U.S. Foreign Affairs IT Fellowship Program Now Accepting Applications, Launches New Website
The U.S. Department of State seeks to attract top tech talent to the Foreign Service that reflects the diversity of the United States.
WASHINGTON, November 21, 2019 (Newswire.com) - Applications for the Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship program, funded by the United States Department of State, are now being accepted through February 14, 2020. The two-year fellowship program, administered by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC), is intended for students in an IT-related degree program, including accredited online degree programs.
Students selected for the FAIT Fellowship program will receive up to $37,500 annually for tuition, room and board, books, mandatory fees, and some travel expenses, for their junior and senior years of undergraduate study, or a two-year master’s degree program in an IT-related field. They also will receive stipends, housing and travel allowances for two internship experiences, one in Washington, D.C. at the State Department, and one at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Upon successful completion of the Fellowship program and the State Department’s requirements, Fellows will receive an appointment in the Foreign Service as an Information Management Specialist for a minimum of five years.
The FAIT Fellowship is part of the Department of State’s continued efforts to diversify the ranks of Information Management Specialists serving in the U.S. Foreign Service with traditionally underrepresented populations reflecting ethnic, racial, gender, social and geographic diversity, and those with financial need.
The new website, https://www.faitfellowship.org/, features blog articles, webinars, videos, and downloadable resources for students, faculty and advisors. Also, photos and brief bios of past FAIT Fellows are featured.
Up to 15 student applicants are chosen annually in a competitive selection process, with special consideration given to members of underrepresented minority groups and those with financial need. Students for the 2020 application cycle must meet the following requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be enrolled in an IT-related undergraduate degree program and entering the junior year in the fall of 2020 OR entering an IT-related master’s degree program beginning in the fall of 2020.
- Hold a minimum 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale at the time of the application, and maintain this GPA throughout participation in the program.
- Be able to pass medical and suitability requirements, and security clearances.
“The Washington Center is honored to partner with the U.S. Department of State on the FAIT Fellowship program for the fourth year in a row,” said Chris Norton, TWC president. “With a network of more than 400 campus partners across the country, TWC has unparalleled access to a pipeline of diverse, talented students eager to begin their college to career journeys. We look forward to discovering the IT students who want to have a real impact in diplomacy and see the world.”
To date, 15 students have participated in the program. The original cohort from 2017 successfully completed the fellowship in 2019 and are on their way to their first assignments abroad.
Source: The Washington Center
