Eligibility Requirements for Dependent Tuition Waiver Benefits

Please read this message if you plan to use the Dependent Tuition Waiver Benefit on the Fayetteville Campus. 

This message is being sent to clarify that, for the purposes of the Dependent Tuition Waiver Benefit, the student must be your lawful spouse or a dependent child as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). A dependent child per the IRS is a full-time student under the age of 24 at the end of the year or the student is permanently or totally disabled.

Human Resources recently conducted a review of dependent tuition waiver benefits to confirm individuals receiving the benefit meet eligibility requirements. During the review, we determined that many employees were not clear on this requirement.

Consistent with Board Policy 440.1 , Fayetteville Policies and Procedures 512.0, and the Certification section of the Dependent Tuition Waiver form (copied below), you may be requested to furnish documentation to confirm your dependent's eligibility, so we are writing to let you know now how eligibility for the dependent tuition waivers will be determined. 

Enrollment records for university insurance benefits with spouse coverage (health, dental or vision) will be reviewed to verify lawful spouse status. If lawful spouse status cannot be verified through the university's benefits records, you will be asked to submit a copy of your marriage license or a *copy of a current Federal or State Income tax return indicating married status and listing your spouse. University benefits records cannot be used to verify tuition waiver eligibility for a dependent child because the dependent eligibility requirements are not the same.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) records on our campus will be used to confirm eligibility of your dependent child(ren). You are encouraged to complete the FAFSA each academic year your dependent child(ren) will be enrolled and eligible for the tuition waiver. If you choose not to complete the FAFSA, you will be required to submit a *copy of a current income tax return.

Human Resources will continue to verify eligibility requirements for the tuition waiver benefits each semester. If spouse or dependent eligibility cannot be confirmed as stated above, you will be required to submit the appropriate documentation for your student to receive the tuition waiver.

 If you have any questions, please contact Amber Duncan at amberd@uark.edu or 575-2761.