An employee's child who attends the University of Illinois may be eligible for the Child of Employee 50 Percent Tuition Waiver as provided under state statute 110 ILCS 305/7f. Select one of the following for more information:

Policiy Information
Eligibility Requirements
How to Apply for a Waiver

Policy Information

The tuition waiver benefit for a child of an employee attending the University of Illinois provides the following benefits and has the following limitations:

• A 50 percent tuition waiver, excluding fees, for up to four years, each year consisting of two semesters and one summer term.
• Can be used only towards undergraduate education, excluding non-credit and graduate/professional academic programs or certifications, including extramural or correspondence courses.
• Child must be under age 25 at the beginning of any academic year and must make satisfactory academic progress toward graduation at any campus of an Illinois senior public university.
• The child must apply for admission and be admitted under the same standards and requirements as other students who are accepted under general admissions.
• The initial application for this benefit must be received by the employee's human resources office no later than the last day of instruction (on the university where the student attends) for the term in which the benefit will apply. There will be no retroactivity beyond the current academic term (semester or summer session).
• At a University of Illinois System university, continuing students do not have to submit a new application each semester once the initial application is verified. Reverification will be processed automatically based on a list of students who received the waiver in the previous academic term and are still enrolled.
• If the student drops out one semester or transfers from one campus to another, a new request will be required.
• During each academic year a Tuition Waiver Benefit Utilization Record must be completed by the student and submitted to the Financial Aid Office at the university the child attends.
• A child may utilize only one 50% Child of Employee Tuition Waiver although both parents may qualify for the waiver.

Eligibility Requirements

Child Eligibility
To be eligible for the tuition waiver for children of University employees, the child must be both:

• Under age 25 at the beginning of any academic year (defined as the first day of instruction) in which the waiver will be effective; and
• A natural child, adopted child, or stepchild. The University of Illinois also extends the tuition waiver to wards. A University of Illinois student who has a court-appointed guardian is eligible for the tuition waiver benefit if the guardian is an eligible employee of the University of Illinois (and only if the natural parents are deceased or have been declared unfit by court action).

Employee Eligibility
For an employee's child to be eligible for the tuition waiver for children of University employees, the employee must meet all of the following criteria:

• An employee must have 50 percent or greater employment over a minimum of seven academic years at one or more Illinois senior public universities in a role eligible for participation in the State Universities Retirement System. The seven years need not be consecutive; however, you must have an active appointment and must qualify on the first day of the academic term. If a portion of the required seven-year employment is outside of the University of Illinois System proof of employment from your prior employer will be necessary.
• A current employee in active status of the University of Illinois employed at 50 percent time or more as of the first day of the academic term. Active status includes employees on approved leaves of absence but not those on permanent layoff status. Changes in status after the first day of class will only affect future academic terms.
• Eligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). Individuals whose employment is irregular, intermittent, or temporary are excluded from SURS eligibility. This affects staff (Civil Service) employees whose only employment is Extra Help or a temporary appointment. It also affects academic employees whose only appointments are for zero-percent time or are expected to continue for less than four months, and all academic hourly employees. By law non-U.S. citizens with a J-1 or F-1 visa employed on or after July 1, 1991, are not eligible to participate in SURS. If a non-U.S. citizen with a J-1 visa has been designated as a resident alien for tax purposes, then they become eligible for SURS participation. 

Ineligible Employees
Ineligible employment categories include SURS annuitants (retirees), employees of University-related organizations (i.e. Foundation, Alumni Association), academic hourly, Civil Service temporary and Extra Help, graduate and undergraduate assistants, and students.

How to Apply for a Waiver

To apply for the Child of Employee 50% Tuition Waiver, follow these steps.

• Complete the online Child of Employee 50% Tuition Waiver application. After submitting the application, you will receive an e-mail message to verify that the application was received. If the student drops out one semester or transfers from one university to another, a new Application form will be required. Your university Human Resources office will verify your University of Illinois employment and qualifying employment at other institutions to confirm your eligibility. Human Resources will forward the form to the appropriate office at the university your child plans to attend. The initial application for the waiver must be submitted by the last day of the semester that the student will be utilizing the waiver.
• Have the student complete a Tuition Waiver Benefit Utilization Record (BUR Form) (PDF file) and return it to the Financial Aid Office at the university the child attends. The benefit cannot be granted until a completed Tuition Waiver Benefit Utilization Record has been received. Copies are also available from the university Financial Aid Office. If this is the first time you have applied for the 50 percent tuition waiver for this child, he or she will indicate no benefit usage - but the student must complete the form. Addresses and fax numbers of where to send the form are listed under 'Student Contact' on the second page of the BUR form.
• If assessed as a non-resident by the registrar, students should contact the Office of the Registrar or call 217-333-6565 to submit a petition for reassessment.
• Remember to verify that the tuition waiver is reflected in your child's tuition assessment. If it is not, immediately contact the appropriate office at the university where your child enrolled. The Financial Aid office or other designated office at the university your child attends will notify you of your child's financial aid awards.