In January 2001, OPM issued final regulations for the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program. The effective date of these regulations is April 12, 2001. This program authorizes federal agencies to repay Federally insured student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for both job candidates and current employees. As a recruitment tool, agencies can offer student loan repayments once they have made an offer of employment. As a retention tool, loan repayments can be made to current employees as one of many incentives designed to keep talented employees in the Federal workforce.
Agencies can tailor loan repayment programs to meet specific resource needs.
Agencies are authorized to set up and administer their own loan repayment programs in order to recruit or retain highly qualified professional, technical, or administrative personnel. The Federal IT Workforce Committee issued the updated version of the Clinger-Cohen Competencies in September 2000. The IT Workforce Committee has championed the update of the Clinger-Cohen Competencies on a biennial basis to identify emerging IT management competencies that are critical to the success of organizations. The competencies are widely used by Federal agencies in educational, retention and recruiting activities. The Committee's IT Roadmap project will provide career development tools for current and prospective IT employees in the Federal Government.