5 C.F.R. § 316.911

Post-secondary students are covered by part 351 of this chapter for purposes of a reduction in force (RIF) as follows:

(a) Students whose initial appointment was for a period of 1 year or less are not assigned a tenure group and do not compete with other employees in a RIF.

(b) Students whose initial appointment was for a period expected to last more than 1 year are placed in the competitive service tenure group for purposes of part 351 of this chapter upon completion of an initial probationary period.