USF Employee Tuition Waiver Policies: A Comprehensive Guide
The University of South Florida (USF) offers several tuition waiver programs designed to support the educational and professional development of its employees, their spouses/domestic partners, and dependents. These programs, including the Employee Tuition Program (ETP) and the Dependent Tuition Remission Program (DTRP), provide valuable opportunities for individuals to pursue higher education and reach their academic goals. This article provides a detailed overview of these policies, eligibility requirements, benefits, and important considerations.
Employee Tuition Program (ETP)
The Employee Tuition Program (ETP) allows eligible USF employees to waive tuition costs for up to 6 credit hours per semester. This program is designed to promote employee development and encourage lifelong learning.
Eligibility and Requirements
- Eligibility: Full-time faculty and administrative staff and part-time faculty in the Preferred Hiring Pool (PHP) are eligible for Benefits.
- Employees must be in good academic standing.
- Supervisors are expected to reasonably support such learning opportunities, ensuring that classes do not interfere with work requirements.
- Employees must apply each term for the ETP waiver.
- Employees must complete and submit the USF Employee Tuition Assistance Program form to Human Resources (SVC 2172) no later than the fourth day of the term.
- Employees taking courses also need to apply to the University as a student.
- The provision of Benefits is subject to the condition that classes will not interfere with work requirements and that there will be no interruption, due to time conflict, in the performance of duties for the position to which the employee was originally hired. An employee’s supervisor may make an exception to this rule by means of a temporary adjustment to the employee’s work schedule but not the total hours worked. This approval must be in writing and signed by the supervisor in order to be effective.
Benefits and Coverage
- The ETP covers tuition costs for up to 6 credit hours per semester.
- Employees are responsible for non-covered fees.
Important Considerations
- Course Eligibility: Each course is classified by its type, which determines eligibility. Employees will be notified if a course is not eligible for the ETP.
- Audited Courses: Employees may not take a course that is audited under the ETP.
- Withdrawal: If an employee withdraws from a course covered by the ETP, the waiver will not be removed.
- Other Institutions: Employees may not take courses at another state university and utilize the USF ETP.
- Probationary Period: The ETP is not applicable for Faculty and Administration employees.
- IRC Section 127 Limits: The ETP adheres to IRC Section 127 limits.
- Excess Credit Hours: If an employee is taking more than 6 credit hours for the term, the employee is responsible for all tuition and fees not covered by the ETP.
Dependent Tuition Remission Program (DTRP)
The Dependent Tuition Remission Program (DTRP) provides eligible dependents of USF employees with the opportunity to pursue undergraduate courses at USF with tuition costs waived.
Eligibility and Requirements
- Dependents: The program applies to courses for the employee’s spouse/domestic partner or dependent child.
- Academic Standing: Dependents must be in good academic standing.
- Age Limit: Dependent children are typically eligible until the end of the calendar year in which they reach age 26, unless exceptions apply (e.g., Military Service, Disability, legal guardianship).
- Application: Dependents must apply for admission to the University as a student. Applications for the Dependent Tuition Remission Program are due annually.
- Proof of Relationship: Proof of relationship to the employee may be requested for the eligible spouse or dependent children. Employees and their Domestic Partners who participate in USF’s Domestic Partnership Health Insurance Stipend Program may not be required to submit additional documentation.
- Annual Application: Applications for the Dependent Tuition Remission Program are due annually.
- Continuous Enrollment: Dependents do not have to apply each semester.
Benefits and Coverage
- The DTRP waives tuition costs for eligible undergraduate courses.
- The program applies only to courses offered by USF.
- Students are responsible for non-covered fees.
Important Considerations
- Impact on Financial Aid: If a dependent receives other forms of financial aid, the Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefit may impact the award.
- Course Lists: Course lists are updated weekly while registration is open.
- Other Institutions: Dependents may not take courses at another state university and utilize the USF DTRP.
Tuition Remission Plan (University of San Francisco)
The University of San Francisco (USF) also has a Tuition Remission Plan designed for educational and personal development opportunities for eligible employees enrolled in University courses for credit.
Key Aspects of the Plan
- Purpose: The Plan aims to provide opportunities for educational and personal development for eligible employees enrolled in University courses for credit.
- Administration: The Plan is administered by Human Resources.
- Approval: Any Benefits provided under the Plan must be approved in advance by Human Resources.
- Right to Change: The University reserves the right to discontinue or change the Plan at any time.
- No Employment Contract: Nothing in the Plan shall be interpreted as implying a contract of employment. Receipt of Benefits does not imply or create any right of continued employment with the University.
- Eligibility: Full-time faculty and administrative staff and part-time faculty in the Preferred Hiring Pool (PHP) are eligible for Benefits as are their spouses, RDPs, and children who qualify as tax dependents under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Certain restrictions may apply.
- Restrictions: Benefits are not available for audited programs or courses taught by non-University faculty, including certain online programs. Benefits are available for both undergraduate and graduate programs; however, some programs may be excluded from Benefits eligibility if they are classified as impacted.
- Impacted Courses: A list of impacted courses is compiled by the Office of the Provost each spring for the following academic year and made available to the University community.
- Census Date: Benefits are not available to an otherwise eligible Participant for courses for which the Participant registers after the date indicated as “Census Date” for the course on the University’s Academic Calendar or the Tuition Remission Taxation Calendar, available on the tuition remission tax information web page.
- Work Requirements: The provision of Benefits is subject to the condition that classes will not interfere with work requirements and that there will be no interruption, due to time conflict, in the performance of duties for the position to which the employee was originally hired.
- Tax Dependent Child: To receive Benefits for an undergraduate or graduate program as an eligible tax dependent child, the child must be the employee’s IRC qualified tax dependent or the qualified tax dependent of the employee’s spouse/RDP at the time of matriculation and during the entire period of time the child is receiving Benefits.
- Verification of Relationship: In order to verify the relationship between an employee and his or her spouse, RDP, or tax dependent child, an employee may be required to submit supporting documentation such as tax returns, adoption papers, birth certificates, marriage and proof of domestic registry, and other relevant documents when requested by the University.
- Semester-by-Semester Basis: Eligibility for Benefits is determined on a semester-by-semester basis. An employee, spouse, RDP, or tax dependent child must qualify for admission to the school offering the courses sought. Eligibility for Benefits does not guarantee admission to any academic program.
- Applicant's Responsibility: The application and admissions process, fulfillment of the stated requirements, and payment of requisite costs, including course fees, books, materials, lab costs, and other incidental costs, are the Applicant’s responsibility.
- Compliance with Policies: Eligible Participants receiving Benefits must remain in strict compliance with all academic, financial, and other University policies, as well as those policies imposed by their school pursuant to the Participant’s course of study.
- Tuition Remission Form: A completed Tuition Remission Form must be submitted to during the application filing period which is announced for each semester or term and can also be found here.
- Taxable Benefits: The value of any taxable Benefits provided to an employee or his or her spouse, RDP, or tax dependent child will be added to the employee’s wages subject to withholding of federal and state income and employment taxes (e.g., social security, Medicare, disability, etc.) during the semester in which the classes are taken.
- IRC Section 127 Plan: However, the first $5,250 of graduate Benefits provided to an employee will be excluded from the individual’s taxable income each calendar year under the University’s IRC Section 127 Plan.
- End of Eligibility: Eligibility for Benefits under the Plan will end when a Participant is no longer employed in an eligible position, as described Addendum A, or separates from the University for any reason. Eligibility will also end when a child no longer qualifies as an IRC tax dependent under the terms of the Plan.
- Maintenance of Standards: Employees and their spouses, Registered Domestic Partners (RDPs), and tax dependent children receiving Benefits under the Tuition Remission Plan must maintain the same academic standards required of other students to remain eligible for tuition remission.
Additional Opportunities
- State of Florida Employees: State of Florida Employees can enroll for up to 6 credit hours of courses per term on a space-available basis. USF College of Public Health honors tuition waivers for Florida state employees on a seat available basis for its courses.
- Online Graduate Certificate Fees: Different tuition rates apply to non-degree graduate certificate students who are accepted in fully online certificate programs.
- Academic Common Market: Information regarding the Academic Common Market can be found on their website (this is not a USF webpage).
Graduate Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and Fellowships
USF also offers Graduate Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and Fellowships to support graduate students in their academic careers.
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Funding and Stipends
- Funding is available, but not guaranteed.
- For a minority of students, funding will be at a .25 FTE.
- Fellowships may offer higher stipends than typical assistantships.
- Students receive a stipend (approximately $1,700 per month in Fall and Spring, and approximately $500 in the Summer). These are current rates and are subject to change.
- Students also receive a tuition waiver and health insurance subsidy.
Requirements and Responsibilities
- Title IX & VAWA Training is a requirement for new students.
- Graduate Assistants are considered mandatory reporters to report sexual harassment, including sexual violence.
- Students must maintain satisfactory standing in the program.
- Students are required to devote their time and effort primarily to their graduate program and should not engage in any paid activities outside of the department without prior approval.
- Any outside employment requires disclosure of interest or commitment as listed in GEMS and requires program area approval before the activity can be engaged in.
Payment and Deadlines
- Students are paid bi-weekly.
- The first paycheck of the semester is typically the Friday in August.
- If a student's appointment begins partway through the pay period, the first paycheck will not be the full biweekly amount.
- Students working during the summer may be paid some days at your summer rate and some days at your fall rate, depending on the appointment dates.
- Students should familiarize themselves with controller's cashiers office deadline dates. The University will cancel the registration of a student whose fees have not been paid in full by the deadline.
- If fees are past due by the reinstatement deadline, students will need to petition for reinstatement.
Tuition and Fees
- Unless otherwise indicated, students are responsible for all academic fees.
- The University will cancel the registration of a student whose fees have not been paid in full by the deadline.
- If fees are past due by the reinstatement deadline, you will need to petition for reinstatement.
- Students who have their registration canceled will be charged a fee.
- The cancellation includes the amount of their tuition and fee charges for the canceled term.
Additional Fees
- There are numerous additional fees a student can incur.
- Students can contact the Student Services section of the University Controller’s Office for assistance.
Teaching Assistant (TA) Support
Graduate students may have the opportunity to serve as Teaching Assistants (TAs).
Requirements for Teaching Assistants
- TAs must have 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline.
- First-time instructors must register for PSY 6947 (Graduate Instruction Methods). Consult Dr. Adriana Uruena-Agnes for the appropriate number of hours.
- TAs should participate in workshops offered by the Academy for Teaching and Learning Experience (ATLE).
- Instructors must complete a College of Teaching Credentials Form (CTC form v 2 7_2013.pdf) and an updated vita for the class.
- TAs are encouraged to receive online TA support.
Online TA Support Approval Process
- The instructor will need to complete the TA support that will need to be completed by the instructor.
- The instructor will forward it back to the Operations Manager for the Chair's signature.
- Previous forms are available for guidance.
- Instructors must complete the Online Instructors Course (OIC) before any TA support is approved.
Financial Aid and Payments
- Students can inquire about financial aid issues with the financial aid office.
- Financial aid calculates the amount a student is allowed to receive through their student account.
- Payments may take up to ten business days to post.
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