Tuition Remission Policy

Purpose

Tuition remission for graduate assistants is a vital component of sponsored award budgets, reflecting the educational benefits associated with their research activities. Federal regulations governing sponsored programs acknowledge tuition remission as part of a student’s overall compensation package and sponsors expect budgets to include these costs. A program of tuition remission helps the university recoup waived tuition costs and invest in future research and education programs.

Policy

It is Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) policy to charge tuition remission for graduate assistants paid on sponsored awards unless the sponsor expressly prohibits such costs or has been approved as cost share.

Definitions

Graduate Assistant: Working under the supervision of a faculty member, graduate assistants typically apply research and artistry concepts, practices, or methods of scholarship and artistry by conducting experiments, creating new works, analyzing data, presenting findings, collaborating with others in preparing publications, reports, or exhibitions, presenting at conferences or performances, or conducting institutional research or artistry as part of their degree program. In the context of this policy graduate assistant includes research assistants, teaching assistants and staff assistants.

Tuition Waiver: A form of financial aid that waives all or part of the tuition costs for eligible NIU students based on defined criteria. Students receiving a tuition waiver are not required to pay the waived portion of tuition.  

Tuition Remission: The term for the financial support recovered by NIU to cover the cost of tuition waivers for eligible NIU students as part of their overall compensation and benefits package.

Cost Share: The portion of the total project costs not borne by the sponsor.

Intended Audience

• Director, Department Chair, Division Head
• Faculty and Staff
• Department/Divisional Business Administrators
• Sponsored Programs Administration Personnel

Related University Policies and Procedures

• Policies Pertaining to Graduate Assistantships
• Tuition and Fee Waiver Policy
• Effort Reporting
• Guidance Memo: Tuition Remission (DOCX)