Educational Assistance
Radford University is committed to supporting the personal and professional development of University employees. The University offers Educational Assistance by provided eligible employees with the Employee Tuition Waiver, Tuition Reimbursement and Educational Leave to assist in furthering their education and professional growth. Click on the topic below for more information. Questions? Contact the Benefits Department.
Employee Tuition Waiver
Eligible employees working in a full/part-time position wishing to further their education may register for up to 7 credit hours of course work (graduate or undergraduate) at Radford University for each semester (Fall and Spring) and 7 total credit hours for all intersession terms (Wintermester, Maymester, Summer I, II, III) combined. Once the Employee Tuition Waiver Request form is completed and approved (for each course), tuition and fees for the course(s) are waived. Application and registration for course work are subject to conditions involving eligibility and other participation requirements as stated in the Employee Tuition Waiver Policy | PDF.
- Employee Tuition Waiver Request Form | PDF must be completed by the employee and approved by their supervisor prior to submission. Employees should ensure that the form is completed in its entirety, with the certification and approval sections signed and dated. Incomplete forms will be returned without processing.
- Completed forms should be submitted to Ethan Jones by email, mail (PO Box 6889), in-person (2nd Floor Tyler Place), or by fax (540-831-6278). Review the "Submission Windows & Important Dates" below for details on when to submit your form to HR for approval and on when to register. Requests received early will be returned for resubmission at the appropriate time, requests received late will be returned without action and will not be processed. Full details for a term can be found on the Academic Calendar.
- Employees will be notified by email upon receipt of their form and will be notified of the status of their request prior to the start of the Academic Term. Typically the status notification occurs within the month leading up to the term., the Office of the Bursar is copied on this notification.
- Employees may register for classes on the first day of classes, registering before classes start will void the tuition waiver.
- Classes can be changed until the Add/Drop Date.
Undergraduate Level - Submission Windows & Important Dates
Employee Tuition Waiver Request forms for each term are due to Human Resources during the window listed below but no later than the add/drop date for the term Tuition waiver requests received in Human Resources after the add/drop date for each semester or session will be returned without further action.
Employees planning to enroll in a class using a tuition waiver may not register until the first day of classes and must register through the Office of the Registrar. This policy ensures tuition-paying students have access to classes before those who are receiving fee waivers. See the complete Academic Calendar on the Office of the Registrar's Website.
2020-2021 Academic Year
Term | Submission Window | First Day of Class |
Last Day for Add/Drop |
2021 Maymester | March 1 - May 17, 2021 (5pm) | 05/17/2021 | 05/17/2021 |
2021 Summer I | March 1 - May 18, 2021 (5pm) | 05/17/2021 | 05/18/2021 |
2021 Summer II | March 1 - June 29, 2021 (5pm) | 06/29/2021 | 06/29/2021 |
2021 Summer III | March 1 - May 21, 2021 (5pm) | 05/17/2021 | 05/21/2021 |

2021-2022 Academic Year
Term | Submission Window | First Day of Class | Last Day for Add/Drop |
Fall 2021 | July 1 - August 29, 2021 (5pm) | 08/23/2021 | 08/29/2021 |
Wintermester 2021 | October 1 - December 15, 2021 (5pm) | 12/14/2021 | 12/15/2021 |
Spring 2022 | November 1, 2021 - January 24, 2022 (5pm) | 01/18/2022 | 01/24/2022 |
Maymester 2022 | March 1 - May 16, 2022 (5pm) | 05/16/2022 | 05/16/2022 |
Summer I 2022 | March 1 - May 17, 2022 (5pm) | 05/16/2022 | 05/17/2022 |
Summer II 2022 | March 1 - June 28, 2022 (5pm) | 06/27/2022 | 06/28/2022 |
Summer III 2022 | March 1 - May 20, 2022 (5pm) | 05/16/2022 | 05/20/2022 |
Graduate Level - Submission Windows & Important Dates
Employee Tuition Waiver Request forms for each term are due to Human Resources during the window listed below but no later than the add/drop date for the term Tuition waiver requests received in Human Resources after the add/drop date for each semester or session will be returned without further action.
Employees planning to enroll in a class using a tuition waiver may not register until the first day of classes and must register through the Office of the Registrar. This policy ensures tuition-paying students have access to classes before those who are receiving fee waivers. See the complete Academic Calendar on the Office of the Registrar's Website.
2020-2021 Academic Year
Term | Submission Window | First Day of Class | Last Day for Add/Drop |
2021 Maymester | March 1 - May 19, 2021 (5pm) | 05/17/2021 | 05/19/2021 |
2021 Summer I | March 1 - May 21, 2021 (5pm) | 05/17/2021 | 05/21/2021 |
2021 Summer II | March 1 - July 2, 2021 (5pm) | 06/29/2021 | 07/02/2021 |
2021 Summer III | March 1 - May 21, 2021 (5pm) | 05/17/2021 | 05/21/2021 |

2021-2022 Academic Year
Term | Submission Window | First Day of Class | Last Day for Add/Drop |
Fall 2021 | July 1 - September 6, 2021 (5pm) | 08/23/2021 | 09/06/2021 |
Wintermester 2021 | October 1 - December 15, 2021 (5pm) | 12/14/2021 | 12/15/2021 |
Spring 2022 | November 1, 2021 - February 1, 2022 (5pm) | 01/18/2021 | 02/01/2022 |
Maymester 2022 | March 1 - May 18, 2022 (5pm) | 05/16/2022 | 05/18/2022 |
Summer I 2022 | March 1 - May 20, 2022 (5pm) | 05/16/2022 | 05/20/2022 |
Summer II 2022 | March 1 - July 1, 2022 (5pm) | 06/27/2022 | 07/01/2022 |
Summer III 2022 | March 1 - May 27, 2022 (5pm) | 05/16/2022 | 05/27/2022 |
Useful Links
Questions?
- Admission as an undergraduate student- Contact Radford University Undergraduate Admissions Office.
- Admission as a graduate student- Contact Radford University Graduate Admissions Office.
- Admission as a non-degree-seeking student - Contact the Radford University Registrar's Office.
- Course Registration & Information - Contact the Radford University Registrar's Office.
- Student Fees & Accounts - Contact the Radford University Office of the Bursar.
- Employee Tuition Waiver Policy, Eligibility & Process - Contact the Benefits Department.

Employee Tuition Reimbursement
Employees choosing to further their education at another educational institution in a part-time or full-time educational program may apply for tuition reimbursement. To qualify for tuition reimbursement funds must be available from the employee’s department budget and all approvals obtained prior to enrollment in full-time or part-time educational programs.
Educational Programs
Part-TIme Educational Programs
- An educational program is considered part-time if only one class is taken during work hours. If authorized by their department head, full-time, salaried faculty and staff are eligible to take classes at institutions of higher education other than Radford University.
Full-Time Educational Programs (including resident study)
- An employee cannot take more than one class within an academic session during working hours without having his/her employment reduced to part-time. A department head may agree to reduce an employee's hours of work without agreeing to the payment of tuition and fees for job-related courses. Educational leave can be granted with partial or no pay.

Educational Leave
Educational leave may be granted, at the discretion of the agency, to allow employees time to further their education through study related to their work or that of their agencies. At an agency's discretion, employees may be allowed to take educational leave with full, partial, or no pay. (The provisions of Policy 4.45, Leave Without Pay, Conditional and Unconditional, apply to an educational leave without pay.) Educational leave is limited to 12 months. Extensions to this leave, up to an additional 12 months, may be granted by the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM), or by agencies that have decentralization agreements regarding extensions of educational leave.
As a higher educational institution, it is our goal to promote educational growth and opportunities for our employees.
Questions? Contact the Benefits Department.