Policy Author:
Employee Engagement
Responsible Office – Department:
Employee Engagement
Financial Aid
Student Accounts
Effective Date of Policy:
April 10, 2025
Eligibility Requirements for Tuition Waiver
Daemen University makes available a Tuition Waiver Benefit to active, full-time and limited full-time employees, their spouse, domestic partner and eligible dependent children as defined in the chart below. Part-time, temporary, per diem and adjunct faculty are not eligible for Tuition Waiver benefits.
| Program | Eligible Person(s) | Waiver Benefit | Tax Implications |
| Undergraduate | Full or limited full-time active employee, their spouse, domestic partner, or dependent child | 100% tuition | N/A |
| Graduate | Full or limited full-time active employee | 100% tuition | Not taxable if job-related. Taxable over $5,250.00 if courses are NOT job-related |
| Graduate | Spouse, domestic partner of full or limited-full time active employee | 100% tuition | 100% of the benefit is taxable to the employee |
| Graduate | Dependent child of full or limited full-time active employee | 50% tuition | 100% of the benefit is taxable to the employee |
The eligibility for a Tuition Waiver begins the semester after the employee’s hire date and ends upon termination of the employee’s employment. In addition to meeting employment status requirements, eligible employees must receive final approval for tuition waiver benefits which is contingent upon the following:
- Acceptance to Daemen University; and
- The student must maintain Academic Good Standing with a GPA of 2.00 for Undergraduate and a 3.00 for Graduate programs; and
- Undergraduate students only: the student completes both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application.
Application for Tuition Waiver
The employee must complete an Application for Tuition Waiver either for themselves (as a student), or on behalf of an eligible spouse, domestic partner or dependent. The application should cover the applicable academic year(s) for full-time students or semesters as applicable for part-time students. Ensure that you complete all known academic years or semesters in your application. An application may be submitted for the entire duration of the student’s studies at Daemen.
The following will result in non-approval or non-continuation of the tuition waiver benefit:
- Failure to complete the Application for Tuition Waiver by the application deadline.
- If the student is on a leave of absence or “not registered” for more than two (2) consecutive semesters (please note: in this case, the completion of a new Application for Tuition Waiver is required to be granted tuition waiver approval if returning).
- Failure to be accepted as a matriculated or non-matriculated student by Daemen University.
- Failure to complete the entire process of filing the FAFSA and New York State TAP application, including the completion of any subsequent documents or information required after the initial application is completed.
- Any outstanding prior balances that remain unsettled, including but not limited to previous tuition, fees, parking tickets or other charges.
- An employee is terminated from Daemen University (see Terminated Employees and Tuition Waiver section for more information).
- Failure to maintain standards set forth by the Committee on Academic Standards.
Tuition Waiver and Fees
No fees are covered by the Tuition Waiver benefit for undergraduate and graduate level courses.
The tuition waiver benefit does not cover, but is not limited to, the following fees: Comprehensive University Fee, the Student Activity Fee, Extra Credit Hour Charges, First Year Fee, Malpractice Insurance Fees, Applied Music Fees, Student Health Insurance, Laboratory Fees, Housing and Meals (including Housing damage deposit) and Textbooks.
Tuition waivers are calculated utilizing the cost of tuition less any Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funds.
Summer Courses and Tuition Waiver
For summer courses, the university reserves the right to request course registration changes or to cancel summer classes in which an insufficient number of paying students are enrolled.
A tuition waiver cannot be used for independent study in summer sessions.
Terminated Employees and Tuition Waiver
Eligibility for a tuition waiver ends upon the termination of the employee’s employment.
If an employee’s termination date occurs prior to the start of a semester (before drop/add ends) and the employee, their spouse, domestic partner or dependent child(ren) are receiving tuition waiver or about to receive tuition waiver, the tuition waiver will no longer be approved for that semester.
If an employee’s termination date is in the middle of a semester and the employee, their spouse, domestic partner or dependent child(ren) are receiving a tuition waiver, they will continue to receive the tuition waiver until the end of the semester and will not receive tuition waiver for any subsequent semesters.
Undergraduate Level
A 100% tuition waiver benefit is available for full-time or limited full-time employees, their spouse, domestic partner, or eligible dependent child(ren) as defined by IRS regulations.
Undergraduate Tuition Waiver Benefit for Eligible Dependent Child(ren)
- The Undergraduate Tuition Waiver covers 100% of tuition for eligible dependent children under the age of 24 years old.
- Eligible dependent children who have been continuously enrolled in an undergraduate degree program and who reach the age of 24 years old before completing an undergraduate degree will receive an extension of the tuition waiver benefit for up to a total of 15 additional attempted credit hours.
- Tuition waivers will be extended to eligible dependent children who are age 15 or older at the time of death of the full-time employee who meets the following criteria:
- Has ten (10) or more years of continuous service as a full-time Daemen employee; and
- Was employed at Daemen University as a full-time employee at the time of death.
Definition of Eligible Dependent Child(ren) for Undergraduate Tuition Waiver
Was eligible to be claimed in a previous period as a dependent under IRS guidelines:
- Under the age of 24; and
- Provides current evidence of financial dependency in the academic year the tuition waiver is requested.
Graduate Level
A 100% tuition waiver benefit is available for graduate level courses at Daemen University for full-time and limited full-time employees.
Tuition waiver benefit for courses that are job related are non-taxable to the employee. A course is job related if it is:
- Needed to maintain or improve an employee’s job skills; or
- To meet the express requirements of the employer; or
- The requirements of law or regulations, imposed as a condition to retaining the employee’s salary, status or employment.
Employees requesting a tuition waiver for graduate courses at Daemen University are required to complete a Job Related Verification Form immediately after registering so that tax consequences for the course(s) may be determined.
Courses are not job related if they serve to meet the minimum requirements of a job or are part of a program of study qualifying an individual for a new profession. However, the first $5,250 per calendar year in graduate educational assistance for non-job related courses is considered non-taxable.
Spouse/Domestic Partner/Dependent Child Tuition Benefit:
A 100% tuition waiver benefit is available for graduate level courses at Daemen University for full and limited full-time employee’s spouse or domestic partner and a 50% tuition waiver benefit is available for graduate level courses at Daemen University for dependent children as defined by the IRS regulations.
The total value of the waiver issued to a spouse, domestic partner or dependent child is taxable to the employee. The cost of the tuition waived will be added to the employee’s taxable income each semester and the appropriate state, federal and FICA deductions will be taken over six pay periods. For Spring semester, the deductions will be made April/May/June. For Summer/Fall semesters, the deductions will be made October/November/December.
Definition of Eligible Dependent Child(ren) for Graduate Tuition Waiver
- Is 26 years of age or younger; and
- Was eligible to be claimed in a previous period as a dependent under IRS guidelines.
Questions on Tuition Waiver
For details on eligibility and approval requirements, please email us. Your inquiry will be directed to the appropriate department below for a response.