ACN 081/18 - AUG 2018 FY19 COAST GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE (TA) POLICY

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                                                 CANCEL DATE 19 AUG 2019

R 201111 AUG 18
FM COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA//FC-C//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01560//
ACN 081/18
SUBJ: FY19 COAST GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE (TA) POLICY
A. Performance, Training, and Education Manual, COMDTINST M1500.10 (series)
B. Voluntary Education Programs, DoD Instruction (DoDI) 1322.25
C. COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA 091024Z FEB 16/ ALCOAST 043/16
1. This ACN announces the FY19 TA policy, effective 01 Oct 2018.
2. Policies and eligibility criteria:
    A. The Coast Guard will fund tuition cost not to exceed $250.00 per
semester hour, $166.67 per quarter hour, or $16.67 per clock hour. The
annual cap for reimbursement of TA is $2250.00 (three courses) to
ensure funding remains available throughout FY19. Other Coast Guard
sources of funding and reimbursement programs for education expenses
can be found on the Education and Training Quota Management Command
(ETQC) public-facing website: http://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-
Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ETQC/Voluntary-Education/Active-Duty/. Only
the CG Foundation and Vander Putten education grants are administered
by ETQC. Non-Coast Guard (federal and state) sources for need-based or
merit-based financial aid can be found at https://studentaid.ed.gov
(including Pell grants, scholarships, and loans).
    B. A complete TA application (degree plan uploaded, command
approved) must be received by ETQC NO LESS than 14 days prior to the
class start date, not including the date of submission to ETQC nor the
class start date. There are no exceptions or waivers to this policy.
If students self-identify as being eligible for TA and begin a class
without an approved TA authorization from ETQC, the student is solely
responsible for all costs incurred for the course(s). This timeline is
necessary to ensure members receive an approved TA authorization prior
to the start of a course as required by REF (B) to ensure schools are
meeting the intent of Presidential Executive Order 13607.
    C. Units are strongly encouraged to build sufficient timelines to
ensure applications are completed and receive command approval well in
advance of the class start date. Additionally, units are also strongly
encouraged to have at least one alternate ESO, designated in writing,
to ensure no single point of failure exists which could prevent the
timely approval of TA applications at the unit level.
    D. Reimbursement of TA will be required from the service member if
the student does not successfully complete the course(s). For the
purpose of reimbursement, a successful course completion is defined as
a grade of a C or higher for undergraduate courses, a B or higher for
graduate courses, and a pass for pass/fail grades.
    E. Schools authorized to receive TA funding must participate and
have a signed MOU with the DoD. The authorized school list can be found
at the following website: www.dodmou.com.
    F. TA is not authorized for any fees. Any other college
expense not listed as tuition is considered a fee (e.g. lab,
graduation, internet usage, etc.).
    G. Mandatory degree plans are required after the completion of a
second course or 6 semester hours using TA. If a degree plan has not
been received by ETQC after the second course, no further TA will be
authorized until the degree plan has been provided. In order to be
eligible for TA, members must have a legible degree plan, printed on
official school letterhead, and approved by an ESO. All degree plans
must contain the members printed name and should be uploaded into the
myEducation portal after completion of their second funded TA course.
Courses not listed on an approved degree plan are not eligible for TA
and will not be authorized by ETQC. See the ETQC web site for specific
instructions on uploading degree plans:
http://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ETQC/ 
    H. Lifetime credit hour limits for TA are as follows: 130 semester
hours for undergraduate work and 40 semester hours for graduate work.
Once a member has reached credit hour limits, TA will no longer be
authorized regardless if the member has obtained a degree or not. 
    I. After completion of a degree, members shall ensure an official
copy of their college transcript is sent to ETQC, in accordance with
REF (C). Official transcripts must list the type of degree and the date
of degree completion/conferment. Paper copies must be sent in a sealed
envelope by the degree granting academic institution to: USCG ETQC
Registrar's Office 1430-D Kristina Way Chesapeake, VA 23326 or
transmitted securely to ETQC-SMB-RO@uscg.mil
    J. Federal student aid loans obtained by Coast Guard members for the
purpose of funding their education will not be considered as a duplication
of benefit and not subtracted when calculating the use of TA.
    K. The restrictions applied to foreign language courses in Art.
11.H.2.e of REF (A) are removed. TA is authorized for foreign
language courses as long as they are a requirement listed on the
student’s degree plan. Foreign language courses can also be used to
fill the requirements for general or free electives.
    L. Deployable units engaging in the Afloat Education Program with
an Embarked Instructor are reminded to follow the guidelines outlined
in Art. 11.G of REF (A). Commands are reminded to refrain from editing
the MOU template posted on the ETQC’s website to meet their unique
needs. Any deviation should be vetted through ETQC for approval prior
to starting the course(s).
3. The following policies remain in effect:
    A. TA is authorized for active duty military members eligible for
TA. Member must be on Active Duty or a Reservist on long-term orders
greater than 180 days. Back-to-back short-term orders adding up to more
than 180 continuous days does not apply and TA will not be authorized.
    B. TA is only available for courses leading to the first Associate,
Bachelor, and Master’s degree. TA is not authorized to members pursuing
an additional degree at the same or lower level regardless of how they
received their first degree (e.g.: if the applicant already has a
Bachelor’s degree, TA shall not be authorized for an Associates or
Bachelor’s degree even if the degree was obtained at a service academy,
through the CG advanced education program, via grants or loans, VA
benefits, or paid for out of the member’s own pocket). TA is not
authorized for any degree above a Master’s degree, including Juris
Doctor (JD), doctoral degrees (PhD), and similar terminal degrees or
certificates.
    C. COs, OICs or first O-6/GS-15 in the chain-of-command are expected
to ensure members meet the following eligibility criteria:
       (1) Satisfactory progress toward completion of unit quals.
       (2) Satisfactory progress toward watch station quals.
       (3) Satisfactory proficiency of craft, and
       (4) Satisfactory conduct during the six months prior.
(Note): TA approval authority can be delegated to the local ESO but
shall not be delegated below GS-9 or E-7 paygrades.
4. All additional eligibility constraints and requirements listed in
REF (A) not addressed in this ACN still apply.
5. Members are strongly encouraged to seek ESO guidance when deciding
which college or university maximizes military training, credits-by-
exam, and provides the best value for tuition dollars. ESOs can also
help identify other sources of funding, if desired.
6. These changes will be reflected in the next revision of REF (A),
which will be released within the next year.
7. Please refer to your local ESO for field level questions. Questions
from unit ESOs should be directed to CWO2 Anthony D. Nash (ETQC) at
(757)413-7449 or email at: ETQC-SMB-TAG@uscg.mil
8. Released by RDML B. K. Penoyer, Commander, Force Readiness Command.
9. Internet release authorized.