University Business Policies and Procedures Manual

3785
DEPENDENT EDUCATION PROGRAM
Effective Date: Fall Semester 1992
Revised: 02/01/93, 04/01/94, 04/01/96, 03/21/97, 08/01/97, 08/23/99, 07/01/03
Subject to Change Without Notice

1. General

The Dependent Education Program is designed to provide an opportunity for educational assistance to the spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependent children of full-time permanent faculty and full-time regular staff. Undergraduate tuition for up to eight (8) consecutive semesters, not including the summer session, may be granted to eligible students under this employee benefit program. This policy describes the administrative policies and procedures for the Dependent Education Program and applies to all UNM eligible employees and courses including all branch campuses, graduate centers, and education centers.

2. Benefit

This program is available to any eligible faculty or staff member's spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependent children who have been admitted in degree status to The University of New Mexico as undergraduate students. However, an individual employee may not have more than two (2) dependents participating in this program at any one (1) time.

2.1. Requirements

All required academic credentials must be submitted, and the student must meet admission guidelines for undergraduate degree status admission to the University.

2.1.1. Consecutive Semesters

The tuition benefit is for up to eight (8) consecutive semesters, not including the summer session or until the dependent completes the undergraduate degree requirements for which the benefit was awarded, whichever occurs first. The eight (8) semester limitation applies to both full-time or part-time students. A semester's eligibility is used, irrespective of the number of credit hours the student takes. If there is a break in the eight (8) consecutive semester enrollment, reapplication is required and the applicant must meet all eligibility criteria. A dependent's eligibility for the tuition benefit ceases once a total of eight (8) semesters have been covered or the dependent completes the degree requirements for which the benefit was awarded, whichever occurs first.

2.1.2. GPA

Dependents who have attended The University of New Mexico must have a UNM GPA of 2.0 to be eligible to apply, reapply, or continue in the Dependent Education Program.

If a dependent's UNM GPA drops below 2.0 due to extenuating circumstances, such as a serious illness suffered by the student or a family member, the dependent may appeal to the Director of Student Financial Aid for special consideration. The decision of the Director is final and not subject to further appeal.

2.2. Tuition Covered by the Program

Dependents may obtain tuition benefits under this Program for enrollment in any course offered for academic credit in the undergraduate education programs offered by The University of New Mexico. Dependents must meet all normal prerequisite requirements for enrollment by the Dependent Education Program application deadline.

2.3. Excluded Tuition and/or Fees

Certain tuition and/or fee costs are not covered by this program. Costs which are not covered are listed below.

• The mandatory student fee portion of tuition and fees for credit courses is not covered.
• Approved special course fees assessed for participation in instructional academic credit courses are not covered.
• Costs associated with courses offered for non-academic credit are not covered.
• Non resident tuition in excess of New Mexico resident tuition is not covered.
• Tuition and fees for courses taken in non-degree status are not covered.
• Tuition and fees for graduate, law, PharmD, and medical education programs are not covered.

2.4. Dependents Receiving University Financial Aid

The amount of an individual's dependent education tuition benefit, plus the amount of any need-based financial aid grants, will not exceed the cost of attendance, as defined by the University Student Financial Aid Office. The amount of the dependent education tuition benefit will not exceed the tuition portion of resident tuition and fees.

2.5. Tuition Benefits

The amount of an individual's dependent education tuition benefit will be reduced by the amount of tuition paid by any other tuition waiver or tuition scholarship. Examples of other tuition waivers include, but are not limited to, the following:

• UNM Scholars, NM Scholars, Presidential Scholars, and Regents' Scholars
• Lottery Scholarships and Bridge to Success Scholarships
• Graduate/Teaching Assistants
• Miscellaneous Department Tuition Waivers

 

2.6. Tuition Remission Program

Employees are eligible to participate in the current Employee Tuition Remission Program, but are not eligible for the Dependent Education Program. Spouses and domestic partners of full-time employees are eligible for either the current Employee Tuition Remission Program or the Dependent Education Program, but may not apply for both programs.

3. Eligibility

All full-time permanent faculty and all full-time regular staff employed for more than one (1) year as of the application deadline are eligible to apply for the Dependent Education Program. To fulfill the one (1) year employment requirement, employment must be current and continuous. A nine (9) month academic year faculty appointment is recognized as one (1) year of employment. Employees must remain on full-time employment status for the dependent to continue in the Program.

3.1. Eligible Dependents

Eligible dependents include a legal spouse, domestic partner (Affidavit of Domestic Partnership must be filed with the Employee Benefits Office of the Department of Human Resources), and any natural, legally adopted, or step children who, as of the original application deadline, are unmarried and have not reached age twenty-five (25). Dependent children who marry or reach age twenty-five (25) after being accepted into the program may continue in the program as long as all other requirements are met, but they may not reapply for the program. When an employee is no longer married or a domestic partnership is terminated, the ex-spouse or domestic partner is not eligible for tuition benefits under this Program, effective with the academic semester following the date of the divorce or termination of the domestic partnership.

3.2. Termination of Employment

When an employee has separated from the University, for reasons other than retirement or death, the dependent is no longer eligible for tuition benefits under this Program, effective with the academic semester following the date of separation.

3.3. Retirement and Death

If an employee should retire or die after their dependent has been selected to participate in this Program, the dependent may automatically continue in the Program as long as they meet the requirements of Section 2.1. herein.

4. Application Process

Employees may obtain applications from the Employee Benefits Office of the University Department of Human Resources, which is responsible for administering the Program. The Department of Human Resources will announce the application deadline each semester for the following academic semester.

5. Taxable Benefit for Domestic Partners and Dependents

Under current Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations, the value of tuition benefits received by domestic partners and certain dependents is considered taxable income to the employee. The value of the tuition benefit will be included as compensation on the employee's W-2 form filed with the IRS and subject to withholding once per semester for domestic partners and when the recipient can not be claimed as a dependent on the employee's personal income tax return. If the recipient's parents are divorced and the recipient can be claimed as a dependent on either parents' personal income tax return, the value of the tuition benefits will not be treated as taxable income to the employee. The Department of Human Resources will request taxability information each semester.

6. Attachments

Exhibit A. - Dependent Education Program Application

Comments may be sent to UBPPM@UNM.edu
http://www.unm.edu/~ubppm