UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH POLICY 07-11-01
CATEGORY: PERSONNEL
SECTION: Staff Educational Benefits
SUBJECT: Employee/Spouse/Dependent Scholarships for Staff
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1994 (Published December 22, 1995)
PAGE(S): 4
I. SCOPE
This policy establishes the scholarships available under the
University of Pittsburgh Benefits Program, the terms of the
scholarships, and the criteria for determining the eligibility
of:
- Staff members, staff spouses, and dependent children of
staff to receive tuition scholarships if enrolled at the
University of Pittsburgh.
- Dependent children of staff to receive tuition scholarships
if enrolled at other accredited institutions.
- Dependent children of staff to receive tuition scholarships
if enrolled at Falk School.
II. POLICY
The University provides the following educational benefits to
eligible staff. Effective with the Spring Term, 92-2, all staff
members and their dependents receiving these benefits are
classified as Pennsylvania residents for tuition assessment, with
the exception of those staff members classified as Non-Immigrant
(Citizen Code FS).
STAFF SCHOLARSHIPS
Regular staff may take advantage of the employee scholarship
benefit beginning with the first term after the successful
completion of the initial provisional period of employment with
the University.
Regular, full-time staff are eligible to receive a tuition
scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh, in any academic
degree program, covering:
- The first eight credits taken each 15 week term for those
studying for a first degree.
- The first six credits each 15 week term for those with a
degree, regardless of the level of the courses.
Regular full-time staff enrolled in a non-degree program who have
not completed their first degree are eligible for a tuition
scholarship covering:
- The first eight credits taken each 15 week term.
Regular part-time staff receive a prorated share of either six or
eight credits (depending on their degree status). The pro rata
share corresponds to the percentage of the standard full-time
work week of 37-1/2 hours. (Spouses and children of regular part-
time staff are not eligible for education benefits.)
If the employee enrolls in the University's External Studies
Program (UESP), a maximum of 11 credits per term are covered by
the scholarship for a first undergraduate degree and a maximum of
eight credits per term for a subsequent undergraduate degree.
The scholarship covers undergraduate and graduate tuition for the
allowable number of credits, except for the portion per credit
which is the responsibility of the staff member. This portion is
as follows. All other fees and charges are the responsibility of
the student.
- For Employee - 3% of undergraduate and 10% of graduate
tuition rate per credit. To enable staff to complete their
degree through continuous enrollment, the $5 per credit
charge will be maintained for those staff who enrolled in
Fall 94-1, Spring 94-2, or Summer 94-3; and new hires whose
provisional period commenced not later than 9/1/94, with
registration taking place the first term immediately
following completion of the provisional period.
- For Spouse of Employee - 10% of undergraduate and graduate
tuition rate per credit. The $5 per credit charge applies
as above.
- For Dependent Children - See "DEPENDENT CHILDREN
SCHOLARSHIPS" section below.
The scholarship program outlined above will not cover full-time
tuition at either the undergraduate or graduate level. Any staff
member may enroll as a full-time student only with the approval
of the departmental administrator. If approved, the staff member
must at their own expense, absorb the difference between credits
covered by the benefit and the amount of credits required for
full-time student status.
SPOUSE SCHOLARSHIPS
Spouses of regular full-time staff may take advantage of the
staff spouse scholarship benefit beginning with the first term
after the employee has completed 12 consecutive months of
employment with the University.
The scholarship covers six credits per term, provided the staff
member's spouse is enrolled in a course for academic credit in
either a degree or certificate program.
Proof of marriage must be furnished when applying for the
scholarship.
DEPENDENT CHILDREN SCHOLARSHIPS
Within the context of the educational benefits program, the
following two requirements for dependency must be met:
1. The student must be a natural, adopted, or step child of the
employee.
2. The student must be listed as a child dependent on the
employee's Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return for
the calendar year most applicable to the academic term for
which scholarship application is being made.
The University requires documentation to verify dependency
status.
Dependent Children Attending the University of Pittsburgh
The dependent children of regular full-time staff may take
advantage of the employee dependent child scholarship benefit
beginning with the first term after the employee has completed
the provisional period of employment with the University.
- The scholarship covers full undergraduate tuition at the
University of Pittsburgh.
- The dependent child is eligible for a maximum of 12 terms of
full- or part-time study in an undergraduate program leading
to a first baccalaureate degree.
- Registration for less than the maximum credit load allowed
in Fall, Spring, or Summer uses one of the 12 allowable
terms. Also, dependent children attending high school and
registering for courses in a term at the University uses one
term of the 12 allowable if they matriculate at the
University.
Dependent Children Attending Other Institutions Not Part of the
Tuition Exchange Scholarship Program
As of 9/1/94, this program was discontinued. However, it remains
available as follows.
The University has a scholarship program for dependent children
of regular full-time staff hired prior to September 1, 1989 who
receive an annual salary of at least $17,500. Employees hired on
or after September 1, 1989 must receive an annual salary of at
least $40,000 to receive dependent tuition scholarships to
colleges or universities other than the University of Pittsburgh.
In addition, the employee must have been hired by 9/1/94 or have
accepted in writing an offer of employment by 9/1/94.
- The dependent child may attend any other accredited college
or university as a full-time or part-time student.
- The scholarship covers tuition up to a maximum of the in-
state, full-time undergraduate tuition for two terms in the
College of Arts and Sciences at the Pittsburgh Campus per
year for a maximum of four academic years.
- A student who has not used the maximum per year and wishes
to attend another institution or the University of
Pittsburgh for the remainder of that academic year as a full-
or part-time undergraduate may have the balance applied to
that tuition.
- For students transferring from another college or university
to the University of Pittsburgh, each academic year at
another institution will be equivalent to two terms at the
University of Pittsburgh.
- Dependent children attending high school and registering for
courses at the University of Pittsburgh will have the
tuition payment deducted from the maximum scholarship amount
if they matriculate at another college or university.
Falk School Scholarships
Falk School scholarships up to one quarter tuition are available
to dependent children of regular full-time staff employees who
have been on the University payroll for 12 consecutive months.
- Operated by the School of Education, the Falk School
consists of nine non-graded classes, kindergarten through
eighth grade.
The children are admitted through the regular procedures of Falk
School. See Procedure 09-05-16, Falk School: Tuition and Fees.
RETIRED/SEPARATED STAFF
Eligibility of separated, disabled, retired, or deceased
employees for the above scholarships is established in Policy 07-
11-02, Effect of Separation on Eligibility for Staff Scholarship
Benefits.
TAX WITHHOLDING ON TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS
Education benefits for employees are subject to Federal, State,
and Local taxation regulations as are in effect from time to time
with respect to the following:
1. Matriculation of the employee being classified as graduate
level.
2. Exclusion from taxable income for educational benefits up to
a maximum annual amount.
3. Exclusion from taxable income for educational benefits if
certain requirements and conditions are fulfilled.
Separate regulations also apply to the following other categories
of education benefits of employees:
1. An employee whose spouse's matriculation is classified at
the graduate level.
2. An employee whose dependent child is enrolled at an
accredited institution other than the University of
Pittsburgh.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Scholarships are awarded regardless of the grades received in any
course. However, eligibility for a scholarship does not
guarantee admission to or retention in any academic program.
Scholarships are applied to tuition only; all other fees are the
responsibility of the student.
Scholarships issued by the University are subject to review,
adjustment, or cancellation for any of the following reasons:
- Change in student status.
- Academic withdrawal or dismissal from the University.
- Change in employment status.
Staff members who have been identified as being in default on
State, Federal, or institutional educational loans are not
eligible for tuition remission benefits until they have provided
the University with evidence that the default condition has been
corrected.
III. REFERENCES
Procedure 07-11-01, Employee/Spouse/Dependent Scholarships
Policy 07-11-02, Effect of Separation on Eligibility for Staff
Scholarship Benefits
Policy 07-06-08, Domestic Partner Benefits
Procedure 07-06-08, Domestic Partner Benefits
Procedure 09-05-16, Falk School: Tuition and Fees
Policy 09-03-01, Tuition Exchange Scholarship Program