The process to request Tuition Benefits in my.SMU for student as employee was recently updated. Upon submission of the request by the employee, the manager will now receive an email from the my.SMU system and will have ten (10) days to approve or deny the request.
To ensure clarity around work expectations during the term, managers are strongly encouraged to have a conversation with their employee about balancing work and academic responsibilities.Â
Summary of the Tuition Benefit
Under University Policy 7.11 Â SMU will cover the cost of tuition for up to 18 credit hours per academic year under the following guidelines:
- Full-time, benefits-eligible employees must meet all of the standard requirements for admission to the University and be admitted to the University in a credit-bearing, degree-granting program.
- Full-time, benefits-eligible employees are eligible for 100% tuition and a waiver of the general student fee for part-time undergraduate or graduate study. Â Admission deposits, travel, materials and lab fees, or other costs of attending SMU are not covered by the benefit.
- Tuition benefits may result in taxable income. Employees are encouraged to seek advice concerning possible tax liabilities they may incur as a result of participation in the Tuition Benefits program.
- No more than 18 semester hours of study for academic credit may be taken using this benefit during an academic year (fall through summer terms).
- Supervisor approval is required in order for an employee to attend class during regular working hours. Upon the supervisor’s approval, an alternative work schedule should be established.
- The staff supervisor or head of the division for faculty appointments is notified of approval for each academic term of the employee’s eligibility and enrollment.
- Staff must be employed in a position which requires at least nine (9) months of full-time service each year and must work at least 35 hours per week in order to be eligible for tuition benefit
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