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Tuition Exchange Program (TEP)

Instructions, common questions and application form

• UF Full-time Salaried Employees (excluding OPS employees) - Guidelines  for participation in TEP
• How to apply
• Is a scholarship guaranteed to all eligible applications?
• How competitive is the process?
• How many semesters does a tuition exchange scholarship cover?
• What must a student do to retain a tuition exchange scholarship?
• Students from other TEP institutions who are interested in coming to the University of Florida on a TEP scholarship.
• What is the dollar value of a tuition exchange scholarship?
• What else can you tell me about Tuition Exchange, Inc.?
  

1. All dependent children of full-time salaried employees (excluding OPS employees) are eligible for consideration to participate in the University of Florida's Tuition Exchange Program (TEP) if the UF employee has a child enrolled and/or applying for admission to an institution, other than the University of Florida, which is a member of the national TEP (hereafter identified as the participating TEP institution). The term "dependent children" includes natural and legally adopted children, provided that financial dependence on the parents can be demonstrated; children meeting the requirements of dependency set forth by the Internal Revenue Service will qualify.
2. For each family on the list, only one child at a time may take advantage of the program. It is not transferable to another child in the family. Due to the competitive nature of the program and to allow employees an equitable opportunity to participate, dependents from the same employee cannot receive the benefit back to back. There is a two year waiting period between dependents from the same household. Someone whose dependent has just completed the TE program must wait two years after the first dependent finishes the program to apply for their second dependent.  To determine awardees, the following criteria is taken into consideration:
• Years of Service @ the University of Florida
• Whether or not the employee has previously received Tuition Exchange
3. Participation in the University's Program is normally for four years or until undergraduate degree requirement is met whichever occurs first, depending on the eligibility requirements of the participating TEP institution. However participation in the University's Program will be terminated if the UF employee retires or terminates his/her employment at the University of Florida.
4. UF employees who want their children to be considered for the Program must apply annually with the University of Florida.
• Application deadline will be October 31 of the year preceding the desired enrollment into the Program.
• All applications that are received will be sent to the requested TEP institutions to request admission into that institution's Tuition Exchange Program
• UF Employees/students will be notified of the award of the TEP Scholarship for those selected to participate from the requested TEP institutions and from the University of Florida.
• If a requesting TEP institution can only accept one of two 
  applicants who applied, priority will then be given in the following order:
        (1) Faculty members by seniority
        (2) Other employees by seniority
• Additional scholarships may become available if a cancellation occurs.
5. If a TEP scholarship is offered by a participating TEP institution, it is suggested that the UF employee request precise information concerning the participating institution's TEP scholarship's dollar value, fees and other charges for which your son or daughter will be responsible as well as the circumstances which might lead to an early termination of the scholarship or restrict the TEP scholarship. This information will be necessary to determine the benefits of participating in the University's Program.
6. The UF employee's participation fee in the University's Program is a $5,000 annual fee. Upon acceptance to the University of Florida's Tuition Exchange Program and written confirmation of acceptance from a participating TEP institution, a non-refundable deposit of $200 is due immediately from the UF employee. The eligibility is normally for four full years of undergraduate education subject to the requirement of the participating TEP institution offering the scholarship. The balance of $4,800 will be due by August 1st. Checks are to be made payable to University of Florida Foundation, Inc. (UFF, Inc.) and delivered/mailed to Dr. Angel Kwolek-Folland, 235 Tigert Hall, PO Box 113175 for processing.
7. It shall be the responsibility of the UF employee to re-certify your child each year to continue his or her education under the TEP. Upon approval of the re-certification form from the participating TEP institution, The Office of the Provost will notify the UF employee that continued TEP participation is confirmed and that a $200 non-refundable deposit is due. (A re-certification form will be mailed by the end of the year).

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Twelve to eighteen months before you plan to enroll in a TEP institution, complete the TEP Application and submit the form to Dr. Angel Kwolek-Folland 235 Tigert Hall, P. O. Box 113175, Gainesville, Florida 32611. Application deadline will be October 31 of the year preceding the desired enrollment into the Program.

TEP Online Form (pdf)

All Dependents eligible for Tuition Exchange (TE) Scholarships are not guaranteed an award. Tuition Exchange scholarships are scholarships, not fringe benefits. The fact that an institution belongs to TE confers on dependents of eligible employees only the right to apply for a scholarship. Institutions may have to limit the number of Tuition Exchange scholarships it offers in order to maintain the required balance between the number of students it sends out and the number it brings in.

Tuition Exchange (TE) scholarships can be quite competitive. Member institutions require that applicants first meet all their regular admittance requirements. Only then may an applicant be considered for a TE scholarship. More competitive institutions may receive a larger number of applications from qualified students than they can accept. These institutions take additional steps to select among qualified candidates, establishing a lottery system, higher academic standards, or a rolling acceptance policy.

Participation in the University of Florida's TE program is normally for four years or until undergraduate degree requirement is met which ever occurs first, depending on the eligibility requirements of the participating TEP institutions.

Students must meet the institution's standards for academic performance 
and personal conduct. The family member whose employment conveyed eligibility for a tuition Exchange scholarship must continue to meet the employing institution's eligibility criteria. For those participating in the program, a re-certification form will be mailed to the UF employee in November of each year. If a re-certification form is not submitted it is assumed that you no longer desire to remain in the Tuition Exchange Program.

To apply for a TE scholarship at the University of Florida, work directly with the Tuition Exchange liaison officer at the institution where your family member is employed. If you do not know the name of your liaison officer, contact Robin Bielling (rbielling@aa.ufl.edu), (352)392-4792.

Students applying for a TE scholarship must meet all regular admittance requirements of the University of Florida to be eligible for this scholarship. 
See our Admission Office for more information http://www.reg.ufl.edu/regadmi.htm.

The University of Florida annually receives a large number of TE applications. The number of students who receive a TE scholarship from other colleges and universities determines the number of tuition exchange scholarships extended by the University. After the admission decisions are completed, students applying for tuition exchange scholarships are ranked in the order the applications were received and are given out in this order.

Tuition Exchange Scholarship is usually granted for as long as the student is an undergraduate student and meets the following criteria and continues to be sponsored by the "exporting" institution.

• Out-of-State tuition is waived for TEP participants.
• In-state Tuition is deferred and paid by the University of Florida's Tuition Exchange Program for TEP participants.
• The program is for the undergraduate program for Fall and Spring semesters only. Summer semesters are not included.
• A TEP participant must register for a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester (maximum is 18 credit hours) and remain in good academic standing with the University of Florida.
• The University of Florida (TE) scholarship value for incoming (import) students is approximately $17,222.40 for out-of-state and $3,093.60 for in-state. The University of Florida does not pay for material/labs fees nor does it pay the non-resident student financial aid fee charge to all non-residents.

Most TE scholarships cover full tuition, but not special fees, course overloads, or room and board charges. However, institutions that charge more than $19,650 for tuition are permitted to award less than their full tuition. Some states require that special fees be charged to out-of-state students. The Applications/Certification Form notifying you of your award should provide specific details, but if you have questions, seek clarification before you accept the scholarship.

The University of Florida (TE) scholarship value for incoming (import) students is approximately $17,222.40 for out-of-state and $3,093.60 for in-state. The University of Florida does not pay for material/labs fees nor does it pay the non-resident student financial aid fee charge to all non-residents.

More than 15,200 students have studied under the auspices of Tuition Exchange, Inc. (TE) since its founding in 1954. Today, more than 4,532 students each year secure scholarships to pursue undergraduate education, graduate school, or study abroad at one of the 589 institutions of higher education that belong to Tuition Exchange, Inc.

Colleges and universities set their own policies and procedures for awarding Tuition Exchange scholarships.

Updated 10/9/2008