Skip to Content
Finance and Support Services Division
Office of Human Resources

Academic Release and Tuition Support

Texas State University values the pursuit of education for everyone, including Texas State employees. Through the Academic Release and Tuition Support (ARTS) program, eligible employees can participate in college or university credit courses at higher educational institutions while working at Texas State.

In order to be eligible for these benefits you must be registered for classes by the term's census dates. For the Fall and Spring semester that is the 12th class day and for the Summer Semesters that is the 4th class day.

Before applying, please explore eligibility requirements, benefits breakdown, application guides, and frequently asked questions below.

Outside Old Main

What is the Academic Release and Tuition Support Program?

The Academic Release and Tuition Support (ARTS) program provides full-time benefits eligible employees with the opportunity to continue their educational journey with support from Texas State University. Eligible employees can apply to have paid class release time and receive a designated tuition and fees waiver.

Employees can take courses at Texas State or any other higher education institutions and do not need to be enrolled full time or degree seeking.

Who is eligible for Academic Release and Tuition Support?

Any full-time benefits-eligible Texas State employee can apply for ARTS as outlined in UPPS 04.04.35. Employees must remain in good academic standing by the 12th class day (fall and spring) or the 4th class day (summer).

Employees can remain in good academic standing by meeting the Texas State grade point average (GPA) qualifications of satisfactory academic progress (must have a Texas State GPA of 2.0 for undergraduates and 3.0 for graduates) for continued awards, per Texas Education Code 54.2001

Benefits Breakdown

Paid Class Release Time

Eligible employees who are enrolled in courses at Texas State or other accredited higher education institutions can apply for paid class release time*.

In order to be eligible for this support the courses must take place synchronously during your normal working hours and stay within the limit of three hours per week. 

*Note: This does not cover online asynchronous classes or travel time to and from classes.

Tuition/Fee Waiver

Once an eligible employee is enrolled in courses at Texas State, the designated tuition and fee waiver* is applied to their student account automatically by Student Business Services after grades post for the previous academic semester. Employees are encouraged to pay their registration bill after the designated tuition and fee waiver has applied. 

For example, Boko (an eligible employee) enrolls in courses at Texas State for Fall 2023. He will see the designated tuition and fee waiver applied to his student account after grades post for the Spring 2023 semester.

To see when grades post for an academic year, please review the Texas State Academic Calendar.

*The waiver does not cover statutory tuition only designated tuition. For a breakdown of all tuition and fees, visit the Student Business Services website or the Tuition and Fees definition website. Courses offered through the Office of Distance Learning, Study Abroad, and Correspondence are not covered by the tuition waiver.

Application Guide

Complete the ARTS application form if you are looking for:

  • Paid class release time
  • Opting-out of the tuition/fee waiver
  • Department funds to cover tuition/fees

Do not complete the ARTS application form if you are only looking for:

  • Designated tuition and fee waiver

Applicant Guide

Review our applicant user guide to learn more about applying for Academic Release and Tuition Support. 

Supervisor Guide

Review our supervisor user guide to learn more about supervisor responsibilities in the Academic Release and Tuition Support form.

Note: For the best experience, we recommend opening the user guides in a new tab or window.

Applying for Designated Tuition and Fee Waiver ONLY

An employee seeking the designated tuition and fee waiver only does not need to fill out and submit an ARTS form. The designated tuition and fee waiver is applied to their student account automatically by Student Business Services after grades are posted for the previous academic semester.  

*Note: Courses offered through the Office of Distance Learning, Study Abroad, and Correspondence are not covered by the tuition waiver. 

Step 1:Employee discusses their interest in pursuing educational opportunities with their supervisor. 
Step 2:Eligible employee is admitted to TXST as a student through the admissions process. If already admitted, skip to Step 3.  
Step 3:Employee enrolls in classes prior to the academic semester’s census date.
Step 4:University grades post for the previous academic semester.
Step 5:Student Business Services runs an algorithm to identify employees enrolled in courses for the upcoming academic semester.
Step 6:Student Business Services automatically applies the designated tuition and fee waiver to the employee’s student account.
Step 7:Employee logs into their student account, via CatsWeb, to pay the remaining E&G (statutory) tuition balance after the designated tuition and fee waiver has applied.
Step 8:Employee starts classes!

Applying for Paid Class Release Time, Departmental Reimbursement, OR Opting Out of the Designated Tuition and Fee Waiver

An employee seeking paid class release time, departmental reimbursement, or needing to opt out of the waiver (in cases where financial aid covers the entire balance, for example) must fill out and submit an ARTS form for approval.  

The designated tuition and fee waiver is applied to their student account automatically by Student Business Services after grades are posted for the previous academic semester. *To be eligible for the paid class release time the employee’s courses must take place synchronously during their normal working hours and stay within the limit of three hours per week.  

*Note: This does not cover online asynchronous classes or travel time to and from classes.  

Step 1:Employee discusses their interest in participating in the ARTS program with their supervisor.
Step 2:Eligible employee is admitted to TXST as a student through the admissions process. If already admitted, skip to Step 3. 
Step 3:Employee enrolls in classes prior to the academic semester’s census date.  
Step 4:If an employee’s classes occur synchronously during their normal working hours, departmental reimbursement is approved, or the employee needs to opt out of the designated tuition and fee waiver, they will fill out the ARTS form for approval.
Step 5:The ARTS form is routed to the employee’s supervisor for approval. 
Step 6A:Once the employee’s supervisor approves the ARTS form, it is routed to HR for approval. 
Step 6B:

If an employee submits an ARTS form without requesting paid class release time, departmental reimbursement, or opting out of the waiver, HR will decline the form. 

The designated tuition and fee waiver is applied to their student account automatically by Student Business Services after grades post for the previous academic semester.  

Therefore, if an employee is only seeking the designated tuition and fee waiver, a form is not necessary. 

Step 6C:

If an employee submitted an ARTS form requesting paid class release time, but the courses take place outside of the employee’s normal working hours or are being taken asynchronously, HR will decline the form.  

*To be eligible for the paid class release time the employee’s courses must take place synchronously during their normal working hours and stay within the limit of three hours per week. 

*Note: This does not cover online asynchronous classes or travel time to and from classes. 

Step 7:If HR confirms paid class release time is eligible, departmental reimbursement was approved, or the employee requested to opt out of the waiver, they will approve the form. 
Step 8:University grades post for the previous academic semester.
Step 9:Student Business Services runs an algorithm to identify employees enrolled in courses for the upcoming academic semester.
Step 10:Student Business Services automatically applies the designated tuition and fee waiver to the employee’s student account.
Step 11:Employee logs into their student account, via CatsWeb, to pay the remaining E&G (statutory) tuition balance after the designated tuition and fee waiver has applied.
Step 12:Employee starts classes!
Step 13:

Employee records their paid class release time (Att./Absence Type: Class Release for Academic Courses, Code: 3070) in their SAP timesheet. 

Paid Class Release time must stay within the limit of three hours per week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand FAQ List

    • Courses taken at another university are not covered by the Texas State designated tuition and fee waiver. 
    • You may still apply for class release time as long as the courses are during your normal working hours.

    • Yes. If your department has approved coverage for tuition and fees, you can receive reimbursement.

    • Reimbursement for courses at other accredited higher education institutions will occur once the employee has provided proof of payment to their department.

      Once the proper documentation has been verified, an e-NPO will be processed.

    • For further clarification regarding department funds, reference UPPS 04.04.35, section 03.03

    Note: It is the employee’s responsibility to coordinate payment through their direct supervisor and account manager. Departments can also make a direct payment to the institution.

    • Students wishing to withdraw from all classes will forfeit the fee and designated tuition waivers. Students must withdraw from the University prior to the first official University class day for any semester or term to avoid financial obligation.
    • Withdrawal Information is available on the Office of the University Registrar website.
    • The refund percentages are applicable to all tuition and fees except non-refundable fees including late fees and orientation fees. It is the responsibility of each student to abide by the rules and regulations.
    • In order to avoid any financial obligation, please refer to the Academic Calendar or refund schedules for specific withdrawal deadlines. (Please note that dropping and withdrawing are two very different actions and the refund schedule are not similar.)

    Note: dropping a course or withdrawing from the University does not relieve a student of their financial obligation to the University for any unpaid charges (including financial aid adjustments) incurred for the related semester or term.

  • If you are looking for:

    • Paid class release time
    • Opting-out of the tuition/fee waiver
    • Department funds to cover tuition/fees

    You will need to complete the ARTS application each semester.

    • In order to be eligible to receive the waiver, you must remain in good academic standing by meeting an equivalent GPA to the Texas State GPA qualifications of Satisfactory Academic Progress for continued awards per Texas Education Code 54.2001. Enrollment for the following semester will be allowed if the GPA is acceptable.

      If a failing GPA is on record from the previous semester, enrolling into the program will not be allowed for the upcoming semester.

    • This change stems from a TSUS Board of Regents approval of Designated Tuition set to $0 for all full-time faculty and staff, which includes the waiver of certain fees. This decision was made in order to lessen financial barriers for educational opportunities.

  • Yes, as long as your PCR is started and you’re working by the census date, the waiver will still apply.

  • Your designated tuition and fees will be waived; however, you’ll still be charged the E&G Tuition non-resident tuition rate unless you’re reclassified as an in-state resident through the Residency Office.

  • If you believe you qualify for in-state tuition but have been charged out-of-state rates, follow these steps:

    1. Review the Residency website to see how residency is determined. Generally, your initial residency classification comes from how you answered questions on your application.
    2. Submit a Residency Reclassification Request Form through the Residency website under the “Requesting Reclassification” section.
    3. Select the appropriate rationale for your request, and you’ll see the required documentation to submit with your form. Please note that submitting incomplete documentation will delay your case.
    4. You will receive an automatic reply with an estimated timeframe for reclassification requests; this typically takes 5-7 business days to process.
    5. If you’re concerned about meeting a payment deadline, you can enroll in a payment plan while your reclassification request is under review.
    6. For any questions, email the Residency Office. 

Contact Information

General questions about the ARTS program | Talent Development & Communications | hr_tdc@txstate.edu.

Billing and fees, including opting-out | Student Business Services | tuiassist@txstate.edu.

Financial aid information | Financial Aid and Scholarships | financialaid@txstate.edu.