USF Educational Assistance Policy

Regular full-time employees (working at least 30 hours per week) may qualify for a tuition waiver for themselves, for their spouse and for their dependent children. This benefit is available upon hire.

Benefits as described above are available to employees and spouses for all college programs, excluding semester or year long Study Abroad . Tuition benefits for dependent children apply only to the traditional undergraduate program.

Beginning in the summer of 2005, children of employees must meet the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) criteria for dependent status in order to qualify for this benefit.

All class attendance by employees requires approval by the supervisor. Class attendance during the employee's scheduled work day should be avoided whenever there are alternatives for evening classes, online classes, etc. If class attendance during the day is approved by the supervisor, arrangements to cover the department work schedule must be made without incurring additional costs to the University (i.e. student workers, overtime by other department staff, etc.).

Any of the tuition benefits which are listed must be applied for at the beginning of each fiscal year, or 30 days prior to the term of entry. The tuition waiver will be granted only during the period of active employment and may not be claimed retroactively. Employees who separate from employment before a class is completed will be charged a pro-rated tuition amount.

All employees attending USF classes are required to complete a Staff Benefits form once per fiscal year or 30 days prior to the beginning date of the entry term. Forms can be obtained in Financial Aid Services or online.

A. Undergraduate
Full-time employees, their spouses and dependent children are eligible to receive a tuition waiver applicable to regular under­graduate tuition. This waiver does not include fees. To qualify for a tuition waiver, employees, spouses and dependent children must meet regular admission requirements and apply for assistance through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and the Federal Pell Grant program by completing the Free Application for Federal student Aid (FAFSA). Employees may complete the USF Estimate form as an alternative to completing the FAFSA to see if the dependent would qualify for the federal or state programs. Financial aid applications do not have to be completed for persons who already have a Bachelor's degree, or who have had the financial aid application requirement waived by the Director of Financial Aid. Dependent children must meet the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) criteria for dependent status.

B. Graduate
A tuition waiver is granted to full-time employees and their spouses for graduate courses. Dependent children are not eligible for tuition waiver for graduate courses. The following apply as guidelines:

  1. The employee and spouse must meet the usual admission criteria. Faculty shall be subject to all rules and regulations governing graduate studies. 
  2. Acceptance into a course or the program is on a space available basis; first priority shall be afforded the applicant not affiliated with the University.
  3. It shall be an employee's responsibility to ensure that such matriculation does not interfere with his or her primary responsibilities as a faculty member, administrator, or support staff member and to ensure that such matriculation does not constitute or lead to professional conflict of interest or special treatment.