Office of the Provost

Faculty and Unclassified Staff Handbook Chapter 4 -- Faculty: Benefits, Responsibilities, and Specific Requirements

University Support of FHSU Faculty Seeking Terminal Degrees: A Faculty Development Initiative.

It is the policy of Fort Hays State University that no tuition assistance will be provided to any employee seeking baccalaureate, graduate or post-graduate degrees except in accordance with the provisions of this policy and the tuition assistance policies of the University.  Should a department determine that faculty members with a Ph.D. or other degree are highly desirable but very difficult to attract and retain to FHSU, the department, through the dean of the college may submit proposals for providing tuition assistance for faculty to obtain such degree, through the strategic planning process.  Such claims should be submitted no later than September 30 for a course of study beginning the next fall term.  No plan will be considered that merely seeks to provide tuition assistance benefits for individual career advancement and development that does not achieve the goal of filling a need within the department or college that has been difficult if not impossible to fill with qualified faculty.

Any tuition assistance to be provided to faculty pursuant to this policy will come from the department, the college and the University.  The University will match no more than the total combined financial assistance provided by the department or college. 

Faculty who receive tuition assistance pursuant to this policy should be aware of the possibility that tuition assistance benefits provided will be considered taxable income to the employee.  Faculty who receive tuition assistance pursuant to this policy should also understand that they will be required to sign a loan agreement with FHSU.  A sample copy of such loan agreement is available at http://www.fhsu.edu/policies/directory/terminal_degrees.doc and generally will require the faculty member to work for FHSU for one year following successful completion of the Ph.D. or other course of study, for every year in which tuition assistance benefits are provided.  By way of example, if a faculty member receives tuition assistance benefits for three years from FHSU, they are then expected to work for FHSU for three years following successful completion of the Ph.D. program.  Faculty who fail to fulfill this term will be required to repay the amount of tuition assistance provided.  Faculty who fulfill the agreement by remaining employed at FHSU for the requisite period of time following successful completion of the course of study will not be required to repay the tuition assistance benefits.  Faculty who for some reason do not successfully complete the course of study but remain employed at FHSU for the requisite period of time will owe one-half of the tuition assistance benefits to FHSU.     

Adopted by President’s Cabinet (12/12/06)

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