Veterans Education Program Representative 1

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $3,026 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,513 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before May 22, 2010, you must have a bachelor's degree in any field AND:

Either 1. three years of professional experience in a position where 50% or more of your duties involved the administration, oversight, regulation, or coordination of a Veterans' education program to include degree programs within institutions of higher learning, certification programs, On-the-Job Training/Apprenticeship programs, or Distance Learning programs;

Or 2. three years of professional experience in the review, evaluation, or approval of education programs for federal approval, regional, or state accreditation purposes, to include degree programs within institutions of higher learning, certification programs, On-the-Job Training/Apprenticeship programs, or Distance Learning programs.

Substitution: One year of active service with an honorable discharge from the United States military will substitute for one year of the required experience. You must include a copy of your DD-214 to demonstrate your veterans' status. You may send a copy of your DD-214 to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S2LAK; OR you may fax the information to (518) 473 4313.

Important: If applying under option 1, you must indicate percentage of time performing the qualifying experience on your application. Failure to do so will result in your disqualification.

Notes

1. Travel is required and could be extensive. Appointees to these positions are required to have a driver's license valid in New York State to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise demonstrate their capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job.
2. Your degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S2LAK.
3. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.
4. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
5. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

These positions exist in the Division of Veterans' Affairs. These positions currently exist in Albany and Manhattan. Future positions may be statewide.

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Duties

As a Veterans Education Program Representative 1, you would be responsible for ensuring the quality of On-the-Job Training, Apprenticeship, and Non-College Degree educational programs for and used by veterans. You would perform on-site reviews and evaluations of these specific educational institutions to enhance the quality and standards of instructional programs in which veterans participate, including review of curricula, and counseling services; review, evaluate, and approve applications from private and public educational programs and institutions seeking approval to train veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funding; make appropriate recommendations concerning such applications; and prepare detailed reports supporting the recommendations. You would also provide technical assistance and advice to educational institutions with preparation of applications for approval to train veterans under Public Law 89-358, prepare reports for submission to the VA concerning on-site visitation evaluations, and notifying the VA of institutions not maintaining appropriate educational or counseling standards. In addition, you would provide assistance and advice to veterans concerning various institutions and programs, and investigate and resolve complaints submitted by veterans or veterans groups.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Ensuring effective inter/intra agency communications - These questions will test candidates' understanding of techniques for interacting effectively with individuals and agencies, to educate and inform them about topics of concern, to clarify agency programs or policies, to negotiate conflicts or resolve complaints, and to represent one's agency or program in a manner in keeping with good public relations practices. Questions may also cover interacting with the staff of one's own agency and/or that of other agencies in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.
2. Professional Report Writing - These questions test for the skills required to compose professional reports and studies. Some questions will ask you to distinguish between correct and incorrect presentations of English grammar, usage, punctuation, and sentence structure. Others will ask you to determine the most clear, accurate, and complete restatement of information; the most judicious editing of a portion of a report; and the best organization of sentences to form well-constructed paragraphs.
3. Program planning and evaluation - These questions test for a knowledge of basic concepts and techniques in such areas as the planning function, factors involved in implementing new procedures or programs, and evaluating their results and effectiveness. The questions are conceptual in approach and fundamental in level; they do not involve the manipulation of data nor the application of quantitative methods.
4. Understanding and interpreting tabular material - These questions test your ability to understand, analyze, and use the internal logic of data presented in tabular form. You may be asked to perform tasks such as completing tables, drawing conclusions from them, analyzing data trends or interrelationships, and revising or combining data sets. The concepts of rate, ratio, and proportion are tested. Mathematical operations are simple, and computational speed is not a major factor in the test.
5. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

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How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of the Department of Civil Service at 518-457-2487 [press 2, then press 2] in the Albany area, toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2], or via TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) at 518-457-8480.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

With the exception of written tests announced by New York City, if you have applied to take a written test announced by a local jurisdiction (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1], no later than two weeks before the test date, to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S2/TA1 LAK-vla
Issued: 3/5/10

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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