Tuition Remission

General Policies

Employees are eligible for tuition remission benefits after they have been actively employed at the University for a minimum of six (6) months. The benefit will be effective the semester or session following this six-month period. This applies to all program categories unless otherwise stated.

If an employee terminates after the start of a semester in which he or she is receiving tuition remission (for self or others), tuition remission will be effective for the remainder of the semester or session. Employees are not obligated to repay any tuition costs for that semester. They are ineligible for tuition remission for any subsequent classes or semesters upon termination.

Students must meet all admission requirements as outlined by the specific undergraduate or graduate program or student-at-large status. Class attendance may not interfere with a full-work week if the student is employed at Dominican.

Forms must be submitted each semester prior to registration.  A new form must be submitted if there are any changes in course registration during the add/drop period.

Any course selected by a tuition remission recipient must have an adequate enrollment independent of (i.e. excluding the) tuition remission beneficiaries—neither too few nor too many non-tuition remission enrollees. Dominican University reserves the right to utilize its standard policy for course cancellation due to low enrollment in which enrollment is based on the number of non-tuition remission enrollees. For courses reaching maximum enrollment, priority will be given to non-tuition remission enrollees regardless of enrollment date.
 
Any employee’s child under the age of 26 will be considered a dependent under this policy and will be eligible for tuition remission benefits. Step-children of employees who are considered their dependents for tax purposes may also be eligible for tuition remission.
 
Tuition remission recipients are subject to the guidelines of the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress as outlined by the Office of Financial Aid. Tuition remission recipients are charged a minimal Tuition Remission fee for each class every semester to cover administrative costs.

Please Access Online Tuition Remission Form via MyDU

Items Excluded from Tuition Remission
  • Tuition remission covers the cost of tuition only. Tuition remission recipients must pay all fees such as but not limited to application fees, registration fees and any additional course fees.
  • Study abroad and other travel programs (both domestic and abroad) are not covered by tuition remission. 
  • Online/off-site programs conducted in partnership with other institutions or organizations are not covered. 
  • Private lessons, such as music, listed as "by arrangement" in the course schedule are not covered by tuition remission.
  • Only internships/practicums required for completion of major degree requirements will be covered.
  • Coursework for PhD will not be covered.
  • Coursework for master's programs in the Borra College of Health Sciences that have an enrollment cap and/or clinical requirements will not be covered.
Full Tuition Remission at Dominican University: Undergraduate Courses
  • Full-time faculty, administrators and full time and part-time 30 staff enrolled in traditional undergraduate courses are eligible for full-tuition remission limited to two classes per semester.
  • Full-time faculty, administrators and full-time and part-time 30 staff enrolled in accelerated undergraduate courses in the College of Applied Social Sciences are eligible for full-tuition remission limited to a maximum of twelve (12) credit hours per semester.
  • Spouses of full-time faculty, administrators and full-time and part-time 30 staff are eligible for full tuition remission.
  • Widowed spouses of deceased full-time employees are also eligible for full tuition remission if the employee was employed at the University for at least two years and was a full-time employee at the time of their death. Classes must be completed within ten years of the employee’s death.
  • Dependent children of full-time faculty, administrators and full-time and part-time 30 staff are eligible for full tuition remission.
  • Children of deceased full-time employees are eligible for full tuition remission if the employee was employed at the University for at least two years and was a full-time employee at the time of their death.
  • Nieces and nephews of vowed Sinsinawa Dominican faculty, administrators and full-time and part-time 30 staff are eligible for full tuition remission.
Required Application and Documentation  

To receive the tuition remission benefit, degree-seeking undergraduate students, must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is available online at studentaid.gov. Graduate students are not required to file a FAFSA to receive tuition remission.

Please refer to the FAFSA information on the Office of Financial Aid website for complete details related to filing FAFSA.

Students who have not completed their FAFSA and tuition remission form, prior to the start of the term will be subject to all applicable fees in the Office of Student Accounts.

Full Tuition Remission at Dominican University: Graduate Courses
  • Full-time faculty, administrators and full-time and part-time 30 staff enrolled in traditional graduate programs (BSB, BCHS, CASS) are eligible for full tuition remission limited to two classes per semester.
  • Full-time faculty, administrators and full-time and part-time 30 staff enrolled in accelerated graduate courses in the College of Applied Social Sciences (CASS) are eligible for full tuition remission limited to two classes or six credits per semester.
  • Spouses of full-time faculty, administrators and full-time and part-time 30 staff are eligible for full tuition remission.
  • Widowed spouses of deceased full-time employees are also eligible for full tuition remission if the employee was employed at the University for at least two years and was an active full-time Dominican employee at the time of their death. Classes must be completed within ten years of the employee’s death.
  • Dependent children of full-time faculty, administrators and full-time and part-time 30 staff are eligible for full tuition remission.
  • Children of deceased full-time employees are eligible for full tuition remission if the employee was employed at the University for at least two years and was an active full-time employee at the time of their death.
  • Nieces and nephews of vowed Sinsinawa Dominican faculty, administrators and staff are eligible for full tuition remission.
Tax Withholdings

Special Note regarding graduate tuition remission: Employees will be subject to tax withholding for graduate tuition remission received by all qualified persons who are associated with the employee. Employees whose own graduate tuition remission exceeds the current federal limit will be subject to tax withholdings. This is subject to changes in federal regulations.

Partial Tuition Remission at Dominican University
Adjunct Faculty and Part-time Athletic Coaches Eligibility for Undergraduate and Graduate Courses

Adjunct faculty members are eligible for partial tuition remission benefits based on the number of credit hours taught at the University. Tuition remission hours are accrued based on a one-to-one relationship to the credit hours taught. For example, a faculty member teaching nine credit hours during the year will accrue nine hours of available tuition remission.

Accrued tuition remission credits may be used for the faculty member, their spouse, or their dependent children. However, the bank of accrued credits is shared by all eligible recipients. For example, nine accrued credits could be divided by three recipients, each taking one three-credit course or one recipient taking three three-credit courses. The entire bank of accrued credits is not available for each potential recipient.

Part-time athletic coaches are eligible in the same manner, with each season representing the equivalent of a three-credit hour class.

The benefit begins accruing immediately, but the employee must accrue eighteen credit hours before they are eligible to utilize the benefit.  The employee must be scheduled to teach/coach in the academic year in which any of the accrued hours are utilized for tuition remission. Accrued hours are not affected by teaching or coaching gaps.

Part-time Staff and Administrators for Eligibility for Undergraduate and Graduate courses

Part-time staff and administrators are eligible for partial tuition remission benefits based on the number of hours worked at the University. Staff members may accrue credit hours to be used for tuition remission for the employee, the employee’s spouse, or the employee’s dependent children. Tuition remission hours are accrued at a rate of 1% of each hour worked, so a staff member working 1,000 hours during a year will accrue ten hours of available tuition remission.

Accrued tuition remission credits may be used for the employee, their spouse, or their dependent children. However, the bank of accrued credits is shared by all eligible
recipients. For example, nine accrued credits could be divided by three recipients each taking one three-credit course or one recipient taking three three-credit courses. The entire bank of accrued credits is not available for each potential recipient.
 
The benefit begins accruing immediately, but the employee must work 2,000 hours before he or she becomes eligible to utilize the benefit. Accrued hours are not affected by employment gaps.
 
Employees who switch from a full-time to a part-time status will accrue credit hours based on their cumulative work hours multiplied by the 1% rate.  [Six full years = 12,000 hours = 120 credit hours, or a child’s UG tuition]

Tuition Remission Benefits for Non-Dependent Children

As noted in the General Policies for Tuition Remission, any employee’s child, under the age of 26 will be considered a dependent under this policy and will be eligible for tuition remission benefits.   If a dependent child has been accepted and has matriculated into a degree-seeking program and turns 26 prior to the completion of that degree, they will continue to be eligible for the full tuition remission benefit (as defined) through the completion of that degree.   

The University recognizes that non-dependent children, defined as 26 and older, may find the need or have the desire to further their education. Non-dependent children, who fall outside the eligibility parameters as defined in this policy, may be eligible to receive partial tuition benefits based on the following guidelines:

  • The student must successfully complete and pay for all tuition and fees for at least the first 50% of the coursework required for the degree before being eligible to receive partial tuition benefit;
  • The university will provide up to 30 credits of tuition remission after the student provides a degree audit and a clear balance statement showing completion of required credits to OPC.
  • A child who completed a degree-program after turning 26 is not eligible to seek additional tuition remission benefits for another degree.
  • A non-dependent child may only receive partial benefits under this policy for one degree.  Acceptance and matriculation in a dual degree program is considered one request as long the acceptances were concurrent. 
  • All other requirements noted in General Policies for Tuition Remission will apply. 

In order to be considered for this benefit

  • The student must be accepted into a degree seeking program (PhDs and Physician Assistant classes are excluded from Tuition Remission).
  • The parent/employee must complete Tuition Remission Eligibility Waiver Request (pdf opens in a new window) and submit to the Office of People and Culture prior to the non-dependent child’s first semester in the program.
  • The request must be accompanied by a copy of the letter indicating full acceptance into a degree seeking program. Requests from students with conditional acceptance will not be considered for the waiver. 
  • Upon approval of the request, OPC will confirm with the parent/employee. 
  • After the required courses (50% of coursework) are completed and paid for in full, the employee must submit Tuition Remission forms each semester per the general policy. 
  • Non-dependent tuition remission recipients are subject to all other guidelines outlined in this policy. 

Employees may be subject to tax withholding for non-dependent tuition remission. Tuition benefits extended to non-dependent students may create a taxable event for the employee for federal and/or state purposes. Employees are encouraged to consult with a tax advisor if they have questions related to this.

Please download the Tuition Remission Eligibility Waiver Request Form (pdf opens in a new window) and submit to the Office of People and Culture. You will also need to Access Online Tuition Remission Form via MyDU

Alumni Audit Discount Program

If an employee is eligible for tuition remission and elects to audit a graduate course, but is not an alumnae/i of that program, he or she will be charged 100% of the course value and tuition remission will cover 100% of the tuition per the tuition remission policy. However, if the employee is an alumnae/i of the graduate course program, the charge is 50% of the course value and the tuition remission program will cover 100% of the 50% tuition. The employee or alumnae/i is responsible for fees and tax implications. See the Student Accounts website for complete details.