EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

a.    Eligibility requirements:

• Soldiers must have a six-year service agreement with the PA National Guard and sign an EAP Form-1 prior to submitting an application (EAP Form-2). These documents must have the same date.

• Be a graduate of Basic Training, advanced camp or the equivalent prior to submitting an application.

• Be an active satisfactory participant in a PA National Guard Unit. (Less than 8 AWOLS)

• All ranks are eligible.

• Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Scholarship through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) recipients are eligible.

• Be a resident of Pennsylvania prior to submitting an application. 

• Be an eligible member of PA National Guard prior to the 1st day of class.

• Be enrolled in a degree or certificate program at a school located in Pennsylvania and approved by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).  PHEAA’s criteria is:  Schools that are approved for Title IV Student loans are approved for EAP.  There are 488 approved schools.

• The 14 SSHE schools that are 100% funded for full-time students are:

Bloomsburg – California – Cheyney – Clarion – East Stroudsburg – Edinboro Indiana - Kutztown – Lock Haven – Mansfield – Millersville – Shippensburg Slippery Rock – West Chester

• EAP can fund members at most Community Colleges at 100%

• EAP can provide full-time funding for students up to the 1st bachelor’s degree, EAP funding for education beyond that level can only be provided on a part-time basis, even if the member is enrolled as a full-time student.  Part-time students can receive EAP funding for certifications, associates, 1st and 2nd bachelors and graduate studies.

• Mobilized members may be eligible for extended EAP benefits for deployed time

• Eligible EAP members that are discharged for a disability incurred in the line of duty may be eligible for EAP benefits after they have been discharged.

 b.  Entitlement:   All EAP funding will be awarded regardless of financial need. In addition, PA State Grants cannot be reduced or adjusted as a result of a soldier receiving EAP. The amount of each award will be based on enrollment status, (full-time or part-time) and on the tuition rate at the State System of Higher Education Schools (SSHE), which is currently $2,679.00 per semester. The summer semester and Graduate studies will only be available when funding permits.

Full-time Grants – 100% of the tuition charged or $2,679.00 whichever is less per semester. (Full-time students must take 12 or more credits per semester).

Part-time Grants for members that do not possess a bachelor's degree - 100% of the tuition or $1,786.00 whichever is less per semester. (Part-time students must be taking 3 to 11 credits per semester) 

Part-time Grants for members possessing a bachelor's degree - One half of the tuition or $893.00, whichever is less per semester. (Part-time students must be taking 3 to 11 credits per semester)

• Funding is limited to 10 full-time semesters or 150 part-time credits.

c.  Recoupment:  The repayment of tuition money received from EAP, plus interest and fees will occur for any of the following reasons:

• Failure to complete the entire six-year contract that established eligibility for EAP.

• Declared an unsatisfactory participant.

• Transfer to another state’s National Guard or transfer to active Army or any other branch of the service.

d.  Application Process: To apply for EAP, an application must be completed and forwarded to the Education Center no later than 30 May for Summer terms and NLT 30 Jun for the academic year. (1 Jul thru 30 Jun).   Applications will be accepted after 30 Jun ONLY when funding permits.    

• Soldier’s 1st EAP application must include a signed PHEAA promissory note.

• Soldiers must complete a new EAP Form-2 every year.   

• Summer Semester starts the school year.

• A Change of Enrollment Form (EAP-3) must be submitted to the Education Assistance Office if the number of credits you originally reported on the EAP-2 changes your status from part time to full time or if it changes your status from full time to part time.  Soldier is responsible to notify the school of enrollment cancellation before Drop/Add deadline.

Applications will be accepted after 30 Jun ONLY when funding permits.

e.  Deadlines for timely payment to the schools:

• 30 May - Summer Semester only or Summer, Fall and Spring – Applications for Summer received after 15 August will not be funded.
• 30 June – Fall only or Fall & Spring or Spring only (for the academic year 1 Jul thru 30 Jun) 
• At no time will applications be accepted for the 2008-09 academic year after 15 January 2009. This program does not allow payment for previous years.    

f.   Disbursements:

• Applications received by 30 May   /     SUMMER - Mid Jul
• Applications received by 30 June   /     FALL -  Mid September    SPRING -  Mid January  ADJUSTMENTS - Mid April
• If funding is available, applications for the fall and spring semesters received after 1 July and NLT 1 November will make the Spring Disbursement.  Applications received by 15 January will make the Adjustment disbursement in April.

Soldiers must notify the Education Office if any changes to the original application occur by completing the Change of Enrollment Form (EAP-3).  Possible changes could be:  Changing schools, Adding/dropping classes, Change in tuition costs, Change of address or Mobilization.

EAP FORMS: Please click on appropriate to download
Officer Service Agreement
Master Promissory Note
EAP Termination Notice