Definitions

(1) The terms that follow shall have the following meanings, as set forth in this Rule: (a) Educational institution: Any public university, college, community college, college of applied technology, or any private college or university that is regionally accredited and has its primary campus located within the state of Tennessee. (b) Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA): The FTA is distinct from and should not be confused with other tuition assistance programs that are federally funded, such as Montgomery GI Bill benefits and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. The FTA is a military tuition assistance program for which certain members of the National Guard are eligible, according to applicable federal regulation. (c) Tennessee Support, Training and Renewing Opportunity for National Guardsman Advisory Board (TN STRONG AB): The Program Advisory Board, also referenced herein as the “Board,” is an advisory board to which the Adjutant General appoints Board members, and to whom the Adjutant General delegates the authority to review, approve or decline applications for STRONG Act tuition reimbursement, as set forth in this Rule and in accordance with Departmental guidelines. (d) Joint Force Headquarters Army National Guard G-1 (JFHQ G-1)/Joint Force Headquarters Air National Guard A-1 (JFHQ A-1): The JFHQ G-1/JFHQ A-1, or such office as named by the Adjutant General, is the office the Adjutant General has authorized to have primary responsibility for day-to-day operations for the Program, for the Tennessee Army National Guard and the Tennessee Air National Guard service members, respectively. RULES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE “TENNESSEE SUPPORT, CHAPTER 0930-02-01 TRAINING AND RENEWING OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIONAL GUARDSMAN (STRONG) ACT OF 2017” (e) Tuition: the total semester, quarter, or classroom hour cost of instruction delineated in the catalog of an educational institution, including all mandatory fees. (f) Semester hour: Semester hour means the credit hour used by an educational institution, if the institution is on a semester system, or its equivalent if the institution is on a system other than a semester system, and includes each semester hour attempted, whether remedial or for credit toward a degree, but does not include any semester hour attempted before graduating from high school or earning a high school equivalency diploma. (g) Attempted semester hour: semester hour(s) for a course dropped prior to the add/drop date for that course will not be counted as attempted semester hours toward the maximum number of reimbursable semester hours permitted for the type of program (certificate or diploma, bachelor’s, or master’s) for which the service member is seeking reimbursement. (h) Credit hour: includes but is not limited to a clock hour for programs that utilize clock hours instead of credit hours, using the conversion formula utilized by the U.S. Department of Education for federal Title IV student aid purposes under applicable federal regulation. (i) Officer-producing program: a reserve officer training corps program offered through a college or university. (j) Good standing: A service member of the Tennessee National Guard is considered to be in good standing for the purposes of this Program: 1. If he or she, at the time the JFHQ G-1/JFHQ A-1 time/date stamps the application for STRONG Act reimbursement as received: (i) Has not accumulated nine (9) or more unexcused absences from unit training assemblies, nor failed to attend a scheduled annual training, within a twelve (12) month period prior to the time/date stamped receipt of the service member’s application, unless the service member produces documentation, showing that the service member had obtained proper permission from his or her unit commander excusing the absence; and (ii) Has not missed a ship date to complete basic military training before the first day of class for the semester, trimester, quarter, or academic term for which the service member has submitted an application for STRONG Act tuition reimbursement, unless the service member produces documentation, showing that the service member had obtained proper permission from his or her unit commander excusing the absence; and 2. For members seeking reimbursement for studies toward a first bachelor’s degree, (i) Have filed a course/degree plan with the JFHQ G-1/JFHQ A-1 after the completion of nine (9) credit semester hours, which course/degree plan will detail all required courses needed to fulfill degree requirements; and (ii) After earning twelve (12) semester credit hours, the service member must have declared a major. If the service member has completed twelve (12) RULES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE “TENNESSEE SUPPORT, CHAPTER 0930-02-01 TRAINING AND RENEWING OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIONAL GUARDSMAN (STRONG) ACT OF 2017” credit semester hours at the time that the application for tuition reimbursement is time/date stamped as received, the service member must include his or her declared major in the service member’s application for tuition reimbursement. If a service member’s major has changed, the new major must be reflected on subsequent applications for tuition reimbursement and course/degree plans; 3. For members seeking reimbursement for studies toward a first master’s degree, notice of the specific degree sought and a course/degree plan detailing all required courses needed to fulfill degree requirements must be filed with the member’s first application seeking reimbursement; and 4. For members seeking reimbursement for studies toward a certificate or diploma in a vocational or technical program, notice of the specific certificate sought and a course plan detailing all required courses needed to obtain the certificate must be filed with the member’s first application seeking reimbursement; and 5. The Board must have deemed the service member to be in good standing, after having reviewed relevant information obtained through the application process, at the direction and under the authority and guidance of the Adjutant General. (k) Currently active: A service member of the Tennessee National Guard is considered to be currently active for the purposes of this program if he or she is an active member in the Tennessee Army National Guard or the Tennessee Air National Guard at the time his or her application for STRONG Act tuition reimbursement is time/date stamped as received by the JFHQ G-1/JFHQ A-1.