Washington, D.C. - In honor of Black History Month, U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kay Coles James is mobilizing the OPM recruitment team and employee volunteers to take the message of the noble calling of public service to some of America's best and brightest. OPM is reaching out to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and hosting recruitment fairs at universities as part of a broader strategy in which job fairs are being conducted nationwide.

James said: "The President is committed to reaching a broad section of America and ensuring that all American's are provided the opportunity to serve their nation. We must encourage the coming generation to join us in the noble calling of public service." OPM staff identified the schools and are encouraging alumni who work for the Federal government to attend and share their experiences working for America.

This month, OPM will sponsor recruitment booths at Howard University in Washington, D.C. (February 23), Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia (February 19), and Spelman and Morehouse Colleges in Atlanta, Georgia (February 25). At the request of Norfolk State University, OPM will travel there on March 25. At each of these venues, OPM staff will provide information on job opportunities and the process of applying for a position with the Federal Government.

At each location, the newly updated and automated www.usajobs.gov and www.studentjobs.gov web sites will be showcased and assistance provided to students interested in exploring the many opportunities available in the government. Since the USAJOBS re-launch in August, 2003, there have been over 31,701,762 visitors and 354,107 new resumes created. Additionally, for those students interested in a scholarship or grant, the e-scholar link from the Student Jobs website is a key resource.

James encourages students to attend the events, access the many resources available on-line and learn why the Federal Government is "where the jobs are."

In the coming weeks, James is scheduled to host a conference call with HBCU officials nation-wide to encourage outreach to students at their institutions. James said, "This is one of many outreach efforts OPM is engaged in to increase the diversity of the federal workforce."