Homeland Security Act and DL for Government Employees

Folks,

Info below for Government types. Take a look at the last item.


"Academic Degree Training
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 expanded agency authority to pay for academic degree training. Now, 5 U.S.C. 4107 provides that "An agency may select and assign an employee to academic degree training and may pay or reimburse the costs of academic degree training from appropriated or other available funds if such training:

Contributes significantly to (A) meeting an identified agency training need; (B) resolving an identified agency staffing problem; or (C) accomplishing goals in the strategic plan of the agency;

Is part of a planned, systemic, and coordinated agency employee development program linked to accomplishing the strategic goals of the agency; and

Is accredited and is provided by a college or university that is accredited by a nationally recognized body."

The new 5 U.S.C. 4107 goes on to require that the agency:

Consistent with the merit system principles set forth in paragraphs (2) and (7) of section 2301(b), take into consideration the need to (A) maintain a balanced workforce in which women, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and persons with disabilities are appropriately represented in Government service; and (B) provide employees effective education and training to improve organizational and individual performance;

Assure that the training is not for the sole purpose of providing an employee an opportunity to obtain an academic degree or qualify for appointment to a particular position for which the academic degree is a basic requirement;

Assure that no authority under this subsection is exercised on behalf of any employee occupying or seeking to qualify for (A) a noncareer appointment in the Senior Executive Service; or (B) appointment to any position that is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; and

To the greatest extent practicable, facilitate the use of online degree training."

 

Have you seen this article:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,119600,00.html

Probe: 28 Federal Workers Have Bogus Degrees

Tuesday, May 11, 2004

WASHINGTON — At least 28 senior-level federal employees in eight agencies have bogus college degrees, including three managers at the office that oversees nuclear weapons safety, congressional investigators have found.

The problem is likely even bigger, mainly because the government has no uniform way to check whether employees' alma maters are "diploma mills" that require little, if any, academic work, the General Accounting Office (search) reported.

The findings by the investigative arm of Congress were to be presented to a Senate committee Tuesday.

An earlier GAO report revealed how easy it is to buy a degree from a diploma mill; this one shows high-level federal workers securing such degrees at taxpayer expense. The tally was $169,471 at just two of the schools.

The colleges in question often use names similar to those of accredited schools and offer degrees largely on a person's "life experience." Some simply sell degrees for a flat fee.

Among those with bogus degrees in the GAO review were three workers with emergency operations roles and security clearances at the National Nuclear Security Administration (search), part of the Department of Energy (search).

One of those workers paid $5,000 for a master's degree from LaSalle University, an unaccredited school, the report said. He attended no classes, took no tests and told the GAO his degree was "a joke."

Under law, the federal government may only pay tuition for academic degree training at schools sanctioned by a recognized accrediting body.

In contacting representatives of three diploma mills, an undercover GAO investigator found they would not permit enrolling in individual courses. Yet they were willing to change their billing practices to receive federal money, dividing the flat fee they charged by the number of courses a student needed to appear as if a per-course fee was charged.

The number of bogus degrees and the amount of tax dollars spent on them are likely understated across the government because of incomplete records and verifications, the GAO said.

Three unaccredited schools — Pacific Western University (search), California Coast University (search) and Kennedy-Western University (search) — provided data showing that 463 of their students were federal employees. Most of those listed were in the Department of Defense. The report did not name employees.

The investigation took place from July 2003 through February.

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee (search) planned hearings Tuesday and Wednesday on diploma mills and the taxpayer's role in subsidizing them.

 

yes, and I have a copy of the GAO report. Unfortunately, little will be done other than changing the application process. Too political and to many records to review. I believe an honest effort will be made going forward.

The scope was too limited and the positions identified for review don't have educational requirements (positions above GS-12 do not allow education as a substitution for experience) so it will be easy to say that they were hired based upon experience rather than academic qualifications (see below):

http://www.gcn.com/22_17/news/22650-1.html

Another point missed is that the government can reimburse student loans up to $60000 for new hires. I didn't see any discussion of this area in the GAO report.

I mostly posted the item for emphasis on the online degree training.

Thanks for the article.

 

No, it does not. That simply means that candidates will not be hired solely on the basis of their degrees. It does not mean academic qualifications were excluded from consideration. It is reasonable to conclude that academic qualifications are considered at all levels of hiring for the federal government.

 

perhaps you did not read the GSA response that stated exactly as I have pointed out. Not my words, the words of the GSA official which specifically exclude education as presented. As I stated it is easy to offer this rationale as an excuse. If the position had a positive education requirement this rationale would not stand scrutiny. GS-15s (excepting some scientific and other positions) do not have this requirement or exception, GS-12s and below can have a positive education requirement and can allow education as a substitute for experience. If you want to see the real impact of degree mills then investigate employees who used the mill degree to actually qualify for the job not just to puff up the resume.

I would agree with your position of consideration of education but the defense presented by the GSA official indicates otherwise.