Georgia Tech Educational Assistance ProgramsBeNedra WilliamsOHR- Benefits Supervisor

Agenda

• Educational Programs Available– TAP– STRAP

• Exclusions• Request Procedures• Important Dates• Q&A• Contact Info

Georgia Tech offers an extremely competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance your work-life experience and remain an employer of choice.

Programs Available

• Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)• Provides waiver of tuition up front• USG sponsored program

• Staff Tuition Reimbursement Assistance Program (STRAP)

• Provides partial tuition reimbursement • GT sponsored program

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Staff Tuition Reimbursement Assistance Program (STRAP)

Employment Requirement 6 months employment 12 months employment

Eligible College/Institution Any USG college/institution Any accredited non USG college/institution

Credit Limits Up to 9 credit hours per semester

Up to 6 credit hours per semester

Grade Requirement Maintain C or better Maintain C or better

Assistance Method Tuition waiver applied up front Reimbursement up to GT rate with grades and transcripts

Eligible Degree Any degree except doctor or lawyer

Any degree except doctor or lawyer

Program Comparison

TAP Application Process• Initiate student admission process with applicable USG school

– Complete student application process– Receive acceptance letter from institute– Receive student identification number from institute

• Complete TAP request to its entirety (located at www.ohr.gatech.edu/benefits)

• Obtain your manager’s signature on request

• Submit original request to OHR benefits department by applicable deadline

TAP Request Process

• Register for classes during employee registration period only or risk losing waiver

• Approvals sent from OHR via email within 30 days after request deadline

• Repeat the same process for each semester you wish to participate in this program

TAP Request Workflow

Requests Collected;

confirmation of receipt

emails sent

Eligibility is reviewed

Sent to TAP coordinator for second

level of approval

Email sent for approvals

within 30 days after

deadline or after grades are posted

Tuition Waiver

applied to account by

payment deadline

TAP Tax Implications

Tax Implications for TAP Participants

The federal government currently allows up to $5,250 annually, in employer-provided educational assistance benefits, to be “tax free” to TAP participants

– Applies to both undergraduate and graduate-level courses– Educational assistance benefits in excess of $5,250 are

taxable and will be reflected in Box 1 of your Form W-2• We recommend consulting a tax professional if you have questions

• Initiate student admission process with non-USG accredited school

• Complete STRAP request (located at www.ohr.gatech.edu/benefits)

• Obtain your manager’s signature on request

• Classes should fall within GT semester dates and should be the same on request and transcript

• Submit original request to OHR benefits department by applicable deadline (Mail Code: 0435)

• Repeat the same process for each semester you wish to participate in this program

• Approvals sent from OHR via email within 30 days of application deadline based on a first come basis

STRAP Request Process

STRAP Reimbursement Process

• Submit the following documents to OHR within 30 days of completion of term/class:• Official/original transcript• Copy of paid tuition receipt

• Must include name, term & amount charged and paid

• Reimbursement rates are determined at the beginning of each fiscal year; 2014 reimbursement rates are as follows:• Undergraduate: $203.00 per credit hour• Graduate: $287.00 per credit hour

• Reimbursement request within 2 weeks of receipt

STRAP Request Workflow

Requests Collected;

confirmation of receipt emails

sent

Eligibility and funding is reviewed

Approval emails are sent

Reimbursement documents

submitted to OHR (2 week turn around)

Email sent to request

signature for payment

Program Exclusions

• Medical degree• Law degree• Dental degree• Pharmacy degree• HVAC certification• Non-credit continuing education courses• Certificate courses• Student fees• Executive/premier courses

• Check with TAP coordinator at USG Teaching Institution for possible assistance

Application Deadlines

Summer Semester April 15th Fall Semester July 15th Spring Semester November 15th

*Applications will be accepted within 30 days prior to deadline

OHR Mail Code: 0435Office of Human ResourcesBenefits Department500 Tech ParkwayAtlanta, GA 30332

Questions

Contact Information

BeNedra WilliamsOHR- Benefits Supervisor

Benedra.williams@ohr.gatech.edu404-894-3925

For More Info:

www.usg.edu/hr/benefits USG TAP Policy information, TAP Coordinators & Registration periods

www.ohr.gatech.edu/benefitsTAP/STRAP policies and forms

www.registrar.gatech.edu GT academic calendar