UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

INSTRUCTION

NUMBER 1430.6

07 December 2012

Administrative Update 3, 14 November 2018

HD

SUBJECT: Tuition Assistance Program

References: See Enclosure 1.

1. PURPOSE. This Instruction establishes policy for NGA employees to request

approval of Agency tuition assistance funds.

a. This Instruction supersedes NGA Instruction 1430.6R4, same title, 17 May 2010.

b. The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) provides educational opportunities for

NGA civilian employees to develop critical skills and knowledge that contribute to the 

Agency’s mission and performance goals. TAP courses are approved on an individual 

basis for the benefit of the Agency. TAP is not a degree-seeking program. Although a 

degree may be obtained incidental to completing a series of mission-related courses, 

degree attainment should not factor into the justification to approve or fund such 

courses.

2. APPLICABILITY. This Instruction applies to all civilian NGA employees and other

government agency employees permanently assigned to NGA, including employees 

assigned to NGA Support Teams or on joint duty assignments. 

3. DEFINITIONS. See Glossary.

4. POLICY. It is NGA policy to provide tuition assistance in accordance with references

(a) through (f ) for its civilian employees to attend training at United States Department 

of Education-accredited colleges and universities for the benefit of the Agency. 

5. RESPONSIBILITIES. See Enclosure 2.

6. PROCEDURES. See NGA Manual 1430.6, “Tuition Assistance Program.”
UNCLASSIFIED

NGAI 1430.6

2

UNCLASSIFIED

7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Instruction is effective upon the date of signature.

Enclosures

1. References

2. Responsibilities

Glossary
UNCLASSIFIED

NGAI 1430.6

3

UNCLASSIFIED

ENCLOSURE 1

REFERENCES

(a) United States Code, Title 5, Part III, Chapter 41, “Training,” 03 January 2012 

(b) Code of Federal Regulations, Title 5, Chapter I, Part 410, “Training,”

01 January 2012

(c) United States Office of Personnel Management, “The Government Employees 

Training Act of 1958,” Amended 1996

(d) DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 410, “DoD Civilian Personnel Management 

System: Training, Education, and Professional Development,” 25 September 2013

(e) NGA Directive 1405, “Employment and Placement,” 18 May 2015

(f) NGA Manual 1430.6, “Tuition Assistance Program,” 17 December 2012
UNCLASSIFIED

NGAI 1430.6

4

UNCLASSIFIED

ENCLOSURE 2

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The Director of NGA ensures appropriate funding is available to support TAP.

2. The Director of the Human Development Directorate (HD):

a. Manages and administers TAP.

b. Announces the open and close periods for TAP application requests.

c. Allocates funding from HD budget to support TAP.

d. Approves and disapproves TAP applications.

e. Verifies TAP requests meet NGA’s mission needs and eligibility criteria as

described in paragraph 3.b. below.

f. Funds tuition, required textbooks and materials, and library, laboratory, and

computer usage/resource/technology fees for approved college credit courses. No other 

fees will be funded.

g. May delegate to the Deputy Director of HD or the Director of the HD Talent

Development Office Recruitment and Career Development Office portions of HD 

responsibilities as appropriate.

3. Supervisors:

a. Are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the purpose of TAP and

eligibility requirements of employees who participate in TAP. 

b. Determine whether employee TAP requests are mission-related and develop

individual skills or expand knowledge for the employee’s current role or position.

c. Ensure TAP requests meet any of the following eligibility criteria:

(1) The training supports Key Component’s strategic initiatives and goals;

(2) The training will improve the employee’s ability to perform new job skills their 

current job;

(3) The training expands or enhances the employee’s current job skills. 
UNCLASSIFIED

NGAI 1430.6

5

UNCLASSIFIED

d. Provide justification to HD for TAP requests (including thesis and dissertation 

research) and align these justifications.

e. Endorse or return TAP applications. 

4. Employees:

a. Are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the purpose of TAP and the 

participation requirements as outlined in references (a) through (f). 

b. Complete and submit requests for tuition assistance via PeopleSoft no later than 

30 days prior to class start date.

c. Submit a final grade report within 60 days of course completion. Failure to 

successfully complete a course or submit a grade report to HD will result in the 

employee reimbursing the Agency for all funds paid for that course. 

d. Sign a six-month Continued Service Agreement (CSA) for each course funded by 

NGA. CSAs may be served concurrently. See reference (f).
UNCLASSIFIED

NGAI 1430.6

6

UNCLASSIFIED

GLOSSARY

DEFINITIONS

College Credit A course credit (often referred to as a credit hour, credit or 

unit) gives weighting to the value, level, or time requirements 

of an academic course taken at a college or university. Credits 

are measured in either semester or quarter hours. A 

conversion factor applies to make the values equivalent for 

accounting purposes.

Computer 

Usage/Resource/

Technology Fee

A fee charged by the school to cover costs associated with 

computer services for students. 

Laboratory Fee A fee charged by the school to cover costs associated with 

laboratory usage for students. 

Library Fee A fee charged by the school to cover costs associated with 

library usage for students. 

Tuition The per credit hour tuition rate charged by the college or 

university. For example, the tuition for a three credit hour 

course at a school or university charging $100 per credit hour 

would be $300.