PURPOSE

This policy sets forth the terms and conditions governing the Tuition Remission benefit available to qualified Spouses, Domestic Partners and Dependent Children of eligible Professional Staff Members of Drexel University. The Tuition Remission benefit offers development opportunities to qualified Spouses, Domestic Partners and Dependent Children of eligible full-time Professional Staff Members by providing tuition assistance for credit and non-credit undergraduate courses and certificate programs taken at Drexel University.

APPLICABILITY

This policy applies to qualified Spouses, Domestic Partners and Dependent Children of eligible Full-Time Professional Staff Members of Drexel University, including full-time Professional Staff Members affiliated with a collective bargaining unit,  as negotiated.

IMPLEMENTATION

Implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the Department of Human Resources.

ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT

The Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Operating Officer is the Drexel University official responsible for the administration of this policy.

POLICY

Drexel University provides Tuition Remission for undergraduate classes, non-credit undergraduate courses and certificate programs to qualified Spouses, Domestic Partners and Dependent Children of eligible full-time Professional Staff Members.

DEFINITIONS

Domestic Partner means an individual (18 years or older) who is in a committed, amorous relationship with another individual (18 years or older) of the same or different gender. A domestic partner is neither married to, nor related by blood or adoption, to the other individual. Neither individual may be married to, or in another domestic partnership or civil union with someone else.

Drexel Gift Aid is defined as the sum of need-based grant, merit scholarship, and any other Drexel institutional aid.

Eligible Employees are full-time Professional Staff Members of Drexel University.

Full-Time Employee is defined as an employee who is regularly scheduled to work 40 hours per week or 100 percent appointment.

Professional Staff Member is defined as an individual employed in any non-faculty category by Drexel University or Drexel affiliate, including an individual who is deemed to be either exempt or non-exempt under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and/or applicable state law as well as those affiliated with a collective bargaining unit.

Qualified Family Member is defined to include an Eligible Employee's:

1. Spouse, as evidenced by a copy of an authentic and verifiable certificate of marriage.
2. Domestic Partner, as evidenced by an authentic and verifiable certificate of marriage or civil union, or if not married or legally joined by civil union, by a completed and signed Domestic Partnership Certification Form [PDF].
3. Dependent Child, a child who qualifies as a dependent of an Eligible Employee for federal income tax purposes for the period during which Tuition Remission would apply who is 24 years of age or younger; tuition remission will cease at the end of the term in which the dependent turns 25.

Tuition Remission provides qualified spouses, Domestic Partners and dependent children of eligible Professional Staff Members with a tuition waiver for selected Drexel University academic programs providing all requirements are met.

University refers to Drexel University, but does not include its affiliated entities.

PROCEDURES

Eligibility

1. Once the Eligible Employee completes one (1) year of full-time benefits eligible employment, Tuition Remission is available to Qualified Family Members at 20% per year, up to five (5) years at 100%. Tuition Remission at 20% is available at the start of the next term after the employee's one-year anniversary date has occurred and an additional 20% each subsequent employment anniversary date, up to five years at 100%.
2. Qualified Family Members of retired Eligible Employees are eligible to receive Tuition Remission to the same extent that the benefit was available immediately prior to retirement, provided that the Qualified Family Member has met Drexel University admission requirements and the retired Professional Staff Member meets the retirement criteria set forth in the Retirement Eligibility and Benefits Policy, HR-21.
3. If an Eligible Employee, whose Qualified Family Member is enrolled in a course paid through Tuition Remission, voluntarily resigns from employment prior to the end of the term, Tuition Remission will end as of the date the Eligible Employee ceases employment and the Qualified Family Member will be personally responsible for the prorated cost of tuition for that term.
4. If an Eligible Employee is involuntarily terminated from employment for cause or performance, Tuition Remission for a Qualified Family Member will end as of the date the Eligible Employee ceases employment and the Qualified Family Member will be personally responsible for the prorated cost of tuition for that term.
5. If an Eligible Employee is involuntarily terminated from employment due to layoff or other reduction-in-force, Tuition Remission for a Qualified Family Member will cease at the end of the academic term in which the termination occurs. Eligibility to participate in the Tuition Remission program for any subsequent term ceases.
6. Dependent Children of Drexel University Professional Staff Members are eligible to receive tuition remission through the age of 24. The benefit will cease at the end of the term of which the child dependent is currently enrolled upon turning 25 years of age.
7. In the event of a divorce and a spouse is enrolled and receiving tuition remission; the benefit will cease on the date stated on the divorce decree and the Eligible Employee will be personally responsible for the prorated cost of tuition for that term.
8. Active Staff or Drexel Retiree that dies must have completed the following in order for their Dependent child(ren) to receive tuition remission until the completion of their degree at Drexel University:
   • Dependent of the deceased must have: 1) begun their course work before the employee's death, or 2) officially enrolled at Drexel University at the time of the employee's death.
9. Any abuse of this policy, as determined by the University in its sole discretion, may result in the suspension or loss of the Tuition Remission benefit.

Scope of Benefit

1. Tuition Remission is available to Qualified Family Members once the Eligible Employee has completed five (5) years of full-time benefits eligible employment and is available at the start of the next term after the employee's five-year anniversary date occurred. Tuition Remission is available at 20% to Qualified Family Members for the academic term that begins after the Eligible Employee completes one (1) year of full-time benefits eligible employment, with an additional 20% added each year (e.g., 40% after 2nd year, etc.) up to 100% after five (5) years. This benefit becomes available after the employee’s one-year employment anniversary date.
2. Tuition Remission is not available to Qualified Family Members for graduate courses.
3. Tuition Remission covers the cost of tuition only. Any additional fees or expenses are the responsibility of the Qualified Family Member.
4. Tuition Remission for a Qualified Family Member may not be combined with Grant-in-Aid or Tuition Exchange benefits.
5. Total Drexel University financial assistance for Qualified Family Members deemed eligible for Tuition Remission will be the larger of Tuition Remission OR Drexel Gift Aid.
   1. Should Drexel Gift Aid be greater than Tuition Remission, the cost of tuition will be covered by Tuition Remission and any excess in the offered package will be covered by Drexel Gift Aid.
   2. Should Drexel Gift Aid be less than Tuition Remission, total Drexel financial assistance will be covered by Tuition Remission.
6. If the Qualified Family Member is the dependent child of two Eligible Employees, the years of service of the longer-tenured parent or guardian will be used to determine length of service for purposes of the Tuition Remission, and the years of service of the two Eligible Employees may not be combined for such purposes.

Application

All Qualified Family Members who plan to use Tuition Remission must apply for and be accepted into the University. The Tuition Remission application process follows the same timeline used by families to apply for institutional grants and scholarships:

The application process must be completed by the corresponding date outlined above so the review for Tuition Remission and other institutional grants and scholarships can be considered concurrently. If the applicant does not ultimately choose to attend Drexel, no further action is required.

1. To qualify, the Eligible Employee of the Family Member must complete the Tuition Remission Application process through DrexelOne for the academic year during which she or he is applying to receive Tuition Remission. Applications must be submitted for each academic year you intend to receive the tuition remission benefit Incomplete applications or applications containing inaccurate information will not be processed/accepted.
2. The application for a Dependent Child must include the following documentation demonstrating that the child qualifies as a dependent for federal income tax purposes:
1. Page one of the Eligible Employee's most recently filed federal income tax return, with financial information and social security numbers redacted; in addition to
2. IRS Form 4506-T, irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4506-t
3. The application for a Spouse must include a copy of an authentic and verifiable certificate of marriage.
4. The application for a Domestic Partner must include an authentic and verifiable certificate of marriage or civil union, or if not married or legally joined by civil union, by a completed and signed Domestic Partnership Certification Form [PDF].

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT NOT AFFECTED

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated in this policy, nothing herein is intended to alter the at-will status of any Professional Staff Member. Drexel University at all times retains the right to terminate any at-will Professional Staff Member at any time for any lawful reason, or for no reason at all.