Make an impact while you learn. The Semester of Service Program offers students a volunteer project-based opportunity to support real Federal missions, gaining hands-on experience and valuable career-ready skills. The government-wide "Semester of Service" Student Volunteer Program enables Federal agencies to engage students in unpaid, project-based assignments of limited duration aligning with each agency's strategic priorities.
Summary
Make an impact while you learn. The Semester of Service Program offers students a volunteer project-based opportunity to support real Federal missions, gaining hands-on experience and valuable career-ready skills. The government-wide "Semester of Service" Student Volunteer Program enables Federal agencies to engage students in unpaid, project-based assignments of limited duration aligning with each agency's strategic priorities.
Open to students currently enrolled, seeking a diploma/degree at an accredited educational institution on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution.
Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Verification form BIA -4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. No other documents will be accepted.
Work Schedule and Flexibilities:
Student volunteers will serve 8-20 hours per week on a part-time basis for a minimum of 90 days, aligned with academic term calendars.
In office (or work site) only Number of Positions: 10 Preferred Term(s): Fall 2026
The Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) proposes a structured, project-based student volunteer initiative within the Digital Center of Excellence (DCE) located at the American Indian Records Repository (AIRR). This initiative directly supports agency priorities related to historical preservation and records modernization by advancing digitization, indexing, and research efforts associated with Indian Affairs records. Student volunteers will contribute to clearly defined, outcome-driven projects, including the digitization of archival materials, enhancement of indexing accuracy and metadata quality, and targeted research to improve contextual understanding and accessibility of historical records. These efforts address a legitimate agency need to increase the usability, discoverability, and long-term preservation of records while supporting broader federal data and records management objectives.
The project is designed to align with student learning objectives by providing hands-on experience in archival science, digital records management, data stewardship, and historical research, while strengthening technical, analytical, and critical thinking skills. Work will be scoped for completion within a single academic term and will include structured milestones such as onboarding and training, midpoint progress reviews, and final deliverables. Deliverables may include digitized record sets meeting quality standards, enhanced indexing and metadata outputs, research summaries, and process documentation that can be operationalized by BTFA staff.
The government-wide "Semester of Service" Student Volunteer Program, as authorized under 5 U.S.C §31114 and 5 CFR Part 3085, enables Federal agencies to engage students in unpaid, project-based assignments of limited duration. These assignments are designed to align with each agency's strategic priorities, offering participants practical experience within Federal operations while supporting the advancement of targeted initiatives.
Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S National studying in the U.S. or abroad. Any remote work must be completed domestically within the United States.
Be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution throughout the 90 day Semester of Service opportunity. Students graduating before December 1, 2026 are not eligible.
Qualifying educational institutions must be located within the United States.
Be in good academic standing as defined by your institution.
Commit to volunteering 8 - 20 hours per week for a minimum of 90 days.
Complete all required onboarding documentation assigned by the Department of the Interior and your academic institution.
Agree to volunteer. This position is unpaid. No compensation, stipends, or hiring preference will be granted from this work. You may use this volunteer experience to qualify for future jobs you choose to apply for.
Agree to understanding volunteers are not Federal employees.
Not be a current federal employee. Current federal employees can reach out to the contact below to inquire about job detail opportunities.
Qualifications
Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs. Specifically, applicants should possess:
Strong attention to detail
Research capabilities
Interest in historical preservation and digital records management
Preferred qualifications:
Students pursuing degrees in history, business, library and information science, archival studies, data analytics, public administration, or related fields
Familiarity with scanning technologies, metadata concepts, or Microsoft 365 tools (e.g., Excel, SharePoint)
Education
To qualify, you must be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution. You also must be in good academic standing as defined by your institution. Attach a copy of your transcripts to your application package for verification.
Additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
This is an unpaid volunteer experience. Student volunteers are not considered Federal employees for any purpose other than injury compensation and laws related to the Federal Tort Claims Act, and service is not creditable for leave accrual or other employee benefits.
Professional experience: Meaningful project work with clear deliverables, regular supervision and federal mentorship.
Skill Development: Hands-on application of academic knowledge in real-world Federal operations.
Career Exploration: Exposure to Federal missions, workplace culture, and potential career pathways.
Protection and support.
Coverage under Federal Tort Claims Act
Workers' compensation for service-related injuries
Structured onboarding and ongoing supervision
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated by Department of Interior personnel to determine your eligibility for the position and your application will be forwarded to the project manager for review.
Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472). Verification Form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. Indian Preference eligibles not currently employed in Federal service may be appointed under the Excepted Service Appointment Authority Schedule A, 213.3112(a)(7). Consideration will be given to Non-Indian applicants in the absence of qualified Indian Preference eligibles.
This is an unpaid volunteer experience. Student volunteers are not considered Federal employees for any purpose other than injury compensation and laws related to the Federal Tort Claims Act, and service is not creditable for leave accrual or other employee benefits.
Professional experience: Meaningful project work with clear deliverables, regular supervision and federal mentorship.
Skill Development: Hands-on application of academic knowledge in real-world Federal operations.
Career Exploration: Exposure to Federal missions, workplace culture, and potential career pathways.
Protection and support.
Coverage under Federal Tort Claims Act
Workers' compensation for service-related injuries
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
Your resume (two or fewer pages) showing:
Your work experience including start and end dates.
Education information, such as the name of your school and dates of attendance.
Any knowledge, skills or abilities you've gained through education that relate to the project.
Note:Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications
Proof of current enrollment not less than half-time in a junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution. Transcripts or a certificate of enrollment are preferred.
BIA Form 4432 The Form BIA-4432 must be completed as stated in the Instructions on the Form and this form with must be submitted with your application (if claiming Indian preference).
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online assessment which you must complete to apply for the position. Complete the online assessment, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You can view the assessment here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13000169
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/), all your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/howto/application/status.
Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations should be sent to the vacancy contact listed below.
Bureau of Trust Funds Administration
4400 Masthead St NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US
Next steps
Once your online application is received you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by DOI personnel to determine your eligibility for the position and your application will be forwarded to the opportunity manager for review.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
Your resume (two or fewer pages) showing:
Your work experience including start and end dates.
Education information, such as the name of your school and dates of attendance.
Any knowledge, skills or abilities you've gained through education that relate to the project.
Note:Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications
Proof of current enrollment not less than half-time in a junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution. Transcripts or a certificate of enrollment are preferred.
BIA Form 4432 The Form BIA-4432 must be completed as stated in the Instructions on the Form and this form with must be submitted with your application (if claiming Indian preference).
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online assessment which you must complete to apply for the position. Complete the online assessment, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You can view the assessment here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13000169
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/), all your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/howto/application/status.
Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations should be sent to the vacancy contact listed below.
Bureau of Trust Funds Administration
4400 Masthead St NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US
Next steps
Once your online application is received you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by DOI personnel to determine your eligibility for the position and your application will be forwarded to the opportunity manager for review.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
