Workforce Recruitment Program

Kutztown University is pleased to participate in the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) which is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal employers with motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities. Since this program expanded in 1995, over 7,000 students and recent graduates nationwide from a wide range of majors have received temporary (summer internships) and permanent employment opportunities through the WRP.

In the fall each year, federal recruiters conduct personal phone interviews with eligible candidates who complete the application process. During phone interviews, the recruiters ask about the candidate's skills and potential career paths. Information from candidate interviews is compiled in a searchable database available to federal Human Resource Specialists, Equal Opportunity Specialists, and other hiring officials in federal agencies. The goal of the program is to increase the representation of persons with disabilities in the federal workforce.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the U.S. Department of Defenses' Office of Diversity Management & Equal Opportunity (ODMEO) manages the program. WRP's success is enabled by the participation of many other federal agencies such as Departments of Defense, Labor, Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Treasury, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs; the Social Security Administration; the National Park Service; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; the Office of Personnel Management; the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation; the US Securities and Exchange Commission; and USAID. In addition to the federal agencies, there is also an opportunity for WRP candidates to be connected to private-sector job opportunities.  

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify as an eligible candidate, you must meet all three of the following criteria:

1. Be a United States citizen

2. Be a current full-time undergraduate or graduate student. Candidates who fall under the following exceptions may still be eligible.

  • Taking a reduced course load due to disability
  • Taking a reduced load due to upcoming graduation
  • Graduated from Kutztown University in the spring of 2021 or after

3. Have an intellectual disability, psychiatric disability, or severe physical disability which qualifies for Schedule A Hiring Authority. Students who receive accommodations through the DSO are typically eligible to apply.

Application Process

The application process is a two-part process that begins by completing a brief registration form on the WRP website during the open registration period (August 24, 2021-October 14, 2021). 

Once your registration is approved by the KU Career Development Center (CDC), you will be sent, via email, a log-on to finish the application process. You will need the following documents to finish the process:

Be sure to start the application process early to ensure that you have all the information you need to complete your application by the deadline.

Telephone Interviews

Telephone interviews are conducted in late October to mid-November each year. The CDC can help you prepare for the telephone interview.  Please contact the CDC at 610-683-4067 to arrange a one-on-one appointment to prepare for the WRP interview or click here for CDC resources on interviewing.

The application information of successful candidates will be included for the period of one year in the employment database which is available to federal agencies. WRP.jobs offers non-federal employers the opportunity to post permanent and temporary positions. Qualified students with disabilities from WRP can search and apply for these positions using the employer's standard application processes.  

When you interview for specific positions, you will need to submit a Schedule A letter that documents your disability and eligibility to be hired through this process. Your family physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other specialists, a licensed Rehabilitation Professional, or a federal or state-level agency that issues or provides disability benefits such as the Social Security Administration and the Veteran's Administration, can write the Schedule A letter on your behalf.   

For More Information    

Contact the Career Development Center at careerhelp@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4067 or the Disability Services Office at DSO@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4108.