Graduate Tuition Return Incentive Program (GTRIP)
Effective July 1, 2024, when allowed by the sponsor, all proposals that include graduate assistantships or training grant stipends will be required to include in-state tuition.
On July 1, 2022, the Voluntary Tuition Incentive Program (VIP or RIAS/RIAT) became the Graduate Tuition Return Incentive Program (GTRIP). The Graduate Tuition Return Incentive Program (GTRIP) is a $5 million per year commitment to growing graduate enrollment at UGA. GTRIP returns a multiplier of tuition dollars included on sponsored projects to the principal investigator’s (PI) unit to support additional graduate assistantships.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO ME?
The University will return up to 150% of the in-state tuition paid from the sponsored project to the PI’s unit to support additional graduate assistantships. If the graduate program includes a tuition differential, the tuition return will be 150% of the standard graduate tuition rate.
HOW DOES THE TUITION RETURN PROCESS WORK?
Because the tuition is returned as state funding, all GTRIP funds must be used within the fiscal year in which they are returned. Units can choose whether to receive the GTRIP funding in the fiscal year of the tuition expenditure or at the start of the following fiscal year. This will allow units to maximize the time in which the funding can be used. GTRIP funding may not be split over fiscal years. Please note that some colleges or units may have more specific guidelines regarding timing of tuition return funds distribution.
HOW MAY THE TUITION RETURN FUNDS BE USED?
Units are expected to deploy at least 75% of the returned GTRIP funds to support graduate student assistantships. Students on assistantships funded by GTRIP dollars will receive the same benefits (i.e., tuition waiver and university contribution to health insurance) as students on other forms of university-supported assistantships. Colleges / Schools are strongly encouraged to work with their faculty PIs to ensure this program is beneficial to them.
Up to 25% of the GTRIP funds may be used to support graduate student training and professional development beyond assistantships (e.g., registration and travel for conferences and research-related trips; specialized training or software; access to core research facilities). GTRIP funds may not be used to pay mandatory student fees or health insurance premiums.
IS THERE A CAP ON TUITION RETURN FUNDING?
For PIs, there is no cap on the total number of assistantships eligible for GTRIP for either research or training grants.
At an institutional level, the rate of funding returned to units based on the GTRIP will be maintained at 150%* (1.5X the tuition budgeted on the grant) for up to 1,000 students at any given time. Returns initiated when there are already 1,000 students supported from grants will be at a rate of 100% (equal to the tuition budgeted on the grant).
*If the graduate program includes a tuition differential, the tuition return will be 150% of the standard graduate tuition rate.
