Employee Tuition Assistance Programs

Employee Tuition Assistance Programs

(Revised June 5, 2023)

Undergraduate Tuition Remission for University Employees – Programs offered at Limestone University

Limestone University will provide the difference between tuition charges and state, federal, institutional, and outside scholarships and grants for full-time faculty and staff employees, their spouses, and dependent children auditing or enrolling in Limestone University courses at the undergraduate levels.  The student is responsible for all other fees and charges for room and board, laboratory fees, private lessons, etc., and a $50 academic year processing fee. Children who marry will no longer be dependents, regardless of their income tax status. A dependent child who marries while enrolled under Limestone’s tuition remission program will be allowed to complete the current semester as an employee dependent. Undergraduate Tuition Remission is only available to those seeking their first bachelor’s degree. Employees and their dependents seeking an undergraduate degree must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before tuition remission will be granted.

Permanent 20-hour-per-week employees can take 15 credit hours per calendar year at Limestone University with the normal processing fee and no tuition charges.

Tuition remission is not automatic.  Students must complete the Tuition Remission Form at least two weeks before the beginning of each semester; you may access the link from the faculty/staff resources tab on the Halo Portal.

The tuition remission benefit ceases when an employee is no longer working at Limestone University (except through retirement or death). In such circumstances, the student receiving the tuition remission benefit will be allowed to complete the current semester.

Employees are expected to take their classes in the Online Programs. If special circumstances make on-campus classes necessary, an employee may take no more than one each semester. The Provost or appropriate Vice President and the President must give written permission to take on-campus classes.

The University provides tuition benefits for adjunct faculty according to the following guidelines:

• If teaching 3 credit hours per semester - 1/4 Online Program tuition reduction  
• If teaching 6 credit hours per semester -1/2 Online Program tuition reduction  
• If teaching 9 credit hours per semester -3/4 Online Program tuition reduction  
• If teaching 12 or more credit hours per semester – Full Online Program tuition reduction

Benefits do not include fees, private lessons, books, or supplies. Also, benefits are not extended to family members of adjunct faculty.

To continue tuition remission support, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as outlined in the Academic Catalog. Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed at the end of each semester. Failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress will result in forfeiture of Tuition Remission benefit. Students must also have all outstanding balances paid to continue using the benefit for subsequent academic semesters.

Undergraduate Tuition Exchange Program

Limestone University is also a member of The Tuition Exchange, Inc., and the Tuition Exchange Program of the Council of Independent Colleges.  The Tuition Exchange Program allows spouses and dependent children of full-time Limestone University employees to receive full tuition toward their first bachelor’s degree at more than 200 colleges and universities. Tuition Exchange requests are not guaranteed.  Institutions receiving the request make the determination of approval. Program materials and application forms may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office. Participants must pay a participation fee of $50 each academic year by August 1st.

Only full-time employees are eligible for Graduate Tuition Exchange. Graduate Tuition Exchange is not available to employee spouses or dependents. 

Permanent 20-hour-per-week employees are not eligible to participate in the Tuition Exchange Program.

Graduate Tuition Remission for University Employees – Programs offered at Limestone University

Full-time faculty or staff employees, spouses, and dependent children who are accepted in any of Limestone’s graduate programs and wish to seek Tuition Remission may apply. The Tuition Remission application, which may be accessed from the faculty/staff resources tab located on the Halo Portal, should be submitted along with a total degree plan. Permission will be granted by the Provost or the appropriate Vice President over the employee’s division. Approved employees will be on “Standby” status and assigned to one of the graduate studies start dates as space allows. The student will be responsible for books, all fees associated with the program, and the $50 academic year tuition remission processing fee.  In addition, if the student is required to complete BA 500 – Foundations in Business Prerequisite Course, the student will be responsible for paying the cost of the modules ($39 each), up to a maximum of 7 modules, depending on what is required.

The tuition remission benefit ceases when an employee is no longer working at Limestone University (except through retirement or death). In such circumstances, the student receiving the tuition remission benefit will be allowed to complete the current semester.

To continue tuition remission support, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as outlined in the Academic Catalog. Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed at the end of each semester. Failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress will result in forfeiture of Tuition Remission benefit. Students must also have all outstanding balances paid to continue using the benefit for subsequent academic semesters.

Graduate Tuition Reimbursement Benefits for University Employees – Programs offered at other institutions

Limestone University strives for the most highly educated and skilled faculty and staff possible. To this end, the University may support its faculty and staff in their formal education endeavors offered outside the institution, provided there is a benefit to the University and provided resources are available

The University recognizes that its ability to assist faculty and staff is limited to the availability of resources. For this reason, it is necessary to establish limits on the amount and duration of support.

• An individual must have been employed full-time at the University for at least one (1) full calendar year to become eligible to receive Graduate School Tuition Benefits. Permanent 20-hour-per-week employees are not eligible to participate in this program.
• Subject to approval and the availability of resources, the University may provide tuition support up to $6,000 in any fiscal year. The following criteria are factors influencing the awarding of benefits:
  • The amount of the University support will depend on the benefit of the program to Limestone University and the availability of resources.
  • If the employee is enrolled in what is considered a full-time program, the University may provide support up to $6,000 per fiscal year. This support will be provided one semester at a time and depends on the program's benefit to Limestone University and the availability of resources.

• To be eligible for the Graduate School Tuition Benefit program, employees must submit a plan that outlines:
  • The total degree plan,
  • The plan by each quarter, semester, or unit,
  • The cost by each quarter, semester, or unit,
  • The benefit to Limestone University,
  • All time-management problems that might arise from being a student and, at the same time an employee of Limestone University.
• Schedule of administrative review and decision
  • (spring term) to receive funding for the spring term, the plan outlined above must be submitted to the Provost or appropriate Vice President by November 15. The administrative decision will be forthcoming within twenty (20) days.
  • (summer term) to receive funding for the summer term, the plan outlined above must be submitted to the Provost or appropriate Vice President by April 15. The administrative decision will be forthcoming within twenty (20) days.
  • (fall term) to receive funding for the fall term, the plan outlined above must be submitted to the Provost or appropriate Vice President by July 15. The administrative decision will be forthcoming within twenty (20) days.
• Evidence of satisfactory performance: To receive continued support for each additional year of Graduate School Tuition Reimbursement Benefits, the employee must submit a copy of his/her transcript to the Provost.
• Length of approval: Approval is only granted for a quarter, semester, or unit duration. To receive funding for each additional quarter, semester, or unit, the employee must resubmit a plan outlined above.
• Authorization: Within any given fiscal year, the administration is not authorized to grant a total dollar amount that exceeds the line item in the Board of Trustees approved budget. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that all requests will be approved, nor is it likely that any request will be approved for the full amount. Decisions will be based on the overall benefit to Limestone University.
• Approval: All plans will be considered at a meeting of the President and the Provost. The notification of the administrative decision will be processed by the President’s office. As stated above, notification will normally be issued within the twenty (20) day timeframe.
• Agreement of continued service: If the total tuition paid by the University is between $1,000 and $3,500, employees receiving this support must sign a statement in which they agree to continue as employees of Limestone University for a minimum of one (1) year or repay the benefits they received.
  • If the total tuition paid by the University is between $3,501 and $7,000, employees receiving this support must sign a statement agreeing to continue as employees of Limestone University for a minimum of two (2) years or repay the benefits they received.
  • If the tuition paid by the University is over $7,000, employees receiving this support must sign a statement in which they agree to continue as employees of Limestone University for a minimum of three years or repay the benefits they received.

Continuous service excludes approved leaves of absence and sabbatical leaves.

The Tuition Payment Agreement Form may be obtained from the office of the Provost. Requests must be approved by the Provost.