Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP)

Brought to you by Air Force Aid Society
Airman & Family Readiness Center

What is Spouse Tuition Assistance?
   The Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) provides partial tuition assistance for spouses of active duty airmen or officers, who accompany members to overseas locations and will be attending college programs at those overseas locations. The focus of the program is on the completion of degree or certificate programs that will enhance future employment opportunities for spouses.
Who operates the STAP?
   The Air Force Aid Society operates the STAP. Air Force Aid is a private, nonprofit organization chartered under the laws of Virginia.  It is not part of the United States Air Force, nor is it a government agency.
Where does the money come from?
   All money disbursed as part of the STAP comes from donations to the Air Force Aid Society. An education fund was established over 50 years ago using these monies, and has been self-supporting since that time.  Only those donations specifically labeled for education purposes are currently added to this fund.  
Who makes the rules?
   The guidelines for the STAP are set at Air Force Aid Society headquarters with input from each Air Force Major Command (MAJCOM) and Headquarters United States Air Force (USAF).
ELIGIBILITY
   All spouses of active duty Air Force personnel who accompany members to overseas locations are eligible to participate. 
   Applicants must be attending college programs at the overseas location of the active duty member.
   Only contracted institutions (schools), offering on-base programs, will be utilized by STAP students at overseas locations. Non-traditional forms of education, such as distance learning and independent study courses are only eligible through contracted on-base institutions.
   Students must maintain a grade of “C” or better for all courses for which they have used STAP. Graduate courses require a grade of “B” or better.
  Students who withdraw or fail to complete a class must reimburse STAP funds unless the withdrawal is for an official Air Force action or emergency to be reviewed on a case by case basis.

HOW MUCH WILL I GET?
   If approved, students may receive 50% of their unmet tuition costs, not to exceed $300 per term. No student will receive more than $1,500 per academic year. An academic year is 1 August – 31 July.
   STAP funding may be used in conjunction with other aid (i.e., Pell Grants, Veterans Administration benefits, scholarships, grants, etc.); however, other aid must be applied to tuition costs prior to determining level of STAP funding.  Failure to disclose all other aid will lead to disqualification for STAP assistance. 
 

Applying is easy with these simple steps!
•
 Visit https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/stap. (You must create a username and password in order to complete the online application.)
•
 Print your application. This printed application must be signed by you and your sponsor.
•
 Attach the following documentation (if applicable):
 
•
 LES (for Spouse and Sponsor)
 
•
 MyCAA account information (or other aid information)
 
•
 POA (if applicable)
•
 Take the entire applicaiton packet (including all attachments) to the Education Center in Bldg 653 on the second floor.
 
   Application deadlines are established and announced well in advance of each term. Only those applications submitted prior to the deadline will be considered for STAP for that term. The submission of an application does not guarantee tuition assistance (TA) for the applicant
WHO IS APPROVED?
   Applications are based on “adjusted income.”  To calculate adjusted income, we use this formula:

Sponsor’s monthly base pay
+
Half of student’s monthly pay (if applicable)
+
Half of sponsor’s monthly net pay (2nd Job)
-
$100 for each dependent child

= Adjusted Income
   A percentage of STAP funds equal to the officer population percentage must be allocated to officer spouses. Each category has its own adjusted income list. 
   We then rank applicants in order from lowest adjusted income to highest adjusted income. Commitments for STAP will follow the prioritized adjusted income list until either dollar allocations have run out or eligible applicants are not available.
   A listing of tuition assistance recipients is available at each on base school office prior to start of registration for each school term.
   Any money that was allocated but not used or any refunds or reimbursements we receive are placed back into the annual budget and are disbursed during the remaining terms.
TERM APPLICATION SUBMISSION DATES 2011-2012
Term 1 18 - 29 Jul 2011
Term 2 19 - 30 Sep 2011
Term 3 5 - 16 Dec 2011
Term 4 13 - 24 Feb 2012
Term 5 30 Apr - 11 May 2012
Airman & Family Readiness Center
226-4735
Torii Building 656
Download theSpouse Connection Newsletter
or Monthly Calendar!
Misawa Air Base, Japan
Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m
 
UPDATED: 02/01/2012
 
Need money for college?
AIR FORCE AID SOCIETY
Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP)

   The Air Force Aid Society provides tuition assistance for spouses of active duty members in the amount of $1,500 dollars per year. This amount is provided to help spouses with up to 50% of unmet tuition costs and the $1,500 dollars is divided up by terms.
   There are 5 terms in a year here at Misawa. The most a spouse could qualify for it $300 per term. AFAS STAP is only available for use with one of the local colleges on-base.
   Apply from the comfort of your home by visiting:
https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/stap
STAP for Other Military Branches:
Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Spouse Tuition Assistance: Please call 226-3721 during normal office hours on Tues 0800-1200 or Thurs 1230-1530, to get further information on application procedures and deadlines.
Army Emergency Relief Spouse Education Assistance Program (SEAP): Applications and further program information are available online at the following location: http://www.aerhq.org/education_spouseeducation.asp.  Applications must be mailed to AER HQ and postmarked NLT each term’s deadline.
Key Spouse
Program
The Key Spouse Program provides a valuable information link between squadron commanders
and families. The focus is to support family readiness education and communication. The A&FRC provides program training and referral support. If you are interested in learning more about this program,
please contact your Unit First Sergeant
or the A&FRC at 226-4735.