Policy

The Tuition Waiver Program for Spouses, Domestic Partners, and Dependent Children provides tuition assistance to eligible spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children of full-time, permanent faculty and staff, and faculty and staff on an approved leave of absence, during the student’s full-time or part-time, matriculated enrollment at Ramapo College

Reason for Policy

To provide a benefit to recruit and retain qualified employees

To Whom Does The Policy Apply

Spouses, domestic partners and dependent children of full-time faculty and staff

Related Documents

Procedure

Form

Contacts

Human Resources
(201) 684-7506

Program Description

The Tuition Waiver Program provide assistance to eligible spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children of full-time, permanent faculty and staff during the student’s full-time or part-time, matriculated enrollment at Ramapo College of New Jersey. The College provides this program as a benefit to employees and reserves the right to suspend the benefit at its discretion.

Dependent Definitions

1. Full-time faculty and staff – Those faculty and staff who are in full-time lines employed for a minimum of one year before the start of the first day of class for the course(s).
2. Permanent faculty and staff – Those faculty who are tenured or tenure-track; those classified staff who are “provisional” for at least one year or “permanent” as defined by NJAC-4A; those unclassified staff who are in the five years of probationary service or who have a multi-year contract.
3. Spouse – The legally recognized union of two eligible individuals
4. Domestic Partner – Same-sex domestic partner with a Certificate of Domestic Partnership issued by any New Jersey local registrar or a similar official document issued legally from a political jurisdiction in another State.
5. Dependent Children – Children (biological, legally adopted, or legal wards) of faculty and staff who do not meet qualifications for independent student status.
6. Independent Student Status – have one or more of the following characteristics, 24 years or older; married; is a veteran of the U.S. armed forces.

Criteria and Eligibility Requirements

• The employee must have a minimum of one year of full-time service and must be a permanent employee before the start of the first day of class for the course(s).
• The employee must be a full-time employee or be on an approved leave of absence from the College (up to a one year maximum), otherwise the tuition waiver will cease at the end of the academic semester in which the status changed.
• If an employee should die while employed in an eligible position after the dependent was admitted or enrolled, the dependent will be eligible to complete the first baccalaureate or first graduate degree within a five-year period.
• If employment ends, for any reason other than death, before the first day of classes, the dependent will be required to pay full tuition for the courses taken that semester.
• Students must be the legal spouse, certified domestic partner, or dependent child of an employee (as defined) and not meet qualifications for independent student status.
• Students must meet the College’s academic criteria for admission, be matriculated, studying for their first baccalaureate or first graduate degree, and must remain in good academic standing, according to the Academic Standing Policy, during participation in the program.   If the student is not in good academic standing and no longer eligible for the Program, she/he will be readmitted to the program immediately upon regaining acceptable academic standing (Academic Standing Policy).
• Employees/dependents will be subject to the imposition of hold flags, late fees, and deregistration when the fees associated with registration are not paid by the payment deadline published by the Office of Student Accounts.
• Students must maintain full-time or part-time matriculated status.
• A new Tuition Waiver form must be completed each semester.
• Any false statement, misrepresentation or factual error when applying for a tuition waiver, any violation of any provision of the rules, requirements, procedures and/or regulations of the program/College may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Employees, who are eligible to receive a tuition waiver, agree that if they are found to have violated any provision of the program or the rules and regulations of the College they will:

a. repay any tuition waived had such event not occurred; and

b. forfeit the right to receive any future tuition waiver.

To receive benefits:

1. The dependent must apply, be accepted, and enroll/matriculate in the College prior to applying for tuition waiver.
2. The dependent must register for classes.
3. The dependent must complete and sign the “Dependent” section of the Tuition Waiver form.
4. The employee must complete the Tuition Waiver form and obtain all required approvals.
5. The employee must take the Tuition Waiver form to the Registrar for signature.
6. The Registrar’s Office will sign the Tuition Waiver form and forward to the People Operations and Employee Resources Department for processing.
7. The People Operations and Employee Resources Department will review the Tuition Waiver form and if approved, will forward the approval to the Office of Student Accounts and the Financial Aid Office for the tuition waiver to be processed.

Tuition Remission Benefit:

Students may receive a tuition waiver of 40% of tuition costs only in a program leading to the first baccalaureate or first graduate degree up to a maximum of the total number of credits required for completion. In no case will the tuition waiver be granted beyond eight semesters or the number of credits required for completion of the program.

1. Tuition waiver covers tuition costs that are not met by other funding sources available through financial aid, including state grants, institutional scholarships, and external scholarships. Loans are excluded.  Any form of financial aid will be applied to the tuition portion of the bill — not to exceed the actual cost of tuition. All other fees and costs are the responsibility of the employee.
2. Students may receive tuition waiver benefits for courses taken during the fall, spring, and summer semesters, with the exception of summer online courses.
3. Tuition will be at the in-state rate regardless of employee’s state of residence.