Fayetteville Policies and Procedures 512.0

Tuition Waiver Employment Benefit

The University extends the employment benefit of a tuition waiver as established through Board Policy 440.1, and consistent with the guidelines contained in UA Systemwide Policies and Procedures 445.1. The administration of this employee benefit at the Fayetteville campus is as follows:

Eligible
1. See the Related Policy Document: Employee Tuition Waiver Chart for a Definition of Terms regarding eligibility
2. Full-time (100% appointed)
3. Active employee (not on leave without pay except workers compensation, military or family leave)
4. Enrollees must meet normal admissions requirements
5. Must be employed as of the final day of regular registration following continuous employment in a full-time position with the University for one complete fall or spring semester (see the Related Policy Document: Employee Tuition Waiver Chart for Exceptions to Current Policy)
Discount
1. See the Related Policy Document: Employee Tuition Waiver Chart for details regarding waivers for Employees and Spouse or Dependents effective May 1, 2017
2. As mandated by federal law, the university may be required to withhold or report applicable taxes on the value of educational benefits
3. Waiver benefits are applicable to:
  1. resident (see Board Policy 520.6) tuition only; all applicable fees are to be paid in full for any enrollment
  2. for credit classes only
  3. audited classes on a space available basis only
  4. web based or distance education courses offered through any campus unit of the University of Arkansas or through eVersity
  5. specified off-campus classes only if there is sufficient enrollment by full-fee paying students to meet the minimum enrollment (as established by the offering unit) to recover the costs of offering the class
4. Waiver benefits do not cover:
  1. Law School or Medical School
  2. self-paced online correspondence courses
  3. the receipt of a waiver as both an employee and as a spouse or dependent child of an employee
5. See the Related Policy Document: Employee Tuition Waiver Chart for Exceptions to Current Policy per UASP 445.1 2. C.
  1. enrolled in a degree program at reduced rates under Board Policy 440.1 prior to 05/01/17
  2. remain continuously enrolled in the same degree program
Employee Enrollment
1. All enrollment at reduced rates must be approved by an authorized supervisor
2. Class enrollment is permissible on a space available basis starting after the end of the open registration period for the term; if early registration is required for the relevant degree program, a registration exception can be requested through the appropriate college representative
3. Total employee enrollment at reduced rates shall not exceed eleven semester credit hours per fall and spring semester; and shall not exceed a total of six semester credit hours during the summer terms
4. All hours taken above the maximum will be charged at the full rate
Work Assignment Responsibility
1. This policy does not assume that release time from regular working hours will be automatically permitted, it is a privilege, not a right
2. Release time must be requested from a supervisor or departmental representative with the authority to grant release time within the requestor's department or unit, and may be subject to additional approval requirements established by the department; granting of release time is at the discretion of the authorized reviewer
3. When evaluating a request for release time, the supervisor shall consider, among other things:
  1. job performance
  2. direct applicability of the course work to the position
  3. benefit to the employee
  4. benefit to the university
  5. department's ability to maintain its necessary office hours and functions
4. Courses taken at the Fayetteville campus during working hours are limited to one course per semester, not to exceed five credit hours
5. A supervisor may require the employee to take annual leave for the hours spent in class during regular working hours
6. An employee must schedule annual leave for the full day of intersession courses
Posting the Award
1. Employee tuition waivers will be posted by the Treasurer’s Office shortly after tuition calculation each semester (the Spring tuition waivers will not post until January to consistently post the taxable benefit each year)
2. Spouse and dependent waivers will be posted by the Office of Financial Aid on or after the census date
3. University or state funded scholarships may be awarded to students who are also eligible for a tuition discount. The dependent tuition waiver is first applied to the student’s tuition and fees and then the University or state scholarship is applied to any remaining tuition and fees and room and board. The tuition discount and scholarship together cannot exceed the total tuition and fees and room and board for the student.
4. Students may also be eligible for other state funds such as Arkansas Rehabilitation. The discount and student funds together cannot exceed the total tuition and fees and room and board for the student.
Definitions
1. Regular Working Hours: are defined as working hours the supervisor assigns, usually 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for standard shift employees. The lunch period and breaks are considered a part of the normal working day; therefore, a class taken during these times will require release time approval.
2. Release Time: is defined as time taken during regular working hours when the employee will be taking courses at reduced rates. Release time, if granted at the discretion of the authorized reviewer, can be approved in one of two ways:

Revised May 1, 2017
Reformatted for Web May 6, 2014
Revised April, 2013
Revised March 2009
Revised February 2009
Revised October 2007
Revised March 2007
Revised August 2006
Revised July 2005
Revised July 2004
Revised November 2003
Revised February 2003
Revised November 2000
Revised July 1997
Revised March 30, 1993