Cyber Scholarship Program

Applications for this program must be submitted by January 25, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST in the appropriate format to css@umgc.edu. Applications submitted in the wrong format, using wrong forms, or missing items will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered for the scholarship opportunity. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered for the scholarship opportunity. No exceptions will be granted.

To complete your application, you will need two letters of reference. Your first letter must be from a current faculty member. Your second letter must be from either a current or former faculty member or a current or former supervisor.

Recommenders must be fully knowledgeable of your potential for successful learning, your knowledge, and your ability. Letters must be an original version (not a copy), on official company/institution letterhead, include full contact information (full name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address) and must be signed by the author. E-mailed letters will not be accepted.

You will have to scan your transcripts and include them in your application file. Forward the original transcripts to your appropriate contact at UMGC. Please provide the official transcript that shows your stated GPA (no rounding).

Jennifer Hull, Academic Program Specialist
Cybersecurity and Information Technology
University of Maryland Global Campus
3501 University Boulevard East
Adelphi, MD 20783

Please see UMGC's policy on Student Academic Load And Enrollment Status to find out how many credits undergraduate and graduate students need to take per semester to be considered full-time students.

Contingent on adequate funding appropriations, it is anticipated that successful scholarship recipients will receive follow-on support to complete their degree program. Returning students will be required to reapply each year by submitting the entire student application, one copy of their official transcript (reflecting maintenance of the required grade point average) and an endorsement/recommendation letter from the principal investigator.

No. Resumes must be on the resume template and should be limited to 2 pages. At minimum, the resume should include the following information:

• Education: Degrees, institutions, location, date of graduation (or expected date of graduation), major/minor fields, and GPA.

• Experience: Jobs, internships, and/or volunteer work, include name of company, position, and dates employed. List at least three important tasks, accomplishments, or skills gained at each job. Also identify any clearance level you hold. It is important that you identify the number of hours per week you worked.

• Skills: Include computer systems, programs in which you are proficient, foreign , and any other skills and certifications you may hold.

No. Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply.

No. According to the scholarship program's rules and regulations, current U.S. Department of Defense employees and other Federal employees, active-duty military servicemembers and Reserves and Guard members, and students with an existing service obligation are not eligible to apply.

Traditional Guard and Reserves members are eligible to apply. This category refers to those who may only put the uniform on during the weekend. An example is someone who works for a regular company but goes to a military base one weekend a month to perform his or her Guard or Reserves duties. Students in this category are eligible to apply for the scholarship program.

Current U.S. Department of Defense employees and other Federal employees, active-duty military servicemembers and Reserves and Guard members, and students with an existing service obligation are not eligible to apply. If you do not fit this description, you can apply as a contractor.

No. You must have at least one full academic year remaining in your degree program to apply.

Students will be required to serve in internship positions with the U.S. Department of Defense while they are receiving scholarship support until they complete the course of study provided for by the scholarship. These internships will be arranged by the U.S. Department of Defense to occur during the summer or other breaks between school terms, as appropriate to the individual’s circumstances and the institution’s calendar. The internship does not count toward satisfying the period of obligated service incurred by accepting the scholarship.

Students selected as Cyber Scholars will be required to complete one year of service to the U.S. Department of Defense, upon graduation, for each year of scholarship received.

There is also an option to fulfill this requirement through military service. Individuals choosing to enlist or accept a commission to serve on active duty in the military shall incur a service obligation of a minimum of four years on active duty in that service upon graduation. The military may establish a service obligation longer than four years, depending on the occupational specialty and type of enlistment or commissioning program selected.

Scholarship payback for traditional Guard and Reserves members is two years of service for each year of scholarship received.

Candidates who are applying for this program should understand up front that they may make a higher salary outside of this program. Before you sign the application form, remember that you could potentially receive a lesser salary than what is offered for commercial or contracting jobs.

You should consider the following when applying:

• Am I willing to move away from my family or hometown for the summer internship and/or my final DoD placement?

• Am I willing to move my family to a new city/state for the summer internship and/or my final DoD placement?

• Am I willing to quit a current non-Federal job to accept the scholarship?

• Is there a life event happening in the next few months that will prevent me from performing my service obligation (marriage, birth, etc.)?

• Am I willing to accept the scholarship and DoD commitment, considering salary levels may not be the same as which I am currently making?

In thinking about the salary considerations, be sure to factor in salary, benefits, and the fact that you won’t have to pay large student loans.