Tuition-Related Benefits

Rhodes Tuition Exchange Programs

Rhodes participates in two exchange programs to assist eligible dependent children with the cost of undergraduate tuition at colleges and universities other than Rhodes. 

Eligibility. The dependent child, as defined by the IRS, of a full-time employee with at least 1 year of service. The child must have never married and must begin receiving the benefit before the age of 25. The College reserves the right to request the employee to submit proof of the child's dependency as it is defined by the IRS. Dependents of part-time employees (those scheduled to work less than 37.5 hours per week and 10 months per year) are not eligible for the tuition exchange. The dependent must be accepted for admission by a participating institution.

Benefit for Dependents. Tuition exchange programs are limited to 8 semesters of study or until the requirements for an undergraduate degree are met, whichever comes first.

Exchange Programs. Each program has its own application process and tuition credit program. Please refer to the website for the program below for more specific information. (We recommend that employees contact the Financial Aid office of the individual school as well).

• Associated Colleges of the South (ACS): Information at www.colleges.org including a list of schools. The ACS charges a fee of $2,000 per year for participation in the tuition exchange. Employees should notify the Benefits Services Manager if the employee’s child is applying to a school in this program.
• The Tuition Exchange (TE): Information and list of participating schools at www.tuitionexchange.org. Check with individual schools for tuition waiver amount. Applicants for this program should apply at the website.

Students should apply for admission, all scholarships and financial aid just as they would at any other school. 

Benefits after Termination. No tuition payments will be continued after the termination of employment except in the following cases: In the event of death, retirement, or total disability of a Rhodes employee, one academic year of tuition payments will be granted for the spouse and/or natural or legally adopted children for each four years of full-time employment. If a totally disabled employee recovers and resumes employment with an organization other than Rhodes, the tuition payment will terminate.

Rhodes Tuition Remission Program

Benefit for Employees. After one year of service, full-time employees of Rhodes (those working at least 10 months per year and 37.5 or 40 hours per week depending on the employee’s position) may be eligible for tuition remission. The employee is responsible for the registration and application fees, and must meet Rhodes’ admissions criteria as established by the Committee on Admissions. 

After one year of service, part-time employees (those working at least 18.75 hours per week or 20 hours or more per week depending on the employee’s position) are eligible for tuition remission on a pro-rata basis, under the same provisions as full-time employees. Employees who work fewer than 18.75 hours per week are not eligible for tuition remission.

Employees may take up to two (2) tuition remission courses at Rhodes each semester. Tuition remission will be given provided that:

• The employee’s supervisor approves of the class schedule;
• The employee continues as an employee for the duration of the semester;
• The number of credit hours does not exceed 8 in each semester;

Only one course may be taken during the employee’s regular work schedule for full-time employees. If on a part-time schedule, the employee must arrange for class to be before or after their assigned work schedule. The employee must be in good standing with the College and have no disciplinary actions during the past 12 months. This is not an entitlement; the first priority is the mission and function of the College and our responsibility to the College community is dependent upon each other for timely services. If, however, such arrangements can be made, the employee’s supervisor and the appropriate Dean/VP must approve in writing, prior to registration, the revised work schedule necessary to attend the class. The employee’s actual work time excluding class time remains undiminished, and care should be exercised regarding how the revised work schedule may affect others. This policy does not apply for summer sessions, study abroad, or other special programs.

In order to receive tuition remission at Rhodes, the employee must complete, sign, and submit a Tuition Remission form to Human Resources for approval. This form may be obtained from the Benefits Services Manager. After eligibility is confirmed and tuition remission is approved, the employee must complete an Application for Admission as a Special Student, available in the Office of Admission. Both the completed Tuition Remission form and the completed Application for Admission as a Special Student with the required supporting documents must be submitted to the Office of Admission at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the desired semester of enrollment.

Benefit for Spouse/Partner and Dependents. A spouse, partner, and dependent child (as defined by the IRS) of a full-time employee, provided the child has never married and begins receiving the benefit before the age of 25. The College reserves the right to request the employee to submit proof of the child's dependency as it is defined by the IRS. The spouse/partner and dependents of part-time employees (those working less than 37 ½ hours per week and 10 months per year) are not eligible for tuition remission.

Tuition payments are limited to four (8 semesters) academic terms (including summer) regardless of the number of hours a student is enrolled. In other words, tuition remission is not pro-rated, therefore a student enrolled for only 4 credit hours will still be using one of the 8 terms for which they are eligible. A spouse, partner, or child of eligible employees may take music lessons and may enroll as special students in various courses at special rates. For specific details regarding special fees, inquire at Rhodes Express located in Burrow Hall.

Tuition at Rhodes will be remitted on behalf of spouse, partner, and/or natural or legally adopted child subject to the following qualifications:

• After 1 year of full-time employment — one-third tuition at Rhodes will be remitted.
• After 2 years of full-time employment — two-thirds tuition at Rhodes will be remitted.
• After 3 years of full-time employment — full tuition at Rhodes will be remitted.

In order for a spouse, partner, or dependent to receive tuition remission at Rhodes, the employee must complete, sign, and submit a Tuition Remission form to Human Resources for approval. All students must also apply for admission. This form can be obtained from the Benefits Services Manager. After eligibility is confirmed and tuition remission is approved, the spouse or dependent must complete an Application for Admission. Both the completed Tuition Remission form and the completed Application for Admission with the required supporting documents must be submitted to the Office of Admission before the deadline for regular admissions. 

If an employee’s natural or legally adopted child attending Rhodes receives a merit scholarship from Rhodes, the amount of the Rhodes tuition remission plus the merit scholarship will be credited to the student’s account. However, the total amount of Rhodes tuition remission plus all sources of aid, including outside scholarships, shall not exceed the cost of tuition, room, board, and fees at Rhodes.

Benefits after Termination. No tuition payments will be continued after the termination of employment except in the following cases. In the event of death, retirement, or total disability of a Rhodes employee, one academic year of tuition payments will be granted for the spouse/partner and/or natural or legally adopted children for each four years of full-time employment. If a totally disabled employee recovers and resumes employment with an organization other than Rhodes, the tuition payment will terminate.

Tuition Grant Program

Note: The Tuition Grant Program is no longer available for full time employees whose employment date is subsequent to December 1, 2011.

Eligibility. Natural or legally adopted children, never married, and begin receiving the benefit before age 25, of tenured faculty members, and Deans/VPs.

Benefit. Tuition grants will be remitted at any other accredited college or university in the United States, up to a maximum of Rhodes published tuition price and mandatory fees. It is assumed, under this policy, that each student will make every appropriate effort to take advantage of scholarships offered by the other institutions or by any other agency. Rhodes will pay toward the student’s total bill the smallest of the following three amounts:

• The current tuition and mandatory fees charged by Rhodes.
• The tuition and mandatory fees charged by the college or university the student is attending.
• The tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees charged by the college or university the student is attending less all grants and scholarships received by the student, regardless of the source of the grants and scholarships.

Maximum Benefit. There shall be a limitation of four academic years (or the equivalent thereof) of baccalaureate study for each eligible child of a tenured faculty member. Enrollment for more than four academic years and/or after the receipt of a baccalaureate degree will not qualify for tuition grants.

All tuition grant payments under this benefit are considered taxable income and are subject to applicable withholding taxes.