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***THIS IS A SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT***
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS SET UP TO RECEIVE APPLICATIONS FOR A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND UPON COMPLETION OF THE APPROVED EDUCATION PROGRAM, YOU WILL BE PLACED IN A POSITION FOR WHICH THE EDUCATION RECEIVED HAS PREPARED YOU.
***THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO OBTAIN A JOB WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.***
The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to individuals pursuing a program of study leading to a degree or certificate in visual impairment or orientation and mobility. This program will help alleviate the health care workforce shortages in VA by obligating scholarship recipients to complete a minimum of 3 year service obligation at a VA health care facility after graduation and licensure/certification.
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/
Students with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Learn more about this agency02/10/2017 to 05/01/2017
$0 - $0 per year
GS 00
Many vacancies in the following location:
Not required
No
Internships - Other Student
Full-time - Full Time
No
AIG-17-SMH-1912566
464072800
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is providing scholarship opportunities for U.S. citizens seeking degrees in orientation and mobility, low vision therapy, or vision rehabilitation therapy.
The Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professionals Scholarship Program (VIOMPSP) awards scholarships to students pursuing a program of study leading to a degree in visual impairment or orientation and mobility in order to increase the supply of qualified blind rehabilitation specialists for VA and the Nation.
Awards of scholarships under the VIOMPSP are subject to the availability of funds, and VA may award a full-time student a scholarship for a minimum of 1 year to a maximum of 4 years. VA may also award a part-time student a scholarship for a minimum of 1 year to a maximum of 6 years.
VA will give priority consideration to applicants entering their final year of education or training and will consider Veterans first among all equally qualified candidates.
After completion of their education, participants must serve as a full-time clinical VA employee for a minimum of three years in the rehabilitation practice of the participant's discipline in an assignment or location determined by VA while participating in the VIOMPSP. This obligated service would begin on the date on which the participant obtains any required applicable credentials and when appointed as a full-time clinical VA employee in a position for which the degree prepared the participant.
Other terms and conditions apply. For more information on this program, please see the VIOMPSP Applicant Information Bulletin or visit VA Careers at http://www.vacareers.va.gov
Veterans' Preference: Eligible veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of DD-214(s) showing all dates of service as well as character of service (honorable, general, etc.). Additionally, veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more must also submit a copy of their official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying their service-connected disability and/or their receipt of compensation for service-connected disability. If the military member is within 120 days of separation and does not yet have a DD214, the member may instead submit any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.
Veterans with service-connected disability of less than 10%, non service-connected disability, and Purple Heart recipients, as-well-as those claiming derived preference for a spouse, widow or widower, or natural mother, should refer to and submit a completed " SF15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," (go to http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf) and required documentation with your application materials.
For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
For the purposes of the VIOMPSP, VA recognizes a bachelor's, master's, education specialist or doctorate that meets the core curriculum and supervised practice requirements in visual impairment and blindness.
PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
Mobility Requirement: Completing the service obligation may require relocation at the applicant's expense if there is not a suitable vacancy, or they are not selected for employment at a nearby VA facility. Applicants must sign a mobility agreement upon accepting the scholarship. Applicants uncertain of a commitment to their current health care speciality or relocation requirements based on the needs of the VA are advised not to participate in the program.
Under the acceptance agreement, the individual is required to stay enrolled in school and maintain acceptable academic standing.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
VA will give priority consideration to applicants entering their final year of education or training, in order to achieve our goal of recruiting new healthcare practitioners on an expedited basis through the VIOMPSP. If there are more applicants to the VIOMPSP than there are available funds, VA will select the participants based on random method of selection, considering Veterans first among all equally qualified candidates. Selection criteria includes academic performance, work experience, faculty and employer recommendations, or career goals.
The following documents are required:
Please be sure you have submitted the required documents. You will not be contacted for additional information.
Failure to submit any of the required documents may result in your not receiving credit for your Veterans Preference, Education and or Experience. Veterans Preferences documents are only required for current or former military members. You may use this checklist to review some of the documents that are required with your application.
A cover letter is optional.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this Scholarship Program, you must provide a complete application (See "Required Documents" section below). The complete Application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Monday, May 01, 2017.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button on the right side of this screen to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Be sure to upload the required documents before you submit your application. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. Mailed/emailed applications will not be accepted.
Note: To change or update your application, simply reapply through My USAJOBS, before the closing date. To check the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account ( https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), select Application Status and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
If you cannot apply online:
To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload:
After the Scholarship announcement closes, VA will notify in writing those individuals who applications are approved. An electronic notification letter - or e-mail - will be sent to applicants who provide an e-mail address. Otherwise, you will receive a notification letter via the U.S. Postal Service.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking on “Application Status.” For a more detailed update of your status, click on “more information.” Information regarding applicant notification points can be found in the USAJobs Resource Center.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/464072800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY PROFESSIONALS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (VIOMPSP)
***THIS IS A SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT***
***THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO OBTAIN A JOB WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.***
Scholarship Application Identification Number: 1912566
