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 foster the College’s ability to recruit and retain qualified employees and to outline the parameters for tuition waivers.

To Whom Does The Policy Apply

Spouses, domestic partners and dependent children of full-time faculty and staff with at least one calendar year of Ramapo College or NJ State service at the time of application.

Related Documents

Procedure 475: Tuition Waiver Program for Spouses, Domestic Partners, and Dependent Children of Full-time Faculty and Staff

Tuition Waiver Form

Contacts

People Operations & Employee Resources

Adopted: July 2005

Last Revised: August 2023

Program Description

The Tuition Waiver Program provides 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 with Ramapo College of New Jersey. The College provides this program as a benefit to employees with at least one year of College or State service at the time of application and reserves the right to suspend the benefit at its discretion.

I. Definitions
1. Full-time faculty and staff – Those faculty and staff who are in full-time lines employed for a minimum of one year of service to the College or the State before the start of the first day of class for the course(s) or who have completed at least one (1) year of full time service at another NJ Public College or University.

2. Permanent faculty and staff – Those faculty who are tenured or tenure-track or faculty in full-time lecturer lines; 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. Student – See College Policy 300YY: Definition of a Ramapo Student

4. Spouse – The legally recognized union of two eligible individuals.

5. 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.

6. Dependent Children – Children (biological, legally adopted, or legal wards) of faculty and staff who do not meet qualifications for independent student status.

7. 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.

II. Criteria and Eligibility Requirements
1. The employee must have a minimum of one year of full-time service to the College or the State and must be a permanent employee before the start of the first day of class for the course(s).

2. 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.

3. If an employee should die while employed in an eligible position after the dependent was admitted or enrolled, the dependent will be eligible to continue to participate in the program and complete the first baccalaureate or first graduate degree within a five-year period.

4. If employment ends, for any reason other than death, before the first day of classes, the student will be required to pay full tuition for the courses taken that semester. If employment ends during the semester, the student will be required to pay a prorated amount.

5. 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.

6. 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, they will be readmitted to the program upon regaining acceptable academic standing (Academic Standing Policy).

7. Students will be subject to 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.

8. Students must maintain full-time or part-time matriculated status.

9. A new Tuition Waiver form must be completed each semester

10. 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 whose spouses, partners, or dependent children 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.

III. To Receive Benefits:
1. The student must apply, be accepted, and enroll/matriculate in the College prior to applying for tuition waiver.

2. The student must register for classes.

3. The student 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 secure signatures from the Registrar on the Tuition Waiver Form.

6. The Registrar’s Office will complete the Tuition Waiver Form and forward to the People Operations & Employee Resources Department for processing.

7. The Department of People Operations & Employee Resources 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.

8. The Department of People Operations & Employee Resources will notify the employee if the waiver has been approved or disapproved.

IV. Tuition Remission Benefit
1. Students may receive a tuition waiver of 60% of tuition costs only in a program leading to the first baccalaureate degree 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 the number of credits required for completion of the program.

2. Tuition waivers cover 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. Students receiving any other form of assistance specifically granted to defray tuition costs will be ineligible up to the amount of such awards. All other fees and costs are the responsibility of the student.

3. Students may receive tuition waiver benefits for courses taken during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

4. Tuition will be at the in-state rate regardless of student’s state of residence.