Expanding Opportunities in Public Service: The Virtual Student Federal Service Program

The U.S. Department of State's Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) program is dedicated to making public service accessible to students from diverse backgrounds and with varying constraints. Since its launch in 2009, the program has provided opportunities for over 10,000 U.S. citizen college students to work on projects for more than 70 federal agencies. This year, the program is expanding, and students are invited to apply for virtual internships through the VSFS website.

Key Takeaways:

• The VSFS program is committed to promoting diversity in the Department of State and other federal agencies, with one-third of its alumni who became Foreign Service Officers coming from underrepresented groups.
• The program offers virtual internships in a wide range of fields, including data analysis, app development, graphic design, speechwriting, research, and more.
• Over 8,000 applicants applied for the 3,000 available virtual internships last year, and the program anticipates a significant increase in applicants for 2021.
• Students can commit about 10 hours per week from September through May, and applications will be accepted from July 1-31 on USAJobs.gov.
• The program has a long-term goal of providing opportunities for students from all over the country, with a focus on community colleges, minority-serving institutions, and other underrepresented groups.

Statistics:

• Over 10,000 U.S. citizen college students have participated in the VSFS program since its launch in 2009.
• More than 70 federal agencies have hosted students through the VSFS program.
• 3,000 virtual internships were available last year, with over 8,000 applicants.
• One-third of VSFS alumni who became Foreign Service Officers are from underrepresented groups.

Sources:

• U.S. Department of State media note, "Virtual Student Federal Service Program," (no date provided) [1]
• Wikipedia article, "Virtual Student Federal Service," (no date provided) [2]