Faculty/Staff Dependent Tuition - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Mar 4, 2005

Faculty/Staff Dependent Tuition

Date: Mar 4, 2005

The school I just moved to has 100% tuition reimbursement and is in a network with many other great schools that offer free tuition for family memebers. Pricetag at my school over $20k a year.

Leaving USM: Priceless

Date: Mar 4, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by: Parent/Faculty/Staff
"Faculty and staff get a 50% tuition break for their children, and while that isn't the only reason I've stayed at USM for almost 20 years, it has been a consideration. So, a year or so away from starting college, my child doesn't want to go to a technology focused trade school. My off-spring wants to go to a traditional liberal arts university, and 3 years ago I was perfectly happy that USM would be a good fit for the young'un. No longer.

Our dependent tuition benefit does not transfer within the Mississippi university system.

Question 1: It appears to me that IHL is changing the rules and USM is not the school that I've invested in and have considered sending my child to in order to get the tuition benefit.

Should I consider suing IHL for the right to send my child to UM, MSU or Delta State for the benefit that I've worked 20 years for?

Question 2: If USM is placed on probation next December (which appears likely at this point) or if they lose accreditation altogether, what is the value to me of the dependent tuition benefit?"

Yours is an important posting, Faculty/Parent/Staff. What a dilemma you have. There must be others in the same boat. Thank heaven mine have already graduated. There must be others in the same boat with you. The part of your post I like the best is that which mentions the possibility of the rules being changed resulting in that which you were promised being taken from you. I, personally viewed the child's tuition benefit as part of my contract. It does appear in writing in a university document. I would hope that if this does come to pass, the courts would rule that USM employees have a propriety interest in their investment and there must be some sort of compensation for the broken promise.

My recollection of this is very fuzzy, but I seem to recall that at one time Ole Miss and Mississippi State supported a move to allow portability for students at state school within Mississippi who wished to attend another state school within Mississippi. I heard that USM (along with Jackson State, Delta State, Alcorn A&M, and Valley) opposed that move. The reason, I heard, was that students would gravitate to Oxford and Starkville rather than attending USM or another state school where their mammas and pappas taught. I can't confirm this for sure, or provide more details than this, but I did hear it from a reliable source.

Date: Mar 4, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: You want to go school WHERE?
" Yours is an important posting, Faculty/Parent/Staff. <snip> My recollection of this is very fuzzy, but I seem to recall that at one time Ole Miss and Mississippi State supported a move to allow portability for students at state school within Mississippi who wished to attend another state school within Mississippi. I heard that USM (along with Jackson State, Delta State, Alcorn A&M, and Valley) opposed that move. The reason, I heard, was that students would gravitate to Oxford and Starkville rather than attending USM or another state school where their mammas and pappas taught. <snip>. "

I agree that this is an interesting and important thread, but I recall otherwise about the reciprocity of tuition remission. What I heard (and that is all it was, hearsay) was that State and Ole Miss opposed reciprocity because they were concerned that the children of the faculty at the Teachers College would all flock to get more valuable degrees from those northern institutions. In distinction, few of the faculty of those schools would be likely to send their offspring to the 'burg for a music or teaching degree.

Here's hoping somebody can post an authoritative recollection. Maybe things are different now.

Date: Mar 4, 2005

I've heard, but am not positive, that faculty dependents get a full tuition deferment at Ole Miss. I know that faculty dependents get full tuition deferments at community colleges in South Mississippi (probably all over the state).

A 50% deferment at USM makes it cost a bit more than Jones or PRCC, I believe.

Date: Mar 4, 2005

ole miss's tuition remission policy is the same as USM's. (could be set by the IHL). if one parent works at ole miss, the dependent gets a 50% tuition remission; if both work, 100% tuition remission.

Date: Mar 4, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
"What I heard (and that is all it was, hearsay) was that State and Ole Miss opposed reciprocity because they were concerned that the children of the faculty at the Teachers College would all flock to get more valuable degrees from those northern institutions. In distinction, few of the faculty of those schools would be likely to send their offspring to the 'burg for a music or teaching degree. Here's hoping somebody can post an authoritative recollection."

ram, you may be right. Some of the oldtimers should be able to recall who opposed the move - Ole Miss and State of the rest of the pack. Anybody out there know about this? How about you, stinky cheese man?

Date: Mar 4, 2005

i don't recall details. as i generally remember, none of the big 3 wanted the reciprocal tuition remission. the little universities didn't either because they feared students would go to the big 3.

Date: Mar 4, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"as i generally remember, none of the big 3 wanted the reciprocal tuition remission. the little universities didn't either because they feared students would go to the big 3. "

Eight short-sighted self-serving universities? Stinky, when you say "none wanted the reciprocal tuition" do you recall whether it was the faculty or the administration that did not want reciprocity? I find it difficult to believe that the faculty at any of them would object to reciprocity. Who objected?

Date: Mar 4, 2005

i don't recall. it was a number of years ago. i vaguely remember that the IHL never very seriously considered the issue, and after then i don't think it came up again.

Date: Mar 4, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"ole miss's tuition remission policy is the same as USM's. (could be set by the IHL). if one parent works at ole miss, the dependent gets a 50% tuition remission; if both work, 100% tuition remission."

Thanks. That clears it up. The person who told me this works at UM as does her husband. So that explains it.

Date: Mar 4, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"i don't recall. it was a number of years ago. i vaguely remember that the IHL never very seriously considered the issue, and after then i don't think it came up again. "

One might think that the IHL would not care whether or not there is reciprocity. Tuition is tuition. There is not that much difference between the tuitions of the various state schools. And one might think that the faculty would support reciprocity, particularly the ones with children. The administration is a different breed of cat (or Laborador Retriever).

Date: Mar 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: You want to go to school WHERE?
do you recall whether it was the faculty or the administration that did not want reciprocity?

The Faculty Senate at USM was solidly in support of reciprocity among Mississippi institutions for the dependent tuition benefit back in the late 90s. There was at least one resolution (maybe more over several years) that was sent to the IHL and to the USM administration. The USM administration also took the issue to IHL, although in discussions between the Senate leadership and the university administration, it was clear that while USM supported reciprocity, Ole Miss and State did not, therefore, we were unlikely to get it.

This was back when the faculty leadership and the university administration actually sat down and discussed what was best for the university, sometimes coming to thoughtful compromises, and then coming up with a plan of action to address issues and problems.

"you don't know what you've got til it's gone..."

Date: Mar 5, 2005

When I came to USM some 30 plus years ago, dependents of faculty and staff could receive 100% tuition coverage as long as the dependent(s) maintained a 2.5 average. Some time around 1980 or so, the rules changed and dependents were eligible for a samller percentage (50 %, I think).

Faculty and staff for many years have been able to take 2 three hour courses per semester (one during the day and one at night or online) with full tuition paid at the undergrad level. This is how many of our fine staff members were able to afford to earn bachelor's and master's degree. Now, I believe there is a $60. or so fee attached to taking grad classes - something about a tax? I am uncertain if this policy remains.

Depenendents of faculty, staff, and administrators could only get 100% tuition waiver at USM.

Hopes this helps a little.