Changes to the Tuition Assistance program have been approved to be effective beginning with spring 2025. Applications are now being accepted through the Online Application Form. Applications for the spring semester must be received by the end of the business day Jan. 6, 2025.
Several changes to the policies for both employee and spouse/dependent assistance have been implemented based on the input received from both the Staff Senate and Faculty Senate as well as feedback from the Campus Climate Survey. Highlights of these changes are:
- All .50 FTE and above benefit-eligible employees, including faculty, are eligible for employee tuition assistance
- All courses that are offered for credit by the university qualify for tuition assistance – including all undergraduate, graduate, badge and certificate programs
- Dependent and spouse tuition assistance is available for first undergraduate and/or first graduate degrees
- Applications may be submitted for the entire academic year (fall, summer, spring) at one time. For spring 2025, applicants will be able to submit for the remainder of the academic year (spring 2025 and/or summer 2025).
- Revised GPA requirements:
- Employees must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 for undergraduate programs or an overall GPA of 3.0 for graduate programs. Failure to meet this requirement will make the employee ineligible for tuition assistance until the employee’s overall GPA is greater than 2.0 for undergraduate programs or 3.0 for graduate programs.
- The Spouse or Dependent Child must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 as calculated at the end of the term. Failure to meet this requirement will make the spouse or dependent child ineligible for tuition assistance until their overall GPA is greater than 2.0.
- Graduate tuition assistance changes
- Employees are limited to $5,250 in graduate tuition assistance per calendar year, instead of a per semester credit hour cap.
- Dependents/spouses are limited to 50% of the cost of the resident graduate tuition up to a maximum of $5,250 in tuition assistance per calendar year.
- Tuition assistance for graduate courses for an employee’s spouse and dependents shall be included in the employee’s gross income as wages and subject to income tax consistent with federal and state tax laws based on IRS guidelines. Employees are responsible for all tax consequences.
Full program details and more information can be found at wichita.edu/tuitionassistance. Questions may be directed to TuitionAssistance@wichita.edu.
