Human Resources Service Center

Employee Eligibility

Eligibility by Employee Category
Employee CategoryEligibility Criteria
Unit 1 (Physicians)All unit members
Unit 3 Faculty: Non-FERPTenured and probationary faculty unit employees (excluding coaches), and temporary faculty unit employees with three (3) year appointments pursuant to Article 12 of the CBA. Coaches must have at least six (6) years of consecutive service in the department. One (1) year of service shall be considered employment of one (1) semester or two (2) quarters in the bargaining unit on a single CSU campus during a single academic year.
Unit 3 Faculty: FERP OnlyFERP (Faculty Early Retirement Program) participants are considered tenured faculty and are eligible for fee waiver only during the semesters/quarters when they are actively employed in a FERP appointment. Timebase is not a factor.
Units 2, 5, 7, 9, (CSUEU)
Unit 4 (Academic Professionals)
Unit 6 (Skilled Trades)
Unit 10 (IUOE)
Full-time employees (i.e., permanent, temporary, & probationary) and part-time permanent employees
Unit 8 (Public Safety)Full-time or part-time permanent employees, and full-time probationary employees (does not apply to temporary)
M98 (Executive)Full-time or part-time permanent employees, and full-time probationary employees (does not apply to temporary)
M80 (MPP)Full-time employees (includes temporary employees)
C99 (Confidential)
E99 (Excluded)
Full-time or part-time permanent employees and full-time probationary employees (does not apply to temporary)
Please note: C99 and E99 employees only attain permanent status in part-time positions as a result of completing a probationary period in a full-time position and, subsequently reducing their time-base.
  • Courses and Units
    Types of Eligible Courses

    Fee waiver applies to CSU state-supported (general fund) courses only, including state-supported courses that are offered through summer term.

    Not eligible: Courses in self-support (i.e. Regional & Continuing Education, Extended Education) programs may not be taken through the CSU Employee Fee Waiver and Reduction Program.  In addition, fees for joint doctoral program that are paid directly to the "partner" university cannot be waived in the CSU Employee Fee Waiver and Reduction.

  • Unit Limitation for Fees Waived

    All eligible non-represented and represented employees may enroll in a maximum of two (2) courses or six (6) units, whichever is greater, per term, excluding the doctoral program. Units for the doctoral program are determined independently based on program course offerings.

    Approved Leave of Absence

    If you are on an approved Leave of Absence, you may enroll in more than two courses or six units through the Fee Waiver Program, depending on the percentage of leave time taken. The State University Fee may be waived up to 6 units (or 2 courses) per term, along with other campus fees, and the employee pays the tuition balance.

    • Leave is full-time: No limit to amount of units
    • Leave is between three-quarters and full-time: 15 units
    • Leave is between half-time and three-quarter time: 12 units
    • Leave is between one-quarter and one-half time: 9 units
  • Release Time

    The appropriate administrator may authorize the use of State time for all units, except Unit 8, for one (1) class depending on the needs of the department. The appropriate administrator may also deny the request if it impacts the operational needs of the department.

    • Depending on details within each CBA, the appropriate administrator shall grant the employee reasonable release time for one (1) on-campus course per term if 1) the course is job-related or part of an approved Career Development Plan, AND 2) the operational needs of the department are met.
      • If an appropriate administrator does not approve release time from work for one (1) course, the appropriate administrator and employee may agree that the employee can opt to use his or her lunch hour (not to exceed 60 minutes) to attend class.
      • If release time has been approved from work for one (1) course, and the employee wishes to take a second course during the work day (using the fee waiver program), the following options exist:
        • The appropriate administrator can deny the second course based on the CBA and operational needs.
        • The appropriate administrator and employee may agree that the employee can opt to use his or her lunch hour (not to exceed 60 minutes) to attend class.
      • Employees cannot attach their 15-minute breaks to their lunch to have an extended lunch period in order to attend class.
    • Employees may have to take fee waiver classes on their own time.
    • Participants in Unit 8 (SUPA) may not take classes on State time.
  • Employee Responsibilities

    Although fee waivers are approved in advance, you must be a current/active employee at the start of the semester in order for the fee waiver to be valid. (FERPing faculty can only take classes the same semesters they are actively teaching classes.) Employees who become ineligible, or their dependents, who continue their enrollment will be responsible for covering the cost of related university fees. A participating employee in units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9, enrolled in a doctorate program shall be eligible for a partial fee waiver equivalent to the part-time Graduate Tuition Fee and shall be responsible for paying the difference between the applicable Doctorate Fee and the part-time Graduate Tuition Fee.