diff --git a/src/app/components/elements/modals/SetAssignmentsModal.tsx b/src/app/components/elements/modals/SetAssignmentsModal.tsx
index 55b3a501e1..3d4c83298a 100644
--- a/src/app/components/elements/modals/SetAssignmentsModal.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/elements/modals/SetAssignmentsModal.tsx
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ const AssignGroup = ({groups, currentAssignees, board, closeModal}: AssignGroupP
     const [selectedGroups, setSelectedGroups] = useState<Item<number>[]>([]);
     const [dueDate, setDueDate] = useState<Date | undefined>(UTC_MIDNIGHT_IN_SIX_DAYS);
     const [userSelectedDueDate, setUserSelectedDueDate] = useState<boolean>(false);
-    const [scheduledStartDate, setScheduledStartDate] = useState<Date>();
+    const [scheduledStartDate, setScheduledStartDate] = useState<Date>(TODAY);
     const [assignmentNotes, setAssignmentNotes] = useState<string>();
     const [validationAttempted, setValidationAttempted] = useState<boolean>(false);
     const user = useAppSelector(selectors.user.loggedInOrNull);
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ const AssignGroup = ({groups, currentAssignees, board, closeModal}: AssignGroupP
     }
 
     function assign() {
-        dispatch(assignGameboard({
+        void dispatch(assignGameboard({
             boardId: board?.id as string,
             groups: selectedGroups,
             dueDate,
diff --git a/src/test/pages/SetAssignments.test.tsx b/src/test/pages/SetAssignments.test.tsx
index 038b3e580f..8d25de833a 100644
--- a/src/test/pages/SetAssignments.test.tsx
+++ b/src/test/pages/SetAssignments.test.tsx
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ describe("SetAssignments", () => {
             expect(requestAssignment(observer.observedParams!).gameboardId).toEqual(mockGameboard.id);
             expect(requestAssignment(observer.observedParams!).notes).toEqual(testNotes);
             expect(requestAssignment(observer.observedParams!).dueDate).toBeDefined();
-            expect(requestAssignment(observer.observedParams!).scheduledStartDate).not.toBeDefined();
+            expect(requestAssignment(observer.observedParams!).scheduledStartDate).toBeDefined();
         });
 
         // Close modal
@@ -243,9 +243,11 @@ describe("SetAssignments", () => {
             expect(within(await modal()).getByTestId("modal-groups-selector")).toHaveTextContent('Groups:None');
         });
 
-        it('start date is empty by default', async () => {
-            await renderModal();
-            expect(await dateInput("modal-start-date-selector")).toHaveValue('');
+        it('start date is today by default', async () => {
+            await withMockedDate(Date.parse("2025-01-30"), async () => {
+                await renderModal();
+                expect(await dateInput("modal-start-date-selector")).toHaveValue("2025-01-30");
+            });
         });
 
         it('due date is a week from now by default', async() => {