Memorandum of Agreement - #
65
The College
of New Jersey Tuition Waiver Program
for Children of Full and Part-time AFT Unit Members
This Tuition Waiver Program (TWP) for
Children of Full-time and Part-time AFT (the Union) unit members of The College
of New Jersey (the College) is intended to support the college’s mission by
providing an additional incentive and means of recruiting and retaining
qualified employees.
A.
The TWP provides full or partial tuition remission to eligible
children of Union employees during their matriculated undergraduate enrollment
at The College of New Jersey.
B.
Tuition waivers shall be available to eligible applicants
for up to thirty-four (34) course units across nine (9) semesters toward the dependent
children’s’ first baccalaureate degree.
(Note: All course units taken during a
given summer will count as a half-semester; exceptions shall be granted to
dependents enrolled in undergraduate programs requiring more than thirty-four
(34) course units for graduation)
C.
Transfer students shall be eligible for tuition waivers for
the balance of course units required to complete their first baccalaureate
degree.
A. Criteria for Employees
1.
Full-time and
part-time (FT/PT) employees in all job categories who have worked at The
College of New Jersey for a minimum of three (3) years shall be eligible for
tuition waivers for dependent children matriculated at The College of New
Jersey. The percentage of tuition waiver
for eligible dependent children of full-time and part-time employees shall be
proportionate to the parent’s or guardian’s full-time equivalency (FTE) based
on current year contract.
2.
Faculty who obtained
tenure at other colleges or universities prior to being employed at The College
of New Jersey shall be eligible for tuition waivers for dependent children upon
their effective dates of hire.
3.
To maintain
eligibility in the TWP, the employee must maintain her/his employment during
the period of the dependent child’s undergraduate enrollment. In the event an
employee with a dependent participating in this TWP is no longer employed at
TCNJ, the following practices shall be followed:
a) Voluntary separation – Employees who
have been employed at TCNJ for twenty-five (25) or more years shall
maintain eligibility for this program.
In instances where an employee resigns from the college prior to being
employed for twenty-five (25) or more years, her/his child’s eligibility for
tuition waiver shall discontinue at the end of the then current semester. If the parent or guardian becomes an employee
of TCNJ again, a dependent previously in the TWP program shall immediately be
re-enrolled in the program
b) Involuntary Separation – In instances
where an employee is dismissed from the college for disciplinary reasons,
her/his child’s eligibility for tuition waiver shall discontinue at the end of
the then current semester.
c) Death or Disability – In the event of a death or long-term disability of
an employee with a dependent child in the TWP, the student shall remain in the
program.
B. Criteria for Dependent Children
Biological or legally adopted
children, stepchildren and legal wards of regular employees who meet the
criteria specified above shall be eligible for tuition waivers under this
program provided the child:
1.
Does not exceed
twenty-three (23) years of age prior to the beginning of the semester for which
the waiver is requested, and either resides with or normally, on average,
receives at least fifty percent (50 %) of her/his financial support from the
employee, during the time she/he is enrolled as a student at the College or
provides the amount of financial support as mandated by a divorce decree or
other legal document.
The college reserves the right to grant exceptions to the
dependency criteria stipulated in this item in instances where extraordinary
circumstances exist and will notify the Union of any exceptions granted.
2.
Meets the College’s
academic general admission standards. Any student who is placed on the “wait
list” through the College’s normal admission review process shall be admitted
to the College and be included in this program if they otherwise qualify.
3.
Matriculates as an
undergraduate student at The College of New Jersey.
4.
Remains in good
academic standing (not on academic probation) during the time she/he
participates in the TWP. If she/he is
not in good academic standing and no longer eligible for the TWP, she/he will
be readmitted to the TWP program immediately upon regaining acceptable academic
standing.
5.
Continues to make good progress toward graduation. Normally, students are expected to complete
eight (8) course units a year to graduate in four (4) years. To remain eligible for TWP, students must
complete at least six (6) course units before the beginning of year two (2) ,
thirteen (13) credits before the beginning of year three (3) , and twenty-one
(21) course units before the beginning of year four (4). Transfer students must complete at least
seven (7) course units by the end of their first two (2) semesters at TCNJ, and
four (4) course units per semester thereafter.
6.
Otherwise eligible
dependent children who are enrolled at TCNJ at the time this program is
implemented shall be covered by it.
IV.
Application Procedures
A. Application Procedures for Dependent Children
1.
Eligible dependent
children must complete and submit a standard admissions application by the
deadlines specified on the application form. Applicants are to follow the
instructions detailed on the application form for General Freshmen Admissions,
Early Decision, Educational Opportunity Fund or Transfer candidates.
2.
Each applicant must
submit a written request to her/his guidance counselor to have an official high
school transcript, SAT scores and supportive documentation issued to the Office
of Admissions by the posted deadlines.
3.
All application
materials are to be sent to:
Office
of Admissions
Application
Processing
The
College of New Jersey
P.O.
Box 7718
Ewing,
NJ 08628-0718
4.
The student must
complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aide (FAFSA) by the
specified deadlines and include the TCNJ code #002642. ( Copies of the FAFSA may be obtained from
the child’s guidance counselor, the college’s Office of Student Financial
Assistance, or via internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov )
B. Application Procedures for Eligible Employees
1.
Concurrent with the
dependent child’s application to TCNJ , the employee must complete and submit a
Tuition Waiver for Dependent Child Application Form to the Office of Human
Resources.
Falsification of information
contained in any of the documents referenced above shall constitute grounds for
disciplinary action.
2.
The employee must
provide acceptable documentation verifying that the child is her/his biological or adopted
child, stepchild or legal ward as specified
below:
a.
Biological Child: Acceptable documentation for a biological
child shall include a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate
indicating that the employee is the mother or father of the child. A certified copy is one which displays the
raised seal of an official agency.
Photocopies of certified birth certificates shall not be accepted. Birth certificates written in a foreign
language must be accompanied by a certified translation in English. If a certified copy of the child’s birth
certificate cannot be obtained, the employee must provide a written explanation
as to the reason, and must submit other documentary evidence of the
parent-child relationship acceptable to the college.
b.
Adopted Child: Acceptable documentation for an adopted child
shall include a certified copy of the child’s court-modified birth certificate
indicating that the employee is the child’s adoptive parent. A certified copy is one which displays the
raised seal of an official agency.
Photocopies of certified birth certificates shall not be accepted. Birth certificates written in a foreign
language must be accompanied by a certified translation in English.
c.
Stepchild: Acceptable documentation for a stepchild shall
include a certified copy of a marriage certificate documenting the employee’s
marriage to the child’s parent, and a certified copy of the child’s birth
certificate indicating that the employee’s spouse is the child’s parent.
d.
Legal Ward: Acceptable documentation of a guardian
relationship shall include a certified copy of a court order indicating that
the employee is the child’s court-appointed legal guardian. Execution of papers granting Power of
Attorney and awards of temporary custody to a non-parent shall not constitute
acceptable verification.
The college
reserves the right to accept alternate proof of dependency in instances where
extraordinary circumstances exist. The Union will be notified in any such
instances.
3.
The employee must
submit a copy of her/his three (3) most recent federal income tax forms
verifying that the child was claimed as a dependent, or, in instances where the
child does not reside with the employee due to divorce or separation, the
employee must annually submit certified court documentation or other
appropriate legal documentation verifying that the child normally receives, on
average, at least fifty percent (50%) of her/his financial support from the
employee.
4.
After all the required
materials are submitted and certified by the Office of Human Resources, the
applicants name will be forwarded to the Dean of Admissions. The Dean is
responsible for reviewing the application of any TRP applicant prior to final
action being taken.
5.
The employee must
annually submit the completed FAFSA form and copies of her/his federal income
tax forms showing that the child is being claimed as a dependent during her/his
enrollment at the College.
V.
Calculation of Tuition Waiver Award
A. The amount of
tuition waiver awarded each eligible applicant shall equal the amount of
tuition which is not covered by federal, state or county grant and/or public
and private scholarship sources. The
amount of tuition covered by other funding sources shall be determined by
applying all such grants and scholarships first to the child’s expenses for
room and board (where applicable) and student fees.
B. Educational loans
shall not be included in the above referenced calculations.
This program will be implemented retroactive to the fall 2004 semester.
The College and Union agree that this MOA and MOA # 64 will be signed and enacted concurrently.