Policy 350: Educational Benefits
Section: Personnel Policies
Sub-Section: Benefits
Policy Number: 350
Subject: Educational Benefits
Covered Employees: Benefit Eligible Employees
Origin Date: January 24, 1997
Revision Date(s): June 29, 2012, May 6, 2016
Effective Date: May 6, 2016
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350.1 POLICY
The University encourages all individuals associated with Utah State University to continue their educational development. To assist in that regard, the University has established several educational benefit programs. Each program has unique eligibility and participation requirements.
350.2 PROVISIONS
2.1 Eligibility
According to the stipulations described below, employees who are budgeted 75% time or more are eligible to participate in the educational benefit programs. In addition, their spouses and dependent children (under the age of 26 and single at the time of registration) and all Utah State University retirees, their spouses, and dependent children (under the age of 26 and single at the time of registration), are eligible to participate.
(1) Employees qualify after 3 months of service working 75% time or more. The 3-month waiting time must be completed on or before the last eligible day that fees are due in the applicable semester.
(2) Dependent children qualify for benefits after the related University employee has been employed in an eligible position (working 75% time or more) for 2 years.
(3) Spouses qualify immediately for this benefit. The eligibility period must be completed on or before the last day fees are due in the applicable semester.
(4) Spouses and dependent children of deceased University employees who were eligible when the employee died will continue to be eligible under the provisions of this policy.
(5) Retirees, their spouses, and dependent children qualify when the retiree meets the minimum definition of Retirement Status as stated in Policy #361 Retirement Plans and Retirement Benefits.
2.2 USU-Eastern Employees with Service Date Prior to July 1, 2010
Employees of USU-Eastern with a service hire date prior to July 1, 2010 are grandfathered into the 100% tuition waiver program previously offered by the College of Eastern Utah. This applies only to classes offered as part of the USU-Eastern program. For the same grandfathered employees, classes taken through any other USU program will qualify for 50% tuition reduction as stated in this policy.
2.3 Utah State University Courses for Credit
The educational benefit for individuals who meet the eligibility requirements is a reduction in tuition by 50% of the appropriate rate (in-state or out-of-state depending on official residence) for the courses being taken. This reduction is for both day and night courses offered and described on the Online Catalog found at catalog.usu.edu.
For eligible individuals taking study abroad courses, the waiver would be 50% of the equivalent tuition for the number of credits taken.
The educational benefit does not apply to the School of Veterinary Medicine.
2.4 Utah State University Non-Tuition Fees
Employees, retirees, and spouses are not required to pay non-tuition fees (student body fees), except for the following, which will be paid at the standard rate: special lab and class fees, graduation fees, correspondence or home-study fees, noncredit workshops, conferences, institutes, special field trip fees, and fees for most courses offered by the Regional Campuses. If, while taking University classes, the eligible employee, spouse, retiree, or spouse of an eligible retired or deceased employee desires student privileges that require fees, (i.e. activity fees ) the fees must be paid at the time of registration.
Dependent children taking University courses must pay full non-tuition fees.
2.5 Utah State University Courses Taken for Audit
All budgeted employees working 50% time or more, their spouses, and University retirees and their spouses qualify for auditing University courses without tuition and mandatory student fees or a waiting period. Dependent children do not qualify for this benefit.
Spouses of deceased University employees who were eligible for this benefit when the employee died will continue to be eligible.
Retirees and their spouses qualify for this benefit when the retiree meets the minimum definition of Retirement Status as stated in Policy #361 Retirement Plans and Retirement Benefits.
2.6 Full Time Employee Limitations
Full-time Utah State University employees (95% time or greater) may register for a maximum of 6 credit hours per semester, to be taken during the employee's normal working hours. This limit applies to the combination of courses taken for credit or audit. Employees working less than fulltime may register for the following credit hours, to be taken during the employee's normal working hours:
| Percent of Time Working | Credit Hours Allowed During Normal Working Hours Per Semester |
|---|---|
| 95 - 100 % | 6 hours |
| 85 - 94 % | 5 hours |
| 75 - 84 % | 4 hours |
| less than 75% | ineligible |
Courses taken by employees during regular working hours may not interfere with the operation of the employee's department, and the employee must have the permission of his or her supervisor or department head. Regular hours of work missed by non-exempt employees for class attendance must be made up during the same week in which they are missed.
When the same course is offered in both day and night sessions, the employee is encouraged to enroll in the night course.
Employees who work on an academic year basis (9 months—August through early May) are not restricted by the limitations above during the period of the year in which they are not working full-time (normally the summer term).
Qualified employees are not restricted by the limitations above for courses that are to be taken during non-working hours.
2.7 Admissions and Registration Provisions
All individuals who want to participate in the educational benefits program must apply and be accepted for admission to the University using the regular admission guidelines.
Active employees must complete the online Tuition Reduction Application form and Waiver of Non-Tuition Fees form, if applicable, available on the Human Resources website. All others should return the applicable paper form(s) directly to the Human Resources office.
2.8 Termination While Attending Classes
Employees who terminate employment with the University for reasons other than retirement or death disqualify themselves, their spouses, and dependent children from participating in future educational benefit programs.
When employment ends, the employee, spouse, or dependent child who is in the process of taking a University course with reduced tuition fees under the guidelines of this policy will be allowed to complete that course. Any future courses taken will require payment of the fully applicable tuition costs.
Employees on leave without pay (LWOP) for more than 6 months do not qualify for the benefits described in this policy. Spouses and dependent children of employees on LWOP are also disqualified from the educational benefits. Employees on sabbatical or other approved leave with pay, their spouses and dependent children, are eligible for educational benefits described in this policy.
2.9 Financial Limitations
The employee/spouse/dependent waiver is a benefit of employment and provides a 50% waiver of tuition. This benefit is not reduced when a student receives other tuition waivers, except that combined tuition waivers cannot exceed 100% of tuition charges for a given term. For the purposes of this policy, a waiver is any funding that is restricted to the payment of tuition.
2.10 Appeal Process
Refer to Policy #325 Employee Grievance Procedures.
2.11 Taxation
Certain educational benefits received by employees, their spouses, and dependent children may be taxable under current IRS rules. If the IRS rules determine that all or a portion of these benefits are taxable, the University will add the value of the benefit received to the employee's income and will withhold appropriate taxes for the amount of the benefit.
Retirees and deceased employee dependents will receive appropriate IRS documents reflecting the taxable benefit received.
350.3 RESPONSIBILITY
3.1 Department Heads and Supervisors
Responsible to administer this policy for employees within their departments while considering the needs of the department.
3.2 Office of Human Resources
Responsible to administer this policy for retirees, their spouses, and dependent children and for the spouses and dependent children of deceased employees. Responsible to assist department heads and supervisors in administering this policy.
3.3 Employees
If taking courses during regular working hours, employees must coordinate course times with supervisors to reduce interference with the operation of the department. All employees must follow the normal registration procedures.
Responsible for taxes, as appropriate.
