Federal Tuition Assistance Program

1. Federal Tuition Assistance Program 2400 Wright Street Madison, WI 53708 Cml: (608) 242-3454 • Norris D Johnson • Supervisory Education Services Specialist Region IV • WIARNG FTA Pgm Mgr • DANTES TCO/ APT ATCO Email: norris.d.johnson.civ@mail.mil Web: http://wisconsinmilitary.org/benefits/education/

2. Federal Tuition Assistance Program • Introduction • Region IV FTA States 3) Federal Tuition Assistance Program 4) Things you need to know about FTA 5) FTA Recoupment • Segregated Fees • The Soldier Process (GAE) • GAE Help for Soldiers? • Putting it all together • Comments/Compliments?

3. Region 4 Education Services Specialist Department of Education Accredited Schools vs. GoArmyEd Schools RESS Norris Johnson norris.d.johnson.civ@mail.mil DOE Schools: 149 GAE Schools: 60 • ESS Amber Manke • amber.m.manke.mil@mail.mil • DOE Schools: 156 • GAE Schools: 81 • ESS Joshua Fenner • joshua.s.fenner.civ@mail.mil • DOE Schools: 212 • GAE Schools: 77 • ESS Michael Robinson • michael.p.robinson1.civ@mail.mil • DOE Schools: 108 • GAE Schools: 53 ESS Jovanda Curry jovanda.t.curry.civ@mail.mil DOE Schools: 388 GAE Schools: 109 Vacant DOE Schools: 361 GAE Schools: 127 • ESS Harold Hall • harold.w.hall6.civ@mail.mil • DOE Schools: 153 • GAE Schools: 53

4. Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) Program Financial assistance provided to Soldiers for taking voluntary off-duty education programs in support of: • A Soldier’s professional and personal self-development goals • Retaining quality Soldiers • Enhancing their career progression • Increasing the combat readiness of the Army • Preparing Soldiers to return to civilian careers The Department of the Army provides TA support for its Own members but not for those of other Services.

5. 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)

6. Things you need to know about FTA • 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”

7. 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.

8. Things you need to know about FTA • 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.

9. FTA Recoupment Soldiers 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. GAE Help for Soldiers • Complete the Quick Start Training on GAE before requesting: • account activation ( and periodically afterwards) • Tuition Assistance Located Here

14. More help for Soldiers Direct them to use the Helpdesk link on the GoArmyEd Webpage by clicking on helpdesk and then helpdesk resources Click on

15. And more Help for Soldiers Average Call Wait Times After they click on Helpdesk resources this is the page they will see! Videos Contact Information Create and Track CRM and Helpdesk cases Policy Documents etc

16. How Soldiers can help Themselves • No 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.

17. 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.

18. 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?

19. Questions/Comments on the FTA Program?? 2400 Wright Street Madison, WI 53708 Cml: (608) 242-3454 • Norris D Johnson • Supervisory Education Services Specialist • WIARNG FTA Pgm Mgr • DANTES TCO/ APT ATCO Email: norris.d.johnson.civ@mail.mil Web: http://wisconsinmilitary.org/benefits/education/