Eligible Participants:

The Voluntary Buyout Program (VBP) Tuition Assistance Benefit is available only to those Tennessee State employees who were informed by letter of their eligibility for the program in June 2008 and were subsequently accepted for the VBP program in August 2008.

This program is not offered to the general public, but only as one of the benefits provided to this defined group of State employees who are participants in the Voluntary Buyout Program.

For VBP Guidelines, VBP Application and VBP Eligible Institution listing, please click here.

The program allows the State to exclude from your income the amount it pays for eligible course and apprenticeship programs up to $5,250 per year. This benefit is subject to limitations in the Internal Revenue Code and VBP requirements. As a result, you may wish to keep a copy of this program in the event you receive question concerning the taxation of the educational assistance benefit provided under the VBP. For additional information, click here for the program document.

Benefit Description:

Tuition assistance of up to $10,800 ($5,400 per year) at the schools, institutions and entities governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents and the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, as well as state certified apprenticeship programs.
Tuition assistance benefits begin August 16, 2008, and may only be used for courses that begin before June 30, 2011.
GED classes are also available through the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Career Centers, and testing fees will be covered under the tuition assistance benefit.