August deposit

[guest27]

I received an email that our August deposit wasn't going to happen on August 15th. The email from ASEE also stated that they don't control payments any longer and we should talk to SPO. The last email that I received from SPO said that they would be unavailable until further notice. Does anyone know what is going on? Has anyone tried to contact SPO?

[CMURobotics]

I got the same email about the delayed payment but, not one from the SPO saying they were unavailable. What was content and context of that email?

[anon14Aug14]

This was the "out of communication" email:

Dear SMART Participant,

This email is to inform you that starting this Friday, August 1, 2014, the SMART Program staff, including the Cohort Administrators and Service Liaisons, will be unavailable for a brief period of time to address administrative requirements. We will send out a notification to let you know when we are available.

This does not pertain to the financial activities performed by ASEE. ASEE and the SMART website will continue normal operations during this period.

In the interim, please direct any non-financial emergency communications to the STEM Development Office: <osd.pentagon.ousd-atl.mbx.stem@mail.mil>. Please also copy the SMART inbox (smart@nps.edu) on any correspondence so that we may be aware of any communication when we are available.

Sincerely,


The SMART Scholarship for Service Program
400 Camino Aguajito, First Floor | Monterey, CA 93940

Which now is being directly contradicted by the ASEE email where they say they will only handle 1099 and direct deposit, and all other financial questions should go to the SMART Program office. The SPO email appeared with no additional context.

[anon3]

I got the same email :( Wondering if everyone in the program got it, or only a few of us...?

[guest 123]

I am assuming everyone received the email. I just hope that it is resolved quickly.

[CMURobotics]

Our funding is delayed and the only people we can contact are unavailable, this seems a bit sketch to me. I am going to try and call around tomorrow and get some answers, if I get any answers I will post them on here and I ask everyone reading this will do the same.

[CMURobotics]

what was the date on that email? I didn't receive it

[anon3]

The email was sent August 14th.

[anon14Aug14]

The "out of contact" email was sent 31 July.

[Guest]

So should we send emails to that OSD address? The message from SPO seemed to indicate they would only be out for a few days.

Does anyone know where the money comes from and where it goes before getting to us? These delays typically have lasted 2 weeks or more, and in my experience with the government it seems that a well placed call would really expedite things.

[Larry]

Would you please post a copy of the ASEE email that you received?

Thanks,
Larry

[Guest]

Would you please post a copy of the ASEE email that you received?

Thanks,
Larry

Dear SMART Scholar,



Please note that if you were expecting a payment on Friday, August 15 from the SMART Scholarship Program that payments will be not be issued as scheduled due to a delay in funding from the Department of Defense. At this time we do not know a scheduled pay date. Please direct any questions about this matter to the SMART Program Office. The Program regrets the delay.



Also, please note that ASEE will no longer be your point of contact for any program matters beyond direct deposit forms and 1099s. The SMART Program Office is your point of contact for all matters including all funding questions.



The ASEE SMART Scholarship Program Team

[larry]

Thanks for posting the email.

I pulled some threads and I'll share what I learned.

ASEE is under a new contract with OSD. Student payments are now run through that contract, and not a seperate grant (inside baseball stuff) as had been done previously. The net effect is that the billing cycle is longer. This is the first payment through the new system...

The delay should only be a few days. OSD is aware, WHS (who administers the contract) is aware, as is ASEE. All are working to get students paid.

I do recommend using the OSD email address to share your concerns.

Larry

PS: I have no capacity with the SMART program, but remember what it was like to be a student employee...

[Guest]

Thanks, Larry, for doing that.

[Guest]

Does anyone have any idea or speculation when we will be paid?

[Guest]

Does anyone have any idea or speculation when we will be paid?

I'm curious if the situation can even be resolved with SPO MIA?

[Larry]

Let me get an update from the SMART office in OSD. I'll try and post an update today.

The problem with the contract for the folks in the SPO is independent of problem ASEE is having paying stipends.

Larry

PS: Yes, you are right... It shouldn't be this hard.

[Guest]

If my stipend isn't deposited by COB today, I'm releasing the Monkeys!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfv6u4An8hU

[Guest]

Unless you have heard a definite answer on the date of deposit. You should just go ahead and release this monkeys!

[Guest]

Funds are coming next Friday.

"Hello ****,

The August stipend, book allowance, and health insurance delay is an administrative issue with distribution and it is anticipated that you will receive funding on the 29th of August.

v/r,
...
"

[Guest]

Hopefully they tell all of us that soon.

[Guest]

They will not, they told me because I inquired specifically.

[Guest]

I think we all received an email stating that we should get paid on Friday 29 August. If you get paid, please post here.

I wanted to also point out that the email from OSD last week failed to BCC all of our email addresses.

[Brandi]

As of 6:05am no payment has been received by me.

[Guest]

No payment yet here. I'm going to give them a reasonable amount of time (12 PM) before I start hounding them with emails and phone calls.