NUMBER:   HR 1.61
SECTION:  Human Resources     

SUBJECT:  USC Tuition Assistance Policy                           
   

DATE:     July 1, 1995
                     
Policy for:     All Campuses
Procedure for:  All Campuses
Authorized by:  Jane M. Jameson
Issued by:      Division of Human Resources
________________________________________________________________

I.   Policy

     A.   Pursuant to Section 59-111-15 of the 1976 South
Carolina Code of Laws, as Amended, this document sets forth the
policy for tuition assistance to provide permanent faculty and
staff the opportunity to further their education and their
opportunity for advancement within the University of South
Carolina.

      B.  Permanent faculty and staff are eligible to apply for
tuition assistance and/or educational leave regardless of race,
color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or
veteran status.

      C.  Eligibility
          1.   Faculty
               a.   To be eligible to apply for tuition
assistance, faculty must be employed in a permanent (slotted)
position; and have successfully completed one semester of
employment; and have been admitted to the University of South
Carolina through the appropriate admissions process.
               b.   Faculty who have received notice of
non-reappointment are not eligible to participate in the Tuition
Assistance Program for the academic term(s) following
notification of non-reappointment.
          2.   Staff
               To be eligible to apply for tuition assistance,
staff must be employed at least thirty hours per week in a
permanent position; and have satisfactorily completed six months
of employment; and have been admitted to the University of South
Carolina through the appropriate admissions process.

      D.  Program Provisions
          1.   Eligible faculty and staff may apply to take one
three hour credit course (four hours in the case of a lab course)
per academic term, at no charge, on a space available basis. 
Participants taking additional courses will pay the regular
tuition rate in effect at the time of enrollment.
          2.   The regular application fee will be waived;
however, the Tuition Assistance Program does not pay for other
expenses incurred or required by the course such as textbooks,
field trips, laboratory fees, etc.  Special fees for admission in
some graduate areas will not be waived.
          3.   An enrolled faculty or staff member who resigns,
is dismissed, or otherwise leaves the University will be allowed
to continue in the course tuition free; however, he or she will
not be permitted to enroll in additional courses under this
program.
          4.   Participants may enroll in a course for academic
credit, may audit a course, or may select the pass-fail option. 
NOTE:  University regulations may prohibit the use of individual
option pass-fail graded courses toward a degree program.  Faculty
and staff are encouraged to consult the appropriate graduate or
undergraduate bulletin for other regulations which may apply.

     E.   Class Scheduling
          1.   Whenever possible, faculty and staff are asked to
enroll in classes during hours which do not conflict with other
University obligations; however, when an approved class cannot be
scheduled during off-hours, the department chairman or director
may elect to adjust the work schedule.  Department chairmen and
directors may deny participation in the Tuition Assistance
Program if the scheduled time of the course would interfere with
the academic or business needs of the department.
          2.   When an approved class cannot be scheduled during
non-work hours and it is not feasible to adjust work schedules,
participants who earn annual leave may be allowed to take annual
leave for the purpose of attending class.  Authorized leave
without pay for up to 10 days may also be used to attend class. 
Both annual leave and authorized leave without pay must be
approved in advance by the department chairman or director.  (See
the USC Educational Leave Policy for additional information.)

II.  Procedure
     A.   Faculty and staff must be admitted through the
appropriate admissions process and complete an application for
the Tuition Assistance Program.  Applications for admission are
available through the graduate and undergraduate admissions
offices.  Applications for the Tuition Assistance Program are
available in the Division of Human Resources and the campus Human
Resources office on regional and four year campuses.


     B.   Applications approved by the employing department must
be sent to the campus Human Resources office for a review of
eligibility requirements and final approval or disapproval.

     C.   Final approval of the Tuition Assistance application by
the campus Human Resources office does not register or enroll a
participant in the requested course, nor does it guarantee
admission as a student to the University of South Carolina. 
Faculty and staff are individually responsible for applying for
admission to the University and for receiving academic
advisement.

     D.   Participants must present an approved Tuition
Assistance Program application at the fee station at the time of
registration in order to have tuition waived.




To obtain an official copy of this policy please contact the USC
Division of Human Resources.

This page copyright © 1995-96, The Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina.
URL http://www.sc.edu/policies/hr161.html