Summary
Make an impact while you learn. The Semester of Service Program offers students a volunteer project-based opportunity to support Federal missions, gaining hands-on experience & valuable career-ready skills. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution & participation must be with the permission of the institution at which the student is enrolled.Major Duties
This vacancy announcement will be open from 07/30/2026 to 08/05/2026 or when 50 applications have been received. The vacancy will close on whichever day the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages. The Office of Professional and Cultural Exchanges (ECA/PE) seeks a Semester of Service Student Volunteer to support a digital modernization and process improvement project with direct operational impact. The student will research, analyze, and recommend solutions to streamline and consolidate the office's recurring reporting requirements to senior Department leadership, and other due outs—into a single, integrated weekly exercise. The project will involve mapping current reporting workflows, interviewing State Department officials across ECA/PE's three constituent offices (Citizen Exchanges, Sports Diplomacy, and International Visitor Leadership Program/U.S. Speaker Program) and identifying best practices for tracking grants and upcoming events. The student will also explore options for developing a user-friendly dashboard to centralize reporting, grant tracking, and event planning, with the goal of leveraging StateChat (the Departments AI system) or similar tools to automate and tailor content to specific reporting formats. The final deliverable will include a set of recommendations and a prototype solution to enhance efficiency, transparency, and cross-office coordination. About our Office: Professional and Cultural Exchanges includes three offices: the Office of International Visitors and U.S. Speaker Program (V), which implements the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and the U.S. Speaker Program; the Office of Citizen Exchanges (CE), which comprises three divisions - cultural programs, global leaders, and youth programs; and the office of Sports Diplomacy. These offices support U.S. foreign policy priorities by conducting a broad range of exchanges that engage professionals in the government, non-profit, and private sectors; high school students; and representatives from the cultural and sports communities; and provides expert speakers on the full range of policy topics to embassies and consulates throughout the world.Education
To qualify, you must be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution for the Spring 2027 semester. You also must be in good academic standing as defined by your institution. Attach a copy of your transcripts to your application package for verification. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 scale.Requirements
Conditions of employment To participate in this Program, you must: Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S National studying in the U.S. or abroad. International students on valid visas may participate if they meet applicable immigration, visa, and agency authorities. Be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution for the Spring 2027 semester. Be in good academic standing as defined by your institution. Commit to volunteering 8 – 20 hours per week for a minimum of 90 days. Complete all required onboarding documentation assigned by the Federal agency and your academic institution. Agree to volunteer. This position is unpaid. No compensation, stipends, or hiring preference will be granted from this work. You may use this volunteer experience to qualify for future jobs you choose to apply for. Agree to understanding volunteers are not Federal employees. Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 scale.Evaluations
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Your application will be evaluated by Department of State personnel to determine your eligibility for the position and your application will be forwarded to the project manager for review. You may preview questions for this vacancy.How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. • Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/), all your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.What to Expect Next
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: 1. Your resume (two or fewer pages) showing: • Your work experience to include start and end dates. • Education information, such as the name of your school and dates of attendance. • Any knowledge, skills or abilities you've gained through education that relate to the project. 2. Proof of current enrollment not less than half-time in a trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution.Benefits
This is an unpaid volunteer experience. Student volunteers are not considered Federal employees for any purpose other than injury compensation and laws related to the Federal Tort Claims Act, and service is not creditable for leave accrual or other employee benefits. Professional experience: Meaningful project work with clear deliverables, regular supervision and federal mentorship. Skill Development: Hands-on application of academic knowledge in real-world Federal operations. Career Exploration: Exposure to Federal missions, workplace culture, and potential career pathways.
