EPA Star Fellowship 2013

[tayloria]

You should email Brandon yourself to check your situation, but I am pretty sure the 3-year funded fellowships are now only funded for 2 years, regardless of where you are at in your PhD. Again, check your own situation, maybe I was placed in a different category when I filled out my survey.

[Solanox]

Bah, that would be unfortunate. I don't really see why they need to cut it down to 2 years, especially because they aren't taking a 2014 application... sooo it's not like they are "overbooking" the amount of grad fellowships.

[jht]

Well I guess we got our answer for duration of funding ... are you guys still putting your start date on the 5770 form as between 8/2012 and 9/2012 as specified in the instructions, or are you just assuming this is a typo and putting a real start date as sometime around 9/2014? 

[guscrea]

Well I guess we got our answer for duration of funding ... are you guys still putting your start date on the 5770 form as between 8/2012 and 9/2012 as specified in the instructions, or are you just assuming this is a typo and putting a real start date as sometime around 9/2014? 

I too am confused about the start date.

 

More generally, and as for the lost year of funding, I suggest we politely but firmly push back. Why should the sequester "absorb" a year of funding when we are not starting our fellowships until a year later and after funds have been allocated to the program--indeed, MORE funds than EPA requested (see my earlier post way back in January, 2014; page 16 of this forum)? I am extremely happy to have made it through all this and to have been recommended for the fellowship, but see no reason that we shouldn't all be funded for the full amount we applied for. The money was never allocated or spent in 2013! Now, in 2014, when we're really starting, "fresh" funds have been granted by Congress. So why cut off a year? What am I missing?

[StanfordMonkey]

Hi everyone,

 

I am so thankful for this community -- thank you for being so collaborative and helpful with the posts.

 

So, I heard back this regarding the start date of the fellowship and thought you all should know. Congratulations to everyone. 

 

 "Traditionally the earliest start date that we’ve have students begin their fellowship is August 1^st."

[Blue Gopher]

I too am confused about the start date.

 

More generally, and as for the lost year of funding, I suggest we politely but firmly push back. Why should the sequester "absorb" a year of funding when we are not starting our fellowships until a year later and after funds have been allocated to the program--indeed, MORE funds than EPA requested (see my earlier post way back in January, 2014; page 16 of this forum)? I am extremely happy to have made it through all this and to have been recommended for the fellowship, but see no reason that we shouldn't all be funded for the full amount we applied for. The money was never allocated or spent in 2013! Now, in 2014, when we're really starting, "fresh" funds have been granted by Congress. So why cut off a year? What am I missing?

I couldn't agree more! I don't want to appear ungrateful but it is frustrating, and I have a hard time understanding the rationale behind the decision to reduce the fellowships by one year.

 

On another note, I know that the EPA doesn't typically grant deferrals to first year fellows; however, given the unusual circumstances I'm wondering if anyone has heard anything regarding the EPA being more flexible this time around? Given that we'll be starting this fellowship in what is essentially year two (due to the fact that the sequester "absorbed" a year of our funding...?), I'm hopeful that the EPA will be more flexible here.

[Solanox]

One thing I've been a little unclear on is their wording on our current status. They've used terms such as "you are now eligible" or "you are now a finalist" or "you are being RECOMMENDED" to imply that we have not been granted the award yet, not until all the paperwork has gone through. I think this is a formality but am not completely sure... Does anyone know if it is it still possible to lose the award at this stage?

 

Also, I'm assuming 2012 is a typo and putting all of my dates as 2014. They have begun editing some of the FII wording to say 2014.

Edited May 6, 2014 by Solanox

[Blue Gopher]

Just submitted the last bit of paper work. Now to just sit and wait... some more.

[CCA-B2]

Same here, I just completed mine. I will double check it all tomorrow. I'm having a difficult time selecting a picture. Anyone with the same troubles?

[guscrea]

Just submitted the last bit of paper work. Now to just sit and wait... some more.

Blue Gopher, where did you upload the 5770-2 form? jht asked this ealier, and you indicated that you can upload whatever you need in the FII under the "files" tab, but, as with jht, I don't see a specific place for the 5770-2. I've reached out to Brandon, but he didn't answer this particualr question. Thanks for the help!

[Benthon]

To upload the 5770-2 form, log on to the FII system and click on "Forms and Formats". Then click the link for "STAR Fellowship New Start Questionnaire". Scroll all the way to the bottom and press the "Click to Begin" button. Don't worry, this will not erase any previously-entered info. It will bring up a checklist of all of the things you need to complete. At the bottom is a button for "Files & Form Upload". If you click on that, you will find a spot to upload the form. Make sure all the boxes are checked on the checklist, and you are good to go!

[Blue Gopher]

To upload the 5770-2 form, log on to the FII system and click on "Forms and Formats". Then click the link for "STAR Fellowship New Start Questionnaire". Scroll all the way to the bottom and press the "Click to Begin" button. Don't worry, this will not erase any previously-entered info. It will bring up a checklist of all of the things you need to complete. At the bottom is a button for "Files & Form Upload". If you click on that, you will find a spot to upload the form. Make sure all the boxes are checked on the checklist, and you are good to go!

I found the "Click to Begin" link the most helpful part of the whole process. It's basically a big checklist with links associated with all the parts you need to complete.

[guscrea]

To upload the 5770-2 form, log on to the FII system and click on "Forms and Formats". Then click the link for "STAR Fellowship New Start Questionnaire". Scroll all the way to the bottom and press the "Click to Begin" button. Don't worry, this will not erase any previously-entered info. It will bring up a checklist of all of the things you need to complete. At the bottom is a button for "Files & Form Upload". If you click on that, you will find a spot to upload the form. Make sure all the boxes are checked on the checklist, and you are good to go!

Thank you, and Blue Gopher! Somehow I read the "Click to Begin" button as referring to the links above or something, and stupidly never clicked it or even really registered that it was there!  Are they sure they want to give me this fellowship?  You can lead a PhD to water...

[rhamnocat]

Congrats to all of you who were awarded fellowships! It sounds as if the paperwork is a blast.

 

For those of us who were not awarded (if you are still stalking this thread), has anyone recieved a rejection notice from the EPA? It seems as though we are forever doomed to wonder what became of our applications; perhaps they are in a better place now or sadly set aside to gather dust in the some forgoten pile... forever lost in the EPA bureaucracy. Sad Day.

 

Have I mentioned how impressed I am with the EPA's professionalism, common courtesy, and organization during this process? Really... top-notch stuff.

[Blue Gopher]

I don't mean to give anyone who wasn't awarded a fellowship false hope, but the awardees received an email from Brandon last week asking those of us who had changed their minds about accepting a fellowship to let him know ASAP. My first thought was that they may try to "reissue" any unaccepted fellowships.

Edited May 11, 2014 by Blue Gopher

[ekpfeil]

I

 

Congrats to all of you who were awarded fellowships! It sounds as if the paperwork is a blast.

 

For those of us who were not awarded (if you are still stalking this thread), has anyone recieved a rejection notice from the EPA? It seems as though we are forever doomed to wonder what became of our applications; perhaps they are in a better place now or sadly set aside to gather dust in the some forgoten pile... forever lost in the EPA bureaucracy. Sad Day.

 

Have I mentioned how impressed I am with the EPA's professionalism, common courtesy, and organization during this process? Really... top-notch stuff.

 

I was not award a fellowship and I have not received a rejection notice.  I'm hoping they will reissue some unaccepted fellowships, but I'm not holding out out much hope anymore. JUST enough to check this thread occasionally, LOL. Waiting for  the first announcement was taxing enough!  Thanks for the Info Blue Gopher!

[PeregrineTk]

Hi all!  Congrats to everyone who has heard back!  Best of luck to anyone who hasn't heard yet.  I'm a long-time lurker with a quick question ... 

 

Is there a "submit button" on the survey that is due tomorrow?  All of the items on my checklist say "Yes," but I don't see any big button anywhere that says "Complete this survey" or "Submit" and I just want to make sure I'm not missing it.  (I do have a "Thanks for 'tanking' this survey" message, but that showed up even before I'd uploaded all the forms ...)  

 

Thanks!

[Blue Gopher]

Hi all!  Congrats to everyone who has heard back!  Best of luck to anyone who hasn't heard yet.  I'm a long-time lurker with a quick question ... 

 

Is there a "submit button" on the survey that is due tomorrow?  All of the items on my checklist say "Yes," but I don't see any big button anywhere that says "Complete this survey" or "Submit" and I just want to make sure I'm not missing it.  (I do have a "Thanks for 'tanking' this survey" message, but that showed up even before I'd uploaded all the forms ...)  

 

Thanks!

As far as I can tell there is no "submit" button, however, it could be that I'm missing it as well. I will say that I've looked through everything pretty thoroughly, multiple times, to make sure that I'm not missing anything. From what I understand, it seems that we simply need to have have everything "checked off" on the list we've been discussing, and they'll take care of the rest. If anyone has seen/heard different, please let the rest of us know.

[sone461]

Hi there,

 

Do folks know if the direct deposit form needs to be in by today?  And if so, where to upload and/or send it?  I asked Brandon, but he didn't have any detailed information.

 

Thanks much!

[malonzo]

As far as I can tell there is no "submit" button, however, it could be that I'm missing it as well. I will say that I've looked through everything pretty thoroughly, multiple times, to make sure that I'm not missing anything. From what I understand, it seems that we simply need to have have everything "checked off" on the list we've been discussing, and they'll take care of the rest. If anyone has seen/heard different, please let the rest of us know.

 

Using the checklist that can be found by following the "Click to Begin" button is the way to ensure that everything is submitted. I sent a paranoid just-wanted-to-make-sure-you-got-this-because-there's-no-submit-button email to Andre and Brittany last week and they said it was all good; they can see when stuff's complete.

 

Regarding sone461's comment about Direct Deposit:  I didn't notice this as something that we needed to fill out right now. Is this required for today?

 

Mike

[Blue Gopher]

Using the checklist that can be found by following the "Click to Begin" button is the way to ensure that everything is submitted. I sent a paranoid just-wanted-to-make-sure-you-got-this-because-there's-no-submit-button email to Andre and Brittany last week and they said it was all good; they can see when stuff's complete.

 

Regarding sone461's comment about Direct Deposit:  I didn't notice this as something that we needed to fill out right now. Is this required for today?

 

Mike

I don't think the direct deposit information is part of the required information at this point. It wasn't on the checklist, and given that all of the emails we'e gotten from Brandon say we've been "recommended" to receive a fellowship suggests, to me, that they will ask for this information once everything is completely finalized. 

 

Also, thanks for the info regarding the "submit-button" question Mike. I had a feeling that was the case, but it's good to get confirmation. 

Edited May 12, 2014 by Blue Gopher

[PeregrineTk]

Using the checklist that can be found by following the "Click to Begin" button is the way to ensure that everything is submitted. I sent a paranoid just-wanted-to-make-sure-you-got-this-because-there's-no-submit-button email to Andre and Brittany last week and they said it was all good; they can see when stuff's complete.

 

Regarding sone461's comment about Direct Deposit:  I didn't notice this as something that we needed to fill out right now. Is this required for today?

 

Mike

 

Thanks for the help, guys!  It's a relief to know I wasn't missing the submit button.

[malonzo]

Did anyone else just an email from Brandon saying that the deadline had passed and they will give away your fellowship if you don't finish up the packet?  A bit disconcerting since I received confirmation that I handed everything in more than a week ago.

 

Ahhh.... giant, lumbering bureaucracies, a true joy to now be a cog in the system!

 

Mike

[Blue Gopher]

Did anyone else just an email from Brandon saying that the deadline had passed and they will give away your fellowship if you don't finish up the packet?  A bit disconcerting since I received confirmation that I handed everything in more than a week ago.

 

Ahhh.... giant, lumbering bureaucracies, a true joy to now be a cog in the system!

 

Mike

I didn't get one of those emails, but that certainly is disconcerting! Did you look over the checklist we've been discussing?

[CCA-B2]

I didn't get one of those either.