SECTION 260:25-17-75. Executive Fellows program

(a)   Eligibility. An Executive Fellows Program consists of six-month to two-year placements in professional or managerial level positions for students [74:840-3.4(A) (3)]. No person is eligible to participate in the Executive Fellows program for more than 2 years. To be considered for eligibility determination, applicants shall have completed a baccalaureate degree and at least 6 semester hours of graduate level coursework with at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale [74:840-3.4(A) (3)]. Applicants shall follow the procedures in 260:25-17-77 for eligibility determination.

(b)   The Administrator or designee may waive the completion of 6 semester hours of graduate level coursework required by subsection (a) of this section for 1 semester, if:

(1)   An individual currently employed by a state agency as a Carl Albert Public Internship Program undergraduate intern provides verification to the Human Capital Management Division that he or she has:

(A)   completed an undergraduate degree, and

(B)   is enrolled in 6 semester hours of approved graduate level work; and

(2)   The Appointing Authority or designee of the agency where the undergraduate intern is currently employed certifies to the Human Capital Management Division that the agency intends to employ the undergraduate intern as a Carl Albert Public Internship Program Executive Fellow immediately upon the undergraduate intern's completion of an undergraduate degree.

(c)   The appointment of an Executive Fellow in accordance with subsection (b) is not effective until the Administrator or designee approves the waiver of the 6 semester hours of graduate level course work.

(d)   At the end of the semester for which the waiver of the 6 semester hours of graduate level coursework was approved by the Administrator pursuant to subsection (b), the individual employed as a Carl Albert Public Internship Program Executive Fellow shall meet the eligibility requirements in subsection (a) of this section or be removed from the Carl Albert Public Internship Program. [74:840-3.5]

(e)   Conditions of employment. Participants in the Executive Fellows Program who receive internship appointments shall:

(1)   be appointed in accordance with paragraph 10 of Section 840-5.5 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes [74:840-3.5(4)],

(2)   be granted leave benefits commensurate with regular state employees [74:840-3.5(5)],

(3)   be enrolled in the state health insurance and retirement benefits programs, if expected to work one thousand (1,000) or more hours per year,

(4)   continue to make scholastic progress toward their graduate degrees during each fall and spring semester until completion of all graduate degree requirements,

(5)   maintain the grade point average set out in (a) of this Section, and

(6)   complete the training requirements described in (f) (3) of this Section.

(f)   Responsibilities of appointing authorities.

(1)   The Appointing Authority or designee shall ensure that the intern provides verification to the Human Capital Management Division that the intern is:

(A)   continuing to make scholastic progress toward a graduate degree, until completion of all graduate degree requirements, and

(B)   maintaining the grade point average set out in (a) of this Section.

(2)   If this information is not transmitted to the Human Capital Management Division within 30 days after the end of the previous semester, the Administrator shall notify the Appointing Authority of the termination of the internship agreement in accordance with Section 260:25-17-82(a).

(3)   Each Appointing Authority shall provide a minimum of 8 clock hours of job related training for Executive Fellows during each 6-month period.

(4)   Each Appointing Authority shall rate the performance of participants in the Executive Fellows Program in accordance with Section 840-4.17 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. [74:840-3.4]

[Source: Added at 31 Ok Reg 1346, eff 9-12-14; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 1751, eff 9-11-15]