1. Overview

   This policy provides benefits to eligible employee's domestic partners, spouses, and children, whether the employee is active, on approved leave, retired, on disability retirement, laid-off, or deceased, regarding participation in the Ohio university educational benefits program. 

2. Eligibility

   For dependents of employees to receive benefits under this policy, they must meet the requirements in parts (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 covered by a collective bargaining agreement or any dependent of a retiree or deceased former employee whose final active employment by the university was covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Those employees should refer to the current applicable bargaining agreement for their 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

      Eligible dependents include:

      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.

         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 standing is necessary for the original awarding of this benefit except that the student must meet the admission requirements. 

   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 percent of the instructional and non-residency fees 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.

      The educational benefit covers the instructional and non-residency fees (when applicable) per semester for undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. Graduate and medical program educational benefits are limited to full-time (9-18 credit hours) Athens campus comprehensive graduate fees.

3. Additional information

   Benefits under this policy shall not be applicable to non-credit courses and workshops, audited courses, courses, or 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.

   1. Application process

      The employee's application for the dependent(s) participation in the educational benefit program must be submitted annually using the "Educational Benefits Request Form." The employee and the applicant must each sign the completed form and return the signed form to UHR.

      The employee should submit an application as soon as possible after the dependent is admitted to the university to ensure the credit is applied correctly for the dependent's first semester of enrollment.

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