SMART Scholarship Program
Ed Bujan
Liaison, SMART Program
http://www.asee.org/smart/
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?
2
Overview
•
What is SMART?
•
Participant Benefits
•
The SMART Process
•
Other Considerations
3
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
15 Aug – 15 Dec
January
Mar - May
July
Application
Selection
Awards
Orientation
Summer/Fall
10 – 12 Weeks
Aug - May
Graduation
Internship
School
Within 30 days
Hiring
Application Process
•
Application Process
– Web-based (http://www.asee.org/fellowships/smart/)
– 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 10-12 week summer internships
Current enrollment or have taken GRE
Approved field of study with an interest in research
7
Approved Fields of Study
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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
We will support interdisciplinary programs that overlap these fields
8
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 3.73
•
2 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
•
Web site: http://www.asee.org/fellowships/smart/
– Application is on-line
– General program information
•
Email: smart@asee.org
– Specific questions regarding your personal situation
– Ask anything…
•
Ed Bujan, Program Liaison
– Edwin.bujan.ctr@randolph.af.mil
– 210-565-1775
13
QUESTIONS?
AF Class of 2009