5 CFR § 537.102 - Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s537.102"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 537.102 - Definitions."
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "537.102"
section_name: "Definitions."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "537"
part_name: "REPAYMENT OF STUDENT LOANS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 2301, 2302, and 5379(g). E.O. 11478, 3 CFR, 1966-1970 Comp., p. 803, unless otherwise noted; E.O. 13087, 63 FR 30097, 3 CFR, 1998 Comp., p. 191; and E.O. 13152, 65 FR 26115, 3 CFR, 2000 Comp., p. 264."
regulatory_source: "73 FR 64865, Oct. 31, 2008, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "537"
---


# 537.102 Definitions.

The definitions in this section apply only to part 537. In this part:

*Agency* has the meaning given that term in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of 5 U.S.C. 4101(1).

*Authorized agency official* means the head of an Executive agency or an official who is authorized to act for the head of the agency in the matter concerned.

*Employee* means an employee of an agency who satisfies the definition of the term in 5 U.S.C. 2105.

*Loan payment* means the net payment made by an agency to the holder of a student loan (after deducting any tax withholdings that may be made from the gross student loan repayment benefit credited to the employee).

*Service agreement* means a written agreement between an agency and an employee (or job candidate) under which the employee (or job candidate) agrees to a specified period of service in exchange for student loan repayment benefits, subject to the conditions set forth under this part.

*Student loan means*—

(1) A loan made, insured, or guaranteed under parts B, D or E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965; or

(2) A health education assistance loan made or insured under part A of title VII of the Public Health Service Act or under part E of title VIII of that Act.

*Student loan repayment benefit* means the benefit provided to an employee under this part in which an agency repays (by a direct payment on behalf of the employee) a qualifying student loan as described in § 537.106(b) previously taken out by such employee. The dollar value of this benefit is the gross amount credited to the employee at the time of a loan payment to the holder of the student loan, before deducting any employee tax withholdings from that gross amount as described in § 537.106(a)(6)(iii). A student loan repayment benefit is not considered basic pay for any purpose.

*Time-limited appointment* means a non-permanent appointment including—

(1) A temporary appointment under 5 CFR part 316, subpart D, or similar authority;

(2) A term appointment under 5 CFR part 316, subpart C, or similar authority;

(3) An overseas limited appointment with a time limitation under 5 CFR part 301, subpart B;

(4) A limited term or limited emergency appointment in the Senior Executive Service, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 3132(a), or an equivalent appointment made for similar purposes;

(5) A Veterans Recruitment Appointment under 5 CFR part 307;

(6) A Recent Graduates Program appointment under § 213.3402(b) of this chapter; and

(7) An appointment under the fellowship and similar programs authority at 5 CFR 213.3102(r).

[73 FR 64865, Oct. 31, 2008, as amended at 77 FR 28223, May 11, 2012; 90 FR 38607, Aug. 11, 2025]