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TN强 & 自由贸易协定

Tennessee STRONG Act

The Tennessee STRONG Act is a reimbursement program for members of the TN National Guard to obtain funding towards a first bachelor’s or master’s degree. If you have signed a 6-year contract and are actively drilling, we encourage you to apply to utilize this benefit.

Prior to the application, soldiers must apply for Federal Tuition Assistance (自由贸易协定) in order to act in accordance with regulations put in place by the Tennessee National Guard. The section on 自由贸易协定 can be found further down this page. You can also obtain more information about 自由贸易协定 by visiting 在这里.

Below are the eligibility requirements in order to receive TN强 Act funding. 

  • Be currently serving in the Tennessee National Guard
  • Be in good standing with the TNNG
  • Have not attained a bachelor’s degree and wish to pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree
  • Have not attained a graduate degree and wish to pursue a graduate degree
  • Attend a Tennessee college of applied technology (TCAT), regionally accredited community college, 4-year public university, or private school whose primary campus is located in TN
  • Use Federal Tuition Assistance (if eligible)
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress with 2.0 GPA minimum for undergraduate programs or a 3.0 GPA for graduate programs for the academic term for which TN强 Act tuition reimbursement is being requested. For members seeking a certificate or diploma from a vocational or technical program at a public or private educational institution, satisfactory academic progress and either a minimum grade point average of 2.0, or academic good standing, as determined by the institution, if grade point averages are not utilized by the institution, are required to be eligible for reimbursement.
  • Application packets are required to be completed within 45 days of course completion.
  • The funded course(s) meets a requirement listed in your personalized degree plan provided by the school (this can include prerequisite courses).
  • Sign a release statement to authorize communication between the State TA Managers and chosen postsecondary institution on Service Member’s behalf.

As a last-dollar reimbursement, the amount of state tuition reimbursement is offset by any other funds received. This includes any other state and federal aid including Pell Grant, TSAA奖, 希望奖学金, 还有其他的吗? tuition-specific scholarship; institutional or otherwise. The tuition reimbursement will be made to the educational institution on behalf of an eligible member for no more than 120 credit hours toward a first-time bachelor’s degree or 40 graduate credit hours toward a master’s degree.

Step-by-Step TN强 Act Application

Note: The Office of Military & Veteran Services will submit a TN强 Act application 代表你 provided you complete the following steps: 

  • Consult your faculty advisor and register for classes for the upcoming semester. Classes must be in accordance with your declared degree plan
  • Army NG ONLY: If you have not exhausted your 自由贸易协定 (16 credit hours/fiscal year), apply for and submit an 自由贸易协定 request for each individual course that you want 自由贸易协定 to fund. You must submit your request at least 5 business days prior to the course start date. *Print or save proof of submission to include in your TN强 application 
  • 完整的 节中,我 & II (personal information) and 页3 - 5 of the TN强 application packets.
  • Submit your application packet to your Commander for review and completion of 第三节
  • Submit completed application packet to Carson-Newman school certifying official (SCO) for completion of 第四节
    • Submit by email to militaryservices@elahomecollection.com or by hand to the Registrar’s Office
    • Once we have these documents, we will add the SECTION IV page to the application and submit it 代表你 to the appropriate TN强 Act manager.

Please make sure to sign, 最初的, and date wherever required (including getting your unit/squadron Commander’s signature). Any missing information may result in your application packet being rejected in its entirety.

The application packet can be found below:

TN Strong Act Packet

When the term is completed and final grades are posted, the SCO will complete and submit 第七节 代表你.

  • Service Member will be cc’d on the email submission

For any questions regarding your TN强 Act benefits, please reach out to one of the contacts below:

  • Army Guard: SFC Stephen Biase at 615-313-0737
  • Air Guard: MSgt Joseph Wilson at 615-313-0849

Federal Tuition Assistance

The Army’s Federal Tuition Assistance (自由贸易协定) program is a benefit for all individuals who serve in the Army, 要么是活动的, Guard or as a Reservist. The maximum amount paid for Federal Tuition Assistance is up to $250 per semester hour, up to either 16 semester hours annually or not to exceed $4,000 per fiscal year. Current Army policy limits TA to 130 semester hours of undergraduate credit or 学士学位 degree, whichever comes first and 39 semester hours of graduate credit or the completion of a master’s degree, whichever comes first. The 39-semester hour limit applies to all credits taken after completion of a 学士学位 degree. 

The deadline for 自由贸易协定 is ten days prior to the first day of the term beginning and the application opens 90 days before the term begins.

If you are planning on using the TN Strong Act and you fail to apply for 自由贸易协定 it could result in the reduction in funding from the TN Strong Act by the amount that would have been applied from 自由贸易协定.

You can find more information about Federal Tuition Assistance 在这里.

How to 应用 for Tuition Assistance

If you are utilizing federal tuition assistance, the access point is the ArmyIgnitED Portal. To gain access to ArmyIgnitED Portal, you must have a CAC card.  In order to navigate the new ArmyIgnitED 2.0, please read the following document before proceeding:

士兵关

First time using 自由贸易协定 through the new ArmyIgnitED Portal:

  1. Create an account using your CAC Card
  2. Submit an Education Goal (degree plan/major)

Put your CAC card in the CAC card reader, bring up your web browser and 然后 请按连结:   www.军队ignited.军队.mil/student/account/login. Click “Login” and this will register your CAC to ArmyIgnitED.

Next: Requesting 自由贸易协定 

  1. Once your Education Path has been approved, look for your classes on the ArmyIgnitED Portal catalog. If you do not see your course(s) in the catalog, contact the Director of Military and Veteran Services immediately to have the class added.
  2. Choose your course(s)
  3. 点击提交

In order to act in accordance with Carson-Newman’s procedures, 总是 indicate that you are applying for 自由贸易协定 on Carson-Newman’s online Certification Request Form as soon as you have registered for courses. If you wait to request 自由贸易协定 on the first day of the term or later, it will be declined.

**** Please check your email frequently in order to ensure no outstanding requirements remain after your 自由贸易协定 submission. Our office is 总是 willing to assist students in the application process.

Providing documentation to the university

  • Once your TAR has been approved on ArmyIgnitED, you will see a print button at the bottom right on your tuition request screen
  • Print the document (DA Form 7792-SG), scan it and send a copy via email to militaryservices@elahomecollection.com as proof that your 自由贸易协定 has been approved
  • The amount on this form is 然后 entered by Student Accounts on your account to show you will be receiving 自由贸易协定 for the semester.

* *注意: if you are having any issues signing into the new ArmyIgnitED 2.0 with your CAC card, contact their help desk at 276-231-0938.