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DOD Tuition Assistance

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DOD Tuition Assistance

Texas A&M University-Texarkana is proud to support all military service members, Active Duty, Reserve or National Guard, with the use of military Tuition Assistance (TA). The Veteran Services Center staff is standing-by ready to assist you navigate the TA system appropriate to your branch of service. The Veteran Services Center will be your One Stop Shop to assist coordination of all your academic requirements while attending Texas A&M University-Texarkana.

Per DOD policy, a service member seeking to use TA should first contact their unit’s Education Services Officer (ESO) for approval to pursue use of TA. This approval should be obtained prior to enrolling in courses. If a service member chooses to proceed with enrollment prior to TA approval, the service member assumes full responsibility for payment of their tuition and fees if TA is disapproved.

Each military branch has its own specific TA application requirements so, after contacting your ESO, the service member should go online to your military branch virtual education center/portal for application procedures.

DOD Tuition Information

Transfer Credits

Military service members requesting to use Tuition Assistance must submit an official copy of their military education transcript, Joint Services Transcript or Community College of the Air Force transcript, in addition to any other civilian college or university attended. Credits earned at another regional accredited institution are accepted as recorded on the official transcript. However, because of differences in institutional degree requirements and course content, some credits transferred may not apply toward satisfying degree requirements at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Military transcripts will be evaluated utilizing the American Council on Education’s Guide to Evaluation of Education Experiences in the Armed Services. For more detailed information about TAMUT’s transfer credits policy, visit the Transfer Credit Policy section of the TAMUT catalog. For information on how to request your Joint Services Transcript or Community College of the Air Force transcript, please email Veterans@TAMUT.edu.

Articulation of credits from both civilian and military education transcripts will occur at the time of admission to the university. All credits will be reflected on the DegreeWorks Evaluation and Planning tool which is available to students in their Web For Students portal. DegreeWorks can be used to track academic progress towards a degree, review the requirements satisfied, and plan the courses yet to be taken to complete the remaining program requirements.

Use of Military TA with Financial Aid and VA Education Benefits:

Service members may have eligibility for DOD Tuition Assistance, VA education benefits, and Federal financial aid which may include grants, scholarships, and loans (subsidized and unsubsidized).   All these benefits may be combined to fund your educational pursuit.  Students should submit their FAFSA® to be considered for financial aid and discuss eligibility for VA education benefits with the Veteran Services Center where they can also receive one-on-one guidance on use of all these benefits.  Students who qualify for financial aid funds and/or VA education benefits will have their Military TA benefits applied to their account prior to the application of their financial aid funds and their VA education benefits. Visit the TAMUT Financial aid webpage to learn more about financial aid and priority deadlines.

DOD Compliance

Texas A&M University-Texarkana complies with all requirements of the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding as well as ED (34C.F.R. 668.71-668.75 and 668.14) relating to restrictions on misrepresentation, recruitment, and payment of incentive compensation. As part of efforts to eliminate unfair, deceptive, and abusive marketing aimed at service members, Texas A&M University-Texarkana will:

  1. Ban inducements, including any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, transportation, lodging, meals, or other item having monetary values of more than a de minimis amount, to any individual or entity, or its agents including third-party lead generators or marketing firms other than salaries paid to employees or fees paid to contractors in conformity with all applicable laws for the purpose of securing enrollments of service members or obtaining access to TA funds. Educational institution sponsored scholarships or grants and tuition reductions available to military students are permissible, and;
  2. Refrain from providing any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including TA funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance, and;
  3. Refrain from high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing service member enrolments.

Readmission

Texas A&M University-Texarkana will promptly readmit a service member into the same academic status he or she had when last attended or accepted for admission, when program attendance was interrupted due to service obligations. The service member will need to complete an application for readmission for tracking purposes.

TAMUT complies with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rules and state statues for Reservist or National Guardsmen called into duty after the start of a semester as a result of U.S. military demands. Three options are available to choose from in this situation:

  • Refund the tuition and fees paid for the semester;
  • Grant (under appropriate circumstances) an incomplete grade in all courses;
  • As determined by the instructor, assign an appropriated final grade or credit if you have satisfactorily completed a substantial amount of coursework and demonstrated sufficient mastery of the material.

Prior to departing the university, the Reservist or Guardsman must provide a copy of their military orders to the Veteran Services Center. The Veteran Services Center will assist with coordination with all campus offices and professors.

Per Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rules, the provisions listed above apply only to Reserve and National Guard called into active military service. This does not apply to active duty service members who are deployed as a result of military orders or for individuals who chose to enter into the military. 

Drops/Withdrawals While Using Military TA:

If a student using Military TA drops a class or withdraws from all classes for a term, the university will manage refunds of TA funds as follows:

  • Up to the start date for the term, return all Military TA funds to the appropriate military service when the service member does not:
    • Begin attendance at the university or
    • Start a course, regardless of whether the student starts other courses.
  • If the Drop occurs prior to the term Census Date, all Military TA funds for the dropped course will be returned to the military service.
  • Return any Military TA funds paid for a course that is cancelled by the university. 
  • For complete withdrawal from a term, the amount of Military TA that is earned is determined on a pro rata basis. For example, if you completed 30% of the period of enrollment, you earned 30% of the approved Military TA so 70% of the Military TA will be returned the military service. Once you have completed more than 60% of the period of enrollment, all approved Military TA is earned and no refund will be made to the military service. 
    • To calculate the amount of earned Military TA, the VSC will divide the number of calendar days the student attended classes by the total number of calendar days in the semester (scheduled breaks of 5 days or more will be deducted out of the equation). The resulting percentage is then multiplied by the total amount of Military TA funds that were approved by the military service prior to the beginning of the term.  The result of this calculation determines the amount of Military TA earned by the student. Any amount exceeding the earned calculation amount must be returned to the military service. The VSC will notify and instruct any students who owe money because the university has returned the appropriate amount to the military service. Funds returned to the military service may result in a balance on your account, which you are then responsible for paying in accordance with the TAMUT’s refund policy.