The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

I had taken the deferred resignation and I have been finishing up my out processing paperwork. I got a call from the big-boss a few hours ago telling me that they may start gunning probationary employees any minute and if my paperwork is not complete, I will be fired. Although my agency is extremely...

I'm not sure how it works for everybody, but....

my university charged SMART for tuition during my PhD (chemistry), even though i would not regularly have to pay it. so if i don't complete my service obligation, i would have to pay that back as well.

I responded to the OPM email an hour past the deadline, but I just found out it went through.


Whenever they give me their decision regarding payback, I will post it.

Although federal the government has been unreasonable, I would imagine that if we are all laid off, we would get unemployment and they would forgive our "debt". How could they force us to work while not allowing us to work? But we are living in chaotic times and I suspect they will make it as stress...

we seem to have received the final word from smart before the midnight deadline....which is nothing. i am going to take the offer and cross my fingers. "SMART Phase II and Retention Scholars, Our office has received numerous queries related to the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and how acceptanc...

"debt owed by Employee to [AGENCY] pursuant to a recruitment incentive, student loan repayment, or other service agreement. [AGENCY] also agrees to waive any remaining service requirements from taking paid parental leave." as a response to this sentence, my agency said to check with SMART and my SMA...

I just found that "Deferred Resignation Agreement" online, which includes that sentence. Is it legit? Who is supposed to sign it at the agency? Did most people receive this in an email? The Fedmanager website indicated that it was sent out as a "sample" document. How the heck can we get confirmation?

Was the email from OPM? I did not.

this was the answer from my liason.... nobody wants to give us a clear answer because no one knows what is going on. i suspect it is prorated, like you are thinking, and in my case i would owe 23% (30K) of my commitment. for my calculation, i'm using 1oct2025 to the end of my anticipated completion ...

I'm in a similar situation and this is the answer i received today: "The total funds expended on your behalf under your SMART scholarship award is $128,450.12.  I am unable to tell you at this time exactly how much you would owe, as this is a decision of your sponsoring DoD Component, not the SMART ...

I just received an email from the army base where I am posted, saying that dod civilians are not exempt from this program.

I still pretty sure that I would have to pay back part of my service obligation, though.

This is what I figured as well..... Just being thorough because I'm coming up on retirement. Thanks

I have 17 months left in phase 2. If I signed up for the deferred resignation, would my service obligation go away?

thanks.

so i guess that my pi doesn't have to confirm that i'm actually working, after my defense, as long as my conferral date matches up with what smart expects. i could certainly use a vacation anyway.

it is likely that i will have a few months between my defense and my conferral. does smart just pay me that time even though i'm not doing anything? will my pi need to say that i was working in the lab to smart?


thanks