Benefits - Fee Waiver

Employee Fee Waiver Eligibility

Fee waiver eligibility, for both represented and non-represented employees, is summarize in the table below.

*If an employee enrolls in more than two (2) classes and the units exceed six (6), then the employee will be charged the difference between full and partial tuition.

Dependent Fee Waiver Eligibility

*If a dependent enrolls in more than two (2) classes and the units exceed six (6), then the employee will be charged the difference between full and partial tuition.

Employees taking Graduate Courses: The courses are nontaxable up to $5,250.

To calculate a tax estimate:

1. Estimate the fee waiver value = regular registration fees and tuition - estimated fees charged.
2. Multiply the fee waiver value x 40%.
   • For example, if the fee waiver value is $2,000; the estimated tax is $800 (to be deducted from one of the employee's paychecks during the semester).

The dollar value for the waived fees will be reflected on the employee's pay warrant. The State Controller’s Office will take deductions for that benefit from that payroll warrant. You will receive a notice from the benefits office letting you know the pay period that you will be taxed on.

Deductions? A “flat tax rate” will be applied to the amount waived or reduced. The flat tax rate is roughly 40% (Federal 22%, State 6.6%, and if applicable Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45%). [Resources: Payroll and SCO - PPM - H102]

The Fee Waiver Program is a fringe benefit and as such has strict reporting requirements established by the Internal Revenue Service [Internal Revenue Code Sections 117(d), 127 and 132(d)] and the State of California Controller’s Office. The reporting requirements state that the fringe benefit must be taxed in the calendar year that the benefit was received.

CSU Doctorate of Education (Ed.D) Degree Program

The Doctorate Tuition Fee will be charged in lieu of the Tuition Fee. Eligible employees or dependents that enroll in the Doctoral program are required to take specified coursework (e.g., one, two or three courses) per term. The Doctorate Tuition Fee is a flat fee; there is no part time rate.

All participating employees and dependents enrolled in a doctorate program shall be eligible for a partial fee waiver equivalent to the part-time Graduate Tuition Fee and shall be responsible for paying the difference between the applicable Doctorate Fee and the part-time Graduate Tuition Fee, with the exception of employees in the M80 management personnel plan (MPP) and their dependents.

Imputed income related to participation to the CSU Employee Fee Waiver & Reduction Program (CSU Employee Fee Waiver and Reduction Program Technical Letter) is subject to specific tax rates - federal tax is mandated at a flat 22% tax rate and CA State at 6.6%. Social Security and Medicate taxes are taken at their normal rates of 6.2% and 1.45%.

Taxation for the Fee Waiver Program

Enrolling at Cal State LA

If you (or your eligible dependent) are enrolling at Cal State LA, the timelines to submit your completed Employee/Dependent Fee Waiver forms to our campus is the day before the semester begins.

Enrolling at Another CSU Campus

If you are employed by Cal State LA, eligible for Employee/Dependent Fee Waiver, and you and/or your eligible dependent are enrolling at another CSU campus, please check with that campus for their specific Fee Waiver deadlines, and submit your Cal State LA Fee Waiver Application to our office in a timely manner.

Transfer Waiver to Dependent

Dependent Fee Waiver

Employees eligible to participate in the Employee Fee Waiver & Reduction Program may transfer their fee waiver benefit entitlement to an eligible dependent (spouse, domestic partner, or dependent child.

A dependent child* for fee waiver eligibility is defined as:

• Your child or stepchild under age 25 who has never been married;
• A child living with you in a parent-child relationship who is economically dependent upon you, under age 25 and has never been married; or

*For employees in Unit 1 (Physicians) and Unit 8 (Police Officers), the age limit for dependent children is under age 23, otherwise using the same definitions above.

Guidelines and Limitations

Certain restrictions and limitations apply for the Dependent Fee Waiver, including the following:

• Eligible employees must provide proof of relationship for eligible dependents.
• The fee waiver process is separate from the CSU Application Process. Fee waiver approval does not guarantee admission into the University.
• The spouse, domestic partner or dependent child must be matriculated toward a degree or the attainment of a teaching credential in the CSU and the course(s) enrolled in on a fee waiver basis must be for credit toward completion of that degree or teaching credential.
• If your dependent applies to multiple CSU campuses when seeking admission, each admission application they file requires a $55 application fee. Only the application fee at the CSU campus in which your eligible dependent enrolls can be waived/reimbursed through Dependent Fee Waiver, regardless of the number of applications filed.
• Tuition Fee may be fully waived for a maximum of two (2) classes or six (6) units, whichever is greater, per term. Dependents taking courses in addition to the CSU fee waiver courses shall pay any difference in fees.
• The employee cannot participate in the tuition fee waiver program during the dependent’s participation. The waiver benefit may be utilized by only one individual per term (employee or an eligible dependent), regardless of whether that individual uses the full entitlement of 2 courses or 6 units.
• The Fee Waiver & Reduction Program only applies to state-funded courses; therefore, classes offered through self-support programs such as the College of Professional and Global Education (Extended Education) are not covered.
• Normal academic standards must be maintained by the spouse, domestic partner or dependent child in order to continue participating in the fee waiver program.
• If both parents are employees and eligible to transfer their fee waiver benefit to a dependent child, each employee may transfer the benefit. Therefore, it is possible for one child to receive both benefits and be eligible to enroll in up to 4 courses or 12 units, whichever is greater, on a fee waiver basis. Alternatively, each employee could transfer his or her benefit to a different child, and each child would be entitled to up to 2 courses, or 6 units, whichever is greater, on a fee waiver basis. Dependents taking courses in addition to the fee waiver courses shall pay any difference in fees, per applicable collective bargaining agreement.
• The dependent fee waiver applies only to certain fees incurred by California residents. Thus, spouses, domestic partners and dependent children who do not meet established in-state residency requirements (and who do not qualify for classification as residents in accord with the provisions of Title 5, Section 41910, California Code of Regulations) will be responsible for paying non-resident tuition charges based upon the total number of units in which they are enrolled.

Applying for Admissions to a CSU Campus

The fee waiver process is separate from the CSU Application Process. Fee waiver approval does not guarantee admission into the University.

Cal State Apply

Step 1 - Apply for Admission to the University

You will need to apply for Admission to the University. It is a separate process from applying for an Employee Fee Waiver to reduce fees. Fee Waiver eligibility/approval does not guarantee admission to the university.

If you are a Cal State LA employee, you may request for the application fee to be reimbursed after you have been admitted to the campus you will be attending. You must complete and e-mail the Request For Application Fee Refund form to Human Resources Managements, Benefits unit.

If you apply to multiple campuses, please note that the application fee will only be reimbursed for the campus you will be attending. Employees from other CSU campuses must contact their campus Fee Waiver Coordinator for information on the forms and requirements of your campus for requesting the reimbursement at Cal State LA.

Admissions Information

For Cal State LA Admissions information, visit: www.calstatela.edu/admissions.

If you are interested applying for admission to another CSU campus, please visit their admissions/enrollment services site for information and timelines.

Note: Orientation fees are not covered by the Employee Fee Waiver & Reduction Program.

Step 2 - Submit Your Approved Career Development Plan and Fee Waiver Form

Once you have received notice of your admission to the university, please complete and submit the Career Development Plan and Fee Waiver form to the benefits office for review and approval. You will need to obtain all required signatures for your Career Development Plan and Fee Waiver form. Once you have obtained all required signatures, you will need to submit the completed forms to the Benefits office in Human Resources Management.

Attending Cal State LA
If you are attending Cal State LA, you will need to submit your approved Employee Fee Waiver form each semester. Course information should be included at this time and have all the appropriate signatures.

Attending Another CSU Campus
If you are to attend another CSU campus, you will need to submit your approved Employee Fee Waiver form to the Cal State LA benefits office. Note: Campuses may not accept late fee waivers, so it is very important to submit your waiver form with sufficient processing and turnaround time.

Step 3 – Picking Up Your Approved Fee Waiver Form

Once your fee waiver form is approved you will be notified by our office via e-mail with instruction on how to pay the required fees. Once the fees are paid you will be coded for the fee waiver program and will be able to register for courses.

Step 4 – Register for Classes

Once you have paid the fees at cashier’s you will be able to register for classes provided it is your registration appointment.

Job Related-Admissions Application

Job Related admissions application must be requested to the benefits office no later than one month prior to the start of the desired term.

For every semester that you plan on taking job related courses, please be advised that you will need to follow the steps below.

Step 1 – E-mail Your Benefits Coordinator to Request a Job Related Application

The benefits office will verify your eligibility and if eligible you will be forwarded the Job Related Admissions Application form.

Step 2 - Complete Employee Fee Waiver Application

Once your job related admissions application has been processed by admissions. You will need to complete the Employee Fee Waiver form. You will need to list the course(s) to be taken during the specific semester.

Course description information must be included and a clear description of how the class relates to either: a) improving the level of skill needed to perform existing duties and responsibilities or b) acquiring additional skills needed to perform new assigned duties and responsibilities.

This must be approved by all the appropriate administrators. Once you have all required signatures you must submit your fee waiver form to the benefits office for approval.

Attending Cal State LA
If you are attending Cal State LA, you will need to submit your approved Employee Fee Waiver form each semester. Course information should be included at this time and have all the appropriate signatures.

Attending Another CSU Campus
If you are to attend another CSU campus, you will need to submit your approved Employee Fee Waiver form to the Cal State LA benefits office. Note: Campuses may not accept late fee waivers, so it is very important to submit your waiver form with sufficient processing and turnaround time.

Step 3- Pay Your Fees

Once your fee waiver form is approved you will be notified by our office via e-mail with instruction on how to pay the required fees. Once the fees are paid you will be coded for the fee waiver program and will be able to register for courses.

Step 4 – Register for Classes

Once you have paid the fees at cashier’s you will be able to register for classes provided it is your registration appointment.