Understanding the University System of Maryland's Tuition Remission Policy
The University System of Maryland (USM) offers a tuition remission policy, a valuable benefit for employees and their families. However, eligibility and coverage vary depending on the employee's hire date and the specific program of study. This article breaks down the key aspects of the USM tuition remission policy, providing a comprehensive overview for those seeking to understand its nuances.
Eligibility Based on Hire Date
The conditions of eligibility for tuition remission within the USM are primarily determined by the employee's date of hire. This creates distinct categories with varying levels of benefits.
Employees Hired Before January 1, 1990
For employees fortunate enough to have been hired prior to January 1, 1990, the tuition remission policy is the most generous. Dependent children are eligible for undergraduate and graduate-level courses. This eligibility extends not only to any USM institution but also to Baltimore City Community College, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Morgan State University, consistent with the specific tuition remission policy of each of those institutions.
However, it's important to note a limitation: tuition remission is not available to the spouses of employees and retirees attending Baltimore City Community College, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Morgan State University. Regardless of the employee's hire date, the spouse and/or dependent child must be admitted as a student through the normal admission process of the chosen institution.
Employees Hired Between January 1, 1990, and June 30, 1992
Employees hired within this period have tuition remission benefits for their spouse and/or dependents, but with a key restriction: it applies only to the first undergraduate degree. Spouses and dependent children of employees or retirees from degree-granting institutions may receive full tuition remission of one hundred percent (100%) on courses toward a first undergraduate degree at the institution where the spouse or parent is employed (the "home institution").
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A significant benefit is the option for spouses and dependent children to attend another institution within the USM system to which the student has been accepted. In this case, they receive 50% tuition remission. The remaining 50% of the tuition cost becomes the responsibility of the individual student.
As with the previous category, tuition remission is not available to the spouses of employees and retirees attending Baltimore City Community College, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Morgan State University.
Employees Hired After July 1, 1992
The tuition remission policy for employees hired after July 1, 1992, includes a waiting period. Tuition remission benefits for their spouse and/or dependent children become available only after the employee has worked for the University for two years.
Once eligible, the benefits are similar to those for employees hired between 1990 and 1992. Tuition remission benefits will be paid for the first undergraduate degree. Spouses and dependent children of employees or retirees from degree-granting institutions may receive full tuition remission of one hundred percent (100%) on courses toward a first undergraduate degree at the institution where the spouse or parent is employed ("home institution").
Again, these individuals may attend another institution of the USM to which the student has been accepted with 50% tuition remission. The remaining 50% of tuition cost is the responsibility of the individual student.
Read also: Understanding Drexel's Tuition Policy
The restriction regarding Baltimore City Community College, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Morgan State University also applies: tuition remission is not available to the spouses of employees and retirees attending these institutions.
Excluded Programs of Study
The USM tuition remission policy explicitly excludes certain programs of study, regardless of the employee's hire date. These exclusions typically apply to professional programs with higher costs or specific funding models.
Specifically, the following programs are exempted from this policy:
- The M.D. and D.D.S. programs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
- The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Program.
- The combined DVM and Graduate Degree Program at the Virginia - Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.
The policy also allows for other programs to be excluded, as may be recommended by the President of the institution offering the program and approved by the Chancellor.
University of Maryland, College Park Specific Exclusions
Certain programs offered at the University of Maryland, College Park, are specifically excluded from the tuition remission benefit. These exclusions are more granular and target specific types of courses:
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- Math 0XX - Intermedial Mathematics Courses (developmental math courses).
- Any course that is below the 100-level course number (typically remedial or introductory courses).
- UMEI courses (with the exception of UMEI 506 and UMEI 507). The specifics of UMEI courses and why these two exceptions exist would require further investigation into the University of Maryland's course catalog.
Self-Support Programs and Courses
The availability of tuition remission for self-support programs and courses is not automatically guaranteed. Instead, it is subject to a recommendation by the President of the institution offering the program and approval by the Chancellor. This allows the USM to maintain control over the financial implications of tuition remission for programs that are designed to be financially self-sustaining.
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