Employee Fee Waiver Program

The Tuition Fee Waiver Program, established in 1975, provides eligible California State University employees the opportunity to attend classes at CSU campuses at reduced rates. The authority to administer the program is based on Executive Order No. 491, supplemental policies issued by the Office of the Chancellor, and collective bargaining agreements. Eligible employees are encouraged to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to increase their skills in their current work assignment, or better prepare them to achieve a career objective consistent with the needs of the University.

Note: An employee remains eligible, if he or she is on approved full or partial leaves of absence with or without pay. If the leave is for medical/health reasons, a statement is required from the health care provider. Employees NOT eligible to participate are temporary part-time and those who terminated employment.

Please follow the instructions in the Class Schedule, which outlines options for payment of tuition fees. The following tuition fees are subject to change without advance notice by the Trustees of the California State University. Employees taking courses in addition to the tuition fee waiver courses shall pay the difference in tuition fees. All other tuition fees shall be at the regular rates. This benefit applies to CSU general fund courses only. Courses in self-support programs may not be taken through tuition fee waiver.

**For reimbursement of the CSU Application fee, please submit a copy of the CSU Application fee Confirmation (the last page of the application) along with the tuition fee waiver form. The application fee will NOT be reimbursed without a copy of the confirmation.

**PLEASE NOTE: If more than two credited courses are taken, the employee will be responsible for the "More than 2 courses" fee.

Three options are offered under the Employee Tuition Fee Waiver Program:

1. Work Related– Courses to enhance the employee’s knowledge and/or skills necessary to perform the duties of the employee’s current position. The employee is not a matriculating student of CSU, East Bay. To apply, please complete the Tuition Fee Waiver Application - Selfform and submit it to the Office of Human Resources by the deadline for each quarter of attendance.
2. Career Development – For the purpose of earning credits toward a degree to enhance upward movement. The employee is a matriculating student of a CSU campus and taking courses for credit toward such degree. Employees applying for Career Development for the first time (or after an absence of two quarters) must apply for admission to and be accepted by the University as a student upon their own merits. (Contact admissions for an application and deadlines.) To apply, please complete the Tuition Fee Waiver - Self form and submit it to the Office of Human Resources by the deadline for each quarter of attendance.
3. Dependent Tuition Fee Waiver Transfer – Employees eligible for the CSU Tuition Fee Waiver program may transfer their existing tuition fee waiver benefit to one eligible dependent each term. The dependent must be a matriculating student working toward a degree at a CSU campus and taking courses for credit to meet the degree’s requirements. While participating in this program, the employee may not participate in the Work Related or Career Development Program for that term. To apply, please complete the Dependent Tuition Fee Waiverform and submit it to the Office of Human Resources by the deadline for each quarter of attendance.

The Tuition Fee Waiver Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources administers the Tuition Fee Waiver Program. Tuition Fee waiver applications and Individual Career Development Plan forms are available above or in the Office of Human Resources. A Tuition Fee Waiver application must be submitted each Semester to the Office of Human Resources by the deadline to ensure continuous participation.

The deadlines are set to meet enrollment and registration needs. All participants must submit their Tuition Fee Waiver applications to the Office of Human Resources no later than the specified term deadline. Late Fee Waivers WILL NOT be approved after the Semester begins.  PLEASE NOTE: These dates are subject to change.

All eligible employees with the exception of those in Unit 8 may take one course during regularly scheduled working hours, providing their MPP Administrator approves the request, based on the operational needs of the unit.  If the operational needs are not met, the MPP Administrator may either deny the request, or allow the employee to adjust their work schedule.  If more than one course is taken during scheduled working hours, the supervisor must approve the adjusted schedule.

In some instances, employees may need to enroll at another CSU campus. There is no release time for attendance or travel to and from another CSU campus. The Tuition Fee Waiver Coordinator provides certification that the employee is approved to take a work-related or career development course. Contact the Tuition Fee Waiver Coordinator for further information.

An employee must maintain normal academic standards to continue in the Tuition Fee Waiver Program.

Employees eligible for the CSU Tuition Fee Waiver program may transfer their existing tuition fee waiver benefit entitlement to an eligible dependent - spouse, dependent child or domestic partner. Proof of relationship will be required if your dependent is not on your benefits. This benefit is subject to the following conditions:

• The employee may transfer tuition fee waiver eligibility to only one dependent; therefore, employee cannot participate in the tuition fee waiver program during the dependent’s participation.
• Eligible dependent must be matriculated toward a degree or teaching credential at a CSU campus. Courses must count for credit toward a degree or credential. Normal academic standards must be maintained.
• If both parents are eligible employees, each may confer a tuition fee waiver benefit -- even to the same dependent.
• Approval is for one term only and must be re-established for each additional term of enrollment. A Dependent Tuition Fee Waiver Application must be submitted for each term.
• Eligible dependent may use the dependent tuition fee waiver eligibility at another CSU campus.
• This tuition fee waiver benefit does not apply to out-of-state tuition. This benefit applies to CSU general fund courses only. Courses in self-support programs may not be taken through tuition fee waiver.

Dependent childis defined as - your child or stepchild under age 25 (under age 23 for UAPD (Unit 1) and age 25 for SUPA (Unit 8)) who has never been married; or a child living with you in a parent-child relationship who is economically dependent upon you, under age 25 and has never been married.

Domestic Partnership as defined by the State of California: Same-sex domestic partnerships between persons who are both at least 18 years of age, OR opposite sex domestic partnerships when one or both persons are over the age of 62 and one or both partners meet the specified eligibility criteria under the Social Security Act. DOCUMENTATION NEEDED: Domestic Partnerships meeting these requirements are eligible to register with the Secretary of State a Declaration of Domestic Partnership. Forms are available in the Office of Human Resources, SA 2600.

By coordinating the three Internal Revenue Code Sections [(1) Qualified Tuition Reduction under Internal Revenue Code Section 117(d); (2) Educational Assistance Programs under Internal Revenue Code Section 127; and (3) Working Condition Fringe Benefits under Internal Revenue Code Section 132(d)] under the CSU Tuition Fee Waiver Reduction Program, the following tax-free or taxable benefits are available to CSU employees and their eligible dependent.

*Effective January 1, 2002

Need more information? Contact the Tuition Fee Waiver Coordinator at 510-885-3634.