Tuition Assistance Policy Changing

The Navy unveiled its plans Aug. 21 to meet new and tighter Defense Department standards for tuition assistance reimbursement. “Effective immediately, commanding officers and officers-in-charge may approve waivers to the one-year requirement that sailors must be on board their first permanent duty station to be eligible for tuition assistance,” the Naval Education and Training Command announced. The Navy also will require tuition-assistance users to earn at least a C grade in undergraduate courses and a B in graduate courses to qualify for the benefit. Also, tuition assistance only will cover fees “directly related to instruction” henceforth. It will not cover any fees, books, examinations, admissions, registrations, fines, or costs associated with distance learning.