Educational Benefits

Employees must meet the following requirements for their Dependent to participate in the Dependent Tuition Remission Program:

• Appointed to a full-time (i.e., 40 hours/week) regular established position for at least one (1) full year (Temporary/OPS employees are not eligible); and
• Expected to be employed full-time past the end of the term for which enrolled; individuals who leave USF employment before the last day of the term may* be required to pay the tuition and fees in full; and
• Not having a substandard performance rating for their most recent evaluation (must have an overall rating of Meets Expectations or higher); and
• Not on an active Performance Improvement Plan; and
• Not having received any written discipline within the past twelve (12) months.
• Not be participating in the Employee Tuition Program (ETP)

Eligible Spouse/Domestic Partner is defined as:

• Legally married and/or domestic partner to the employee by the application deadline. Documentation will be required.
• Must be a current active student at USF, have completed at least one semester and are in good academic standing. Graduate courses are not covered under the program.

Eligible Dependent Child is defined as:

• The natural, adopted, step, foster, or any other child for which the employee has legal guardianship. Documentation may be requested.
• He or she is eligible through the end of the calendar year in which they turn 26 years of age.
• Must be a current active undergraduate student at USF, have completed at least one semester and are in good academic standing. Graduate courses are not covered for dependent children.

Age Limit for Your Dependent Children

Dependent children are no longer eligible for benefits under this program after the end of the calendar year in which they reach age 26. Exceptions to this provision include:

• Military Service. For dependent children who are honorably discharged veterans, the period of eligibility will be extended beyond age 27 by the number of months of their military service, up to a maximum of 48 months.
• Disability. Dependent children whose disabilities prevent them from completing undergraduate work by the time they reach age 27 must submit a written request for an extension of the Dependent Tuition Remission Program eligibility to Human Resources. A physician’s statement indicating diagnosis, period of disability, and prognosis must accompany the request, along with a letter of recommendation from USF’s Accessibility Services regarding the student status of your dependent child.

Proof of relationship to the employee may be requested for the eligible spouse. If requested, the employee must provide the following:

• Proof of enrollment as dependent on employee’s State insurance, or
• If married less than 12 months and you and your spouse have not filed a federal income tax return as married, you will need to submit a copy of your government-issued marriage certificate, or
• If married for 12 or more months, a Tax Return Transcript of your most recently filed federal income tax return showing you filed as married, either jointly or separately.

Proof of relationship to the employee may be requested for eligible dependent children. If requested, the employee must provide the following:

• Proof of enrollment as dependent on employee’s State insurance, or
• A copy of the dependent’s birth certificate, or
• A copy of the adoption certification, or
• A copy of the most recent tax return listing your dependent(s)
• Any documents provided will be kept in confidential files in Human Resources.

Domestic Partner requirements:

Employees and their Domestic Partners who participate in USF’s Domestic Partnership Health Insurance Stipend Program may not be required to submit additional documentation. This status can be confirmed through documentation submitted for the Health Insurance Stipend Program.

Domestic Partners who do not participate in USF’s Domestic Partnership Health Insurance Stipend Program will be required to submit at least three of the following documentation to participate in the Dependent Tuition Remission Program:

• Domestic Partner card
• Joint ownership of real property
• Mutual designation as attorney in a durable power of attorney document
• Joint ownership of personal property or assets, such as automobiles or stock
• Designation of health care surrogate
• Joint bank account
• Driver’s license or tax documents showing the same address
• Joint consumer or bank loan
• Joint credit cards
• Joint lease
• Designation of beneficiary for life insurance, retirement plan, and/or last will and testament
• Legal documentation demonstrating joint adoption or legal guardianship of any dependents, whether children or adults

The Dependent Tuition Remission Program has a maximum capacity due to funding availability. Should the eligible pool of applicants for the Dependent Tuition Remission Program go beyond the maximum budget capacity, a drawing will occur to determine selection.

Please note that if your spouse/domestic partner or your dependent child receive financial aid, the Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefit may impact the award. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 813-974-4700 for information regarding the effects of the Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefit upon your award.

• Eligibility is based on each course 5 digit CRN #
• Credit earning courses only
• Excludes all Performance, Practicum, Continuing Education, Cooperative Education, Correspondence Courses, Life-long Learning, Directed Individual Study or Research, Internship, Program for Adult Credit Education (PACE), all HIM (Health Informatics) courses, and one-to-one
• Excludes non-credit earning courses
• Excludes Auditing a course for no credit
• Some distance learning restrictions apply, see below

Employee and their spouse/domestic partner must meet all eligibility requirements indicated in the Eligibility section prior to the application deadline for the program.

If you and your spouse/domestic partner are both employed at USF and are both eligible for Employee Tuition Program, you and your spouse/domestic partner are not eligible to receive benefits as a spouse/domestic partner under the Dependent Tuition Remission Program.

Employee and their dependent child must meet all eligibility requirements indicated in the Eligibility section prior to the application deadline for the program.

Employees may only apply for one dependent child to participate in the Dependent Tuition Remission Program per academic year. If both parents and/or guardians are employed at USF and are both eligible for the Dependent Tuition Remission Program, they may each apply for a separate dependent child to participate.

Full-time employees are eligible to receive Employee Tuition Program (ETP) benefits only as employees. You are not eligible for additional benefits as a dependent child of another employee eligible for the Dependent Tuition Remission Program.

Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefits continue while you are on an approved leave of absence with pay for the remainder of the academic year. Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefits also continue if you are a faculty member on an approved sabbatical with pay for the remainder of the academic year.

With prior approval from Human Resources, Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefits may be continued within the academic year during an approved unpaid leave of absence that is taken for one of the following reasons:

1. Research purposes

2. Instruction

3. Government or other service deemed by the University to be in the public interest

4. Other activities that may be approved by the University

If you take an approved leave of absence without pay for any reason other than those listed above, Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefits will terminate for the duration of your leave on the earlier of:

1. The beginning of a semester following or coinciding with the first day of your leave; or

2. At the end of any semester in which you begin your leave.

If you go on an extended military leave, you will accrue service toward meeting the program’s service requirements for the entire period of the leave, provided you return to regular, full-time employment with the University following military service and within the time when your veteran’s re-employment rights are protected. 

During an approved leave of absence due to temporary disability, Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefits continue for your dependent child for the remainder of the academic year.

How Your Family’s Benefit Is Affected

Generally, if your employment ends before the first day of class*, your spouse and dependents will be required to pay full tuition for the courses taken that semester. If your employment ends before the last day of classes, your spouse’s and dependents’ benefits will continue until the end of the semester.

* The first day “Instruction Begins” for the semester is defined as the date published in the USF Academic Calendar.

If your dependent is an active program participant that is already receiving Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefits:

If you retire, die or begin receiving disability benefits from the University’s Long-Term Disability Plan, your eligible dependent may continue to receive Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefits for the remainder of the academic year.

If your dependent child is selected as a program participant, but has not begun receiving Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefits:

If you are no longer an active employee of the university before your dependent begins receiving Dependent Tuition Remission Program benefits, participation in the program will be rescinded.

Who is Eligible?
Spouses, Domestic Partners or children under the age of 26 of eligible USF employees.

Will the dependent need to apply for admission to the University as a student?Yes. Dependent children, spouses and domestic partners who wish to apply to the program must be accepted to the University as a student. 

Additionally, the dependent must have completed one semester at USF and have a good-standing academic status.

How can I participate?

1. Apply for admission and be accepted by USF and have completed one semester
2. Apply for approval and be accepted for the Dependent Tuition Remission Program 
3. Each semester complete and turn in the Dependent Tuition Remission Semester Course Request Form to benefits@usf.edu by the 4th day of the semester at 5 PM.

When will the DTRP application be available?
The Dependent Tuition Remission Program application will be available during the Spring. 

Why is there an application for the program?
The Dependent Tuition Remission Program has a maximum capacity due to funding availability. Application approvals are contingent upon confirmation of employee and dependent eligibility by Central Human Resources.

Applications for the Dependent Tuition Remission Program are due annually. The timeframe regarding application deadline and the announcement of accepted participants will be designated by Central Human Resources each year.

What happens if the program capacity is reached?
Upon receiving DTRP applications, Central Human Resources will review the eligibility of the USF employee and their dependent. Applications should be completed in full. Should the eligible pool of applicants for the Dependent Tuition Remission Program exceed the maximum budget capacity, a random drawing will occur to determine selection.

How do I know if my Dependent is eligible to participate for the program?
Once all applications for the DTRP have been received, Central Human Resources will provide a notification that will be sent to eligible participants on the webpage for the Dependent Tuition Remission Program.

Does my dependent have to apply each semester?
No. However, each semester the student and the employee will need to complete the Dependent Tuition Remission Semester Course Request Form to continue participation. The form should be signed by the dependent, the employee and the employee’s supervisor and emailed to benefits@usf.edu no later than 5 PM on the 4th day of the Semester.

How many courses are waived?
The Dependent Tuition Remission Program covers six (6) in-state tuition credits per semester for eligible undergraduate courses. This will total up to eighteen (18) credits per academic year.

Which courses are waived?
Central Human Resources (CHR) receives a list of eligible courses as determined by each department every semester. This list is posted above. Course lists are updated every Tuesday while registration is open.  If a course is not listed, check back the following Tuesday.

CHR can confirm course eligibility each semester when provided with the CRN number for an individual course. If you have questions regarding eligibility, please contact benefits@usf.edu. 

Are all fees covered?
No. The student is responsible for non-covered fees. Payment for these fees is due by the deadline set by the University’s Cashier’s Office for that term. 

May my dependent take courses at another state university and utilize the USF DTRP?
No. Dependents must enroll and take courses at one of the USF campuses to utilize the DTRP.

Will we get taxed on this benefit?
To determine tax consequences, employees should consult with their personal tax advisor.  In general, if the participant is a dependent child or spouse of an employee, it is a non-taxable benefit.

If the participant is a domestic partner of an employee, the benefit is taxable to the USF employee. The value of the waived tuition will be taxed through payroll.

How will this impact the Employee Tuition Program (ETP)?
The procedures for the ETP will remain the same. However, an employee may not participate in the ETP if their dependent is participating in the Dependent Tuition Remission Program and vice versa.

For more details regarding the ETP please visit CHR’s Employee Tuition Program webpage.