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Dependent as Student Tuition Benefit Application (Interactive PDF)
Change of Hours Form (Interactive PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
Dependent children may use the tuition benefit to earn one (1) degree within five (5) years of matriculation.
Please Note:
Acceptance to the University through the Admissions Office must be completed before applying for tuition benefits.
Applying for tuition benefits is a separate and distinct process from admission and registration.
What does the tuition benefit cover for Dependents?
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Percent of Tuition Paid: |
100% |
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General Student Fees: |
Paid by Student |
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Enrollment: |
Must Enroll in University by Age 24 |
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Benefit Duration: |
Five (5) Years Once Matriculated or One (1) Undergraduate Degree* |
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Courses Must Be: |
Credit Bearing and Part of a Degree Program |
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Certification Courses: |
Not Covered |
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Maximum Hours Per Semester: |
None |
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Minimum Hours Per Semester |
None |
*As long as Faculty/Staff member is a regular, full-time employee
For more information, please see University Policy 9.28: Tuition Benefits for Dependent Children of Faculty/Staff Members.
To receive tuition benefits for your dependent child, that child must meet each of the five conditions outlined below, and be less than age 24.
Membership of Household or Relationship Test
Citizen or Resident Test
Joint Return Test
Gross Income Test
Support Test
Membership of Household or Relationship Test
To meet this test, a person must either:
Live with you for the entire year as a member of your household, or
Be related to you in one of the ways listed later under "Relative" that do not have to live with you
Temporary Absences
A person lives with you as a member of your household even if either (or both) of you are temporarily absent due to special circumstances including illness, education, business, vacation or military service.
Citizen or Resident Test
You cannot claim an exemption for a dependent unless that person
is a U.S. citizen or resident, or a resident of Canada or Mexico, for some part
of the calendar year in which your tax year begins.
Joint Return Test
Even if the other dependency tests are met, you generally are not
allowed an exemption for your dependent if he or she files a joint return.
Gross Income Test
Generally, you cannot take an exemption for a dependent if that
person had a gross income of $3,100 or more for 2004.
This test does not apply
if the person is your child and is either:
- Under age 19 at
the end of the year, or
- A student under
age 24 at the end of the year.
Child Defined
- For purposes of the gross income test, your child is your son, stepson, daughter, stepdaughter, a legally adopted child, or a child who was placed with you by an authorized placement agency for your legal adoption.
- A foster child who was a member of your household for your entire tax year is also considered your child.Student Defined
- To qualify as a student, your child must be, during some part of each of 5 calendar months during the calendar year (not necessarily consecutive)
- A full-time student at a school that has a regular teaching staff, course of study and a regularly enrolled body of students in attendance, or
- A student taking a full-time, on-farm training course given by a school described in (1) above or a state, country or local government.Full-Time Student Defined
- A full-time student is a person who is enrolled for the number of hours or courses the school considers to be full-time attendance.School Defined
- The term "school" included elementary schools, junior and senior high schools, colleges, universities and technical, trade and mechanical schools.
- It does not include on-the-job training courses, correspondence schools and night schools.Night School
- Your child is not a full-time student while attending school only at night.
- However, full-time attendance at a school can include some attendance at night as part of a full-time course of study.Support Test
- Generally, you must provide more than half of a person's total support during the calendar year to meet with support test. However, there are special rules that apply in the following two situations.
- Two or more persons provide support, but no one person provides more than half of a person's total support.
- The person supported is the child of divorced or separated parents.
Dependent as Student Application (Interactive PDF)
Change of Hours Form (Interactive PDF)
All forms can be filled out online then printed. ALWAYS make copes of all the forms you submit for your personal records.
To submit Tuition Benefits Applications and Change of Hours Forms:
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Mail: |
Tuition Benefits - SMU Human Resources, SMU Box 232 |
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Drop off: |
6116 N. Central Expressway, Suite 200 |
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Fax: |
214-768-2299* |
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*If faxing, call the Department of Human Resources at 214-768-3311 to confirm receipt of fax |
Tuition Benefits Forms will be returned via Campus Mail to the sender if form is incomplete or incorrect.
To view the Adobe Acrobat forms, you will need to have a copy of Adobe Acrobat
7.0 or later. (A free copy is available at the link below.)
Changes to tuition benefit applications that have been submitted and processed.
After a completed tuition benefits application is submitted and processed, changes often occur that must be reported. These changes include:
Employee's Last Name
Student's Last Name
Academic Area or Degree Program
Semester
Number of Hours (adds, drops, withdrawals)
Academic Level (graduate vs. undergraduate)
How to Report Changes:
Complete a Change of Hours Form (Interactive PDF)
Submit completed form to the Tuition Benefits Office
For Dependents and Students:
Twelve to eighteen (12-18) hours is considered 'full-time'.
Changes within that range do not need to be reported
Changes to less than twelve (12) hours or more than eighteen (18) hours must be reported
Tuition Benefits will pay for some SMU Study Abroad Programs which meet the conditions of being credit bearing courses applying toward a degree program, and are sponsored and operated by SMU. It will now be necessary for the SMU Study Abroad Department to sign off on all Tuition Benefit Applications requesting SMU Study Abroad Programs. From this point on, please use either of the new forms:
Dependent & Spouse as Student SMU Study Abroad Tuition Benefit Application (Interactive PDF)
Applications are processed by the Tuition Benefit Office, sent to the SMU Study Abroad Department for approval, and then forwarded to the Financial Aid Department for tuition payment.
Department of Human Resources
6116 N. Central Expressway, Suite 200
PO Box 750232
Dallas, Texas 75275-0232
Phone: 214-768-3311
Fax: 214-768-2299
Email: hradmin@smu.edu
It is the responsibility of the Tuition Benefits Department to determine eligibility of faculty and staff members. Tuition Benefit application forms are available at the Tuition Benefits office, and online at the link above.
Applications must be submitted each academic year (fall through trailing summer semesters) to the Tuition Benefits office for eligibility determination.
When are tuition benefit applications due?
Forms must be submitted no later than the last add/drop date of the semester of intended enrollment. No applications will be accepted after the add/drop date. It is preferable that applications are submitted four to six (4-6) weeks prior to tuition payment due date, to give ample time for the application to be processed by the Tuition Benefits Department and for the tuition payment to be made by Financial Aid.
Is my child automatically admitted to the University?
No. An application for admission must be filed to the appropriate undergraduate office and the eligibility requirements must be met for the University and the College being applied to. Employees receiving tuition benefits must conduct all student transactions (registrations, add/drop, payments) with those offices.
I have a son, who will reach university freshman age, just about the time I reach retirement age. If he were to decide to attend SMU, would I get, as a retired faculty member, any tuition benefit for him?
No, it is for dependents of regular, full-time Faculty/Staff, not retired Faculty/Staff. As a Retiree, you could use the benefit yourself, if you meet the criteria, but not for your spouse or dependents.
My daughter that has applied for Tuition Benefits for the Summer, Fall and Spring semesters. I am going on a three-month, unpaid leave of absence, and want to know if tuition benefits will still be available to my daughter. I am planning to return after the leave.
No, she would not receive Tuition Benefits while you are on an unpaid leave because you are considered not to be employed at that time. You must be a regular, full-time employee. Unpaid does not qualify.
Can a dependent drop out and start back again in a year or two?
Yes, but the 5-year count starts when the dependent first matriculates. If a dependent using Tuition Benefits went to school one year, dropped out for two years and came back, the dependent would have two years of Tuition Benefits remaining.
Can I fill out one tuition benefit application form for all five years my child will be using the tuition benefit?
No. The tuition benefit application form may not have more than one (1) academic year on it.
Does the tuition benefit cover enrollment in Continuing Ed, Special Studies, or TAG courses?
No. The benefit is limited to eligible students enrolled as undergraduate degree program candidates at SMU.
Can my dependent child use the tuition benefit for the SMU Abroad Programs?
Yes. As long as the Abroad Program meets the conditions of being credit bearing courses applying towards a degree program, are sponsored and operated by SMU, and are for programs approved to be paid for by Tuition Benefits.. This is for tuition only, not travel, lodging, fees, food, etc.
I didn’t use the tuition benefit for my child for an undergraduate degree; can I use it for him to get a graduate degree?
No. The benefit applies to only the first undergraduate degree for a dependent.
Are there any other colleges/institutions other than SMU where I may use this benefit?
No
Can tuition benefits or other SMU funds pay for Greek housing or SMU apartment costs?
No. The student may receive tuition benefits and SMU-funded scholarships and grants up to the cost of SMU tuition and fees only. SMU policy limits maximum payments from SMU-funded scholarships, grants, and benefits to the total of tuition and fees.
Division of Enrollment Services
Financial Aid, Student Financial, Undergraduate Admissions, & Registrar
Laura Lee Blanton Student Services Building
Phone: 214-768-3417
Fax: 214-768-4880
Email: enrol_serv@smu.edu
1. Am I charged fees for taking courses?
General Student Fees must be paid by Dependents. Some course fees such as supplies, travel, etc. are also payable by the student.
2. When am I invoiced for any charges relating to enrollment?
§ Invoices are produced the first week in:
o July for the fall semester
o November for the spring semester
§ If tuition benefit application is submitted 60 days prior to July or November, there will be time to process it, pay the tuition, and no invoice will be mailed for the tuition.
§ If you register during late registration, an invoice will be given at that time.
§ Monthly statements are mailed for any outstanding charges.
3. How do I view my student account?
Account Summary: Student accounts can be viewed in Access.SMU by navigating to:
SA Self Service>Learner Services>Finances>Account Summary
Your Overall Account Balance, in the upper left hand corner, is a combination of your Student and Miscellaneous account for all terms. If you have been here for more than one term and would like to view all of your transactions, please select the “View All” link.
4. What if I receive an invoice that does not reflect the tuition benefit or reflects an incorrect amount?
If you know you have completed an application for tuition benefits and returned it to the Tuition Benefits Department, contact a Student Account Specialist for assistance. Sometimes the benefit takes a couple of days to appear on the account.
5. What payment options are available?
§ You must pay the full amount due on the payment due date by cash, check, or money order. Visa / MasterCard / American Express / Discover Card are the electronic payment options for payment of student and miscellaneous accounts.
§ You may use the SMU Monthly Payment Plan administered by Academic Management Services (AMS):
o The plan begins in May and ends in February.
o The charges for the entire year can be divided into ten equal payments.
o This plan has a non-refundable application fee.
o This is an interest free plan.
§ There is also a five-month payment plan.
o The fall plan begins in May and ends in September and the spring plan begins in October and ends in February.
o This plan has a non-refundable application fee.
o
This is an interest free plan.
6. Can we receive other scholarships from SMU as well as tuition benefits?
Yes, the student may receive tuition benefits and SMU scholarships up to the total costs of SMU tuition and general fees. SMU policy limits maximum payments from SMU-funded scholarships, grants and benefits to the total of tuition and fees.
7. Is other aid available to meet the cost of education?
Enrollment Services Financial Aid can determine if other need based Federal, State or SMU aid may be available along with tuition benefits if the student files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. The combination of family contribution, tuition benefits, scholarships, grants, loans and work program must meet regulatory guidelines.
For additional information, please contact the
Tuition Pay Call Center
1-800-635-0120
Has student applied and been accepted to Southern Methodist University?
Does student meet IRS definition of dependent? (See IRS Publication 501)
When is the tuition payment due date? (See Tuition Payment Due Dates)
Will the Tuition Benefits Application be turned in four (4) weeks prior to the due date for the semester of intended enrollment?
Is only one (1) academic year on the Tuition Benefits Application Form?
Have both parent and dependent signed the Tuition Benefits Application Form?
Has a copy of the Tuition Benefits Application Form been made for personal records?
INCOMPLETE FORMS WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE RETURNED VIA CAMPUS MAIL
In order for your Tuition Benefit Application to be processed, you must turn the application in four weeks prior to the tuition payment due date for the semester of intended enrollment. (Tuition Payment Due Dates)
Applications submitted after the last add/drop date for the semester of intended enrollment will not be accepted.
(SMU Academic Calendar)
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