1.1 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to provide authority, policy, and guidance on the execution of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service).
1.2 Policy. The Service's policy is to develop programs and coordinate activities to increase opportunities for students of HBCU member institutions.
1.3 Authority.
Executive Order 12677 of April 28, 1989, Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
1.4 Definitions.
A. Black is defined as a group or race having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. This does not include persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin.
B. Historically Black Colleges and Universities are any historically Black colleges or universities established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary of Education to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation.
1.5 Responsibility.
A. The Chief, Office for Human Resources serves as the principal advisor to the Director on all issues concerning the execution of the HBCU program within the Service.
B. Assistant and Regional Directors will ensure that the HBCU program is implemented within the programs, activities and region for which they are responsible.
C. Assistant Regional Directors for Human Resources and the Human Resources Officer - Headquarters provides program leadership and direction and are responsible for coordination of all HBCU program activities.
1.6 Program Development.
A. All Service programs and activities use the HBCU program as a way to provide opportunities to HBCU graduate and undergraduate students. Opportunities may be provided through permanent employment, part-time employment, student employment, summer employment, and student employment program appointments.
B. Students may be hired to work on projects or other work-related activities that help to achieve the Service's mission.
C. The Service may participate in HBCU faculty/Service employee exchanges.
D. The Service may donate surplus equipment to HBCU.
E. The Service will work with HBCU staff in the development of fish and wildlife biology curriculum to increase the number of minority students in the biological field.
1.7 Recruitment. The Service will participate in career days, job fairs, and other on-campus career orientation and recruitment activities at HBCU in an effort to provide information on career opportunities, career ladder positions, and benefits within the Service.
1.8 Cooperative Agreements. The Service will establish cooperative agreements with HBCU in an effort to provide quality educational/work opportunities to HBCU students.
1.9 Partnerships.
A. The Service will establish partnerships with HBCU and schools with a high enrollment of black students to create an incentive for students to stay in school and pursue careers in the Service with special emphasis on the natural resources' field.
B. The Service, through outreach activities, will encourage partnership agreements and student exchanges between HBCU and other institutions of higher education.
1.10 Reporting Requirements. The Office for Human Resources will submit an annual accomplishment report of HBCU activities as a part of the Minorities in Higher Education Program and Accomplishment Report (RO64-0A) to the Departmental Office for Equal Opportunity. The report responds to an annual request from the OEO and generally covers the funds obligated to HBCU Program the number of students hired under summer employment, the number of students in the Student Career Experience Program (formerly Cooperative Education), conversions to career conditional and career appointments, and future plans to assist HBCU.