GSFC
Undergraduate Study Program (USP)
2009 Orientation Session
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Program Objectives
• To allow employees the opportunity to pursue job-related and mission-related academic studies. • To provide developmental opportunities to encourage professional and personal achievement and enhancement. • To enhance the GSFC workforce to meet new challenges.
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Program Benefits
• Pays for tuition, books, and course-related fees; • Provides up to $10K/per person/per calendar year (including tuition, course-related fees, and book costs) depending upon program funding; • Allows up to 8-hours off per week, with supervisory approval, to attend classes, do homework, study, etc.
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Program Requirements
• Complete your IDP in SATERN by December 31, 2008. • Agree on a work and school schedule with your supervisor before each semester; • Make steady progress in your academic studies and successfully completing courses; • Maintain GPA of 2.5 or better. Failure to meet GPA requirement will result in probation period of one semester, during which students must recover to a 2.5 GPA to continuing taking courses.
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Program Requirements
(continued)
• Remain in good academic standing with school. • Seek approval from the Program Manager before changing schools; adding, dropping, withdrawing, or substituting courses; and/or to taking an incomplete for a course. • Submit a request for leave of absence from the Program to the Program Manager through your supervisor. • Upon completion of courses for 2009, submit transcript to Qiuna Harris, Code 114, Building 1 Room E100H.
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Program Requirements
(continued)
• While attending classes, doing homework, studying, etc., you should charge your time-off to your normal work charge number. • All participants are required to sign a 1 year Continued Service Agreement with NASA. • If obligated service requirement is not met, the employee must reimburse NASA all courserelated fees (tuition, institution fees, books, and other related academic fees that were paid)
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Allowable Expenses
What is covered by the USP:
• • • • • • • • • • Tuition Required Books Required Software Registration Fees Library Fees Laboratory Fees Technology Fees Required Course Related Materials PGCC’s Instructional Service Fee Resource Fees (Univ. of Phoenix only)
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Disallowable Expenses
What is NOT covered by the USP:
• • • • • • • • • • • Computer Student Service Fees Student Activity Fees Parking Fees Mandatory Fees Routine School Supplies Audited Classes Recommended Textbooks (versus required) Food, paraphernalia, etc. Application Fee Graduation Fee
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Registering for Courses
• Please refer to the “Requesting External Training at NASA” in your packet for detailed instructions on completing your External Training form (NF1735) using SATERN. • Submit one NF-1735 through SATERN (https://satern.nasa.gov) for each academic course that has been approved at least 30 days prior to the start of the class. • Be sure to enter USP into the comments field under Block #18 on the NF-1735 in SATERN.
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Registering for Courses
• The SATERN system will route your request(s) electronically to your Supervisor and Directorate Training Coordinator and then to OHCM – Sharon Ray for processing. • You will receive approval emails as your NF1735 progresses in SATERN. • The NSSC will send you an email once your NF1735 has been approved with details on how to print your orders.
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Registering for Courses
• You must log into SATERN and print each approved course request. If you don’t receive an email within 14 days, please check SATERN for the status of your request or contact the NSSC at 1-877-NSSC123. • You must provide a copy of your approved NF1735 to the academic institution when registering for courses. • The NSSC will complete the purchase process in SATERN.
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Registering for Courses
• Take responsibility to monitor the progress of your NF-1735. Again, courses must be approved prior to the start of class.
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Book Purchase Procedures
• Estimated cost of books should be entered in the “Books or Materials” Section, Block 18b on the NF-1735 completed for the course in which the book is required. • After receiving the approved NF-1735, participants should purchase their textbooks and apply for reimbursement, using the form SF1164: Claim for Reimbursement for Expenditures on Official Business.
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Book Reimbursement Procedures
• Complete an SF-1164 for book reimbursement. • Mail or hand carry your completed SF-1164, along with a copy of your receipt(s) along with a copy of your NF-1735 to Sharon Ray, Code 114, Bldg. 1, Room E100A. • Book reimbursement are reviewed and approved by OHCM as applicable and then submitted to the Accounting Office for reimbursement via direct deposit to the participant’s banking institution. • Please maintain a copy of your requests for reimbursements.
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Submitting Grades
• Submit a grade report or transcript (web version acceptable) to the National Shared Service Center (NSSC) at fax #:1-866-779-6772 at the end of each semester. NOTE: Failure to submit grade reports or transcripts at the end of each semester, will result in you reimbursing the Center for the costs of your academic courses. • Reimburse GSFC for: – Courses in which a final grade is less than a C; – Unapproved changes in course status; – Exceeding approved funding amount.
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Program Points of Contact
• Program Manager - Michelle Dubose-Williams, x6-5166, email: Marsha.M.Dubose-Williams@nasa.gov • Program Assistant - General Program questions: Qiuna Harris, x6-3061, email: Qiuna.T.Harris@nasa.gov • Processing Assistant – Training Request & Book Reimbursement Sharon Ray, x6-5400 email: Sharon.R.Ray@nasa.gov
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