Educational Assistance

Middle Tennessee State University is committed to the continued growth and development of employees. To assist in fulfilling this commitment, the University offers several educational assistance programs. These programs, approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), are intended to serve as a means of career (job-related) development, as well as individual professional development. Educational assistance that is funded by University departments is available subject to funds being budgeted within the University. Click here for forms.

The following description is a brief summary of each program and does not supersede TBR Guidelines which is the final authority. Since the specific criteria for participating in these programs vary, please refer to TBR Guidelines or contact the Human Resources Office at ext. 2929 for additional information.

The programs in TBR Guideline P-130 provide benefits to personnel at TBR institutions to further their formal education. The program in TBR Guideline P-131 provides beneftis for dependents of TBR employees and the programs in TBR Guideline B-062 provide assistance to dependents of veterans and to state employees 65 years of age and older.

1. Faculty or Administrative/Professional Staff Grant-in-Aid Program

2. Faculty or Administrative/Professional Staff Tuition or Maintenance Fee Reimbursement Program

3. Employee Audit Program

4. Clerical and Support Staff Maintenance Fee Payment Program

5. Fee Waiver for TBR/UT System Employees

6. Fee Discount for Spouse and/or Dependent Children

7. Veterans' Dependents' Post-Secondary Education Program

8. Age 65 or Above

I. Faculty or Administrative/Professional Staff Grant-In-Aid Program ( TBR Guideline P-130)

This program is available to any regular faculty, administrative/professional staff member who has been employed by the University for two (2) or more years. This grant is normally limited to personnel working toward the doctorate or other terminal degree; however, requests to pursue degrees below the doctoral level will be considered. (Approval subject to departmental funds.)

II. Faculty or Administrative/Professional Staff Tuition or Maintenance Fee Reimbursement Program ( TBR Guideline P-130)

This program is designed to provide maintenance or tuition-related fees for any regular part-time or full-time faculty or administrative/professional staff member who has been employed for at least six months and who takes credit courses on a part-time basis while continuing work responsibilities at this University. Reimbursement may not exceed actual maintenance or tuition-related fees for a maximum of six credit hours per semester. This program is normally limited to personnel working toward the doctorate or other terminal degree; however, requests to pursue degrees below the doctoral level will be considered. (Approval subject to departmental funds.)

III. Employee Audit Program ( TBR Guideline P-130)

This program provides course or maintenance fees for any regular part-time or full-time faculty, administrative/professional, or clerical/support staff member who takes credit courses on an audit or job-related non-credit basis at MTSU or another TBR/UT institution, while continuing work responsibilities at this University. To be eligible to apply the employee must have been employed for six months. (Approval subject to departmental funds.)

IV. Clerical and Support Staff Maintenance Fee Payment Program ( TBR Guideline P-130)

This program is designed to provide maintenance or tuition-related fees for any regular part-time or full-time clerical and supporting staff member who has been employed for at least six months and who takes credit courses in a degree program on a part-time basis either at MTSU or another TBR/UT institution while continuing work responsibilities at this University. Reimbursement may not exceed actual maintenance or tuition-related fees for a maximum of six credit hours per semester. (Approval subject to departmental funds.)

V. Fee Waiver for TBR/UT System Employees ( TBR Guideline P-130)

This program permits full-time employees (faculty, administrators/professional, and support staff) to take one credit course per term at MTSU or a TBR/UT institution, while continuing work responsibilities at this University. Auditing a course is allowed provided it is a credit course.

VI. Fee Discount for Spouse and/or Dependent Children ( TBR Guideline P-131)

This policy provides for fee discounts up to 50% of the undergraduate fee and all mandatory student fees payable at the time of registration for spouses and dependent children of regular full-time and regular part-time employees. Regular full-time employees are eligible for the 50% fee discount for spouse and dependent children who have been admitted to any TBR or UT system institution through standard admission procedures. Spouses and dependent children of regular part-time employees who have one or more years of continuous service working a minimum of 50% time shall receive a prorata discount based on the percent of effort currently worked by the employee.


VII. Veteran's Dependents' Post Secondary Education Program ( TBR Guideline B-062)

Effective July 1, 2008 TCA§49-7-102 was amended to provide that: "every dependent child in this state under the age of twenty-three (23) years, whose parent (father or mother) was killed, died as a direct result of injuries received, or has been officially reported as being either a Prisoner of war or missing in action while serving honorably as a member of the United States armed forces during a qualifying period of armed conflict, or was formerly a prisoner of war or missing in action under such circumstances, or the spouse of such veteran, is entitled to a waiver of tuition, maintenance fees, student activity fees, required registration or marticulation fees, and shall be admitted without cost to any institutions of higher education owned, operated and maintained by the state." Therefore, this program is available to both TBR employees and persons outside of the TBR system. The office of Veteran's Affairs is responsible for determining eligibility and providing application forms to those wishing to obtain benefits under this program.

VIII. Age 65 or Above ( TBR Guideline B-062)

Regular and temporary employees who are or will be age 65 during a quarter or semester and who also reside in Tennessee are eligible to enroll in courses without assessment of maintenance, student activity, technology access, or registration fees. However, the institution may assess a fee equal to 50% of the per hour rate with a maximum of $45 for two-year institutions, $75 per semester for universities, or $30 for the technology centers.