According to all sources involved, all 18 Pioneer Ambassadors (PA) are still waiting on their $625 stipends from the Office of Student Affairs. According to the contract provided to each ambassador, the university has already missed two of the three scheduled payment deadlines.

According to the contract, the first payment of $275 was due on Sept. 12, followed by a second $175 payment on Oct. 24, both of which remain unpaid.

A final $175 payment is scheduled for Dec. 5, bringing the total stipend to $625.

Despite the lack of payment, PAs are required to participate in all university events as requested, according to the contract.

In an emailed statement, Lou Corsaro, a university spokesperson, said a paperwork issue caused a “slight delay in payments, but that issue has been resolved and students will receive their compensation in the Nov. 21 pay.”

But PAs say there has been no direct communication from the university about when they will receive their money or why it has been delayed.

They say they have been relying mostly on updates shared in group chats by the Pioneer Ambassador Coordinators (PAC).

“What really frustrates me about this situation is I have not gotten one email from anyone in charge of payroll or any higher-ups,” Gianna Sites, a junior accounting major and second year PA, said. “[All information] has gone through a grapevine of people.”

“I feel like no one cares,” Saphere Davis, a junior photography major and second year PA, said. “There is no urgency in the matter.”

After realizing her first payment had not arrived, Davis said she was directed by a PAC member to email the Office of Student Affairs. Davis said she received an automated reply and no follow-up.

According to Davis and Sites, on Oct. 23 a PAC member emailed all PAs relaying that the Office of Student Affairs had said the missing payments would arrive by Nov. 7.

Despite that, both say they still have not been paid.

Davis said the lack of communication led her and other PAs to calculate their estimated hourly pay.

“While I would love reimbursement,” Davis said. “After I looked at the money and calculated how much we’re getting paid, I realized we are not getting paid enough.”

Davis and Sites report having worked 150 hours so far this semester, including pre-semester preparatory work. They are unable to estimate their total hours for the semester, as many assignments have not yet been scheduled. Based on the $450 they are owed at this point according to the contract, they say they are effectively earning $3 per hour.

“Because of the amount of hours we’re working and all we are doing for the school I don’t think $625 is enough of a payment,” Sites said.

Davis said she was hoping to use the missing money toward rent. She said she has had to rely on friends and family to cover expenses.

“I’m paying an arm and a leg for tuition,” Davis said. “The least I can get is $625 . . . I have not been able to pay my bills on time.”

Sites said she was hoping to put the money toward groceries.

“That $625 is a grocery trip that I have been in significant need of,” Sites said.

Sites said she has declined shifts at her serving job to honor her PA responsibilities. At her serving job, Sites makes a similar hourly wage to her PA stipend, but often earns up to $500 in tips.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, the federal minimum wage is $7.25.

Sites and Davis said PAs should be paid $1,000 at minimum.

“I put so much into this program, and I don’t feel it has been given back,” Sites said.

PAs were required to work an event during Pioneer Pause, a day every other student is free from obligations, despite not being compensated according to the dates outlined in the document.

“When you’re not getting paid for your time, the work becomes strenuous,” Davis said.

“I’m not taking off work to work an event that I’m not being paid for,” Sites said.

Dean of Student Affairs Keith Paylo said in an email, “There was a change in leadership within the program which delayed payments.”

Paylo said the date students were to receive payment changed multiple times based on the efforts in gathering the required paperwork.

Paylo said he is ultimately responsible for issuing the payments. He didn’t elaborate further.

Davis and Sites said that they will not be returning to their PA positions next year because of the university’s lack of communication on the payment delay.

“My first year I had an amazing time,” David said, “but now it’s tainted by this experience.”