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Frequently Asked Questions
| Q: | I will be finishing the last 10 credits of my undergraduate program in computer studies in the summer. I have not yet applied for the graduate program but am very interested in applying for this scholarship. Should I apply to graduate school before completing my undergraduate studies as well as applying for the scholarship as a graduate student? |
| A: | Since being already accepted in a program is a requirement, you will need to apply for the undergraduate one. You may apply for admission to the graduate program and if admitted before Feb.11, then apply as a graduate student. |
| Q: | I took one course at UMUC in the past but I am not pursuing a degree. I am interested in the scholarship and would resume my studies if eligible. |
| A: | You have to be an admitted student in good standing in the program to be eligible. |
| Q: | I am a federal employee. Can I apply for the scholarship? |
| A: | Federal employees—with the exception of current Department of Defense (DOD) civilian employees—are eligible for the scholarship. You should be aware that your current job might not necessarily qualify for the internship requirement or the federal employment requirement after graduation. You may be assigned at a different agency. |
| Q: | I am currently pursuing another track but would like to switch to the information assurance track in order to be eligible for the scholarship. |
| A: | You are eligible to apply. However, you may have to take extra courses in order to fulfill the requirements for the degree in the information assurance track, certification, or concentration. |
| Q: | What salary grade level will I be placed in when I graduate? |
| A: | We do not have an answer for that. Your grade would be at the discretion of the employing agency and it would be commensurate with the position and your qualifications. |
| Q: | How can I obtain personal references? |
| A: | Personal references can be from various sources. Valuable references could be from your supervisors at work, professors (current or former) and others who can attest to your knowledge, character, and motivation. |
| Q: | Are there scholarship opportunities for DOD civilian employees or Active Duty Military Personnel? |
| A: | Yes. Please visit the following site for more information: http://www.defenselink.mil/nii/iasp/DoDMembersMain.htm |
| Q: | Do I have to be enrolled at UMUC or can I attend another school? |
| A: | You have to be enrolled in an NSA-designated Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) and apply at that institution. See the following for a list of CAEs. http://www.defenselink.mil/nii/iasp/schoolsCAEList.htm |
| Q: | Where can I find additional FAQs? |
| A: | Please visit the DOD Information Assurance Scholarship Program site at the following address: http://www.defenselink.mil/nii/iasp/faq.htm |
| Q: | Where can I find additional FAQs? |
| A: | Please visit the DOD Information Assurance Scholarship Program site at the following address: http://www.defenselink.mil/nii/iasp/faq.htm |
| Q: | How do I contact my academic advisor about curriculum planning? |
| A: | Visit our Web site for more information about enrollment services and academic advising. Please be advised that enrollment advising will not be able to answer questions about the scholarship They can only help with your courses for academic planning purposes. http://www.umuc.edu/students/ssc/ssc_home.shtml |
| Q: | I am a professional working in the field and pursuing a certificate in that field with a Management degree at Graduate school. I do a lot of Federal government contracting in Information Assurance/Information Security. However, I am attempting to get into the Federal Government as a civil servant. Will I still be paid the same as someone with little or no experience? |
| A: | Usually internships are anywhere from a GS-04 - GS-09. Permanent employment could be anywhere from a GS-05 - GS-12. It all depends on the agency that has selected the student since they decide which salary level. They do take into consideration education level, experience, certificates, prior military service and possible other factors that I am not aware of. So no, if selected, you would not be paid the same as someone with no experience. |
| Q: | Is there any talk of extending the deadline? |
| A: | No, we do not accept applications past the due date. |
| Q: | Is it possible to apply for the IASP at a later date? |
| A: | The IASP is open to eligible applicants every year. The due date is always: 28 February for Non DoD Civilians and Active Military and 31 January for DoD Civilians and Active Military. |
| Q: | Would any of the MS/MBA specializations be eligible for the IASP? |
| A: | Only those seeking degrees in Information Assurance (IA) related fields are eligible for the IASP, however if the student is seeking a degree in Master of Science in Information Technology, he/she may still apply for the IASP, provided that he/she is committed to taking 5 IA courses. |
| Q: | Is it required to still fill out the documents for the background check if you already have a security clearance? |
| A: | If the student is a current DoD Civilian or Active Military member then he/she would need to follow the attached application criteria for the scholarship program. If the student is not a current DoD Civilian or Active Military member, then yes it would still be required by the agency that selected him/her for the scholarship. However, it would probably be an easier and quicker process since he/she already has a clearance. But since we here at the IASP program office are not security officers we can not guarantee that this would be so. |