C.11 Fee Waivers and Course Enrollments‌

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Fee Waiver Policy for Credit Courses

The following are applicable to all eligible groups:

  • The fee waiver is not applicable for courses in which a student enrolls as an “auditor”.
  • The fee program includes a percentage waiver for the following lab and miscellaneous fees:
    1. All Mandatory Fees
    2. All Program Fees
    3. All Lab Fees
    4. Comprehensive Learning Fee
    5. Student Activity Fees
    6. Counseling Service Fees
    7. College Fees
  • If fee is not listed above, then it is not eligible for the fee waiver.
  • Consistent with the policies of Indiana’s Division of Student Financial Aid, the University’s commitment is limited to tuition and applicable fees remaining after all other sources of assistance are applied.
  • Classes dropped after the 100% refund period count toward the semester and academic year credit hour limits. Refunds for classes dropped or complete withdrawals will be calculated according to established refund policies. If an employee terminates employment during a semester or session in which a fee waiver has been granted, the amount of the fee waiver will be adjusted according to the University's refund schedule.
  • Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code authorizes educational institutions to provide qualified tuition reductions for it's employees, eligible retirees, and certain associated individuals (spouses and dependent children). Section 117 allows fee waivers for undergraduate level courses taken by eligible employees and retirees (along with spouses and dependent children) to be excluded from taxable income.
  • Section 117 allows fee waivers for graduate level courses taken for credit toward an undergraduate degree to qualify for the exclusion.
  • Section 117 allows fee waivers for graduate level courses taken by an eligible employee who is a teaching or research assistant to be excluded from taxable income.
  • Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code authorizes employers to provide educational assistance programs for employees and retirees.  Section 127 allows an eligible employee or retiree to receive fee waivers of up to $5,250 per calendar year for graduate level courses not taken for credit toward an undergraduate degree to be excluded from taxable income.  Fee waivers above the $5,250 limit are treated as taxable income.
  • Section 127 educational assistance is an employee/retiree benefit; therefore, fee waivers for graduate level courses taken by a spouse or dependent child of an eligible employee or retiree are treated as taxable income to the associated employee or retiree, unless the graduate level course is taken for credit toward an undergraduate degree.
  • The above tax treatment is only applicable to courses taken at University of Southern Indiana.
  • In accepting a fee waiver, the employee/student grants to the executive director of Human Resources and his/her designee access to the employee/student course records for the purpose of ensuring appropriate use of this benefit.
  • The academic year is defined as fall semester through the final summer session.

Faculty and Staff Members

Eligible employees, employed by the first day of class and enrolled in courses at the University of Southern Indiana may receive:

  • A waiver of full fees (as listed in a-g above) for undergraduate and graduate courses.
  • The fee waiver applies to not more than 15 credit hours per academic year with a maximum of six credit hours per fall semester, six credit hours per spring semester and six credit hours per summer term, up to a maximum of 12 summer credit hours.  
  • Enrollment in credit courses for any employee must not conflict with assigned duties. Guidelines for class attendance during the workday are contained in Section D.11. Faculty should also refer to “Faculty Enrollment in Courses” in Section III of the Faculty Handbook.
  • Eligibility is extended to those employees considered as official retirees (including disabled retirees) of the University and continues during the period of retirement. Retirees are eligible for Fee Waivers and receive comparable benefits to active employees.
  • In certain limited situations, part-time regular (non-temporary) employees may be eligible for fee waivers for individual job-related courses or for all courses that lead to a USI undergraduate degree, if such courses or degree are required by external regulatory bodies. Such special circumstances require approval of the applicable dean and provost or vice president, in coordination with the executive director, Human Resources.

Spouses of Faculty and Staff

Spouses of eligible employees may receive:

  • A waiver of 75 percent of student fees (as listed in a-g above) for undergraduate and graduate courses.
  • Eligibility is extended to the spouse of those employees considered as official retirees (including disabled retirees) of the University and continues during the period of retirement.
  • Eligibility also is extended to a spouse of a deceased employee if the spouse was enrolled at the time of the employee’s death.
  • Benefits for widows or widowers terminate at the end of the semester following the date or remarriage.
  • The fee waiver will continue until the first degree is awarded but not to exceed 132 credit hours attempted.

Dependent Children of Faculty and Staff

A dependent child is defined as a child, stepchild, or a child whose legal guardian is a benefit-eligible employee and on the first day of the academic terms for which the fee waiver is requested:

  • is 23 years of age or under, and
  • is unmarried, and
  • meets the IRS Support test as a dependent of the employee or spouse.

Proof of guardianship may be required. Proof of dependency is required.

Dependent children of eligible employees may receive:

  • A waiver of 75 percent of student fees (as listed in a-g above) for undergraduate and graduate courses. Dependent children will receive a maximum of 75 percent of applicable tuition and fees even if more than one parent is a benefit-eligible employee at the University.
  • Eligibility is extended to dependent children of those employees considered as official retirees (including disabled retirees) of the University and continues during the period of retirement.
  • Eligibility also is extended to children of a deceased employee if the dependent children were enrolled at the time of the employee’s death.
  • Benefits under this policy are extended to surviving dependent children of an active employee
    • whose death occurs while an active employee and
    • who at the time of death, has achieved ten (10) years or more of full-time employment and
    • if the dependent child has begun grade 9 or higher and enrolls at USI following high school graduation or transfers if attending if attending another college after death of active employee.
  • The fee waiver will continue until the first degree is awarded but not to exceed 132 credit hours attempted.

Fee Waiver Application for Noncredit Courses

Eligibility: 

  • Full-time USI employees and official USI retirees may apply to participate in this benefits for eligible on-campus noncredit courses offered by Lifelong Learning within Outreach and Engagement.
  • Eligible noncredit courses include most on-campus professional development, continuing education, personal enrichment, and fitness or recreation courses offered by Lifelong Learning within Outreach and Engagement.
  • Enrollment and Fee Waiver Application for noncredit courses must be submitted before the course start date to be considered.
  • Restriction and Employee/Retiree Charges:
  • Spouses and dependent children of USI employees are not eligible for this benefit.
  • Noncredit courses provided by third-party providers, such as most online courses and industry-recognized certifications, do not qualify for the noncredit fee waiver.
  • Travel, study programs, and most other off-campus courses are not eligible for the noncredit fee waiver.
  • The Basic Orientation Plus® Safety training courses held on and off campus are not eligible for the noncredit fee waiver.
  • Existing policies regarding break-even points and space availability might restrict enrollment or participation in a noncredit course.
  • Direct expenses for a noncredit course, such as but not limited to books, materials, supplies, and food or beverages, are not eligible for the noncredit fee waiver and are the responsibility of the employee or retiree. Employees may contact their departmental supervisor and fiscal agent to request consideration for departmentally covered direct expenses related to certain eligible job-related courses before submitting the fee waiver application.

Information, Enrollment, and Application Process: 

  1.  Visit USI.edu/Lifelong Learning to explore noncredit courses.
  2. Contact Lifelong Learning at outreach@usi.edu or call 812-464-1989 to confirm noncredit course eligibility, restrictions, employee fee responsibility estimates (books, materials, supplies, food/beverage, etc.), availability, and registration to secure your spot.
  3. After contacting Lifelong Learning to secure your course enrollment, complete the Fee Waiver Application for Noncredit Courses at www.usi.edu/hr/benefits/tuition-fee-waiver. The application is subject to approval by the appropriate personnel.