JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. – The Marine Corps recently released the details of its Fiscal Year 2015 Tuition Assistance (TA) program, incorporating requirements outlined by the Department of Defense in July 2014.
The tuition assistance program provides financial aid to Marines pursuing education during off-duty hours. But according to the newly-released stipulations, Marines will have to pay back the funds if they don’t perform well in class.
According to Marine Administrative Message (MARADMIN) 687/14, “A successful course completion is defined as a grade of C or higher for undergraduate courses, a B or higher for graduate courses, and a Pass for Pass/Fail grades for courses using that criteria.”
Marines who fail to make the minimum grades, as well as those who voluntarily withdraw from courses, will have to reimburse the Marine Corps for the costs of tuition, though the MARADMIN notes that some exceptions may be made for withdrawals due to duty, medical or emergency circumstances.
Furthermore, Marines who do not meet the requirements and have to recoup the funding will be unable to take additional classes until they have paid back the full amount.
Per the DOD’s requirements, TA funding can only be used to pay for tuition and not some course-related costs, such as lab fees.
“Marines are responsible for non-tuition related fees including but not limited to costs associated with room, board, distance learning, equipment, supplies, books/materials, exams, insurance, parking transportation, admissions, registration or fines,” reads the MARADMIN.
First-time applicants must have completed at least two years of active duty service, according to the MARADMIN.
Additionally, TA will be authorized for first-time applicants for only one course, unless the Marine can provide documentation proving that he or she has at least an associate’s degree or at least 60 academic credits and a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5.
Marines cannot take more than two TA-funded classes simultaneously.
TA is also not authorized for graduate studies beyond the master’s degree level, according to the MARADMIN.
For more information about tuition assistance, contact Henderson Hall’s Lifelong Learning Center at 703-614-9104.
To read the MARADMIN in full, visit http://goo.gl/P4NSdD
Story by Guv Callahan
