3.43 / Tuition Assistance Program for Spouses and Dependent Children

Effective: December 01, 2011Last Revised: December 01, 2018

  1. Purpose

    The purpose of this statement is to set forth Wichita State University policy with regard to the provision of tuition assistance to Spouses and Dependent Children of University employees.

  2. Policy Statement

    The Spouse and Dependent Children of a Benefit-Eligible Employee of the University may be eligible for tuition assistance in accordance with the parameters of this policy. All enrollment defined in this policy must be at Wichita State University.

  3. Definitions

    • Benefit-Eligible Employee - An employee holding a 0.5 FTE or greater position at the University as a faculty member, an unclassified professional employee or a university support staff. Employees of affiliated corporations or related corporations are not eligible for this benefit.

    • Dependent Children - Natural, step, or adopted children of a University Benefit-Eligible Employee, under the age of 26, and who are unmarried.

    • Spouse - A husband or wife as recognized under Kansas state law for purposes of marriage, including common law, or a domestic partner of a University Benefit-Eligible Employee.

  4. Procedures

    1. Spouses and Dependent Children must be admitted to a degree-seeking undergraduate academic program at the University to be eligible for tuition assistance. They may be part-time students. Only first undergraduate bachelor's degrees are eligible for tuition assistance. All Spouses and Dependent Children must be admitted into such programs in the semester for which they are applying for tuition assistance.

    2. To maintain eligibility for continuing tuition assistance, Spouses and Dependent Children must be in good academic standing and not on academic probation.

    3. If both Spouses are employees of the University, neither Spouse is eligible to receive tuition assistance from this program.

    4. The tuition assistance from this program is limited to the cost of undergraduate level resident courses.

    5. Tuition assistance is available for classes taken during the fall, spring, or summer semesters.

    6. The amount of tuition assistance provided for undergraduate courses will be limited to 50% of the cost of resident tuition up to a maximum of fifteen (15) credit hours of courses per semester.

    7. If both parents of a Dependent Child are Benefit Eligible Employees of the University, the Dependent Child will only be eligible for the maximum assistance as described above in paragraph 6.

    8. Tuition assistance will be limited to a maximum of sixty (60) credit hours in the Spouse or Dependent Child's academic career.

    9. Tuition assistance is based on the hours of enrollment on the last day for 100% tuition refund each semester. If courses are added after the last day of the 100% refund period, no additional funds will be disbursed. If a course(s) is withdrawn, it must be done before the last day of the 100% refund period for tuition assistance funds to be applied appropriately. If a course(s) is withdrawn after the refund period, the funds disbursed will be applied to the credit hour maximum even though the course(s) have not been completed.

    10. Tuition assistance for each semester may be applied in addition to any financial aid received by the Spouse or Dependent Child, up to the cost of attendance at the University, which includes tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies.

    11. Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until budgeted resources are exhausted.

    12. Human Resources, in collaboration with Financial Aid, will determine eligibility for applicants of the tuition assistance program.

    13. Eligible Employees must submit a completed application form for a Spouse and each Dependent Child who seeks tuition assistance to Human Resources by the specified deadline for each semester. Late applications will be automatically denied and there will be no exceptions.