1. Overview

   This policy provides for participation in the Ohio university educational benefits program by domestic partners, spouses, and children of benefits eligible employees who are active, on approved leave, retired, on disability retirement, laid-off, or deceased.

2. Eligibility

   For dependents of employees to receive benefits under this policy, they must meet the requirements in paragraphs  (B)(1)  ("Employees"),  (B)(2)  ("Dependents"), and  (B)(3)  ("Courses and Fees") of this policy.

   This policy does not apply to any dependent of an employee who is (or a retiree or deceased former employee whose final active employment by the university was) covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Please refer to the current bargaining agreement for your eligibility.

   1. Employees

      Eligible employees are defined under policy  40.015 , and active employees must be on the payroll by the first day of the academic term.

   2. Dependents

      If an employee is affected by a reduction-in-force, qualified dependents remain eligible based on the employee's eligibility, as defined in policy  41.015 .

      No particular class standing is necessary for the original awarding of this benefit except that the student must meet the admission requirements.

      Qualified dependents are:

      1. Legally married spouse,
      2. Domestic partner (subject to policy  40.013 ),
      3. Biological, legally adopted, or legal guardianship children of the employee, employee's spouse, or employee's domestic partner.

   3. Courses and fees

      The program applies only to courses offered for credit by Ohio university.

      To receive the benefit, a dependent of an eligible employee does not need to be a full-time student and may take as many undergraduate or graduate courses as academically permissible.

      The educational benefit represents one hundred per cent of the instructional fee and non-residency fee when applicable. These are pro-rated for qualified dependents of part-time employees, according to the employee's full-time equivalency, as described for the employee in policy  40.015 .

      Benefits may be subject to withholding taxes under regulations of the internal revenue service. For more information, please see the link provided at  https://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits/educational-benefits

      Fee structures of the university are subject to change without notice at the university's discretion.

3. Additional information

   1. Excluded programs and fees

      Benefits under this policy shall not be applicable to non-credit courses and workshops, audited courses, or courses and programs delivered with an outside vendor who has not agreed to waive applicable fees, or special course fees.

      Any unit offering courses or programs to be delivered in partnership with an outside vendor shall promptly identify those courses or programs to university human resources (UHR), so that benefits will not be provided under this policy. UHR shall inform employees by ensuring that the information is available online, linked through  https://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits/educational-benefits

      Courses and programs that are unique in structure and fee arrangements will be identified by the sponsoring departments. Educational benefits for these programs are limited to the maximum full-time instructional fee rate allowed for a regular program.

   2. Application process

      Application by dependents for the educational benefit program must be submitted annually using the " Educational Benefits Request Form ." The applicant and employee must each sign the completed form and return the signed form to UHR.

      Application forms will be made available in April for the upcoming academic year. Dependents should submit an application as early as possible prior to the anticipated semester of enrollment in order to ensure the credit is applied correctly.

Reviewers

Proposed revisions of this policy should be reviewed by:

1. Deans
2. Vice Provost for University Outreach
3. Executive Director of eLearning
4. Benefits Director
5. Faculty Senate
6. Payroll Manager
7. Faculty Senate
8. Administrative Senate

Forms, References, and History

1. Forms

   The following form is specific to this policy:

   1. The Educational Benefits Request Form is available from University Human Resources, or online at  https://www.ohio.edu/hr/resources/forms

2. References

   The following items are relevant to this policy:

   1. https://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits/educational-benefits
   2. Policy  20.109 , "Employing Graduate Students on Contracts," covers any educational benefits that may be provided to dependents of Graduate Students employed by the university, such as GAs, TAs, or RAs; they are not covered by Policy 40.016.
   3. Policy  40.013 , "Domestic Partner Benefits."
   4. Policy  40.015 , "Educational Benefits for Ohio University Employees."
   5. Policy  41.010 , "Benefits for Administrative Presidential Appointees."
   6. Policy  41.015 , "Reduction-in-Force Benefit Programs for Administrators."

3. History

   Draft versions of this policy that were circulated for review, their cover memos, their forms, and Reviewers' comments on them are available on the password-protected Review site.

   Prior versions of this policy were approved on:

   1. September 23, 2024 (ESPC approved use of interim policy for an additional six month period, in accordance with policy 01.001). 
   2. April 9, 2024 ( ESPC approved use of interim policy for an additional six month period, in accordance with policy 01.001). 
   3. October 10, 2023 (approved for interim use) 
   4. September 17, 2021 (Non-substantive updates. Classified Senate removed as a Reviewer and References updated due to the establishment of the AFSCME 3200 contract).  
   5. June 17, 2016 (re-formatted)
   6. February 7 2014
   7. August 3, 2012 (for up to six months of  interim use ; re-approved for an additional six months' use with no changes, on February 27, 2013, and on August 23, 2013)
   8. February 1, 1994