1. Buffalo Harbor Lighthouse– Built 1914
Education Services
Debra Stancliff, M.S.
Education Services Officer
USCG-Sector Buffalo
Buffalo Harbor Lighthouse– Built 1914
October 2016

2. Summary
Tuition Assistance
Grants/Educational Loans

3. TUITION ASSISTANCE

4. Tuition Assistance
Active Duty & Selected Reserve Members on 180+ day AD orders
Up To $ semester credit hour ; $ quarter hour
Course(s) must be from Accredited/DoD MOU approved school AND be listed on an official degree plan
$4,000 total - annually (Oct 1 – Sept 30)
Covers tuition costs ONLY, no fees covered
First Associates, First Bachelors, First Masters – no matter how others were obtained.

5. Tuition Assistance
Grades: C or Higher for Undergrad; B or Higher for Graduate
eTA applications - no paper applications accepted.
Degree Plan Required after 6 semester hours – specific to member, showing where course(s) will be applied.
Lifetime credit – 130 semester hours for undergraduate work, 40 semester hours for graduate work

6. Six Step Process
/Deliver ESO a copy of the registration/tuition costs.
/Deliver ESO Official Degree Plan from School
Complete Sector Buffalo’s Request to File TA Form and forward for signature thru to Chain of Command
Upload Reviewed Degree Plan to My Education Portal (WebTA)
Create TA Application in My Education Portal (WebTA)
Retrieve TA authorization from My Education Portal, Print, Submit to School

7. Tuition Assistance
In order to utilize TA, a Request to file TA Application but be completed and on file with Sector Buffalo ESO.
Additional Criteria must be verified.
Final Signatures MUST be completed by OIC/CO
If OIC is not available, please forward up to Sector Buffalo and request will be forwarded to CO of Military Personnel.
Process/form varies by unit.
Pending the unit, this could hold up TA processing. Member’s are to plan accordingly.

8. Tuition Assistance – Electronic
Use of the electronic TA Application – webTA is mandated.
All processing must be completed prior to 16 days before course begins.
TA applications will not be processed within this window
TA applications can be accepted 89 days in advance.

9. Members are encouraged to review for accuracy.
TA Authorization Form
Members are encouraged to review for accuracy.
This form indicates funds are obligated for course. Student should not be starting without this form on file.
ANY and ALL changes need to be reported by member to ESO. Only minor changes can be performed, major changes require new TA application. New TA applications must be within 16 day window.

10. Grants

11. Grant Assistance
CG Mutual Assistance Supplemental Education Grants (SEG) – Up to CY
 Client: All CGMA clients on behalf of themselves or their eligible family members are eligible to participate in the supplemental Education grant (SEG) Program.
And the student is:
Enrolled in his or her first undergraduate (associate or bachelor) degree program
  Pursuing a Voc &Technical Training (VoTech) program approved by the Dept of Veterans Affairs
Department of Education, and designed to prepare the student for entry into a career field *
  Seeking a General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
  Enrolled in a degree-planning program authorized by the Coast Guard Institute (CGI). 
  Completing a correspondence course, a requirement for undergrad degree / VoTech program
Application Process:
All of these grants are based on a reimbursable system.
Eligible items include: books, certain fees, supplies, syllabus specific items.

12. Coast Guard Foundation Grant
Currently Suspended – April 2016
All active duty E-3 to E-6 and reserve E-3 to E-6 currently servicing on active duty order of at least
one year are eligible.
Reimbursement for text books and miscellaneous educational expenses
For the MSEG, the maximum reimbursement per calendar year (CY) is $
For the UOBEG, the maximum reimbursement per calendar year (CY) is $
For the CGFEG, the maximum reimbursement per calendar year (CY) is $
For the VPEG, the maximum reimbursement per calendar year (CY) is $
For the SCEG, the maximum reimbursement per calendar year (CY) is $
The Coast Guard Grants Programs are funded each year through generous gifts from the CG Foundation and the Vander Putten Family. Funding is not guaranteed to cover all requests each year.

13. CGMA Education Loan
Loan program provides an interest free education loan of up to $3,000 to assist with
education expenses.
The student must be enrolled in a degree program at a regionally or nationally accredited
college or university or in a VA approved vocational technical training program.
This loan can be used to cover tuition, fees, course materials, and other education
expenses that are not covered by another funding source.
Loan CANNOT be used to purchase computers or general computer software.
This is available to active duty members, reservists and permanent civilian employees. It
can be used for eligible members' spouses and dependent children under the age of 23.

14. Contact Information
Debra Stancliff Education Services Officer 1 Fuhrmann Blvd Buffalo, New York