You or your dependents may be eligible for financial assistance for tuition through the Tuition Waiver Program. Use the links below to find important information about this program.
DOWNLOADS
SIUE Educational Assistance Plan 
Tuition Waiver Taxation 
Play the Tuition Waiver Audio Presentation
Applicable downloadable forms are available at the end of each categorical description - see links listed above.
To Download A Form:
The Training and Organizational Development Unit (TOD) approves and processes waivers of tuition and fees for the following:
If an employee's initial date of employment is on or before the first day of classes for the given academic term, tuition will be waived by the University for employees who meet the academic requirements of the University and enroll in courses, provided the employees maintain "Good Standing" in the University. Employees may not receive a waiver of tuition for medical, dental, law, aviation or other special tuition programs. Employees must be employed for the complete duration of the semester session to be eligible for the tuition waiver. Certain fees may be waived. Employees with classifications represented by bargaining units may have restrictions, limitations, or additional requirements for this benefit and should refer to the appropriate union contract.
To obtain the waiver, applicants must submit the appropriate form to the Office of Human Resources for approval and processing. Please note, no tuition waiver form will be approved after the last official day to withdraw from the University and obtain a full refund. Usually this is 10 days after the semester begins.
Back to top
Personnel policies governing training and educational assistance, including tuition waivers, are available in the document entitled: Section IV Personnel Policies Affecting Civil Service Employees of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
The policy reads as follows:
ARTICLE XII -- TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
Section 1. Employee training programs are available to assist in the performance of present assignments and to aid in obtaining training for promotion and mobility opportunities.
If the initial date of employment is on or before the first day of classes for the given academic term, tuition will be waived by the University to employees who meet the academic requirements of the University and enroll in courses up to the following maximums in that academic term, provided the employees maintain Good Standing in the University.
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE: Maximum of eight (8) semester hours.
PART-TIME EMPLOYEE: Maximum hours proportionate to percent of the appointment.
These maximums are employee benefit limitations and do not apply to enrollment in training programs directly related to work performed as approved by departmental executive officers and the Director of the Office of Human Resources. Employees must be employed for the complete duration of the academic term to be eligible for the tuition waiver. Certain fees may be waived.
Section 2. With the approval of the immediate supervisor, permanent status, full-time employees who meet the academic requirements of the University may register for up to eight (8) semester hours, of which no more than one (1) course of no more than five (5) semester hours of credit may be taken during the basic work hours; provided the employee's absence from work does not substantially interfere with the Employer's operations or encumber other employees.
To insure the completion of work during emergent situations, supervisors may require employees to remain on the job instead of attending classes or rearrange basic work schedules when employees do attend classes.
Employees may take one (1) class during their basic work hours not to exceed five (5) credit hours, without making up the time if they are registered as "Degree Seeking." Employees who are registered as "Non-Degree Seeking" will be required to make up time lost in taking a course at some mutually agreeable time with their supervisors or charge the time against accumulated vacation if available. If the employee does not have accumulated vacation available the time lost in taking the course will be made up.
Permanent part-time employees may take courses, tuition free, at the same percentage as their appointment.
When it is in the best interest of the University, the Director of the Office of Human Resources may require or authorize employees to take course(s) during working hours.
Section 3. Should employees desire to take courses/credit hours in excess of the benefits granted in Section 2, above, they will be required to pay tuition and all applicable fees for those courses/hours which are in excess of the tuition and fee waiver maximum benefits. No charge will be made when the excess over the maximum consists of a course(s) which employees have been requested or directed to take by the appropriate supervisor and the Director of the Office of Human Resources.
Section 4. Employees who plan to enroll in courses and who will not be seeking tuition and fee waiver under this benefit are not required to complete a "Request to Enroll in University Classes" form, but the limitation of credit hours during regularly scheduled work as set forth in Section 2, above, applies to such employees.
Section 5. Permanent employees who meet the academic requirements of the University and are laid off, for a period of one (1) year from the date of layoff, shall be entitled to enroll in credit courses offered at the Edwardsville campus without payment of tuition. Such employees shall be required to pay the usual and applicable fees.
Section 6. Former civil service employees who retire under the provisions of the State Universities Retirement System and meet the academic requirements of the University shall be entitled to enroll in credit courses offered at the Edwardsville campus without payment of tuition. Such persons shall be required to pay the usual and applicable fees.
DOWNLOADS
Application for Tuition and Fee Waiver
This form is designed to be completed on a PC, but it is not to be sent as an e-mail attachment. After completing the form, print it, obtain approval dates and signatures, and send it via campus mail or deliver in person to the Office of Human Resources.
Faculty, administrative staff and professional staff employees are limited to the SIU System to utilize the tuition waiver.
Personnel policies governing tuition waivers for faculty, administrative staff, and professional staff are available in the document entitled: Section III Personnel Policies Applicable to Administrative Staff & Professional Staff Employees of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; Section II Personnel Policies Applicable to Faculty Employees of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; and also as University policy #4F3.
The policy reads as follows:
III - WAIVER OF TUITION FOR FACULTY AND STAFF
Faculty and administrative staff members on term appointment who enroll in credit courses shall be eligible for waiver of tuition, exclusive of fees, during semesters in which they are under appointment, provided that the courses are completed prior to the expiration of the appointment. Faculty and administrative staff members on continuing appointment shall be eligible for waiver of tuition, exclusive of fees, in any semester of the year.
DOWNLOADS
Application for Tuition and Fee Waiver
This form is designed to be completed on a PC, but it is not to be sent as an e-mail attachment. After completing the form, print it, obtain approval dates and signatures, and send it via campus mail or deliver in person to the Office of Human Resources.
CHANGES IN THE TUITION WAIVER PROGRAM AFFECTING DEPENDENTS OF SEVEN YEAR EMPLOYEES ARE NOW IN EFFECT! Eligible service time has changed to a 50% or greater appointment. The benefit will be extended to the dependent for 130 semester hours up to age 25.
For more information, read below:
WAIVER OF TUITION FOR DEPENDENTS OF 7 YEAR EMPLOYEES
The University provides partial tuition waivers for children of employees in accordance with the Southern Illinois University Management Act, 144 IL Rev. Statutes 658F, and rules and regulations prescribed by the Board of Trustees as amended periodically. Each year, the University offers fifty percent (50%) tuition waivers for undergraduate education to the children of employees who have been employed by the University for at least seven (7) years.
To be eligible to receive a partial waiver, the child (natural, adoptive, or step-child) of an employee:
1. Must be under the age of 25 at the beginning of the academic year during which the partial tuition waiver is to be effective.
2. Must qualify for admission to the University under the same admissions requirements, standards and policies which the University applies to applicants for admission generally to its respective undergraduate colleges and programs.
Effective May, 1998: In addition, the employees service time must have been at a 50% appointment or greater.
Waive: Half of the tuition for the number of credit hours in which the dependent is enrolled. The dependent must complete the Application for 50% Waiver of Undergraduate Tuition by a Child of a Seven (7) Year SIU Employee form each semester. Appropriate documentation will be required by the Office of Human Resources (i.e., birth certificate, adoption papers, marriage license) to verify the relationship between the dependent and the employee.
Note: The dependent is not eligible for the waiver if he/she reaches age 25 before the beginning of the Fall semester. If the dependent reaches age 25 after the beginning of the Fall semester, he/she receives the waiver through the Summer semester.
DOWNLOADS
Application for 50% Waiver of Undergraduate Tuition by a Child of a 7 Year Illinois University Employee Attending SIUE
Form for Dependents Attending Any Other State of IL University
These forms are designed to be completed on a PC, but they should not to be sent as an e-mail attachment. After completing the form, print it, obtain approval dates and signatures, and send it via campus mail or deliver in person to the Office of Human Resources.
Back to top
Personnel policies governing tuition waivers for Dependents of Deceased Employees are available in the document entitled Section I Personnel Policies Applicable To All Employees of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and also as University policy #4F5.
The policy reads as follows:
TUITION WAIVERS FOR DEPENDENTS OF DECEASED EMPLOYEES
1. Surviving spouses and dependent children of deceased SIUE employees shall be eligible for educational assistance in the form of tuition waivers. Provided that such dependents meet admission requirements, they shall be eligible to enroll in credit courses and in undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree granting programs and receive waiver of tuition exclusive of fees. They shall be eligible to receive tuition waivers for a period not to exceed eight (8) semesters of registration, subject, in the case of dependent children, to the limitation noted in paragraph 5 below.
2. For the purpose of this policy, a "deceased University employee" shall be defined as one who at the time of death was in active service, in retirement status, or in disability status and who had served the University at least five years in a full-time capacity.
3. In order to be eligible for tuition waiver, children must be (a) natural born or adopted children or the natural born or adopted children of a spouse who were considered dependents of the deceased employee for Federal Income Tax purposes, or (b) foster children who were supported by and lived in the home of the deceased employee for at least five years and were considered dependents for Federal Income Tax purposes.
4. Spouses and children shall not be eligible for tuition waiver if they are employed by the University in any capacity other than as student employees or are receiving aid under any educational grant, aid program, fellowship, or scholarship providing tuition reimbursement.
5. Children as defined shall not be eligible for participation in the tuition waiver program if they have passed the age of twenty-two at the time of death of the employee unless they are enrolled in the University at the time of such death. Eligibility of dependent children shall terminate at age twenty-eight.
6. This policy shall become effective at the beginning of the spring quarter, 1983.
DOWNLOADS
Section I - Personnel Policies Handbook: Tuition Waivers for Dependents of Deceased Employees
Application for Tuition and Fee Waiver
This form is designed to be completed on a PC, but it is not to be sent as an e-mail attachment. After completing the form, print it, obtain approval dates and signatures, and send it via campus mail or deliver in person to the Office of Human Resources.
Personnel policies governing tuition waivers for Retirees are available in the document entitled Section I Personnel Policies Applicable to All Employees of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and also as University policy #4F6.
The policy reads as follows:
WAIVER OF TUITION FOR RETIREES
Retirees from the University who enroll in University courses shall be eligible for waiver of tuition, exclusive of fees.
DOWNLOADS
Section I - Personnel Policies Handbook: Tuition Waivers for Retirees
Application for Tuition and Fee Waiver
This form is designed to be completed on a PC, but it is not to be sent as an e-mail attachment. After completing the form, print it, obtain approval dates and signatures, and send it via campus mail or deliver in person to the Office of Human Resources.
Personnel policies governing tuition waivers for Employees in layoff or termination status are available in the the document entitled Personnel Policies Applicable to All Employees of Southern Illinois University, and also as University policy #4F4.
The policy reads as follows:
POLICY CONCERNING TUITION ASSISTANCE EMPLOYEES IN LAYOFF OR TERMINATION STATUS
1. Faculty, administrative staff, and professional staff employees on continuing appointment and those who have been on term appointment for at least one year who are involuntarily separated from the University, except for cause, shall be a period of one year following separation, be entitled to enroll in credit courses offered at the Edwardsville campus without payment of tuition. Such persons shall be required to pay the usual and applicable fees.
2. Status civil service employees who are laid off shall, for a period of one year from the date of layoff, be entitled to enroll in credit courses offered at the Edwardsville campus without payment of tuition. Such persons shall be required to pay the usual and applicable fees. For course registration purposes, certification of eligibility may be obtained from the Benefits Section of University Personnel Services.
DOWNLOADS
Section I - Personnel Policies Handbook: Employees in Layoff or Termination Status
*Contact the Office of Human Resources for paperwork.
The out-of-state spouse and dependent of SIUE employees will be charged in-state rates regardless of the employees length of service or percentage of appointment. This benefit covers both graduate and undergraduate coursework.
Waive: Out-of-state rate minus in-state rate. Applicant pays all fees.
DOWNLOADS
Application for Tuition and Fee Waiver
This form is designed to be completed on a PC, but it is not to be sent as an e-mail attachment. After completing the form, print it, obtain approval dates and signatures, and send it via campus mail or deliver in person to the Office of Human Resources.
Civil Service employees may attend any State of Illinois University covered by the Civil Service System through an inter-institutional waiver. Employees requesting to attend a University other than SIUE are required to complete the Inter-institutional Waiver form. This form must be completed by the employee and returned to the Office of Human Resources for approval. The Training and Development unit will process the request and forward the application to the Personnel Office of the Institution the employee wants to attend.
A listing of institutions with reciprocal course tuition waivers is available in the Office of Human Resources.
DOWNLOADS
Form to Request for Inter-Institutional Waiver of Tuition
This form is designed to be completed on a PC, but it is not to be sent as an e-mail attachment. After completing the form, print it, obtain approval dates and signatures, and send it via campus mail or deliver in person to the Office of Human Resources.
