Navigating CUNY Tuition Waivers: A Comprehensive Guide
Pursuing higher education can be financially challenging, and the City University of New York (CUNY) offers various tuition waiver programs to alleviate this burden for eligible students and employees. This article provides a detailed overview of CUNY tuition waiver requirements, covering eligibility criteria, application procedures, and specific program details.
Tuition Waivers for CUNY Employees
CUNY employees may be eligible for tuition waivers for undergraduate and graduate courses at any CUNY college. This benefit is offered on a space-available, no-cost basis, with eligibility depending on factors such as employment status, job title, credits attempted, and length of service.
Eligibility Requirements
- Employment Status: Most part-time employees, including College Assistants, IT Hourly staff, and NTAs, are generally ineligible for tuition waivers. However, Teaching Adjuncts with at least ten consecutive semesters of service (excluding summer sessions) may qualify. Other part-time employees should consult their union for information on tuition reimbursement programs.
- Course Level: Both undergraduate and graduate courses are eligible for tuition waivers, as per Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code, which was permanently extended under the "Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA)."
- Waiver Application: Staff members must obtain approval from their Human Resources department. It is important to submit waivers before the payment due date to avoid class cancellation.
- Credit Limits: Depending on the employee's title, there may be a credit cap of 3-6 credits per semester for graduate courses.
Application Process
- Obtain the CUNY Employee Tuition Fee Waiver Form (OFSR 305): This form is essential for initiating the waiver process.
- Complete Required Sections: Fill out the Employee section of the Management Certification (page 2), providing details such as class section, course description, and justification for how the course is job-related. Also, complete the CUNY Employee Classification Certification (page 3), including your signature, date, and address.
- Supervisor Approval: Submit the OFSR 305 packet to your supervisor for approval. Ensure the 'Supervisor/Management Representative' section is completed, signed, and dated.
- HR Submission: The completed Form OFSR 305 must be submitted to the HR Director at your College of Employment for review.
- Additional Documentation: If you add or delete a course, you must submit the appropriate documentation to the HR Office at your College of Employment.
Tax Implications
CUNY employees should be aware that tuition waivers may be considered taxable income under certain circumstances. If the educational assistance benefits exceed $5,250 and the course is deemed non-job-related and does not meet the "working condition fringe benefit" exclusion, the waived tuition amount may be reported as wages and subject to tax withholding.
To qualify for the "working condition fringe benefit" exclusion, the course must:
- Maintain or improve skills required for the employee's current job.
- Be expressly required by the employer or legally mandated to retain employment, status, or compensation.
Important Considerations
- Waivers are applied to tuition charges based on how the class is credited toward the employee's degree.
- The CUNY Employee Tuition Fee Waiver Form must be signed by the employee’s Director of Human Resources (or designee).
- An employee tuition waiver covers either the resident or non-resident tuition rate.
- NYS Education Law § 6206 (7)(c) expires annually and must be renewed by the State Legislature.
- NYS Education Law § 6206 (7)(d) expires biennially and must be renewed by the State Legislature.
Tuition Waivers for Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty members at CUNY may be eligible for tuition remission under specific conditions, as outlined in their collective bargaining agreement.
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Eligibility Requirements
- Consecutive Semesters: An adjunct who has taught one or more courses in the same department at the same college for ten consecutive semesters (excluding summer sessions).
- Course Load: Must be appointed to teach a course of not fewer than three contact hours per week in a Fall or Spring semester.
- Tuition Remission: Eligible adjuncts are granted tuition remission for up to one course in that semester. If the course is at the graduate level, it is available on a space-available basis.
- Loss of Eligibility: An adjunct loses eligibility if they teach in only one semester of the year at that college in any two out of three academic years.
- Substitute Service: Effective Fall 2008, substitute service immediately preceded and followed by adjunct service counts as continuous adjunct service for tuition remission eligibility.
Tuition Waivers for Doctoral Students
Doctoral students at CUNY may be eligible for additional tuition waivers beyond their initial program funding.
Eligibility Requirements
- Doctor of Philosophy Level: Tuition at the Doctor of Philosophy Level 3 Resident rate may be waived for up to four additional semesters (typically years 6 and 7 of enrollment).
- Enrollment Status: Students must have completed 10 semesters of enrollment in a Doctor of Philosophy program.
- Employment: Students must be employed in a title recognized under Article 1 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- Effective Date: This waiver is effective starting with the Spring 2020 semester.
Program-Specific Tuition Waivers
CUNY offers several program-specific tuition waivers to support students in various academic pursuits.
Macaulay Honors College Tuition Scholarship
Macaulay Honors College students who meet CUNY’s New York State residency requirements for in-state tuition receive a tuition scholarship that covers full tuition for eight semesters of full-time undergraduate study.
- Coverage: The scholarship also covers a limited number of summer and winter classes between the start of freshman year and the end of the 8th semester but does not include fees.
- Basis: The total scholarship amount is based on tuition charges remaining after applying financial aid and other scholarships, including federal, state, and local grants, as well as those awarded by or through CUNY, its schools, and affiliated entities.
- Rate: The scholarship is based on the resident tuition rate.
ASAP (Accelerated Study in Associate Programs) Tuition Waivers
Students participating in the ASAP program who are eligible for state or federal financial aid may receive waivers for tuition and fees not covered by these aid programs.
- Financial Aid Application: ASAP Program students are required to complete and file a Financial Aid Application (FAFSA).
USIP (University Student Internship Program) Tuition and Fees Waiver
Students participating in the USIP program receive a full waiver of all tuition and fees.
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- TAP Eligibility: There is no TAP eligibility for USIP courses.
- Reporting Requirements: Colleges are required to report USIP enrollment data to the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis, properly identified to avoid inclusion in the University Budget Office’s revenue projections.
Tuition Waivers for Graduate Students
Senior colleges within CUNY allocate portions of their base budgets to offset tuition waivers for graduate students who demonstrate financial need.
- Financial Need: Waivers are typically granted to degree students who meet the financial need criteria established in the CUNY Needs Analysis System.
Cooperating Teacher Tuition Waivers
Cooperating teachers are exempt from paying student activity fees.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Tuition Waivers at CSI (College of Staten Island)
The College of Staten Island (CSI) offers STEM tuition waivers to eligible students pursuing associate degrees.
Eligibility Requirements
- Matriculation: Must be a current CSI Undergraduate student, continuing & recently readmitted. International, Non-Degree, Visiting, and students who have already completed a Bachelors or other advanced degree do not qualify for STEM Tuition Waivers.
- Degree Program: Must be a CSI matriculated student in good academic standing (minimum 2.0 GPA at the time of enrollment) in any associate degree program (AA, AS, AAS) at CSI.
- Residency: Must be a New York City resident at the time the waiver is applied.
- Enrollment Status: Students enrolled in their first term without an established CSI GPA are not initially eligible for the waiver but may become retroactively eligible once their first-term grades are final.
- Course Eligibility: Students must be eligible to enroll, meeting all necessary prerequisites, in the identified STEM course offerings.
- Funding Availability: Funding is limited, and waivers are provided to eligible students until all funds are utilized.
Course Requirements
- Eligible Courses: Courses that satisfy MATH AND QUANTITATIVE REASONING, LIFE AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE, SCIENTIFIC WORLD, and COLLEGE OPTION lab categories in the common core requirements.
- Course Completion: Students must complete their course/s with one of the following letter grades to retain a waiver: A, B, C, D, F, W, incl. +/- grades.
Waiver Details
- Intersession Coverage: All CSI students meeting the eligibility requirements receive tuition waivers for all Winter & Summer intersession courses they enroll in as long as they remain eligible.
How to Check Eligibility
- CUNYFirst Self-Service Center: Review your status in your CUNYFirst Self-Service Center and click on the ACADEMICS tab.
- Advisor Consultation: Ask your advisor during your advisement session for the upcoming term.
- Professional Advisor: Most eligible CUNY/CITY STEM WAIVER students will be assigned to a professional advisor in CAAS-the Center for Advising & Academic Success, 1A-101 or the ASAP program.
Example Course
- BIO 170 General Biology I: A 3-credit course covering fundamental biological principles of cell metabolism, energy transformations, and plant and animal functions.
Additional Considerations
- Grant/Contract Limitations: In all cases, the total tuition and fees to be waived must be less than or equal to the amount of the grant/contract. If not, an adequate explanation/justification must be provided.
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