interest in the field of cyber security
  3. Bachelor's or Master's degree student within two (2) years of graduation, or a combined Bachelor's and Master's degree ("AMP") program student within three (3) years of graduation
  4. GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale
  5. May be subject to a criminal background check as part of the application process
  6. Meet selection criteria for U.S. federal employment*

* Internship placements and final job placements in government organizations typically require high-level security clearances, and scholarship recipients are required to undergo the background investigation necessary to obtain such clearances as part of the job and/or internship application process.

Obligations for SFS@BAMA Scholarship Recipient

The SFS@BAMA Scholarship Recipient must agree to:

  1. Work immediately following graduation for the Federal Government or a State, Local, or Tribal Government in a position related to cyber security for a period equal to the length of the scholarship
  2. Participate in government internship positions in the summers during the years of scholarship study
  3. Participate in other SFS@BAMA activities, such as job fairs, conferences, workshops, and seminars
  4. Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA
  5. Take at least 9 hours outside of their home department from the courses included in the SFS@BAMA Cyber Education Scholars Program
  6. No outside employment while receiving the scholarship
  7. Reimburse the scholarship if the scholar withdraws from the program or fails to fulfil the service obligation for government employment

SFS@BAMA Application Materials

Priority consideration for the Fall 2023 cohort will be given to those who complete the application submission process prior to 28 February 2023. Please note that applications will be reviewed as they are received, and there is no guarantee that a space will still be available by or beyond the priority consideration date. The final deadline is 15 April 2023. No applications for the Fall 2023 cohort will be accepted after that date.

All applicants are required to complete the Student Application Form. Prior to completing the Student Application Form, you should perform the following tasks. (The Application Form will ask for this information)

  1. Prepare a resume including key skills and work experience, as well as a list of academic recognitions, awards, honors and distinctions that you have received
  2. Write a two-page essay describing your:
    • Interest in the SFS@BAMA program
    • Goals and motivations to pursue a career in U.S. Civil Service
    • Leadership potential and commitment to service
    • Knowledge and interest in the Cyber Security field
  3. Read through the following documents, completely (the application will ask you to certify you have read them)
  4. Applications are closed for the Fall 2023 cohort.

FAQ

What is the Scholarship for Service Program?

It is the Federal Government's response to deal with the threat to our information technology infrastructure by strengthening the cadre of information assurance professionals who protect it. Through this program, the National Science Foundation partnered with Department of Homeland Security issues selected 4-year colleges and universities scholarship grants to attract students to the information assurance field. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management administers the operational aspects of the program. Questions about the program may be addressed to Travis McKone at sfs@opm.gov (757-441-3181) OR Kathy Roberson, SFS Program Manager (405-259-8277). Both are available by e-mail at sfs@opm.gov.

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What are the student eligibility requirements for me to particpate?

The student must meet all of the following: -- be a full-time student within two years of graduation in a qualifying bachelor's or master's degree; or a student participating in a combined bachelor's and master's degree ("AMP") program; -- be a United States citizen; -- meet criteria for Federal employment; and -- be able to obtain a security clearance, if required.

See above for additional information on eligibility and obligations.

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What happens if I leave my Government Agency position before I serve the required period?

You must repay a prorated amount equivalent to the length of the period not served. For example, if you received funds for two years and served for one-and-a-half years, you must repay 25% of the funds received.

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For more Q & A, please visit the following website: https://www.sfs.opm.gov/StudFAQ.aspx.

Contact Inforamtion


Overall Project PI
Dr. Jeffrey Carver
Email: carver@cs.ua.edu
Phone: (205) 348-9829

Computer Science & Cyber Security Contact
Dr. Travis Atkison
Email: atkison@cs.ua.edu
Phone: (205) 348-4740

Criminology and Criminal Justice Contact
Dr. Adam Ghazi-Tehrani
Email: aghazi@ua.edu
Phone: (205) 348-7795

Management Information Systems Contact
Dr. Matthew Hudnall
Email: matthew.hudnall@ua.edu
Phone: (205) 348-0856
SFS Ceremony Pictured: Karen A. Marrongelle (NSF), Dr. F. Fleming Crim (NSF), Dr. Jeffrey Carver (UA), Dr. Travis Atkison (UA), Mr. Bradford J. Willke (DHS), Ms. Veronica Villalobos (OPM)
Not pictured: Dr. Adam Ghazi-Tehrani (UA), Dr. Matthew Hudnall (UA), and Dr. Diana Dolliver (UA) [former Co-PI]