MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT -- The Marine Corps has updated regulations for tuition assistance in the 2015 fiscal year.
Marines now have longer to apply before their class begins and more stringent grade policies, according to Marine Administrative Message 687/14.
“This is such a great opportunity to be able to take advantage of,” said Jessika Fusco, education technician for the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort education office. “It’s important that TA institutes personal responsibility.”
Students may apply for courses 60 days in advance instead of 30, but must maintain higher grade point averages in the courses they are taking.
“There are plusses and minuses. It’s definitely more accessible,” said Fusco. She also cautioned that “Marines do need to be aware of their work and school balance.”
Undergraduate students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher after 15 semester hours, and graduate students must maintain a 3.0 or higher after six semester hours.
“It gives a baseline standard that will keep them on top of their studies,” said Fusco. “It will definitely help them if they’re looking for an extra edge to advance.”
If their GPA falls below these requirements, TA will not be authorized until the students GPA is back within acceptable standards.
In the past, students who fail or receive an incomplete for a course would be required to pay back the government for TA, but that has now extended to grades of D in undergraduate classwork and C in graduate classwork.
Tuition assistance is no longer given for course work past a Master’s degree.
If a student has failed a course or had an approved involuntary withdrawal waiver, the course cost will still count toward their individual TA funding total.
Other changes to tuition in the coming year include more stringent requirements for career and technical certification courses. Certificate programs need to be recognized by the Department of Education, approved by the Department of Veteran Affairs, must have signed a Department of Defense memorandum of understanding, and comply with TA eligibility requirements.
For more information, call the MCAS Beaufort education office at 228-7421.
Raising the bar for tuition assistance raises standards of success for all Marine students.