7.38 Course Work Available to University Employees

7.38.1 Board of regents Policy--FAC 6C-5.133

(1) General Faculty members and Administrative and Professional (A&P) Employees -- Full-time General Faculty members and A&P employees of the State University System who have at least six months of current continuous service in State government in an established position and who meet academic requirements, including those employees on sabbatical, professional development, grants-in-aid, and educational leave status, may be allowed to enroll for up to six credit hours of instruction per fall, spring, and summer semester without payment of the registration fee.

(2) University Support Personnel System (USPS) Employees -- Full-time USPS employees who have at least six months of current continuous service in State government in an established position and who meet academic requirements, including those employees on an approved education grant or leave, with or without pay, may be allowed to enroll for up to six credit hours of instruction per fall, spring, and summer semester without payment of the registration fee. Tuition-free coursework or programs of study may be approved for USPS employees when such courses or programs of instruction will improve the employee's capacity to perform the duties and responsibilities officially assigned to the position currently occupied by the employee; or develop or improve the employee's knowledge, skills, and ability to meet present or future needs of the employing university, including staff development within the employee's occupational field or training for other fields in which the university has a demonstrated present or future need.

(3) Use of Leave

(a) To the extent possible, class attendance should be scheduled during non-working hours. If any employee enrolls for a course during working hours, all time taken during that period, including time taken in traveling to and from classes, shall be charged to annual or compensatory leave or leave without pay, subject to approval by the appropriate supervisor or administrator. If the coursework is required by the university as an extension of training for the employee's current position, the employee will not be required to use leave while attending class and it will be regarded as time worked.

(b) The employee is responsible for arranging any necessary time off from work. The university cannot predict what demands may be placed upon the work force; therefore, the approval of an employee's request for participation in a course or program of instruction in no way commits or obligates the university to grant time off or leave for the taking, or completion, of such course or program of instruction.

(4) Procedures

(a) Prior to registering or enrolling in a course, an SUS employee shall submit the designated university form to the appropriate supervisor or administrator for review and approval. The supervisor or administrator is responsible for certifying that the employee meets the eligibility requirements for the waiver, the coursework requested meets the criteria stated in Rule 6C-5.830(1) or (2), and that the time used is covered by appropriate leave or that the coursework is required as an extension of training for the employee's current established position.

(b) The completed form shall be submitted to the University Personnel Director for review and verification of continuous service and full-time employment. The Personnel Office shall maintain the forms in the official personnel files and make them available to the Board Office for data collection purposes.

(c) An employee shall not be permitted to use any State space, personnel, equipment, or supplies in conjunction with these courses, except as provided by the university as part of the course or program of instruction.

(d) The value of tuition-free courses shall not be used to compute the employee's base rate of pay or regular rate of pay.

(5) Policies Governing Administration of the Tuition-Free Program

(a) For purposes of qualifying for this program, an employee must have a minimum of six continuous months of State government employment in an established position immediately preceding the first day of classes as listed in the university catalog.

(b) Student credit hours generated shall not be used in calculating the student credit hours produced per full-time equivalent teacher.

(c) Enrollment under this employee fringe benefit program shall be authorized on a space available basis only. "Space available," as used in the context of this rule, refers to the enrollment capacity within a scheduled course or program offering. Each university may establish minimum and maximum levels of enrollment as necessary and shall establish the period of enrollment for State employees registering for these courses and program offerings.

(d) Each university shall establish written criteria for designating courses and program offerings where direct costs increase with each student admitted. Space available enrollment as outlined above is not applicable in offerings so designated. These would include but not be limited to Thesis, Dissertation, and Directed Individual Study.

(e) Each university shall publish and furnish to State agencies upon request the procedures to be followed by State employees who desire to participate in the tuition-free program.

(f) All student credit hours resulting from the tuition-free program shall be separately identified in enrollment reports by each university.

(g) Any State employee registering under the tuition-free program for more than six credit hours shall pay registration fees for the hours in excess of six. When different course levels are involved, the fees for the six credit hours with the higher cost shall be waived.

(h) Prior to the beginning of each semester, each university shall inform its employees in writing regarding the registration procedures for the tuition-free program.

(i) Each university shall provide for the use of the tuition-free program in conjunction with training and employee development activities.

7.38.2 University Policy

Enrollment is on a "space available" basis only and does not include Thesis, Dissertation, and Applied Music courses or other course work requiring individual instruction. Prior to registration, employees must obtain approval of appropriate supervisor. Employees must pay the regular fee for any hours taken over six hours. Waiver of Registration Fee Cards are obtainable from the University Personnel Relations Department.

7.39 Faculty Working Toward Advanced Degree at The University

No faculty member above the rank of instructor shall work toward an advanced degree at the University.