Tuition exemption policy changed to prevent waiver loss

Beginning in summer quarter, University employees will be able to take more than six credits per quarter under the Tuition Exemption Program without losing the exemption for six credits. Previously, taking more than six credits forced the employee to forfeit the six-credit exemption and pay full tuition for all credits taken. Under the new policy, the employee will receive the exemption for six credits, then pay the regular, per-credit charge for all additional credits.

The change came about, according to Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Karen Kavanagh, as human resources staff were reviewing policies and considering how they might be streamlined or made more flexible. “We realized that the old policy was not in the University’s best interest or in the employees’ best interest, and there were many complaints about its application,” she said. “We wanted to foster the notion that employee education is very important to us.”

The policy, which also applies to non-University employees who work for the State of Washington, requires that employees register on a “space available” basis after all other students are enrolled. It can also be used at other state educational institutions.

Employees wanting to use the Tuition Exemption Program must apply for admission to the University (or another eligible institution). Once accepted, they must apply for tuition exemption every quarter in which they want to have tuition for six credits waived. If the classes are being taken to improve job skills and with the unit head’s advance approval, employees are eligible to receive release time to attend classes. However, this is given at the department’s discretion, so employees should discuss their plans with their supervisor.

Kavanagh says she knows of no situations in which employees have wanted to take classes to improve their skills and have been denied the opportunity. “I think we all want our employees to be well educated. That just adds to their job,” she said. “But we have to give the departments discretion because each department works so differently in this organization.”

Tuition exemption cannot be used for courses taken through self-sustaining programs such as UW Extension or Distance Learning, or for independent study or internship programs. There are a few entry-level English and math courses that have been excluded as well.

Kavanagh says she is aware that many employees are interested in using their tuition waiver in other ways - for example, for their children’s tuition, or to take other kinds of classes, such as computer certification courses. She said that the program, along with many other programs in human resources is under review. “I think we are looking at all possibilities,” she said. “We’re not going to count anything out.”

In the meantime, human resources decided to move forward with changing the six-credit rule. “When something makes sense and it’s not written in a policy,” Kavanagh said, “you try to change it.”

The complete policy is posted at: http://www.washington.edu/admin/emprel/tuition.exemption.html ¶

Nancy Wick