Degree Requirements in the Homeland Security Act
- Take advantage of federal programs to further your education and training.today image by alwayspp from Fotolia.com
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA), in addition to enacting intelligence and counter-terrorism reforms, revised the U.S. Code to clarify requirements for a federal sponsorship of postsecondary education for government employees. Any federal agency may, at its discretion, sponsor an employee committed to long-term service in obtaining a degree that meets these requirements. Specific requirements for eligibility are spelled out in regulations issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). - Specifically, the training provided by the degree must meet an agency training need, fill an expertise or staffing gap within the agency, or accomplish a stated agency planning goal. Federal agencies have a vested interest in developing a workforce of competent professionals who are experts in the subject matter within the agency's jurisdiction, and who can readily address the agency's most salient issues. For example, if the Department of Agriculture needs employees with greater expertise in the economic issues faced by farmers, it may sponsor an employee in obtaining a certificate in Agribusiness Management. Similarly, the Justice Department may fulfill an internal goal of improving foreign relations in criminal extraditions by sponsoring an LL.M. in International Criminal Law. In short, if the degree mutually benefits the employee and the agency in a real way, it is likely eligible for a federal subsidy.
- In addition to meeting the policy objectives of the agency, the degree sought should accomplish the long-term training objectives of the agency's human resource department. Federal agencies, in an effort to enhance the quality of their workforce, routinely develop and revise human resource plans to improve employee performance and retention. Beyond the substantive knowledge conferred, the degree should provide training and experience related to the "core competencies" the agency requires -- transferable skills such as communication, management techniques and critical thinking skills. Check with your agency's human resource department to discover the core competencies required for its staff generally or your desired position in particular.
- For quality control purposes, the Department of Education maintains a list of recognized accrediting agencies. Accreditation is a process of peer review that verifies the academic standards of a particular institution. A federal agency will not sponsor a degree unless the institution that confers it is properly accredited. Examples of recognized agencies include vocational accreditation programs, such as the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training, and regional accrediting agencies for traditional postsecondary schools, such as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. More information can be found on the Department of Education website.
