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 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.
Click here for a comparison of the educational benefit programs available to you as an employee.
The following description is a brief summary of each program. Since the specific criteria for participating in these programs vary, please refer to MTSU policies or contact the Human Resources Office at 615-898-2929 for additional information.
The programs in MTSU Policies 829 and 830 provide benefits to personnel at MTSU to further their formal education. The program in MTSU Policy 831 provides benefits for dependents of MTSU employees and the programs in MTSU Policy 643 provide assistance to dependents of veterans, disabled, elderly persons, and to retired state employees.
- Faculty or Administrative/Professional Staff Grant-in-Aid Program
- Faculty and Staff Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Employee Audit/Non-Credit Program
- MTSU Employee Tuition Waiver
- Student Discount for Spouses and Dependent Children of MTSU Employees
- Veterans' Dependents' Post-Secondary Education Program
- Disabled, Elderly Persons, and State Retirees Progam
I. Faculty or Administrative/Professional Staff Grant-In-Aid Program (MTSU Policy 830)
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 and Staff Tuition Reimbursement Program (MTSU Policy 830)
This program is designed to provide maintenance or tuition-related fees for any regular part-time or full-time faculty or 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. (Approval subject to departmental funds.)
III. Employee Audit Program (MTSU Policy 830)
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 Board of Regents, state university or 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. MTSU Employee Tuition Waiver (MTSU Policy 829)
This program permits full-time employees (faculty, administrators/professional, and support staff) to take one credit course per term at MTSU or a Board of Regents, state university or UT institution, while continuing work responsibilities at this University. Auditing a course is allowed provided it is a credit course. To access Fee Waiver forms click here.
V. Student Discount for Spouses and Dependent Children of MTSU Employees (MTSU Policy 831)
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 of the institutions in the Board of Regents, state universities 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.
VI. Veteran's Dependents' Post Secondary Education Program (MTSU Policy 643)
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 MTSU employees and persons outside of the Board of Regents 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.
VII. Disabled, Elderly Persons, and State Retirees Program (MTSU Policy 643)
In accordance with TCA§49-7-113 and Policy 641 Student Fees-Incidental Charges and Refunds, certain disabled and elderly students, as well as state service retirees, are abel to enroll in, or audit, courses free, or at a reduced rate, at any state-supported college or university.
Human Resource Services
Middle Tennessee State University
2269 Middle Tennessee Boulevard
204 Sam H. Ingram Building
Murfreesboro, TN 37132-0001
(615)-898-2929