Introduction
Bentley University is strongly committed to providing for the enrichment and professional development of its faculty and staff and to providing educational opportunities for their immediate family members. Accordingly, Bentley offers the Tuition Remission Program which follows.
Coverage
The Tuition Remission Benefit applies to tuition charges only. It does not apply to fees, course materials, other non-tuition expenses, or courses taken at other institutions, with the exception that technology and activity fees are covered for employees only.
The Tuition Remission Benefit applies to the following types of courses:
- Undergraduate Courses
- Graduate/Graduate-Level Courses (Certificate Programs): Graduate or graduate-level courses, like courses part of a certificate program, that are taken by an employee’s spouse, qualified domestic partner and/or dependent are included in the employee’s taxable income. Graduate courses taken by the employee may be included in the employee’s taxable income if not job related, under current IRS tax code regulations. Employees seeking exclusion from Tuition Remission related taxes on Graduate course(s) claimed to be job related must submit a completed Graduate Tuition Remission Tax Exemption Form, signed by the employee’s manager, along with the Tuition Remission Request Form to Human Resources.
Executive Professional Education (EPE) Courses: Employees can participate in one non-credit bearing executive or professional course per calendar year. International programs are excluded. Employees, as defined below under the “Eligibility for Employees” section, are eligible to take these courses under the Tuition Remission policy, but spouses and dependent children are not eligible. Participation is based on availability and if the program is at maximum capacity, employees will be put on a waitlist. Priority will be given to the order of the waitlist.
The EPE courses are treated the same as graduate courses for tax purposes. The cost of the course may be included in the employee’s taxable income if not job related, under current IRS tax code regulations. If the course is job related, the Graduate Tuition Remission Tax Exemption Form must be completed and, signed by the employee’s manager, along with the Tuition Remission Request Form to Human Resources.
Executive PhD Program
This is a non-discounted full pay program and as such, it will not be available to spouses of employees or employees under the current Bentley’s Tuition Remission policy. Bentley employees may apply and pay to attend.
Enrollment Criteria
For degree related courses, faculty and staff, their dependent children and stepchildren, and spouses benefiting from tuition remission must meet standard admissions requirements and are subject to the same academic standards and policies as all other students. The staff in the Offices of Undergraduate and Graduate Admission are happy to speak with you well in advance of your application for admission so that you are adequately prepared. It’s recommended that this consultation take place at the very least before a student’s senior year of high school for undergraduate admission and at least one year in advance for graduate admission. The admission counselor can provide guidance on what courses and/or entrance exams should be taken in order to be competitive in the admission process.
Eligibility for Employees
Full-time Faculty and full-time Staff, who are regularly scheduled to work nine months or more per year are eligible to take courses, tuition free, in any of the Undergraduate or Graduate programs. Full-time staff may take up to two (2) undergraduate courses per semester or two (2) graduate courses per semester not to interfere with their work schedule.
Part-time Faculty are eligible for tuition remission in any semester in which they teach one or more credit-bearing course sections.
- Part time Faculty teaching one course section are eligible for 25% tuition remission in that semester.
- Part time Faculty teaching two or more course sections are eligible for 50% tuition remission in that semester.
Part time Staff who are scheduled to work at least 17.5 hours per week during at least nine months of the year are eligible for 50% tuition remission for any courses they take. Part-time staff may take up to two (2) undergraduate courses or up to two (2) graduate courses. Part-time staff, working a different schedule other than the normal day shift hours are allowed to take up to two day (2) courses and have them covered under the policy.
Restrictions
Ordinarily, courses may not be taken which conflict with regular work hours. A manager, in limited circumstances and with vice president approval, may grant an employee approval to take a course during work hours, if the course is not offered outside regular work hours and is required for a degree program. Coursework may not interfere with the performance of the employee's regularly assigned responsibilities. Exempt and Non-exempt staff taking courses approved by their manager during work hours are required to work additional hours during the pay period to receive full pay. For one week intensive courses, all staff must use vacation or personal time.
Eligibility for Dependent Children
Tuition remission is available to the dependent children or stepchildren of full-time Faculty and full-time Staff under the following conditions:
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Dependent children or stepchildren are eligible if age 27 or under.
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Dependent children or stepchildren must meet the dependent criteria established by the Internal Revenue Code. Dependent children are no longer eligible under this program after the end of the semester in which they reach 27.
Bentley may require official documents to verify dependent status.
Waiting Period for Benefit Participation
Dependent children and stepchildren of full time Faculty and Staff become eligible for tuition remission after their parent has completed one year of full-time employment at Bentley. The benefit schedule thereafter shall be as follows:
- During the second and third year of employment - 50% tuition remission available to dependent
- During the fourth and fifth year of employment - 75% tuition remission available to dependent
- After five years - 100% tuition remission available to dependent
Staff with at least 5 years part-time benefits-eligible service who change to full time status will receive service credit. The part time service will be converted to half credit toward the full time service requirements listed above. For example:
An employee with 5 years part-time benefits-eligible service would receive the equivalent of 2.5 years of full time service credit, resulting in a 50% tuition remission benefit beginning the semester following the change to full time service, and 75% beginning the semester following the completion of a combined total of 3 years service.
An employee with 10 years part-time benefits-eligible service would receive the equivalent of 5 years service credit and would be eligible for 100% tuition remission beginning the semester following the change of status to full time.
For the purpose of determining dependent eligibility, length of employment shall be defined as the length of time from date of hire in a full time position (specified in appointment letter or contract) to the first scheduled class of the following semester.
Tuition Remission Benefit for Dependent Children
The Tuition Remission Benefit for each dependent child or stepchild meeting the eligibility criteria outlined above is subject to a cumulative limit of 40 credit-bearing courses, or eight full-time undergraduate semesters of coursework, whichever is greater. All credit-bearing courses, whether Graduate or Undergraduate, count toward this 40-course limitation, whether tuition is remitted in whole or in part, in accordance with the previous section, Waiting Period for Benefit Participation of Dependent Children. The Tuition Remission Benefit applies to tuition charges only. It does not apply to fees, course materials, other non-tuition expenses, with the exception that technology and activity fee are covered for employees only.
Tuition Remission Benefit for Dependent Children who Study Abroad
Dependent children who are approved by Bentley International Education to study on a Bentley partner or affiliate semester or academic year study abroad program will be billed at cost for any study abroad charges Bentley incurs. Students earn Bentley credit for courses taken at Bentley approved partner or affiliate programs, therefore these courses count toward their cumulative course limit. There is no tuition remission benefit for undergraduate faculty-led international courses, graduate Global Business Experiences (GBEs), or courses taken at other institutions.
Tuition Remission Benefit for Spouses/Domestic Partners*
Tuition remission is available to the spouses/domestic partners of full-time Faculty and full-time Staff only.
Tuition may be remitted for any credit-bearing Undergraduate or Graduate course. One hundred percent of tuition is remitted for the first course per semester and 50% for all other concurrent credit courses. Faculty/Staff must be full time prior to the start date of any course taken by the spouse/domestic partner.
The University may require official documents to verify spousal/domestic partner status.
This benefit also applies to spouses/domestic partner of staff who changed from part time benefits eligible to full time status.
Pro-Rating of Benefits Upon Change of Employment Status
In the event of change in employment status while continuing employment with the University, any required adjustments in the tuition remission benefit for the dependent child or stepchild, or spouse will take effect during the following semester.
If an employee leaves the University during a semester for which the benefit is being utilized either by their dependent children or stepchildren, or spouse, the benefit will be pro-rated and the employee is responsible for payment of the resulting uncovered pro-rated tuition balance.
Disability or Death
If an employee should become disabled and unable to work, or should die during a semester in which the Tuition Remission Benefit is being utilized, the following provisions apply:
If the benefit was being utilized by the employee, no charges will apply.
If a dependent child, stepchild or spouse of an employee with less than 10 years of service is utilizing the benefit, that individual will be allowed to finish the semester at the same tuition remission benefit level for the year in which the disability or death occurs. One additional year at 50% tuition remission will be allowed, subject to the limitation described in Tuition Remission Benefits for Dependent Children section.
If a dependent child, stepchild, or spouse of an employee with more than 10 years service is utilizing the benefit, the following applies: the dependent child or stepchild will continue to be eligible to receive tuition remission at the same benefit level as applied at the time of disability or death for a maximum of seven years, subject to the limitation described in Tuition Remission Benefit for Dependent Children section; the spouse shall remain eligible for the Tuition Remission Benefit for an additional two years or until the completion of a degree program in which the spouse was enrolled, whichever is greater.
Application Process
An application for Tuition Remission is required for each of the four semesters (Fall, Spring/Wintersession, Summer I and Summer II) in which courses are taken and are available in the Human Resources Department. Applications must be completed and must be approved by the employee’s department head before submission to Human Resources for approval. Once HR approves eligibility, applications are forwarded to Student Financial Services for processing and final approval. Forms must be received by HR no later than two (2) weeks prior to the start of the course.
Please note that some graduate level courses taken by an employee may be taxed. Graduate courses taken by an employee’s spouse or dependent are subject to Federal income tax as a taxable benefit to the employee.
Employees must register through the regular class registration process for all courses. Employees are subject to the same drop/add limitations as all students.
Forms
Tuition Remission Request Form
Graduate/Certificate Tuition Remission Tax Exemption Form
Affidavit for Tuition Remission for Dependent Children and Stepchildren
Qualifying Relative Questionnaire
Qualifying Child Questionnaire
Additional Provisions
Bentley reserves the right to interpret the Tuition Remission Benefit Policy, and to change the policy and/or applicable procedures, at any time. Prior notice of any change will be provided whenever practicable.
Questions regarding this policy, or additional information, may be obtained from the Human Resources Department.
Updated February 2024