Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
What is TAP?
As part of its mission statement the University System of Georgia is committed to “the recruitment, hiring, and retention of the best possible faculty, staff and administration.” The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia is committed to creating a more educated Georgia. Both of these commitments extend internally, as well as, externally. As part of its desire to meet its employees evolving needs, the University System of Georgia (USG) has established an educational assistance program, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). The purpose of TAP is to foster the professional growth and development of its eligible employees.
TAP Success Stories!
Many employees at UNG have used TAP to pave the way for their educational and career goals.
Your colleagues have earned multiple degrees, advanced their careers and graduated debt free. You can too!
Who is Eligible?
The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a program available to all full time benefits-eligible employees of the University System of Georgia 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.
How Can I Lose My Eligibility?
- An employee must receive a grade of “C” or better in each approved TAP course. If a grade of “D” or below is received, the employee will not be eligible to participate in the TAP program for one semester.
- If an employee withdraws from an approved TAP course prior to its completion, the employee will not be eligible to participate in the TAP program for one semester.
How Many Hours Can I Take?
An employee may seek approval to enroll in up to nine (9) semester credit hours for each of the three designated semester periods: fall semester, spring semester, and summer semester.
What if I Applied for Financial Aid?
An employee that has already qualified for financial aid – the financial aid will be applied prior to the TAP waiver being applied.
Tax Implications for Participants
The federal government currently allows up to $5,250 annually, in employer-provided educational assistance benefits, to be “tax free” to TAP participants. This applies to both undergraduate and graduate-level courses. An employee must generally pay taxes on employer-provided educational assistance benefits in excess of $5,250. This amount will be included in your wages (Box 1 of your Form W-2). A tax professional should be consulted for further information concerning taxable tuition.
Application Process
The application process is as follows:
- An employee will be required to go through the regular student admissions process prior to applying for TAP.
- An employee must complete a TAP application for each semester in attendance.
- Please fill out the form electronically (using Adobe Acrobat), email the completed form to your supervisor for signature.
- Supervisors must sign electronically and send the completed form to TAP@ung.edu. Paper copies of TAP applications will not be accepted.
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 (includes Maymester)