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About the Summer Internship, assistantship, and SMART

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 7:38 pm
by Guest
Hey guys,

So, I just got my award email from the SMART. However, I have already accepted a summer fellowship from DOE which last until 8/12 and I cannot quit at time point. I wonder anyone have similar situation like me and what do the SMART usually do for the cases like this?

Also, I have also gotten an assistantship as GTA at my university (a public school, not sure if this matters). Does anyone know if I have to give up my assistantship or I will still be able to keep it?

Thanks in advanced.

Re: About the Summer Internship, assistantship, and SMART

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 7:41 pm
by Guest
Is the summer job through the pathways program? Is the job during school time more than 16 hrs? If yes then you can't accept the smart scholarscholarship and do both

Re: About the Summer Internship, assistantship, and SMART

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 8:31 pm
by Guest
I got accepted to Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship, which I believe is just a learning opportunity, since that fellowship had explicitly stated that:
"You should: Recognize that this is an educational experience and not a contract of employment." and "You should NOT: undertake activities that are reserved for federal employees."

About my assistanship, my institution varies the working hour every semester depending on the amount of people they need.

Re: About the Summer Internship, assistantship, and SMART

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 9:19 pm
by DifferentGuest
Guest wrote:I got accepted to Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship, which I believe is just a learning opportunity, since that fellowship had explicitly stated that:
"You should: Recognize that this is an educational experience and not a contract of employment." and "You should NOT: undertake activities that are reserved for federal employees."

About my assistanship, my institution varies the working hour every semester depending on the amount of people they need.
It sounds like you are fine to keep your fellowship. You wouldn't have a SMART internship this summer anyway, and the 16 hours/week limit only applies during the semester. I had a similar "learning experience" the summer before my SMART scholarship kicked in, and it was fine.

SMART does not prevent you from having an assistantship or another scholarship, however, one of the terms of the service agreement, is that you will not work for more than 16 hours/week. This means you might will have to check your assistantship contract to see how many hours you are technically being paid for. If its more than 16, I would have them reduce your assitantship award and volunteer the remaining hours. That way you can please everyone.

Re: About the Summer Internship, assistantship, and SMART

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 11:54 pm
by Guest
DifferentGuest wrote:
Guest wrote:I got accepted to Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship, which I believe is just a learning opportunity, since that fellowship had explicitly stated that:
"You should: Recognize that this is an educational experience and not a contract of employment." and "You should NOT: undertake activities that are reserved for federal employees."

About my assistanship, my institution varies the working hour every semester depending on the amount of people they need.
It sounds like you are fine to keep your fellowship. You wouldn't have a SMART internship this summer anyway, and the 16 hours/week limit only applies during the semester. I had a similar "learning experience" the summer before my SMART scholarship kicked in, and it was fine.

SMART does not prevent you from having an assistantship or another scholarship, however, one of the terms of the service agreement, is that you will not work for more than 16 hours/week. This means you might will have to check your assistantship contract to see how many hours you are technically being paid for. If its more than 16, I would have them reduce your assitantship award and volunteer the remaining hours. That way you can please everyone.
Thanks for the advises. I have emailed the SMART, hopefully things work out.