EDTAG

MVNU offers an Employee and Dependent Tuition Assistance Grant (EDTAG) for qualified dependents of certain University employees who pursue full-time study at the University. The grant generally allows for the elimination of 95% of MVNU tuition and general fee charges for qualified participants, subject to the following provisions:

1. Waiting Period:
For eligible employees hired after November 30, 2007, the benefit is available for those who have completed two years (24 months) of qualifying employment at MVNU immediately prior to the start of the enrolled semester. For employees hired prior to December 1, 2007, the benefit is available for those who have completed one year (12 months) of qualified employment prior to the start of the enrolled semester.

Equivalent employment at another accredited institution of higher education may be applied to the waiting period. Eligible employees hired after November 30, 2007 are subject to the provisions of this policy in its entirety. Employees hired on or before that date are subject to transition rules, delineated in a transitional policy document, included as an amendment to this policy.

2. Qualifying employment
The benefit is available for those who have served in any of the following ways for the entire prescribed waiting period and who continue to be employed by MVNU in a qualified capacity at the commencement of an enrolled semester:

• Any full-time 9 to 12 month employee.
• Any part-time faculty member teaching at least 19 credit hours at MVNU.
  
• Any part-time staff scheduled to work at least 1,462.50 hours per year.
  

Applications for EDTAG are available from Human Resources, Student Financial Aid and the http://hr.mvnu.edu website. Applications require the Director of Human Resource’s approval and certification of qualified employment status and must be submitted for a qualified applicant no later than sixty days prior to the commencement of a covered semester.

4. The benefit
An qualified dependent will receive tuition assistance from the University for up to 95% of the published rate for an MVNU undergraduate program. Outside (non-MVNU) scholarships and grants may be used to reduce the remaining 5% of tuition or, if allowed by the grantor, such outside awards may be applied toward other costs of attendance, including room, board, books and other fees.

Outside awards that are applicable only toward tuition will serve first to reduce the remaining 5% of the student’s tuition costs. Awards beyond the 5% will be applied to tuition costs only and will serve to reduce the grant provided by the University. In no case will the University provide funding or discounts beyond the benefit stipulated herein, unless the student foregoes the entire benefit in favor of a separate financial assistance package. In such a case, the student will be treated as a non-affiliated financial aid applicant.

Dependents will also receive a 10% courtesy (employee) discount on published room and board charges for residency in University property in Mount Vernon.

For spouses and dependents (as defined below) EDTAG is limited to 160 attempted hours, 10 full-time semesters, or until the student completes the minimum requirements for a degree with the chosen major, whichever is less. Requests for extension of the benefit beyond the semesters or hours allowed may be made by petition. Credits earned by the student through programs not funded by MVNU (PSEO, AP, KAP, IB, CLEP, transfer, or credit by exam) are excluded from the attempted hours limit.

5. Dependent Status
For a currently living, “qualified” employee, a “Dependent” is defined as: (1) the employee’s unmarried child (biological, adopted or stepchild) under the age of 23 and claimed as a dependent on the employee’s most recent tax return, or (2) a spouse who is legally married to the employee. In the event that a child turns 23 years of age or is married while enrolled in courses at MVNU, he/she may continue to receive the benefit through the end of that semester. A married child may qualify only if he or she is currently a dependent of the employee, meaning that the employee provides sufficient support so that the dependent will be claimed as a dependent on the employee’s tax return at the end of the current year. The spouse of an eligible dependent does not qualify for this benefit.

For a deceased employee, the surviving spouse and eligible children qualify for this benefit if, at the time of the employee’s death, he or she was employed in a qualifying capacity.

6. AGS benefits for undergraduate programs (non-traditional)
One EDTAG space will be guaranteed within each undergraduate AGS cohort group. Enrollment under the guaranteed provision will be on a first come, first served basis. Individuals qualifying for this benefit who wish to enroll in a particular cohort after the first space has been apportioned may be admitted on an “as available” basis (standby.) This may require a late decision with respect to when the qualified individual will be notified of their acceptance into such a cohort.

The benefit for AGS undergraduate programs is a grant for up to 85% of tuition and standard (general) fees. Application of outside scholarships and grants will be administered in the same manner as outlined in section 4. herein.

7. Taxability
EDTAG may be subject to taxation, a possibility that varies according to the tax provisions in effect at the time the benefit is utilized. The Employee is responsible for determining what portions of the benefit are taxable. For further information, refer to IRS Publication 520, available on the web at www.irs.gov

8. Transition Rules
Certain employees may qualify for certain transition rules, available for a period of time after this policy is enacted. Those rules are an addendum to this policy. As with all employee benefits, this policy is subject to change, including its conditions, qualifications and benefits.

• Transitional EDTAG
  
• EDTAG