Willamette University
Human Resources
MEMORANDUM/ADVISORY INFORMATION
TO:
Benefit Eligible Full-time Faculty and Staff
SUBJECT: Dependent Tuition Remission Application Process
This message is to remind employees who have children who will be applying for tuition remission or
exchange for the 2014-15 academic year that we are now accepting Tuition Remission/Exchange
applications. Recommended deadlines for submitting Tuition Remission/Exchange Applications for
dependent children are:
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FIRST TIME APPLICANTS: December 1ST
RENEWAL APPLICANTS: February 1ST
These are deadlines that are intended to give your child the best chance of success in receiving
benefits, and avoid any confusion in billing on your child’s student account (if renewal). Note, you can
add additional schools from the exchanges later if you are uncertain about all of the schools for which
your child will be applying for admission, but we strongly recommend submitting the application for all
schools of interest as soon as possible, even if you are uncertain your child will apply to that school.
The Tuition Application MUST be completed EVERY YEAR, whether your child is newly enrolling or a
returning student. In addition, we must receive proof of dependency each year in the form of a copy of
your most recent IRS Form1040 dependent list. To avoid adverse tax consequences, your child must be
a tax dependent in the year of attendance if receiving this benefit.
CHANGES FOR 2014-15 ACADEMIC YEAR/GREAT LAKES COLLEGES TUITION CONSORTIUM
As President Thorsett recently announced, there are some changes coming in the dependent tuition
benefit program for full-time benefit eligible faculty and staff. Starting for the 2014-2015 academic
year, the University has joined the Great Lakes Colleges Association Tuition Remission Exchange (GLCA
TRE). This new program provides for guaranteed tuition exchange benefits for dependent children who
are admitted to any of the 16 liberal arts institutions who participate. More information may be found
on the GLCA website linked above, or on our own tuition benefits web page. The GLCA TRE requires
payment of a participation fee of 15% of the average tuition of participating schools. In recent years,
this fee was approximately $5,500 annually.
This new program provides new options for dependent tuition benefits, in addition to our continued
provision of tuition remission for children admitted to Willamette, and The Tuition Exchange, a program
that includes over 600 schools throughout the U.S.
NORTHWEST TUITION EXCHANGE CLOSURE AND HOLD STATUS
As previously announced, The Northwest Tuition Exchange, which is already limited due to Willamette
having fallen to a critical deficit with most of the other schools in the program, will be closing to new
enrollees following the 2015 matriculation year. Unfortunately, for 2014-15, we have just received
notice after completion of the Northwest Exchange annual reconciliation process that Willamette has
now fallen to a deficit level with Lewis and Clark in the exchange that has resulted in being put on “hold”
for new admissions under the exchange program. We continue to be “on hold” with Whitman and Reed
as well. This means that Willamette may only export NEW admissions under the Northwest Tuition
Exchange Program to the University of Puget Sound for the 2014-15 academic year. Current students
already receiving tuition benefits to attend Whitman or Lewis and Clark are not impacted.
“THE TUITION EXCHANGE” PROGRAM
The Tuition Exchange continues to be a good option for many. Benefits, however, are not guaranteed if
your child is admitted as each school provides only a limited number of exchange scholarships each
year. As such, benefits are competitive. Note, you may apply to as many schools as you wish in the
National Exchange to improve your child’s chances of receiving an exchange scholarship.
WILLAMETTE TUITION REMISSION
Tuition remission benefits for dependent children of benefit eligible faculty and staff continue to be
available for attendance at Willamette University. Children must be admitted under Willamette’s
regular rigorous admission standards. If admitted, full tuition remission is provided subject to age and
semester limits identified above.
Don’t hesitate to contact the Willamette University offices of Admissions and Financial Aid if you have
questions about Admission processes and standards, as well as other sources of financial aid that may
be available to help with costs other than tuition (ie. room and board, etc.).
As always, don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Human Resources with any questions you may have. In
addition, be on the lookout for informational sessions that are being planned for later this semester.