Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 131 - MILITARY DEPARTMENT › Rule 131.00.21-001 - Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver Program

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
Chapter 1
General
1-1.
Purpose
This rule establishes policy, procedure, and eligibility
			 requirements for administration of the Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver
			 Program (NGTW).
1-2.
Entitlements
The NGTW, as established by Act 471, as amended by Acts 535 of
			 the 92nd General Assembly and Acts 76, and 133 of
			 the 93rd General Assembly located in Arkansas Code
			 § 6- 60- 214, allows all eligible Guardsmen (see Chapter 2) to attend a
			 state-supported institution of higher education tuition-free. This benefit will
			 waive tuition for a maximum of 120 semester credit hours. The NGTW can only be
			 used to obtain an undergraduate degree, up to a bachelor's, and cannot be used
			 by Guardsmen who have previously been awarded a bachelor's degree. The cost of
			 a Guardsman's mandatory fees charged by an institution of higher education that
			 the soldier or airman is attending may be paid for with available funds
			 allocated by the Division of Higher Education for the tuition-free program.
			 Payment of mandatory fees, if any, will not exceed actual cost of mandatory
			 fees.
1-3.
Policy
In an effort to improve necessary strength and readiness levels
			 in the Arkansas National Guard, the NGTW is authorized under state law as a
			 benefit for qualifying Guardsmen and is based on eligibility criteria detailed
			 in Act 471, as amended by Act 535, this regulation, and by the Arkansas
			 Division of Higher Education (ADHE).
1-4.
Responsibilities
a. ADHE is responsible for:
(1) Coordinating with the Arkansas National
		  Guard regarding regulation changes or modifications.
(2) Administering receipt and disbursement of
		  funds to the institutions and maintaining fiscal records of the NGTW.
(3) Verifying the Guardsman has submitted the
		  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Arkansas YOUniversal
		  Financial Aid Application.
(4)
		  Approving or denying YOUniversal Financial Aid applications and submitting
		  results to the Arkansas National Guard Education Office, the institution, and
		  the Guardsman.
(5) Providing the
		  Arkansas National Guard with eligibility verification for NGTW criteria as
		  outlined in Chapter 2 of this regulation.
(6) Defining "mandatory fees."
(7) Determining the amount of funds available
		  and the allocation method to pay mandatory fees.
b. The Institution of Higher Education is
		  responsible for :
(1) The Institution's NGTW
		  Representative will serve as the liaison between the respective institution,
		  the Education Services Officer (ESO), and ADHE.
(2) Verifying the Guardsman is considered by
		  the institution to be in "Good Standing" and meeting the requirements of
		  Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined in the institution's
		  policies.
(3) Verifying the
		  Guardsman is enrolled in a program of study that leads to an undergraduate
		  degree and does not already possess a bachelor's degree,
(4) Verifying the Guardsman has applied for
		  institutional grants and scholarships applicable to the Guardsman's term and
		  major.
(5) Notifying ADHE of the
		  application close date and applicable term for institutional grants and
		  scholarships.
(6) Notifying ADHE of
		  the Guardsman's current date of acceptance as a student at the
		  institution.
(7) Notifying ADHE
		  regarding the status of eligibility and application verification.
(8) Providing to ADHE a roster of all hours
		  and dollars attributed to this program as well as student completion status at
		  the conclusion of each semester.
(9) Informing ADHE if the Guardsman's
		  academic status changes.
(10)
		  Applying the NGTW to student accounts IAW the sequence(s) established in this
		  regulation.
(11)
c. The Adjutant General (TAG) is
		  responsible for:
(1) Coordinating with the
		  ADHE in promulgating rules for the implementation of the NGTW, including
		  without limitation rules for the eligibility of Guardsmen.
(2) Making final decision regarding
		  recoupment of all benefits paid on the Guardsman's behalf for reasons
		  including, but not limited to absence without leave (AWOL), substance abuse
		  violations, or any other serious misconduct (see Paragraph 3-6).
d. The Arkansas Army National
		  Guard Education Office is responsible for:
(1)
		  Monitoring and verifying eligibility status of participating Guardsmen for the
		  Arkansas Army National Guard.
(2)
		  Receiving eligibility verification data from the Arkansas Air National Guard
		  and processing applications of participating Air Guardsmen IAW this
		  regulation.
(3) Maintaining
		  records/database and serving as point-of-contact for verification and
		  discrepancies for institutions and ADHE.
(4) Providing ADHE with a roster of all
		  Guardsmen requesting NGTW for the term.
(5) Reviewing eligibility verification
		  rosters from ADHE and providing ADHE with final NGTW eligibility
		  determinations.
(6) Providing
		  notification of NGTW ineligibility and ETP request procedures to disqualified
		  applicants.
(7) Providing
		  notification of ETP request determination to ADHE and the Guardsman.
(8) Educating Guardsmen on the process
		  established by ADHE regarding mandatory fees.
e. The Arkansas Army National Guard Education
		  Services Officer (ESO) is responsible for:
(1)
		  Serving as TAG's delegated proponent for the NGTW
(2) Coordinating policy changes with the
		  ADHE.
(3) Coordinating with ADHE,
		  the institution, and the Guardsman to resolve any Exception to Policy (ETP)
		  requests or grievances.
(4)
		  Processing ETP requests in accordance with Chapter 3 of this
		  regulation.
(5) Rendering final
		  approval or denial any Guardsman's request for an ETP
f. The Arkansas Air National Guard
		  Representative(s) is responsible for:
(1)
		  Working directly with the Education Office and ESO in executing and
		  administering NGTW for the Air National Guard.
(2) Maintaining records/database and serving
		  as point-of-contact for verification and discrepancies for institutions and
		  ADHE.
g. The Guardsman
		  is responsible for:
(1) Meeting and
		  maintaining eligibility criteria (see Chapter 2) and submitting application
		  (see Chapter 3) before the deadline date each semester.
(2) Maintaining eligibility criteria
		  established by the institution in which they are enrolled, the Arkansas
		  National Guard, and ADHE, and otherwise successfully complete the semester and
		  all hours for which the tuition waiver is awarded.
(3) Remaining in "Good Standing" with the
		  institution in which they attend, as defined by that institution.
(4) Achieving and maintaining "Satisfactory
		  Academic Progress" within their degree program, as defined by that
		  institution.
(5) If denied for the
		  NGTW, the Guardsman may request an ETP through the ESO if they feel they have
		  extenuating circumstances which were beyond their control or unavoidable. The
		  ETP must be requested within thirty (30) calendar days of denial and processed
		  in accordance with Chapter 3 of this regulation.