UF Employees applying for TEP
Who may apply?
Dependent children of current full-time, permanent status employees (OPS and Post Docs do not qualify) are eligible to apply to UF’s TEP. The term “dependent children” includes natural and legally adopted children, provided that financial dependence on parents can be demonstrated; dependents meeting the requirements set forth by the Internal Revenue Service will qualify.
- Only one dependent child in a household may participate at a time; a two year (Academic Year) waiting period must occur before other dependents may apply. TEP is not transferable to another dependent in the same household if withdrawal from TEP is deemed necessary before the dependent's program is complete.
What are the Criteria?
To determine awardees, the following criteria are taken into consideration:
- Years of continued permanent status service at UF. Employees may not combine continued service if both parents are employed by UF.
- Must have a minimum of 1 year full-time, permanent status.
- If TEP was previously awarded and the waiting period between dependents has been observed (2 Academic Years).
- TEP normally does not cover graduate enrollment - host institution decides.
How many semesters does TEP cover?
- Participation is four years/eight semesters (Fall/Spring) maximum, or at completion of the undergraduate degree - remaining eligibility cant not be carried over.
- TEP slots are awarded only at the beginning of the Academic Year, which is the Fall semester.
What affects the duration of participation?
Participation in UF TEP will be terminated if:
- UF employee retires or is no longer employed at UF on a full permanent time basis.
- Dependent is not recertified/renewed to continue at enrolled institution.
The following circumstances will be reviewed on an individual basis:
- The employee dies, is on long term disability or medical leave.
- Student is unable to continue due to illness – follow guidelines of Host TEP Institution.
What is the cost to Applicant?
The cost of the TEP program is $5000 per Academic Year.
- When confirmation of a TEP slot is received from the desired TEP institution, UF employees will pay a $200 non-refundable deposit to guarantee placement in TEP.
- The remaining balance of $4,800 may be split into two payments, due August 1st and December 1st, or paid in full on August 1st.
- Actual total cost of attending varies upon host institution's guidelines of TEP, any additional costs student must cover.
Timeline of TEP Process for UF Employees
What is the timeline for application, notification and continuation in TEP?
Application
- Application deadline is October 31, 5:00 pm EST, prior to the year of desired enrollment:
Example: Plan to enroll Fall 2023 application must be in by October 2022.
- Employees who are not selected must reapply to be considered for the next Academic Year.
- Every year the application selection pool is open to new and returning applicants and therefore employee seniority rankings and the number of available scholarship slots will vary year to year.
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Notification
During December UF Employees will be notified that:
- they are eligible to request a TEP slot to the institutions indicated on the application; or
- they are not eligible and must reapply in order to be considered for next Academic Year; or
- they are wait-listed for a TEP slot that may become available if cancellations/vacancies occur.
Continuance/Recertification in TEP
After completing the first year on TEP, a recertification notice will be sent at the beginning of each Academic Year to acknowledge continuation in TEP and employee's continued employment with UF . No reapplication is necessary but the dependent must remain in good academic and conduct standing and the employee must remain in full time status.
Tuition Exchange Grant Opportunity (TEGO)
A Tuition Exchange Grant Opportunity (TEGO) is a grant established by the Board of Directors of the Tuition Exchange Program for low-income families. The grant amount is a maximum of $10,000, or $2,500 a year for up to four years. It is a supplement to Tuition Exchange (TE) Scholarships and can be used for tuition and non-tuition items associated with the cost of attendance at a college or university. The TEGO scholarship will be paid directly to the institution awarding the basic TE scholarship. Existing TE scholars and prospective scholars are eligible.
To be considered for a TEGO scholarship the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) towards the cost of attending college must be $10,000 or less. As a guideline families with combined incomes of $75,000 - $80,000 or less are most likely eligible.
To be considered, the following is necessary:
- Your child must be admitted to the TEP institution chosen and certified as a candidate for a TE scholarship.
- The EFC towards the cost of attendance must be $10,000 or less. This can be determined from your most recent tax return using calculators at www.finaid.org . The result will be a Student Financial Aid Report stating the EFC.
- The EFC report is due to the Office of the Provost by October 31 the year prior of the proposed Fall attendance, i.e., if an employee’s dependent child will attend Fall of 2021 the EFC report is due by October 31, 2020. Employee seniority and the EFC amount will be used to select the final nominee if there are two or more prospective nominees.
Once nominated by UF, candidates will be contacted directly by Tuition Exchange (TE) Central to submit the following:
- academic credentials,
- list of non-academic activities/community service, and
- a short candidate’s statement.
Credentials will be verified by TE Central by checking with the importing school. A panel from Tuition Exchange in the Washington, D.C. home office will select the finalists.
For further information or questions please call 352-392-4792 or e-mail UFTEP@aa.ufl.edu.