Tuition Waiver

Our CBA enshrines the tuition waiver offered in board policy (see below) to all benefits-eligible UA employees. Children under 24 years of age, spouses, and Financially Interdependent Partners (FIPS) are eligible for tuition waivers with no cap on credit hours.

Visit the UA benefits page for details on how to use this benefit. UA Human Resources will help you access this benefit, if needed.

Below is a copy of the board policy on tuition waivers.

UNIVERSITY REGULATION

Chapter 04.06 - Benefits and Leave

R04.06.010. Employee Education Benefits

Regular employees of the university may have tuition waived for up to sixteen credit hours per academic year with a maximum of eight credit hours per semester.
Regular employees may have course credit hour charges waived for up to four university approved non-credit courses in each semester, not to exceed eight non-credit courses per academic year. Prior to the start of each academic term, the list of university approved non-credit courses will be provided by the Statewide Office of Human Resources.
Notwithstanding subsections A and B of this section, regular employees with an employment contract with the university for the following academic year, but who are off contract during the summer, may have up to sixteen graduate or undergraduate course credit hour charges waived per summer session. Such employees may have up to eight non-credit courses waived from a university approved list per summer session. The employee’s tuition waivers shall not exceed sixteen credit hours and eight non-credit courses per academic year.
An academic year begins with the fall semester and ends with the summer term.
Regular employees may take up to three credit hours during working hours with prior written approval by the supervisor, without having to make up the time if, in the opinion of the supervisor, the coursework will be of direct benefit to the university.
Regular employees may take university approved non-credit courses during working hours with prior written approval by the supervisor. Employees are not required to make up the time for their attendance at university-approved non-credit courses.
Regular employees may attend credit courses that do not directly benefit the university during working hours with prior written approval of the supervisor. The employee shall use accrued leave or make up lost work time through a flexible work schedule requested through and approved by the supervisor.
Spouses and dependent children under the age of 24 of regular employees may have course credit hour charges waived as provided in this section.
Regular employees who qualify for education benefits through their employment status are not eligible for education benefits as an employee’s spouse or dependent child.
An individual who qualifies for permanent disability during their regular employment under the University of Alaska’s long-term disability plan will have course credit hour charges waived for a period of three academic years following qualification.
A regular employee who has included university coursework as part of an approved leave of absence is entitled to the same education benefits as a regular employee.
Education benefits cease upon termination of employment except for:
1. Those courses in which the employee, spouse or dependent child is currently enrolled and classes are in session at the time of termination; and
2. An employee in layoff status as provided in R04.07.110.F.3.
An employee is responsible for any tax liability generated from employee education benefits.
Course credit hour charges will not be waived for the following, except as provided:
1. Self-support courses, except for non-credit university approved courses taken by employees;
2. Non-credit courses for spouses and dependent children of employees;
3. 500 level courses;
4. Year-long courses;
5. WWAMI Medical Program courses; but tuition for coursework provided by the University of Alaska may be waived if otherwise eligible; and
6. The Colorado State University Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree program, including the first two years of courses which UAF delivers through a partnership with Colorado State University.
For purposes of this regulation “spouse” includes an individual determined by the university to be a financially interdependent partner of a university employee.