ºÚÁÏÉçÇø

Policy

Benefit for Employees, their Spouses, and Dependent Children

Benefit

For eligible fulltime classified, administrative and instructional staff, their spouses, and dependent children (includes the natural-born or adopted child of the employee, and the step-child of the employee who is claimed by the eligible employee as a dependent for federal income tax purposes), the benefit is equal to 100% of the undergraduate or graduate instructional fee. The benefit for eligible part-time employees, their spouses, and any dependent children of the employee, is equal to 50% of the undergraduate or graduate instructional fee.

The fee waiver may only be applied to instructional fees. Additional fees, including, but not limited to, the general fee, study abroad program fees, lab fees, late fees, and miscellaneous fees are the responsibility of the ºÚÁÏÉçÇø. Comprehensive per credit hour fees, which combine instructional, general, and sometimes miscellaneous fees, are charged for certain graduate programs. The fee waiver benefit for these programs and courses is limited to 100 percent of the standard graduate program instructional fee.

Courses should be taken outside of the employee’s normal working hours, but supervisors/managers are encouraged to use flexibility whenever appropriate. Course work must not interfere with completion of employment duties.

Eligibility

1. Fulltime employees with an appointment of .80 FTE or greater, of at least nine (9) months duration, are immediately eligible for the benefit.  The spouse, and any dependent children of a fulltime employee are eligible after the employee has completed three (3) continuous years of fulltime employment.
2. Part-time employees who have an appointment of at least .50 FTE, of at least nine (9) months duration, are eligible for one-half of the benefit after five (5) continuous years of part-time employment.  The spouse and any dependent children of a part-time employee are eligible after the employee has completed ten (10) years of continuous part-time employment.

Benefit for Retired Fulltime Employees, Spouses, and Dependent Children of Retired Fulltime Employees

Benefit

For fulltime employees who retire from ºÚÁÏÉçÇø with at least ten (10) years of continuous fulltime employment, their dependent children and spouses, the benefit is equal to 100% of the undergraduate instructional fee.

The fee waiver may only be applied to instructional fees. Additional fees, including, but not limited to, the general fee, study abroad program fees, lab fees, late fees, and miscellaneous fees are the responsibility of the ºÚÁÏÉçÇø. Comprehensive per credit hour fees, which combine instructional, general, and sometimes miscellaneous fees, are charged for certain graduate programs. Use of the fee waiver benefit by the eligible employee is not taxable unless the employee receives fee waivers for graduate education in excess of $5,250.

Eligibility

The spouse or dependent child of a fulltime employee who is retired from Miami is eligible for the benefit based on the employee’s length of continuous fulltime employment as follows:

1. With at least ten (10) but fewer than 15 years of employment eligible during the first five (5) years from the date of retirement.
2. With at least 15 but fewer than 20 years of  employment eligible during the first seven (7) years from the date of retirement.
3. With at least 20 but fewer than 25 years of  employment eligible during the first ten (10) years from the date of retirement.
4. With 25 years of employment eligible for the benefit.

For all dependent children of the fulltime employee who is retired, eligibility terminates upon completion of a baccalaureate degree program or age 25, whichever occurs first.

Retirement includes both service and disability retirements.

Benefit for Spouses and Dependent Children of Deceased Employees

Benefit

For the surviving spouse or dependent children of a deceased fulltime employee, subject to the eligibility restrictions herein, the benefit is equal to 100% of the undergraduate instructional fee. 

The fee waiver may only be applied to instructional fees. Additional fees, including, but not limited to, the general fee, study abroad program fees, lab fees, late fees, and miscellaneous fees are the responsibility of the ºÚÁÏÉçÇø. Comprehensive per credit hour fees, which combine instructional, general, and sometimes miscellaneous fees, are charged for certain graduate programs. The fee waiver benefit for these programs and courses is limited to 100 percent of the standard graduate program instructional fee.

Eligibility

The surviving spouse or dependent children of the deceased full-time employee are eligible for the benefit based on the employee’s length of continuous fulltime employment as follows:

1. With fewer than ten (10) years of employment if the surviving spouse or dependent children of the deceased fulltime employee are enrolled in the University as of the date of death, eligibility for the benefit continues through the end of the second semester of the academic year in which the death occurs.
2. With at least ten (10) but fewer than 15 years of employment if the surviving spouse or dependent children of the deceased fulltime employee are enrolled in the University as of the date of death, eligibility for the benefit continues through completion of a baccalaureate degree or age 25, whichever occurs first.
3. With at least 15 years of employmentthe surviving spouse or dependent children of the deceased fulltime employee are eligible for the benefit.

Remarriage terminates the eligibility of a surviving spouse. For all dependent children of the deceased fulltime employee, eligibility terminates upon completion of a baccalaureate degree program or age 25, whichever occurs first.

Reduction in Force Benefit

In the event of a layoff of a classified employee, the elimination of a position of an unclassified administrative staff member covered by the policy titled “Unclassified Administrative Staff Position Elimination”, or a faculty termination due to financial exigency covered by the policy titled “Termination Under Financial Exigency of a Tenured Appointment” that results in an appointment of less than .80 FTE or in termination of employment, the University will extend the fee waiver benefit for the eligible fulltime faculty, unclassified administrative and classified staff, and their eligible family members (see 4.10.A.2) for a period of 365 days from the date of notice of the proposed layoff, position elimination, or termination due to financial exigency.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an employee who has at least fifteen (15) years of continuous service is terminated due to a reduction in force as defined in the preceding paragraph, the University will extend the fee waiver benefit for the eligible employee's dependent children for a period of four (4) years from the date of notice of the proposed layoff, position elimination, or termination due to financial exigency. This extended fee waiver for dependent children shall only apply to undergraduate instructional fees. The amount of the extended fee waiver shall be determined based on the employee’s length of continuous fulltime employment at termination and shall be reduced each year following notice of the termination in accordance with the following benefit schedule:

1. Eligible employees with at least fifteen (15) years of service at termination:
   1. First year following termination: 100 percent fee waiver
   2. Second year following termination: 75 percent fee waiver
   3. Third year following termination: 50 percent fee waiver
   4. Fourth year following termination: 25 percent fee waiver
2. Eligible employees with at least twenty (20) years of service at termination:
   1. First year following termination: 100 percent fee waiver
   2. Second year following termination: 100 percent fee waiver
   3. Third year following termination: 75 percent fee waiver
   4. Fourth year following termination: 50 percent fee waiver

Use of the fee waiver benefit by the eligible employee is not taxable unless the employee receives fee waivers for graduate education in excess of $5,250. If the fee waiver is used by one or more of the employee’s eligible dependents after employment ends, the benefit is taxable to the employee. This provision does not apply to nonrenewals or termination for cause.

Related Form(s)

Not Applicable.

Additional Resources and Procedures

Not Applicable.

FAQ

Not Applicable.

Policy Administration

Next Review Date

7/1/2023

Responsible Officers

• Associate Vice President for Human Resources
• Director of Academic Personnel Services
• Assistant Provost for Academic Personnel 
• Sr. Vice President for Finance and Business Services

Legal Reference

Not Applicable.

Compliance Policy

Yes

Recent Revision History

Edited July 2018; Edited August 2023

Reference ID(s)

• MUPIM 4.10
• OAC-3339-4-010

Reviewers

• Associate Vice President for Human Resources
• Director of Academic Personnel Services
• Assistant Provost for Academic Personnel 
• Sr. Vice President for Finance and Business Services