Eligibility

Students must apply and be accepted to the University.

After completion of five months of employment, full-time and regular part-time employees, as well as spouses and dependent children, will be eligible for education cost waivers. Faculty, ESP, and SPFPA employees should refer to their applicable contract.

Tuition remission benefits are contingent upon space available for the class or classes. Employees and dependents may be ranked according to the number of credits earned during pre-registration periods to assist in determining who gets into the class if space is limited.

Classes may be taken only at periods of time which do not interfere with the employee's regular scheduled hours/work duties. Lunch periods may not be used for class attendance.

Tuition remission benefits will not apply for courses taken outside of the University, such as study abroad, unless such classes do not result in any monetary cost to the University.

The value of any course taken may be taxed as required by IRS regulations.

The Tuition Waiver benefits would replace any RMU institutional funds.

All applicable fees as well as room and board are the responsibility of the student.

Employees approved and participating in the program prior to August 1, 2006, will be "grandfathered." That is, fees will continue to be covered by the University as long as the employee remains in their current academic program.  Employees should refer to their governing contract.

If employment is terminated prior to the start of the semester, tuition remission benefits will cease.

To continue this benefit, the individual must remain in good academic standing. If enrollment ceases prior to the completion of the degree, or the dependent no longer qualifies as a dependent under the RMU education policy, the benefit will cease.

For full-time employees tuition will be waived according to the following schedule:

• The employee receives a 90% tuition waiver for undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education courses, excluding doctoral courses.
  
• The employee's spouse and dependent children receive a 90% tuition waiver for undergraduate and graduate courses, excluding doctoral courses.

For regular part-time employees tuition will be waived according to the following schedule:

• The employee receives a 45% tuition waiver for undergraduate and graduate courses, excluding doctoral courses.
  
• The employee's spouse and dependent children receive a 45% tuition waiver for undergraduate courses, excluding doctoral courses.

Any withdrawals from courses will follow the institutional withdrawal policy. Fees will not be refunded.

Dependent Children Criteria

Deceased or Disabled Employee

For an employee who dies or is disabled, the University will waive tuition for undergraduate and graduate courses for the spouse and/or dependent children. Eligibility is based on the employee's classification at the time of their death or disability. The benefit continues until the degree the spouse or dependent child is working on at the time of death is completed or a period of three years, whichever occurs sooner.

Retiree Summary

An employee who retires after at least 15 years of full-time service will continue to receive the benefits of the education program, including eligibility for spouse and dependent children. Eligibility is based on the employee's classification at retirement.

NOTE: A retiree is defined as anyone age 55 or over whose combination of age and years of service is equal to or greater than 75.

Effective: 8/1/2009

Updated:  11/30/2009