[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 8 (Friday, January 11, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1420-1421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-711]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Part 196

[Public Notice 3847]


The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs/Graduate Foreign Affairs 
Fellowship Program and Grants to Post-Secondary Institutions

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the rule by which the Department of 
State's Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs/Graduate Foreign Affairs 
Fellowship program will be administered. The State Department Basic 
Authorities Act (22 U.S.C. 2719) states that the Department shall 
establish regulations which will provide for a limit on the size of any 
specific grant and, regarding any grant to individuals, shall ensure no 
grant recipient receives grants from one or more Federal programs which 
in the aggregate would exceed the cost of his or her educational 
expenses and shall require satisfactory educational progress by 
grantees as a condition of eligibility for continued participation in 
the program.

DATES: Comments are due on or before March 12, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Chief of Student Programs, Office of 
Recruitment, Bureau of Human Resources, Department of State, 2401 E 
Street, NW., Room H-518, Washington, DC 20522.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Esper, Office of Recruitment/
Student Programs at (202) 261-8924.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs/
Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program was established to recruit 
a talented and diverse group of students into the Foreign Service. The 
State Department Basic Authorities Act (22 U.S.C. 2719) authorizes the 
Secretary of State to make grants to post-secondary education 
institutions or students for the purpose of increasing the level of 
knowledge and awareness of and interest in employment with the Foreign 
Service. The program provides scholarships to undergraduate and 
graduate students in academic programs relevant to international 
affairs, political and economic analysis, administration, management 
and science policy. While in school, Fellows participate in one 
domestic and one overseas internship within the U.S. Department of 
State. After completing their academic training, and successfully 
passing the Foreign Service entry requirements, Fellows will enter the 
U.S. Department of State Foreign Service as Foreign Service Officers. 
Consideration is given to all qualified applicants who, in addition to 
outstanding leadership skills and academic achievement, demonstrate 
financial need. The number of fellowships awarded is determined by 
available funding.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 196

    Education, Educational study programs, Federal aid programs, Grant 
programs, Scholarships and fellowships, and Students.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the U.S. Department of 
State amends 22 CFR chapter I by adding Part 196 to read as follows:

PART 196--THOMAS R. PICKERING FOREIGN AFFAIRS/GRADUATE FOREIGN 
AFFAIRS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Sec.
196.1   What is the Fellowship Program?
196.2   How is the Fellowship Program administered?
196.3   Grants to post-secondary education institutions.
196.4   Administering Office.

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2719.


Sec. 196.1  What is the Fellowship Program?

    The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs/Graduate Foreign Affairs 
Fellowship Program is designed to

[[Page 1421]]

attract outstanding men and women at the undergraduate and graduate 
educational levels for the purpose of increasing the level of knowledge 
and awareness of and employment with the Foreign Service, consistent 
with 22 U.S.C. 3905. The Program develops a source of trained men and 
women, from academic disciplines representing the skill needs of the 
Department, who are dedicated to representing the United States' 
interests abroad.


Sec. 196.2  How is the Fellowship Program administered?

    (a) Eligibility. Eligibility will be determined annually by the 
Department of State and publicized nationwide. Fellows must be United 
States citizens.
    (b) Provisions. The grant awarded to each individual student shall 
not exceed $250,000 for the total amount of time the student is in the 
program. Fellows are prohibited from receiving grants from one or more 
Federal programs, which in the aggregate would exceed the cost of his 
or her educational expenses. Continued eligibility for participation is 
contingent upon the Fellow's ability to meet the educational 
requirements set forth below.
    (c) Program requirements. Eligibility for participation in the 
program is conditional upon successful completion of pre-employment 
processing specified by the Department of State, including background 
investigation, medical examination, and drug testing. As a condition of 
eligibility for continued receipt of grant funds, fellows are required 
to complete prescribed coursework and maintain a satisfactory grade 
point average as determined by the Department of State. Fellows are 
also required to accept employment with the Department of State's 
Foreign Service upon successful completion of the program, and Foreign 
Service entry requirements. Fellows must continue employment for a 
period of one and one-half years for each year of education funded by 
the Department of State.


Sec. 196.3  Grants to post-secondary education institutions.

    The Department of State may make a grant to a post-secondary 
education institution for the purpose of increasing the level of 
knowledge and awareness of and interest in employment with the Foreign 
Service, consistent with 22 U.S.C. 3905, not to exceed$1,000,000, 
unless otherwise authorized by law.


Sec. 196.4  Administering Office.

    The Department of State's Bureau of Human Resources, Office of 
Recruitment is responsible for administering the Thomas R. Pickering 
Foreign Affairs/Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program and grants 
to post-secondary institutions and may be contacted for more detailed 
information.

    Dated: January 4, 2002.
Ruben Torres,
Executive Director, Bureau of Human Resources, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 02-711 Filed 1-10-02; 8:45 am]
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