The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

by **tdavis1455** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 3:32 pm

Paychecks go out 3rd friday of every month

by **2012_UMD** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:06 pm

I talked to my CA today, and got some good info: the first paycheck will be $2,200 fatter, owing to the health insurance and book allowances. Also, less awesome: confirmed no more $3k boost for PhD candidacy.

by **TTU_Awardee** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 11:23 am

Guest wrote:I just got in as a round two participant, so I am just beginning paperwork. I need a phone number for the SPO to give the transcript company used by my university. Does anyone have one?

(202) 331-3544

by **Guest** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:19 pm

I just got in as a round two participant, so I am just beginning paperwork. I need a phone number for the SPO to give the transcript company used by my university. Does anyone have one?

by **DD2012** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:23 pm

If you read the handbook it says the first payment will be the third Friday in August. And every payment thereafter will be the third Friday of the month.

by **Three Point One Four** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:49 pm

smart_hopeful wrote:As a new guy I hesitate to step into this potential hornet's nest, but should we expect the first SMART paychecks to go out August 1? If so, good, but if not it would be nice to know so I can arrange my expenses accordingly.

Stipend payments are made on the third Friday of each month. The first payment for new recipients will be August 17th.

by **smart_hopeful** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:06 pm

As a new guy I hesitate to step into this potential hornet's nest, but should we expect the first SMART paychecks to go out August 1? If so, good, but if not it would be nice to know so I can arrange my expenses accordingly.

by **NM_retention** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:48 am

I emailed the program office and received this reply yesterday:

The SMART Program Office will soon be doing an audit of all award prerequisite materials, including the official transcript. If we have not received one of the elements of the award acceptance package from you, we will let you know at that time.

by **curious** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:34 pm

Definitely email. I emailed them a couple times with quite a few questions and they responded each time within 2 days. They seemed happy to help.

by **DD2012** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:11 pm

NM_retention wrote:Quick question: How do you know if the SMART program office received your transcripts? I don't see a checkbox on award status page. I asked my school to send them a couple of weeks ago and it would be nice to have feedback that they were received.

As far as I can tell you have no way of knowing unless you call or e-mail them to find out. That is what I am going to do later this week.

by **NM_retention** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 3:51 pm

Quick question: How do you know if the SMART program office received your transcripts? I don't see a checkbox on award status page. I asked my school to send them a couple of weeks ago and it would be nice to have feedback that they were received.

by **guestUF** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:35 am

2012_UMD wrote:Blah blah blah

Anyone know what the next step is? I can't find any info on how to get reimbursed for health insurance or to get the ball rolling about tuition/fees payment. An orientation would've been nice ....

You will need to bring the Bursar Letter on your SMART page. It is a link to a PDF that is addressed to your schools financial office. I dropped mine of personally and had to sign some paperwork required by my university. This allows SMART to pay your tuition and fees, and also gives the SMART program the ability to pay past the normal deadlines for students. It is basically a letter of intent showing what they can bill SMART for and what they cannot (housing, food, kegs, etc.).

Hope this helps as I was not aware of it until I just went through everything on my log in page.

by **ToastyPenguin** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:16 am

I only had to fill out the EWP for one year that I have remaining, so I got that done pretty quick since I already had it planned out. But as far as I know I have all the paper work done, just waiting for more info now! Hearing that the health insurance is a lump sum is a very good thing to hear though!

by **2012_UMD** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:19 pm

Guest wrote:
The health insurance is no longer a reimbursement. It's an allowance. You are also no longer required to maintain health insurance.

This means you will get a lump payment of $1200 annually (I assume it will come with Augusts' disbursement) and you are free to a) bank it or 2) buy health insurance.

Ohhh I like this idea. My university subsidizes insurance for those that get outside funding, so this may end up being a nice bonus.

by **Guest** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:18 pm

Three Point One Four wrote:
2012_UMD wrote:Blah blah blah

Anyone know what the next step is? I can't find any info on how to get reimbursed for health insurance or to get the ball rolling about tuition/fees payment. An orientation would've been nice ....
For the 2011 cohort last year, health insurance reimbursment simply required a form and proof of coverage showing the cost and dates covered; the form is on the SMART website. SMART sent a letter to my school with the names of all the SMART scholars they would be paying tuition for that year. I would wait and see though, I would bet they are going to contact you and give you more information once they have dealt with everyone's acceptance paperwork and things of that nature.

The health insurance is no longer a reimbursement. It's an allowance. You are also no longer required to maintain health insurance.

This means you will get a lump payment of $1200 annually (I assume it will come with Augusts' disbursement) and you are free to a) bank it or 2) buy health insurance.

by **Three Point One Four** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 10:26 am

2012_UMD wrote:Blah blah blah

Anyone know what the next step is? I can't find any info on how to get reimbursed for health insurance or to get the ball rolling about tuition/fees payment. An orientation would've been nice ....

For the 2011 cohort last year, health insurance reimbursment simply required a form and proof of coverage showing the cost and dates covered; the form is on the SMART website. SMART sent a letter to my school with the names of all the SMART scholars they would be paying tuition for that year. I would wait and see though, I would bet they are going to contact you and give you more information once they have dealt with everyone's acceptance paperwork and things of that nature.

by **2012_UMD** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 10:14 am

Blah blah blah

Anyone know what the next step is? I can't find any info on how to get reimbursed for health insurance or to get the ball rolling about tuition/fees payment. An orientation would've been nice ....

by **TTU_Awardee** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:23 pm

One other thing. I have just confirmed with SMART office that there's not a stipend difference between working on PhD and being a PhD candidate (10% bonus from $38k to $41.8k). Not going to complain with the overall offer but felt a little mislead in the application process.

by **TTU_Awardee** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:21 pm

Page 35 of 35 in the 2012 handbook... 7th line down in the table...

(Participant Type) All Participants, (Requirement) Draft Educational Work Plan, (Due Date) As Requested, (Frequency) Once, (Handbook) Section 6.1.

I have not received an email about not having to complete the Draft EWP and the 2012 handbook says it must be completed once.

by **Guest22** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:46 pm

2011 Cohort here.

If you guys haven't gotten an email or receieved in any fashion the new 2012 handbook, I'd suggest you contact SMART to talk to them about the EWP>

The new 2012 handbook, which is valid for all cohorts, says no EWP. Just end of year reports.

I'd email SMART before spending time on an EWP you probably don't have to do.

by **smart_hopeful** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:09 pm

2012 cohort here. No email about changes, and the acceptance letter says to fill out a work plan. I assume that's likely to be true for all us new people.

Guess I should pick a new username, while I'm at it.

by **guestUF** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:20 am

Three Point One Four wrote:
2012_UMD wrote:Yea, I'm working on the Educational work plan, too. I just realized that all of this is due in 9 days, so I've told my adviser that this is my priority to get complete before returning to work.
Didn't the update email say that EWPs are no longer required?

Three Point One Four: With all do respect, I believe you are confusing 2012 cohorts. EWP is still required for us new cohorts. I think they only need to be done once now instead of yearly like in the past. Please remember that the new 2012 cohorts have not gotten an email with changes and are just following the current requirements.

You most likely have already filled out an EWP when you started.

by **Three Point One Four** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:39 pm

ma82am wrote:I didn't get any email regarding a change in paperwork req's... though I would be grateful if this was true. When did they send this email out?

Yesterday, June 12 at 6:51 PM titled "SMART Participant Handbook Revised, 2012".

by **ma82am** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:14 pm

Three Point One Four wrote:
2012_UMD wrote:Yea, I'm working on the Educational work plan, too. I just realized that all of this is due in 9 days, so I've told my adviser that this is my priority to get complete before returning to work.
Didn't the update email say that EWPs are no longer required?

I didn't get any email regarding a change in paperwork req's... though I would be grateful if this was true. When did they send this email out?

by **Three Point One Four** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:58 pm

2012_UMD wrote:Yea, I'm working on the Educational work plan, too. I just realized that all of this is due in 9 days, so I've told my adviser that this is my priority to get complete before returning to work.

Didn't the update email say that EWPs are no longer required?

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