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New Graduate Tuition Return Incentive Program

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

 

TO:

Vice Presidents, Deans, Department Heads, and Directors

 

FROM:

S. Jack Hu, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Karen J.L. Burg, Vice President for Research

Ron Walcott, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School

 

RE:

Transition of the Voluntary Tuition Incentive Program (VIP) to the Graduate Tuition Return Incentive Program

 

On July 1st, 2022, the Voluntary Tuition Incentive Program (VIP or RIAS/RIAT) will transition to the Graduate Tuition Return Incentive Program (GTRIP).

 

When allowed by the funding agency, principal investigators (PIs) who include Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) in their grant budgets are expected to include full-time, in-state tuition for the GRAs in the direct costs. PIs of training grants are required to include full-time, in-state tuition for all graduate trainees whose stipends will be paid from their grants. Like VIP, GTRIP will return a multiplier (1.5x) of in-state tuition dollars included on grants to the PI’s unit.

 

GTRIP introduces new incentives for PIs. Namely, there will be no limit on the amount of funding that can be returned for training grants, and thesis-based master’s students can now be included, both to earn return and to be supported by returned GTRIP funds.GTRIP also introduces more flexibility in how returned funds may be used. Up to 25% of returned GTRIP funds may be used to support graduate student training and professional development beyond assistantships (e.g., travel for conferences and research; specialized training or software).

 

The rate of GTRIP funding returned to units will be maintained at 150% (1.5X the tuition budgeted) for up to1,000 grant-funded GRAs university-wide at any given time. This represents a $5 million per year institutional commitment to supporting graduate students. Returns initiated after 1,000 grant-funded GRAs are reached will be at a rate of 100% (equal to the tuition budgeted). For example, if a college/school has 200 GTRIP returns (at 150%), that unit will continue to receive the 150% return rate for 200 slots after the 1,000 limit is reached. Additional GRAs for whom tuition is budgeted will yield returns at the 100% rate.

 

Key differences between VIP and GTRIP include:

  • Removal of limit on GTRIP return for training grants
  • Extension of GTRIP to include thesis-based master’s students funded as GRAs on grants (only research/thesis-based master’s students are eligible)
  • Increased flexibility in use of GTRIP funds
  • Increased flexibility in in timing of GTRIP allocation

 

Effective July 1, 2024, when allowed by the funder, all proposals that include GRA stipends will be required to include in-state tuition unless an exemption is granted by the Provost’s Office.

 

Please discuss GTRIP with your faculty members so that the unit procedures for allocating GTRIP returns are clear and consistent and support the goal of growing research and graduate enrollment. For more information, please see the GTRIP website or contact Ms. Tonia Austin-Brown at gsfinanc@uga.edu.

 

CC:                   Toni P. Rogers, Associate Vice President for Academic Fiscal Affairs

 

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Administrative Memos are coordinated through the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. For more information, contact Sam Fahmy at sfahmy@uga.edu.