Eligibility

▼   Employee Eligibility

If you are a regular, benefits-eligible employee working .90 FTE or greater, and have completed six months of employment on the first day of classes per the University Academic Calendar, you and your eligible spouse/dependents enrolled at the University of South Alabama may qualify for the educational benefit.

Children of deceased employees: The employee was full-time and had 5 years of continuous employment at the time of death. Eligible dependents include children that are age 14 or older at the time of the employee's death. Proof of eligibility required at the time of application, i.e., child's birth certificate.

▼   What requirements determine dependent eligibility for the Educational Benefit Plan (tuition credit)?
The educational benefit is also available to eligible spouses and unmarried dependent children of employees. For educational benefit purposes, eligible spouses and dependent children are defined as follows:
  1. Spouse as recognized by the State of Alabama
  2. Unmarried children include the biological, legally-adopted, step-, foster, or any other legally dependent children of the employee who are under 25 years of age on the first day of classes
  3. Children of deceased employees: The employee was full-time and had 5 years of continuous employment at the time of death. Eligible dependents include children that are age 14 or older at the time of the employee's death. Proof of eligibility required at the time of application, i.e., child's birth certificate.
▼   As a University retiree, will I remain eligible for the Educational Benefit? As a University retiree, will my eligible spouse and/or dependent children remain eligible for the Educational Benefit?
Yes. The University’s Educational Benefit Plan will continue for the life of the University retiree if the University retiree was eligible for this benefit at the time of retirement. All other conditions of the Educational Benefit Plan apply.
▼   Are graduate and doctoral programs eligible for the tuition credit?

Yes. The benefit applies only to enrollment at the University of South Alabama. Employees and eligible dependents adhere to the same admissions related requirements and procedures as all students enrolled in classes at the University.

Exceptions - Tuition and fee charges paid by a Graduate Assistantship will not be eligible for the Employee Educational Benefit.

The tuition rate is based on the employee’s date of employment and the degree program.

▼   Graduate Assistantships and the Employee Educational Benefit Plan

Tuition and Fees paid as a component of Graduate Assistantships, stipends, or fellowships will not be eligible for EEB. Should any course not qualify as an authorized tuition expense through the Graduate School, or the registered credit hours exceed the maximum covered under the student's assistantship, EEB may be applied to the additional tuition cost (following EEB eligibility criteria).

EEB credit will be assessed only on those registered hours not already covered by the existing tuition credit.

▼   Are students enrolled in PASSAGE USA eligible for tuition credit?

PASSAGE USA, (Preparing All Students Socially and Academically for Gainful Employment) is a two-year and four-year non-degree, certificate program.  This program is designed for students who need extra support to be successful in our community. The Employee Educational Benefit will provide a tuition credit for eligible students enrolled in the PASSAGE USA program up to age 28.

The cost of the program is based on an annual program fee structure (in lieu of credit hours). Within the program, students take 15 credit hours per semester. The Employee Educational Benefit tuition credit is applied based on the 15 credit hours per semester as per the regular Base and Standard Plan employee educational benefit.

For more information on PASSAGE USA, visit their website at:

https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/ceps/passage/

▼   Are students enrolled in the South Start program eligible for tuition credit?

No. Current policy does not include students enrolled in South Start as eligible for tuition credit with the Employee Educational Benefit Program. For more information on South Start, please visit: https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/admissions/startsouth/

▼   If both parents are employed by the University, can each employee apply for the Educational Benefit for their dependent children? 

No, only one employee may receive the Educational Benefit tuition credit on behalf of their dependent children.