Ready, Set, Stipends: FSPT Training Begins
With the FSPT Stipends launch set for December 8th, the team is focused on one thing: making sure everyone is prepared. The team has developed comprehensive training guides and learning materials, scheduled hands-on practice sessions, and built in direct team support to help everyone involved in stipends processing navigate the transition comfortably.
Upcoming Training Sessions
The team is offering two training sessions leading up to launch: a virtual walkthrough to see FSPT in action and an in-person session for hands-on practice with team support:
Virtual Training (Zoom)
Thursday, December 4 | 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Watch the team demonstrate FSPT stipends processing step-by-step and ask questions in real time. Registration is required.
Stipends Success Sleigh Lab (In-Person)
Tuesday, December 9 | 9:00-11:30 a.m. | Location: Student Services Center, Room 400
Roll up your sleeves and practice stipend processing with the team available for support. Bring your laptop and a mug as snacks and hot beverages will be provided! Calendar invites will be sent to all users with FSPT Quality Assurance (QA) access* by December 1. If you have QA access but don't receive an invite by December 1, request one here. If you still need QA access, review the FSPT Stipends Resource Guide.
*As a reminder, QA access is our training and testing environment in the FSPT. This is your chance to learn, play, make mistakes, and try again in a safe space. The live environment that will actually disburse payments to students is called Production (PROD) and will not be available until December 8.
Your Go-To Training Toolkit
The FSPT team has developed detailed step-by-step training guides that will serve as ongoing resources for learning and reference:
- Welcome to FSPT – What FSPT is, why we're making the change, and what it means for you
- Get Oriented in FSPT – Learn how to navigate the FSPT interface and locate key features
- Add or Edit Stipends – Learn the step-by-step process for managing stipends in FSPT
Below is a glimpse of the Get Oriented in FSPT training guide that shows you helpful page tools: quick links to jump to sections, a search function for finding specific topics, and role group indicators to help identify relevant content for you. See how the materials are organized below to make learning easier.
QA Access: Your Key to Training
While the FSPT application was designed with four role groups in total, most users will fall into one of two: User (full access to add, edit, and update stipend and payment information) and Auditor (read-only access to view student payment data).
User Access
QA User access is available now and is essential for transactors to get the most out of training, especially for the hands-on December 9, 2025 session where you'll be working directly in the QA environment. With QA User access, you can work through the training materials at your own pace and get comfortable with the application before launch.
If you don’t have QA User access yet, the FSPT Stipends Resource Guide includes detailed instructions for requesting access.
As a reminder, Users must complete all training requirements and have received access to the QA environment in order to be granted access to the live PROD environment on December 8, 2025. Learn more in the Get Started section of our “Welcome to the FSPT” Collab page.
Auditor Access
QA Auditor access is available now for those interested in having read-only access for viewing payment and student information. While we anticipate that this role could be especially helpful for those who are Research Administrators, Financial Managers, or Department Business Officers, all are welcome! Check out the FSPT Stipends FAQ for more on the requirements and request process for the Auditor role.
Please note that the FSPT live PROD environment will not be available until December 8, 2025. However, if desired, Auditors can request both FSPT QA and PROD access at the same time (i.e. now) so that an additional SNOW request does not need to be submitted later.
Ongoing Support After Go Live
Go live is just the beginning! The FSPT team will continue supporting users through the transition with regular office hours and 1:1 meetings starting in January 2026.
Weekly Office Hours
Join us for regular drop-in discussions to ask questions, troubleshoot issues, and get guidance as you work in FSPT. Sign-up here to receive the calendar invite for the meeting series.
1:1 Support Sessions
We will be hosting 1:1 sessions as a dedicated space for you to get undivided support that is specific to your questions and concerns as you navigate FSPT. This will be especially helpful when you return from winter break and begin processing stipends in the live system. Starting in January, we’ll be available for individual meetings (15 minutes each) on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Sign up for a 1:1 session here.
More Ways to Connect
The FSPT team will be available to support you as you settle into this transition period. Questions will come up, and we want to hear them! Attend a training session, drop into office hours, or book a 1:1 and we can answer them. You can also submit a ticket via fspt@ucsd.edu or join the Graduate Student Financial Support Microsoft Teams with the dedicated FSPT channel to connect with other coordinators and the project team.