Must applicants for the Student Educational Employment Program (SEEP) be rated and ranked?
No. Schedule B positions are exempt from the usual competitive examining procedures (5 CFR 213.3201) and students appointed under the Schedule B SEEP are also exempt from the rating and ranking requirements under the Excepted Service (5 CFR 302.101). However, agencies may want to establish a ranking procedure to protect themselves against discrimination complaints. For example, based on the qualification standards used for the position, students may be evaluated to determine only eligibility or ineligibility for the position or may be ranked according to more qualitative factors. It is recommended that procedures be documented and applied consistently to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
