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Tuition Waiver Policy: Dependent Children, Spouses and Parties to a Civil Union (AFT-Local 1904, CWA, IFPTE, NJLESA, NJSOLEA and PBA)

About This Policy

Effective Date
09/01/2023
Responsible Office
Human Resources

Eligibility Requirements

The employee must first satisfy all of the following criteria:

  1. The employee must be employed in a position represented by the AFT-Local 1905, CWA, IFPTE, NJLESA, NJSOLEA, or PBA bargaining units (“Bargaining Units”) at Montclair State University.
  2. The employee must have been employed by Montclair State for a minimum of one year prior to the start of the first day of the semester in which the dependent child, spouse or party to a civil union (“Applicant”) is to commence undergraduate education at the University.
  3. The employee must remain employed by the University and in a position represented by one of the Bargaining Units in order for the Applicant to be eligible for the Policy If the employee resigns or their employment is terminated, the tuition waiver will cease at the end of the academic semester in which the employee’s employment ends.
  4. Should an employee whose dependent child, spouse or partner in civil union is receiving tuition waiver benefits in accordance with this program become deceased, the Applicant shall continue to be eligible for the benefit as though the employee remained employed by the University as long as the Applicant meets the University criteria.

In order for the Applicant to participate in the tuition waiver program, all of the following criteria must be met:

  1. The Applicant must be pursuing their first baccalaureate degree.
  2. The Applicant must meet Montclair State University’s criteria for admission.
  3. The benefit is available to Applicants who enroll on either a part or full-time basis.
  4. The Applicant must submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  5. The Applicant must maintain dependent, spouse or civil union status to remain eligible.
  6. The Applicant must maintain good academic standing in accordance with University policy and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 [e.g. a C Average] to be eligible for the benefit. If the student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, they will be ineligible for the waiver in subsequent terms until they elevate the cumulative GPA to a 2.0 or better.
  7. If the applicant is not covered under the University health benefits, employees must provide a copy of an IRS Form 1040 to document dependent status. In addition, employees with a dependent aged 27 years of age or older, must provide documentation, as required by the IRS to substantiate that the dependent is totally and permanently disabled.
  8. If the applicant is a spouse or party to a civil union, the applicant must submit documentation verifying the applicant’s relationship to the employee.

Provisions of the Program

  1. Applicants may apply for tuition waivers for fall and spring semesters, winter and summer sessions.
  2. Waivers are for tuition only. All other fees and costs are the responsibility of the Applicant.
  3. Any taxes due on the tuition waiver benefit are the responsibility of the Applicant/employee.
  4. The Garden State Guarantee program is a state program available to students who are in their junior or senior year of study whose family income meets program eligibility guidelines. There is information on the university’s website regarding this program.

    There are three tiers of eligibility under the GSG. Students falling in Tier One are eligible to receive 100% of their tuition and fees covered by grants, scholarships and the Garden State Guarantee program. Since tuition is covered in full for Tier One students, they will not be eligible for the University tuition waiver. Students falling in GSG Tiers Two and Three only receive partial support from the Garden State Guarantee which would amount to less than 60% of tuition, so students in GSG Tiers Two and Three will receive the University tuition waiver in lieu of the Garden State Guarantee grant.

  5. The Red Hawk Advantage Award program provides tuition grants to entering students beginning with the fall, 2024 semester. The program is very similar to the Garden State Guarantee Program except that it is funded by the University and is available to students who are freshmen or sophomores at the time they are admitted. As with GSG, this is a last dollar program supplementing other gift aid the student may have received from government, private or institutional sources.

    As with GSG, there will be three tiers based on the income of the parent of the dependent student. Students falling in Tier One are eligible to receive 100% of their tuition and fees covered by grants, scholarships and the RHAA program. Since tuition is covered in full for Tier One students, they will not be eligible for the University tuition waiver. Students falling in Tiers Two and Three only receive partial support from the RHAA Program which would amount to less than 60% of tuition, so students in RHAA Program Tiers Two and Three will receive the University tuition waiver in lieu of the RHAA grant.

  6. The tuition waiver will be applied as a last dollar benefit, providing funding covering up to 60% of tuition charges after all other scholarships and aid (federal, state, institutional and privately funded grants and scholarships) received by the student have been applied.

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