TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
JULY 14, 2023
Professional Growth and Development for Employees
The University System of Georgia (USG) strives to be the best possible employer by creating a culture that encourages learning and growth. To do this, they offer Tuition Assistance Program or TAP as an educational assistance program for full-time eligible employees who would like to continue their education.
Eligibility Requirements
The tuition assistance program is available to active full time (1.0 FTE) benefits-eligible employees of the USG who have successfully completed at least six (6) months of employment in a benefits-eligible position, as of the date of the TAP application deadline for the desired academic semester.
TAP pays for a maximum of 9 credit hours per semester based upon the undergraduate or graduate rate of the University System of Georgia (USG) institution you are attending. There are 26 USG institutions from which to choose. (You must follow the regular admissions process applicable to each institution.) Premier and professional programs are excluded from TAP per Board of Regents policy.
TAP Ineligible Programs
Employees may not enroll in certain programs or courses of study under the TAP policy.
Those ineligible programs, or courses of study, include academic courses in the following professional schools: dental, law, medical, pharmacy, veterinary, or executive total cost programs. Other ineligible programs, or courses of study, include: workshops, seminars, continuing education courses, management development programs, special examinations for admissions to degree programs, or private consultant refresher courses to take examinations such as C.P.A. certification, admissions examinations, and related types of programs or classes. Support for these types of programs may be provided by departmental policies.
If you are unsure of certain programs' eligibility, please contact your TAP coordinator.
TAP Application Deadlines
The following University System of Georgia TAP application deadlines will apply to all University System of Georgia institutions: (If any of these dates fall on a holiday or on a weekend, the application deadline will be the last business day prior to the dates identified.)
Fall semester - July 15
Spring semester - November 15
Summer semester - April 15
TAP Application Process
The application process is as follows:
- Employees must apply for admissions at the USG teaching institution of their choice by following the normal student admissions process.
- Employees should complete and submit the electronic TAP application each semester, by the designated application deadline.
- Follow instructions in the video below to submit the TAP application.
- The electronic TAP Application is routed to the Supervisor for approval.
- The electronic TAP application is routed to [email protected] to determine eligibility.
- Georgia State-TAP coordinator will approve/deny the TAP application.
- Employees will receive an email notification regarding their TAP application status.
- TAP Applications for Non-GSU teaching institutions are routed to USG TAP coordinators for review.
- Employees should register for courses during the designated employee registration period established by their teaching institution.
FILL OUT YOUR TAP APPLICATION
TAP Tax Implication
Undergraduate educational assistance benefits are generally excluded from tax reporting or withholdings. Graduate educational assistance benefits are excludable from tax reporting and withholding up to $5,250 annually. Graduate educational assistance in excess of $5,250 will generally be subject to tax reporting and withholdings except under certain circumstances. Any employee who believes that they are eligible to exclude graduate education costs in excess of $5,250 must apply by completing the Graduate Student Tax Waiver Application.
Upcoming TAP Webinars
TAP
No, only active, full-time benefits-eligible, 1.0 FTE, employees may participate in the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).
No, only active, full-time benefits-eligible, 1.0 FTE, employees may participate in TAP.
One may register for academic semester credit hours in excess of the nine TAP approved hours during his/her regular student registration assigned time period. One may then register for a TAP course(s) during employee TAP registration; designated fees and tuition will be waived by the end of late registration. The remaining balance should appear after the waiver of nine credit hours.
All employee TAP registration dates will be posted and maintained on the Board of Regents (BOR) official website at https://benefits.usg.edu/work-life/tuition-assistance-program/.
As a TAP participant, you are only allowed to register during the designated employee TAP registration period as identified by the teaching institution. The TAP waiver will not be applied if you register before the employee TAP registration period.
Eligible USG employees may participate in TAP on a space-available basis, only. Therefore, the employee registration period follows the regular registration period. If availability is no longer available, the participant may speak with professor for wait list availability.
No, you may enroll in another course. If the new course alters your work schedule, you must seek approval from your supervisor first.
Yes. Your supervisor needs to review and approve your application each semester. Please be informed, however, that one application will suffice for both the Maymester and the Summer sessions and must be submitted by the April 15th deadline.
On-line degree programs offered by USG institutions are covered by TAP at full Board approved tuition amount.
The following University System of Georgia TAP application deadlines will apply to all University System of Georgia institutions: (If any of these dates fall on a holiday or on a weekend, the application deadline will be the last business day prior to the dates identified.)
Fall semester - July 15
Spring semester - November 15
Summer semester - April 15