NASA’s New SOLAR System

Helping students launch their future with NASA

NASA’s New SOLAR System

Helping students launch their future with NASA

Student On-Line Application for Recruiting Interns, Fellows and ScholarsA Component of NASA’s One Stop Shopping Initiative

An initiative of NASA’s Office of Education

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One Stop Shopping Initiative Leadership Message

“The SOLAR System is one component of the Agency-wide One Stop Shopping Initiative to provide students seeking NASA research and

education opportunities with a “one stop shopping” experience. The system will centralize &

standardize the application and placement process for students engaged in STEM research, aerospace

education and space exploration, and it will help strengthen the development, management and

analysis of NASA’s workforce pipeline.”

Dr. Mabel MatthewsHigher Education Manager NASA Office of Education

Project Objectives

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NASA’s Education Goals Outlined in the

NASA Strategic Plan

Strategic Goal 2: Attracting and retaining students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines

OSSI Objectives

Functional Objective 4:Standardize the selection process

Functional Objective 5:Enhance communication, participation and collaboration between scientists and engineers and funding source managers/coordinators for internship/fellowship programs

Strategic Goal 3: Engaging Americans in NASA’s mission

Strategic Goal 1: Strengthening NASA and the Nation’s future workforce

Functional Objective 1:Provide a single point-of-entry for students seeking NASA internships, fellowships and scholarships

Functional Objective 6:Increase the workforce pipeline of former NASA interns/fellows [Re-entry]

Functional Objective 3:Increase participation of all types of Higher Education institutions through the use of Broker-Facilitator Corps to recruit and assist students in applying for internships/fellowships, in addressing retention issues and in developing career strategies

Functional Objective 2:Enhance national branding of NASA’s internship/fellowship opportunities

Project Description

4Student On-Line Application for Recruiting (SOLAR) Interns, Fellows, and Scholars

Functional Concept of Operations

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Recruit students from all types of Higher Ed Institutions (PWI, PBI,

HSI, and TCUs)

Submit opportunity requirements

Solicit opportunities

Complete application process Finalize requirements

and post opportunities

Assist students with navigating

application process

View & apply for opportunities

Ensure eligibility for specific opportunity

Initiate application for internship/fellowship

Receive offer letter

Accept or reject offer

Provide feedback

StudentsCenter Ed Office

& Funding Source Managers/

Coordinators

MentorsBroker-Facilitators

Evaluate and select one of mentor’s top

candidates with Center panel

Extend offer to studentReceive status on selection process

Receive notification of student selection

and acceptance

Submit evaluation of student intern

Finalize requirements for opportunities

Provide notification of acceptance or extend

offer to another candidate

Obtain metrics on applicants, eligibility,

and selection to ensure coverage of

institutions

Host NASA-wide Higher Ed virtual

community awareness training & leadership

development sessions

Obtain metrics on applicants, eligibility,

and selection

STARTSTART START START

Collaborate with institutions

(counselors, faculty & deans), Professional Advocacy Orgs, & NASA, Academia &

Industry stakeholders

Access all NASA undergrad, grad &

Bridge opportunities through one website

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Report data to OMB, White House

Initiative, Congress, and other

stakeholders

Automatically obtain metrics on interns

and fellows from system

Evaluate and rank top three to five

eligible students for specific opportunity

HQ Office of Education

Respond to inquiries from the public or

forward to Business Mgr for response

START

Encourage students to stay in NASA pipeline through re-entry process

Business Manager – Facilitates the processes involved in transitioning students from the application submission to longitudinal follow up.

Encourage students to stay in NASA pipeline through re-entry process

Encourage students to stay in NASA pipeline through re-entry process

Receive status update on application

& info on recent NASA news

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Current Challenges of Recruiting and Selecting Students

Students must submit applications in multiple systems to apply for opportunities at different Centers and for different types of programs

Processes are currently decentralized, vary between Centers and programs, and are complex for students to understand

50% of students initiating an application do not complete the application

Inability to track and manage students to form workforce pipeline

The mentors’ satisfaction with the process varies depending on Center systems’ capabilities

Difficult to on-board students

STUDENTS MENTORS

See all of NASA’s opportunities—graduate and undergraduate—in one, easy-access system

See all student applicants for NASA opportunities —graduate and undergraduate—in one, easy-access system

Submit an application that can be viewed by all NASA mentors

Submit a description of your opportunity that can be viewed by students nationwide

Submit interest in up to 15 opportunities

See student applicants that selected your opportunity as one of their top 15

Standard application deadlines across NASA

Select students using a more efficient process to expedite offers

Key Features of SOLAR

Goddard Space Flight Center’s Involvement

• A Project Commitment Agreement between HQ Office of Education and GSFC/ITCD was established for the formulation and implementation of the system

• Functional sponsor of the initiative is Dr. Mabel Matthews of the HQ Office of Education

• Project leadership is through the Information Technology and Communications Directorate

• The project is being managed according to NASA Procedural Requirements 7120.7, NASA Information Technology and Institutional Infrastructure Program and Project Management Requirements

• The project falls under the governance of the Agency’s Office of the CIO, IT Program Management Board

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Application of Best Practices

• Identify stakeholder groups and impacts

• Engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the definition of requirements

• Utilize prototypes to help stakeholders visualize the system and ensure mutual understanding of requirements

• Incorporated stakeholder feedback

• Implement requirements in phases

• Maintain regular and frequent contact with stakeholders to ensure continued engagement

• Develop and execute a communications plan

• Conduct effective project reviews

• Plan for the transition to sustaining operations

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