federal tuition assistance program

Federal Tuition Assistance Program

Norris D Johnson

Supervisory Education Services Specialist Region IV

WIARNG FTA Pgm Mgr

DANTES TCO/ APT ATCO

Email: [email protected]: http://wisconsinmilitary.org/benefits/education/

2400 Wright StreetMadison, WI 53708

Cml: (608) 242-3454

mailto:[email protected]

http://wisconsinmilitary.org/benefits/education/



1) Introduction

2) Region IV FTA States 3)


4) Things you need to know about FTA

5) FTA Recoupment

6) Segregated Fees

7) The Soldier Process (GAE)

8) GAE Help for Soldiers?

9) Putting it all together

10) Comments/Compliments?2

ESS Jovanda [email protected] Schools: 388GAE Schools: 109

Region 4Education Services Specialist

Department of Education Accredited Schools vs. GoArmyEd Schools RESS Norris Johnson

[email protected] Schools: 149GAE Schools: 60

VacantDOE Schools: 361GAE Schools: 127

ESS Amber [email protected] DOE Schools: 156GAE Schools: 81 ESS Joshua Fenner

[email protected] DOE Schools: 212GAE Schools: 77

ESS Michael [email protected] DOE Schools: 108GAE Schools: 53

ESS Harold [email protected]

DOE Schools: 153GAE Schools: 53







Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) Program

Financial assistance provided to Soldiers for takingvoluntary off-duty education programs in support of:

1) A Soldier’s professional and personal self-development goals 2) Retaining quality Soldiers3) Enhancing their career progression4) Increasing the combat readiness of the Army5) Preparing Soldiers to return to civilian careers

The Department of the Army provides TA support for itsOwn members but not for those of other Services.

Things you need to know about FTA

All Soldiers must access the GAE portal to use FTA

FTA must be requested prior to class start date FTA pays up to $250 per semester hour or $166 per

quarter hour

FTA does not exceed $4500 per FY (Oct-Sep)


FTA will fund one credential at any level up to a Masters Degree

FTA will fund a BA/BS or up to 130 SH of undergraduate credit

FTA can be authorized only after successful completion of the first year of service after graduating from either AIT, OCS or BOLC.

FTA will fund a Masters or up to 39 SH of graduate credit…“whichever comes first”

Things you need to know (Con’t)• Soldiers are eligible for up to 16 semester hours per

fiscal year

• Can use TA for a second, higher-level post-bachelor’s degree after completion of 10 years of service.

The second degree time in service requirement applies to movement from a bachelor’s to a master’s degree and not from an associate’s to a bachelor’s degree.

Also, the 10-year requirement only applies if Army TA was used to pay for any portion of the undergraduate coursework.

7


The Helpdesk has limited capability to assist Soldiers (uploading docs to efile and create CRM cases)

The school GAE POC can assist with the rejection of FTA classes prior to invoicing. Avoids recoupment.

FTA can not be requested to repeat classes for which Soldier received a poor grade (C- or D)

FTA is free…but not really.

FTA RecoupmentSoldiers agree when signing the Annual Statement of Understanding

The Soldier withdraws from or does not complete a course for personal reasons

The Soldier receives a failing grade for academics

The Soldier receives a failing grade for nonattendance

The Soldier fails to make up an "incomplete" grade within the time limits stipulated by the institution or 120 calendar days after the completion of the class, whichever comes first

A commissioned officer or commissioned warrant officer fails to fulfill the service obligation

Fees (Segregated or Other)

• Fees = To be paid with FTA must meet the following criteria:

• Should never be “bundled” with the tuition cost.• Directly related to the specific course enrollment.• Should be charged to all Students• 100 percent refundable• Must be itemized

The Soldier Process All NG Soldiers have a

base role created in GAE

Soldier completes six step activation process and requests GAE activation

Requests sent to CRM queue

FTA Manager retrieves from queue and either activates or rejects

If rejected, Soldier is sent an email explanation

If activated Soldier requests TA for classes prior to start date

FTA manager reviews TA requests and either approves or rejects

If rejected Soldier is sent an email explanation

The Soldier Process Con’t If approved, Soldier prints TA authorization form and

submits to school

There are some critical documents the Soldier needs to attach to their TA request in order to get approval:

1) Documented degree plan, degree audit report 2) Course verification document (Start and end

dates/SH) 3) Cost verification document (Tuition identified) 4) Current Statement of Understanding

GAE Help for SoldiersComplete the Quick

Start Training on GAE before requesting:

a) account activation ( and periodically afterwards)

b) Tuition AssistanceLocated Here

More help for SoldiersDirect them to use the Helpdesk link on the GoArmyEd Webpage by clicking on helpdesk

and then helpdesk resources

Click on

And more Help for SoldiersAfter they click on Helpdesk resources this is the page they will see!

Average

Call Wait

Times

Videos

Policy

Documents

etc

Contact

Information

Create and

Track CRM and

Helpdesk cases

How Soldiers can help ThemselvesNo late FTA requests (after 7 days from the

start date).

Do not “switch out” classes after FTA has already been approved.

Do not submit “0” SH and/or “0” $ Cost FTA requests.

How Soldiers can help Themselves?

Encourage Soldiers to submit FTA requests in advance of the class start date.

Encourage use of FTA as a viable funding source.

Encourage Soldiers to take “free” CLEP or DANTES exams to minimize costs.

Encourage Soldiers to monitor their GAE account and correct, inaccuracies.

Putting it All Together• Federal Tuition Assistance Program

• Region IV FTA States

• Things you need to know about FTA

• FTA Recoupment

• Segregated Fees

• The Soldier Process (GAE)

• Help for Soldiers?

Questions/Comments on the FTA Program??

Norris D Johnson

Supervisory Education Services Specialist

WIARNG FTA Pgm Mgr

DANTES TCO/ APT ATCO

Email: [email protected]: http://wisconsinmilitary.org/benefits/education/

2400 Wright StreetMadison, WI 53708

Cml: (608) 242-3454


