co national guard state ta program … ta... · the stipend pays a portion of total in-state...
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CO NATIONAL GUARD STATE TA PROGRAM OVERVIEW
• Program is designed to assist CO National Guard members (ARMY & AIR) with
reaching their higher education goals
• The State TA Program awards over a million dollars annually in tuition assistance
to CO National Guard members
Program Makeup from 2016:
• 47% of applicants Air National Guard Members
• 55% of applicants Army National Guard Members
WHAT DOES THE STATE TA PROGRAM COVER?
The State TA program covers in-state tuition
ONLY. Tuition is authorized on the amount
after the Colorado Opportunity Fund stipend
has been applied. (If the school utilizes the
COF Program).
See next few slides on getting in-state tuition at
CO Institutions and COF Stipend.
APPLYING FOR IN-STATE TUITION
To gain in-state tuition at a CO State Approved institution, CO National Guard members must submit documentation to their institution.
Please do not advise members to send residency documentation to the State TA Office, this office does not process residency paperwork!
Examples of documentation an institution might ask a member to provide include: LES’, State of Legal Residence Certificates (Form DD 2058), copies of military ID, military orders, bills, etc.
WHAT IS THE COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FUND STIPEND?
The College Opportunity Fund (COF), provides a stipend to eligible
undergraduate students that are current residents in the State of
CO. The stipend pays a portion of total in-state tuition when
members attend a participating college.
Eligible undergraduate students must apply, be admitted and
enrolled in classes at a participating college to receive this
benefit. Both new and continuing students are eligible for the
stipend.
Qualifying students may use the stipend for eligible
undergraduate classes only (graduates not eligible). The stipend
is paid on a per credit hour basis directly to the college at which
the student is enrolled. The credit-hour amount is set annually by
the General Assembly.
APPLYING FOR THE COF STIPEND
• Members must apply just once and authorize the use of the COF
stipend at their respective institution. This is typically done during
the admissions process at the institution while verifying residency
status.
• Without the COF stipend, a student is responsible for the full
amount of tuition which equals in-state tuition plus the stipend
amount.
• For current COF stipend amounts, eligibility requirements and
application requirements, please visit:
https://cof.college-assist.org/
WHAT SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE TA PROGRAM?
Visit www.colorado.gov/dmva for complete list of participating schools
Some popular institutions CO National Guard Members are currently attending:
• Front Range Community College – Campus/Online
• Metro State University – Campus/Online
• University CO Boulder, Denver, & Colorado Springs – Campus/Online
• Pikes Peak Community College - Campus/Online
• Arapahoe Community College – Campus/Online
• Aurora Community College –Campus/Online
• University of Northern CO – Campus/Online
• CSU & CSU ONLINE PLUS – Campus/Online
Once members reach the State TA Website, they should always access the
Student Resources section first, to obtain the most up-to-date Guide to
Applying Online, FAQ’s and contact information.
WHERE SHOULD MEMBERS GO FIRST?
APPLICATION DEADLINES
All application deadlines are posted on the State TA Website and are regularly
updated. Always send members to the State TA Website for details on deadlines
as they change periodically.
ACCESSING THE STATE TA WEBSITE CONT.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERS TO
PARTICIPATE? Must apply every semester via the Online Application with following information:
Must have 6 months of service in the CO National Guard prior to start of semester (this
includes IST’s. No Exceptions. Must have appropriate status under United States Code
(see slide #15)
Must be meeting all performance requirements of the CO National Guard satisfactorily
Must not have any flags or pending actions on their military records
Must have an ETS Date (estimated term of service) before the end date of the
semester (proof is required by member submitting a copy of their enlistment
paperwork)
Must be enrolled in a State TA approved institution and provide proof (class schedule
and cost breakdown obtained from school)
Must maintain a CGPA of 2.5 or better & must be meeting all school continuing
requirements
Must submit online application by the deadline
ETS/MRD DATES
Enlisted Members that have ETS dates before the last day of the semester do not qualify for State TA, unless they have all of the supplemental documentation listed from the Document & Submission Checklist for Applicants, available on the State TA website.
Officers that have an MRD before the last day of the semester do not qualify for State TA.
ELIGIBILITY CONTINUED
Current CO National Guard Members Only
*Additional eligibility information is available at: www.colorado.gov/dmva
Eligible for State Tuition
Assistance?
STATUS (Under United States Code) YES NO
Title 10 (Active Duty) X
Title 10 (For deployment/call-up) X
Title 32 (Traditional) X
Title 32 (AGR) X
Title 32 (Federal Technician) X
Title 32 (MDAY) X
Title 38 (Veteran/Retiree) X
Reservists X
HOW MUCH CAN A MEMBER QUALIFY FOR?
• Currently program awards up to $4250 in tuition ONLY (after COF) per semester
with stipulations:
• Cannot exceed $4,250/ semester or $475/credit hour
• 2017-2018 School Year: Awarding at whichever is higher of the two
*subject to change at discretion of State TA Office, based on funding availability*
• Aggregate Caps:
• 132 semester hours or 198 quarter credit hours
Or
• 8 years total use of program
• Aggregate caps are based on whichever cap is reached
first!
WHICH PROGRAMS ARE ELIGIBLE?
One Program of study is permitted at
each level, so long as it leads towards a
degrees or certificate.
• Associates
• Bachelors
• Post- Graduate (i.e. Master’s, Ph.D)
• Certificates of completion
(in most cases)
• Members must be in a degree seeking
status and have not exceeded the 132
aggregate credit hour or 8 year limits.
Certifications and certain licensures may be authorized if they are 100%
administered by the member’s state funded school and must be billed to the
member’s student account
Boards /Exams, Course Test Outs (such as CLEP) and most licensures are not
typically administered and billed through institutions so they would not qualify for
payment with State TA.
DO A DOUBLE CHECK: If a member goes outside of their school for example: to take
an exam or complete a certification and have to pay a fee to sit for an exam or obtain
a license, State TA cannot pay for the exam/license or reimburse the member!
CAN MEMBERS UTILIZE THE PROGRAM TO PAY FOR
CERTIFICATIONS/BOARDS/ REQUIRED LICENSING
EXAMS/COURSE TEST OUTS?
STEPS FOR A MEMBER TO APPLY
MEMBER INITIATES THE ONLINE APPLICATION:
• Apply online – Every Semester at: www.colorado.gov/dmva - Select Tuition Assistance
Link at Bottom of Page. Members should have downloaded the document checklist
before beginning.
2017-2018 School Year Deadlines for online applications subject to change (paper & late applications not accepted):
*Dates Subject to Change and Funding Subject to Availability – Always Check The State TA Website for Deadline Details*
State TA Semester Application Opens Application Closes
FALL 2017 May 31st, 2017 July 13th, 2017
3 pm MST
APPLICATION PACKET SUBMISSION
Member submits all the required documentation via the
Online Application packet.
Application Packets must be complete and submitted via
the website by the Stated Deadline! Late applications are
not accepted.
*Invalid/incomplete paperwork/application submissions
will be rejected & could result in member’s disqualification
from the application process*
CAN A MEMBER UTILIZE FEDERAL (GO ARMY)
&
STATE TA? Yes! Members who elect to apply and qualify for both Federal and State Tuition Assistance
may in some cases be able to utilize both sources as long as 100% of their tuition is not
exceeded
NOTE: State Tuition Assistance will be applied first and any remaining tuition up to the
100% may applied to by Federal Tuition Assistance.
GOARMYED.COM
CONTACT FOR GOARMYED:
MARY LANTZ
Education Services Specialist
GOARMY ED
Phone: 720-250-1338
BENEFIT PAYMENT HIERARCHY
Members that
qualify for State TA
may also qualify for
VA benefits.
Funds will be
applied in the
following manner
1. State TA
Up to 100% of tuition cost ONLY
2. Federal TA (GO ARMY)
If remaining tuition exists (not to exceed 100% of Tuition)
3. VA Benefits – If any remaining expenses exist (both tuition/cost of living)
Ex: Post 9/11 GI- Bill (Chpt. 33), Montgomery GI Bill (Chpt. 30), BAH, CHPT
1606, 1607, etc.
WHAT ABOUT THE GI BILL?
Once State TA has been applied towards tuition, if there is any
remaining charges left and the applicant qualifies for GI Bill or any
other VA benefits they will be applied accordingly.
Applicant’s should contact the appropriate VA Certifying Official at
their institution or the VA to ensure they complete the VONAPP to
determine eligibility for all VA Benefits they may qualify for.
School Military Certifying Officials at institutions are typically located
in the Academic Registrar’s Office or Billing (Bursar’s)
HOW DOES A MEMBER KNOW WHEN THEY
HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED?
• Members will be notified of their approval/denial for State TA via their preferred email address listed on the ONLINE Application after their application has been fully reviewed. This can take several weeks.
• Member’s approved for funding receive a Student FERPA Release/Expectations form that they must fill out, sign/date and submit to their institution by the billing deadline.
• Following receipt of the Student FERPA Release/Expectations Form, members should immediately sign, date and submit it to the school’s billing office by their deadline.
• Information regarding the member’s authorization amount and hours approved is sent directly to the institution. Students should check their student accounts at their institutions for their eligibility after they receive a FERPA Release/Expectations form from the State TA office.
WHEN WILL STATE TA BE CREDITED TOWARDS
A MEMBER’S ACCOUNT AT SCHOOL?
• Tuition payment will be credited to the eligible member’s tuition once the following steps have been completed:
The institution has received the signed Student FERPA Release/Expectations form and an invoice is submitted to the State TA Office by the member’s school.
• This occurs after the school’s add/drop period
Visit: www.colorado.gov/dmva
CO National Guard TA for answers
to Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ’S
DMVA Website:
www.colorado.gov/dmva
GOARMYED FEDERAL TA:
https://www.goarmyed.com/
AIRFORCE TA:
https://www.my.af.mil/faf/FAF/fafHome.jsp
SCHOOL DECISION RESOURCES:
http://department-of-veterans-affairs.github.io/gi-bill-comparison-tool/
PIN WEBITE FOR FAFSA:
https://pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp
FAFSA (FREE APPLICATION FOR STUDENT AID) (Title IV)
https://fafsa.ed.gov/
VA- GI BILL CONTACT INFORMATION:
http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/school_decision.asp
RESOURCES FOR RECRUITERS AND MEMBERS
REFERENCES
http://highered.colorado.gov/finance/cof/