TUITION ASSITANCE PROGRAM

James Brooks

Education Services Officer

P    619.524.8158 / 619.524.1275 / 619.524.6865
E    James.brooks@usmc.mil

L    Building 111 - Located across from the MCRD Gas Station

GEAR

Tuition Assistance Form

..| Check your smart transcript

Read the TA agreement at the back of the Tuition Assistance Form, then sign it. Bring it to the nearest Marine Corps or Navy education office for processing. You can also fax it in or Email it as an attachment.

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RECEIVING TUITION ASSISTANCE

STEP 1

Attend College 101 (TA Brief).

STEP 2

Submit your TA request form to the Education Office prior to the start of class or TA will not fund your course.

STEP 3

Turn in your TA authorization form to your school.

STEP 4

Attend your classes and submit your final grade to Pensacola. (Do not rely on the school to do this for you)

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FILLING OUT THE TUITION ASSISTANCE (TA) FORM

When you are filling out your tuition assistance request form, there are some important areas that must be completed. Remember we can accept this form up to 60 days before the term begins, but no later than the day before the term begins. A sample TA form is on the next page.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

ON BASE

For schools physically located aboard military bases.

OFF BASE

For schools located out in town.

DISTANCE LEARNING

Any program offered through VHS, CD-ROM, Internet, paper-based, or a combination of these formats.

If you are taking one course by distance learning and another in the classroom, you must submit two separate TA forms, even if both courses are with the same school.

TERM START / END DATE: YY/MM/DD

Dates when the term begins/ends.

COURSE DEPT/NUMBER

Course dept and number is the abbreviation of the course title. Some examples are ENG 100, HIST 1302, or MATH 50.

COURSE TITLE

This is the full name of the course you are taking. Some examples are English Composition, US History from Reconstruction to present, or Beginning Algebra.

COURSE LEVEL

If you are taking first or second year courses, you will put an L for lower division course work. If you are taking a third or fourth year course, you will put a U for upper division work. Graduate students will put a G for graduate. For vocational programs put V.

NUMBER OF CREDITS/HOURS

Please put if it is a 3, 4.5 or 5 unit course.

TYPE OF CREDITS/HOURS

Most of the schools locally are S or semester hours. If your school is on a quarter hour, please put a Q. For most vocational courses, put C. If you have questions, please contact the school.

COST PER CREDIT/ HOUR

Put the cost per hour: City College tuition rate is $20 per semester unit. National University’s on base tuition cost is $114 per quarter unit.

TOTAL COST COURSE

Multiply the number of credit unit by the cost per credit to receive the total cost.

COMMANDING OFFICER SIGNATURE

Be sure to have your CO, OIC, XO, ESO, or NCOIC sign and put date at the bottom. Be sure they write their rank and branch of service. Also anyone who has by direction authority can sign but be sure they write by direction on the form after their name and rank.

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TURNING IN YOUR GRADES

STEP 1

Pull up and print out your final grade from the school’s website.

STEP 2

Fax your grades to:

Pensacola

COM: 850.452.1032

DSN: 922.1032

Make sure that it is a grade report from the school, and it contains the following information:

A. Name of the school

B. Your full name

C. Your SSN

D. Course number

E. Course title

F. Class dates

G. Final grade

H. TA Document number(s) (example: MHE20070XXXX)

STEP 3

You will also need to turn in a separate set of grades to your admin section for unit diary to receive promotion points. You may have to fax your grades more than once before they are posted. Please make sure that you indicate which grade(s) need to be entered.

Grades are the responsibility of the student. Keep in mind this is your money.

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VERIFYING THAT YOUR GRADES ARE POSTED

To verify your grades have been received by Pensacola (TA) check your smart transcript. The most recent grades can be found on the last page.

If you are checking to see if your admin section has entered grades please check your Marine Online account.

The Education Office does not have the ability to enter information into your MOL account.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY GRADES AREN'T TURNED IN

30 DAYS

You should receive a letter stating that you owe grades/money for your class(es).

60 DAYS

Your CO should receive a letter stating that you owe grades/money for your class(es).

90 + DAYS

Pensacola will send a request for a paycheckage to dispersing to collect moneys owed.

You are ineligible for TA until you turn in a passing grade or repay Pensacola for the class(es) that you did not complete or failed.

HOW DO I REPAY PENSACOLA IF I OWE FOR A COURSE

If you have failed, withdrawn or received an incomplete grade, indicating that a passing grade was not turned in within 6 months of the course ending, you will have to repay Pensacola with a cashier’s check or a money order.

MAIL PAYMENTS TO:

US Treasury

Commanding Officer NETPDTC TA Accounting N8115

6490 Saufleyfield Road

Pensacola, FL 32509-5241

HOW DOES TUITION ASSISTANCE WORK

TA can help pay for your education. TA is available to assist active duty military personnel in paying for High School completion, Vocational Certificates, Associate Degrees, Bachelor’s Degrees, Master’s Degrees and Doctorate Degrees.

TA CAPS

TA pays up to $4500 per Fiscal Year (FY), or $250 per semester hour or credit hour, $166.67 per Quarter Hour, or $16.67 per clock hour. Navy personnel have a 16 credit per year cap, which limits TA to $4500 per FY.

ITEMS NOT COVERED BY TA

TA does not pay for books, computers, or other tangible materials.

FIRST TIME TA USERS

First time TA users are required to attend a briefing called College 101. TA regulations are explained to all first time users at the mandatory College 101 briefing. The briefing is held at 1130 on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Education Center, building 5305. First time users must also have a GT score of 100 or better or pass the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) with score of 10.2 or better.

OTHER REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY

Commissioned Officers incur a two year obligation upon completion of a class.

TUITION ASSISTANCE (TA) POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Applications must be submitted to the Education Office before the start date of the course. LATE TA WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO

1. Turn the TA authorization into the school.

2. Pay any cost difference between the authorized amount and actual tuition cost.

3. Report any changes, after TA is approved, to the Education Center immediately.

4. Reimburse the government for any failing grades or course that remains incomplete for more than 6 months.

5. Provide proof and a letter from your CO, for any duty related withdrawal.

6. Provide, to NETPDTC, proof of a passing grade within 30 days of course completion.

7. Received a SOCMAR or written degree plan upon completion of 12 semester hours, or the equivalent.

8. Reimburse TA for any over payment of tuition.

9. Provide the education office and admin a copy of the degree or certificate upon completion.

10. Marines must maintain an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.0 or Graduate GPA of 3.0