Tuition and Fee Waivers

1.0 Scope

Employees classified as Regular or Temporary in Procedure 2702 and other groups as indicated within the procedure.

2.0 Purpose

To demonstrate appreciation for the groups indicated within the procedure and add value to employment at Northland Pioneer College (NPC) by providing tuition and fee waivers for courses taken at NPC.

3.0 Definitions

3.1 Course Fees - A fee to cover special supplies, materials or equipment used for instruction in some courses.

3.2 Days - College Business Days as identified in the college catalog.

3.3 Dependent - A family member who lives at home and is claimed as a dependent on the most recent state and federal income tax returns.

3.4 Emeritus Status - As designated through Procedure 2776

3.5 Media Fee - A fee used to help offset the cost of media services that are available to ALL NPC students such as computers, audio and video equipment, electronic library resources and Internet.

3.6 Meritorious Status - As designated through Procedure 2776

3.7 Regular Employee - An employee contracted to work part- or full-time every pay period for nine months or more during a fiscal year.

3.8 Spouse - A husband or wife of the employee.

3.9 Temporary Employee - An employee scheduled part- or full-time for a fixed period of time with no expectation of continued employment.

4.0 Procedure

4.1 Waiver for Employees

All Regular and Temporary Employees may have tuition and the media fee waived for themselves, their spouse, and their dependents.

Course fees, textbooks and/or noncredit-bearing course costs are not waived under this procedure. Credit-bearing courses taken for an audit grade are eligible for a tuition waiver.

If an employee is dismissed or otherwise separates from service prior to the first meeting of a class for which a waiver issued under this procedure was used, the recipient of the waiver(s) may either withdraw from the class or elect to pay tuition and the media fee. Tuition and the media fee will remain waived if dismissal or separation from service occurs after the first meeting of the class(es) and the recipient of the waiver(s) has attended the class(es) at least once.

A tuition waiver for an employee who is currently on administrative, educational, or sabbatical leave of absence must be approved by the supervisor and the President’s Cabinet member who oversees the employee’s division or department.

An employee may register for classes that are scheduled during their normal work hours with approval following the flexible work schedule process described below.

4.2 Flexible Work Schedule

A flexible work schedule may be requested to support class attendance during regular work hours and must be completed before enrollment is finalized.

If the employee’s supervisor approves the proposed flexible work schedule, the supervisor will sign the request for the tuition and media fee waiver, and the employee will submit the request and the approved flexible work schedule to the Human Resources Office.

If a supervisor denies the proposed flexible work schedule, the supervisor will submit a written explanation to the employee and the Human Resources Office within five (5) business days specifying the reason(s) for the denial.

An employee who is dissatisfied with the denial of a proposed flexible work schedule may appeal as follows:

a) Employee should engage in an informal discussion with their supervisor to attempt to resolve the denial before pursuing a written appeal.

b) Employee may submit a written appeal to the Human Resources office. The appeal will be reviewed by Human Resources staff, the supervisor will be consulted, and Human Resources will respond in writing within five (5) business days.

c) If the appeal is denied by Human Resources, the employee may appeal in writing to the President’s Cabinet member who oversees the employee’s department or division. The President’s Cabinet member will review the appeal, consult with the employee’s supervisor, and respond in writing within five (5) business days.

4.3 Other Waivers

Current NPC District Governing Board members, as well as Emeritus and Meritorious past employees may have tuition waived for up to six credits per semester and the media fee waived.

A member of the Arizona National Guard who received a Purple Heart citation on or after September 11, 2001, or a former member of the Arizona National Guard who was medically discharged from the Arizona National Guard due to an injury or disability suffered under conditions listed in A.R.S. §15-1808 may have tuition and media fee waived.

A member or former member of the United States armed forces who received a Purple Heart citation, who was a resident of the state of Arizona or was stationed in Arizona at the time of the injury and whose disability rating is fifty per cent or more as described in A.R.S. §15-1808 may have tuition and the media fee waived.

A surviving spouse or child of a peace officer, correctional officer, fire fighter, emergency paramedic, National Guard member, or member of the United States Armed Forces who was a resident of the state of Arizona or stationed in Arizona and who was killed in the line of duty or who died from injuries suffered in the line of duty while traveling to or from duty may have tuition and the media fee waived.