A special information and question and answer session for MTSU employees is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, in the Student Union atrium to emphasize using the employment benefit to take a class or earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree. 

Representatives from across campus will be there to help current employees explore their options and opportunities so there is “no money left on the table.” 

MTSU employees can take one course per semester and up to four courses per year free of charge using their fee waiver. It’s important that employees act fast because registration for this fall is quickly approaching. 

Employees have the freedom to choose any course or program, including the popular Assessment, Learning and Student Success Ed.D. Program, or ALSS, in the College of Education which does not require a master’s degree. 

“Many MTSU employees choose the ALSS Higher Ed Ed.D. Program to not only further their education,” said Jim Rost, assistant professor in the College of Education, “but as a means to further their careers in higher education.” 

Several employees take advantage of this benefit each year. Chelsea Able, the strategic communications coordinator for Undergraduate Admissions, enrolled in the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts, or MALA, program after last year’s event. She said it was easy to utilize the waiver and the program has been eye-opening thanks to MTSU’s excellent faculty. 

“I had taken a few graduate courses in the College of Liberal Arts previously, but I took some time off to learn more about myself and what I was most interested in learning,” Able said.  “After I heard about the ‘Don’t Leave Money on the Table’ event, I learned that utilizing the tuition waiver benefit is so easy.” 

After last summer’s event, Able decided to enroll for the fall semester and plans to take it one course at a time until she graduates in 2024.

“All you need to do is fill out the HR tuition waiver form, which only takes a couple of minutes to complete,” Able continued. “The professors have made this journey an excellent experience.”

Employee registration begins July 31

If someone wants to enroll in a course for credit or enrichment purposes, they can begin registering for courses on July 31. 

There is another deadline employees need to be aware of. MT One Stop says that all fee waivers must be applied by the end of the semester, however, the payment/confirmation deadline is Aug 21. 

If an employee does not meet that Aug. 21 deadline, they will have to pay out of pocket and be reimbursed, according to MT One Stop. 

More helpful information

• Employees should note that while the class may be free as part of the state benefit, they may encounter fees to apply for admission if they have never attended MTSU, for textbooks and any course fees. 

• Admission for a first-time MTSU student can take two days to a week, MT One Stop Director Becca Smitty said. After the student (employee) registers for the course, the student initiates the discount form, which goes to their supervisor, then to human resources and business/finance to process and apply.

• Employees planning to take a graduate course may encounter a delay if they have to obtain transcripts from a previous college or colleges they attended.For more information about the fee waiver, visit MTSU.edu or contact Nicole Llopis in the Bursar’s Office at 615-898-5140.

— Hunter Patterson (Hunter.Patterson@mtsu.edu)