Cyber Scholarship Program Application

Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program

The Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program (DoD CySP) provides qualified undergraduate ESU Computer Security students the opportunity to compete for a scholarship with a substantial financial award. The program is available to all students that have completed their second year in the program (will be a Junior or Senior next academic year). The scholarship covers full tuition, fees, and books, in addition to a $27,000.00 stipend for living expenses. Recipients of the scholarship must agree to serve/work one year for the DoD for each year of scholarship received (i.e., a full-time job with a DoD Agency!). Opportunities for summer internship placements with DoD Agencies also exist for scholarship awardees.

Eligibility Requirements

1. You must be 18 years of age or older.
2. You must have/maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 out of a 4.0 scale.
3. You must be a citizen of the United States at the time of application. Note, if family members are not U.S. Citizens, some DoD Agencies may be unable to process the applicant (student) to the security clearance level required. Every effort will be made to assign eligible students at an Agency without such restrictions.
4. You must be enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) in one of the identified CAE colleges or universities listed in this announcement (ESU is a designed CAE).
5. You must have completed (or by August 2022 will have completed) the first two years of an undergraduate degree program and be eligible to begin either the third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program.
6. You must be pursuing a course of study and/or have a declared major in one of the scientific, technical, or managerial disciplines related to cyber or with a concentration in cybersecurity. ESU's B.S. in Computer Security meets this requirement.
7. You must be able to obtain a security clearance.
8. You may also be required to undergo drug and polygraph tests.

The CAE shall review the application materials, and conduct such verification as may be necessary to establish the following standards of academic sufficiency. CAEs shall exclude from further evaluation (and provide an endorsement of "Not Recommended") for any applicant unable to meet the following academic requirements: The applicant is pursuing a course of study and/or has a declared major in one of the scientific, technical or managerial disciplines related to computer and network security. The applicant has a minimum GPA of 3.2 out of a 4.0 scale. The applicant’s demonstrated potential for academic success and fulfillment of degree requirements is substantial. CAEs shall review the factors enumerated below, and shall exclude from further evaluation and not recommend any candidate that is identified as not having sufficient potential, based upon the following criteria:

• The applicant’s transcript(s) from all institutions of higher education attended
• The applicant’s current Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Academic honors, distinctions and awards
• Letters of reference

Application Requirements

All applications must be submitted via the CySP Student Application Tool no later then February 1. More information about the CySP application process can be found at the CySP Resource Site. The application must be complete with all materials, transcripts, forms, and letters of recommendation on February 1. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications received after February 1 will not be considered.

Please see DoD CySP Attachment C for application requirements. A summary of those requirements follows:

Students not currently in the CySP: An acceptable application package for the CySP consists of the following requirements:

• The Online CySP Student Application. You may find this CYSP Quick Start Guide helpful while preparing your CySP application.
• Honors and awards. Include any recognition or award that you have received. Nothing it too big or too small.
• Supplemental Academic Sufficiency Statement. You must complete the Statement of Academic Sufficiency supplement to the OF612, to which you must include the following additional supplemental statements:
• Resume
• One (1) Letter of Reference from a current faculty member who is fully knowledgeable of your potential for successful learning, your knowledge, and your ability. See remainder of application package for instructions about the content of this Letter of Reference. Letters must be on University letterhead and contain the full name and contact information of the faculty member (phone, email, and address).
• One (1) additional Letter of Reference from either a current or former faculty member, or a current or former supervisor who is fully knowledgeable of your potential for successful learning, your knowledge, and your ability. See remainder of application package for instructions about the content of this Letter of Reference. Letters must be on official letterhead and contain the full name and contact information of the faculty member or current/former supervisor (phone, email, and address).
• Transcripts from all the institutions of higher learning you have attended. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted during the application process. If the student is awarded an CySP Scholarship, the student must provide official transcripts before the scholarship can begin.
• Supplemental Competency Statement: Knowledge, Skills and Attributes: You must complete the OF612 Supplemental Competency Statement with narrative responses (an essay) that describe the level of your attainment of the knowledge and ability factors indicated. See remainder of application package for instructions about the content of this supplemental statement.
• Signature of the Supplemental Statement of General Academic and Employment Conditions. If you agree with all of the academic and employment conditions required for your receipt of scholarship assistance and appointment under the CySP, and wish to be considered for it, you must sign the OF612 Supplemental Statement of General Academic and Employment Conditions.

Current CySP students who are reapplying: An acceptable application package for the Cyber Scholarship Program consists of the following:

• The CySP Student Application completely filled out and signed. By signing the Student Application, you are stating that you have re-read section G and H. DoD CySP Attachment D: Returning Student Application.
• One (1) Letter of Reference from the current Principal Investigator or key faculty member who is fully knowledgeable of your potential for successful learning, your knowledge, and your ability, based upon this past year of effort.
• Official (certified) Transcripts from all the institutions of higher learning you have attended since your last submission. You are required to maintain the appropriate grade point average to maintain your status in the program. NOTE: University POCs processing applications for submission may open the transcripts.
• Updated resume to include your summer internship activities. A template has been provided in the application. Applicants are required to use the template.

Returning students do not need to provide:

• a list of their honors and awards
• Supplemental Competency Statement

Application Process

• New CySP Students: create and submit your application via the CySP Application Portal
  • You must complete and submit your online application by 11:59 p.m. on February 1, 2022.
• Returning CySP Students: complete the PDF DoD CySP Attachment D: Returning Student Application
  • You must give your Returning Student Application to Dr. Jochen by noon on February 1, 2022.

Note: Returning CySP Students are students that are currently receiving the CySP scholarship and are applying to receive a second year (you must apply for second-year support!). New CySP Students are students that are not currently receiving a CySP scholarship from the DoD.

• Minimum eligibility requirements and general information about the DoD CySP are provided in DoD CySP Attachment C