Staff Educational Development Leave
Texas State University values the pursuit of education for everyone, including Texas State staff members. Through the Staff Educational Development Leave (SEDL) program eligible staff can participate in college or university credit courses at higher educational institutions with a full tuition and fees waiver and paid class release for up to half of their working hours.
Before applying, please explore the eligibility requirements, benefits breakdown, and the application process below.
Spring 2025 applications are now closed
What is the Staff Education Development Leave Program?
The Staff Educational Development Leave program provides eligible staff with paid leave to attend college credit courses and a waiver of all tuition and fees. A maximum of seven employees are nominated each semester to participate. Selection is reviewed and approved by divisional vice presidents.
Who is eligible for Staff Educational Development Leave Program?
Full-time, benefits-eligible staff members, who have been employed at the university at least one year, are eligible to participate in this program as outlined in UPPS 04.04.35.
Course requirements for staff members are:
- nine to twelve credit hours per spring or fall semester [Undergraduate participants]
- six to nine credit hours per spring or fall semester [Graduate participants]
- Eligibility to continue in the program will be evaluated should a participant drop below the approved minimum required semester credit hours before the end of the semester.
Employees must remain in good academic standing by meeting the Financial Aid GPA qualifications of Texas Education Code 54.2001.
Benefits Breakdown
Paid Class Release Time
Participating staff can receive up to twenty hours of paid class release time while still being paid their full-time rate. Release time will be determined by the number of enrollment hours.
| Undergraduate Credit Hours | Graduate Credit Hours | Hours of Work Release Time |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 6 | Up to 10 hours per week |
| 10 - 11 | 7 - 8 | Up to 15 hours per week |
| 12 | 9 | Up to 20 hours per week |
More information can be found in UPPS 04.04.35, section 05.03.
If employees feel that they will not require the entire time allocation, work hour reduction could be negotiated with their supervisor.
Tuition/Fee Waiver
Eligible staff will have their tuition waived after grades are posted for the previous semester (even if they were not enrolled). The TDC team will provide Student Business Services with a list of participating employees.
In order to be eligible for a waiver, you must remain in good academic standing by maintaining a minimum Texas State GPA of 2.0 for undergraduates and 3.0 for graduates. You must meet the Financial Aid GPA qualifications of Satisfactory Academic Progress for continued awards per Texas Education Code 54.2001.
Application Walkthrough
Initial Conversation with Supervisor
We highly recommend reviewing the eligibility requirements and having preliminary conversations with your supervisor to discuss:
- Academic goals
- Desire to participate in the Staff Educational Development Leave program
- Share how the program can help you achieve both your academic and career goals.
New Workflow
The approval process has been streamlined to remove the divisional participant limit.
Step | Action |
Step 1 | Employee discusses interest in participating in the SEDL program with their supervisor and applies for admission to TXST. |
Step 2 | Employee completes and submits the SEDL program application. |
Step 3 | Supervisor reviews and approves the completed SEDL program application. |
Step 4 | Human Resources reviews applications, confirms the eligibility of applicants, and sends the eligible applicant list to the President’s Cabinet for review and selection. |
Step 5 | The President’s Cabinet selects seven Bobcat employees to participate in the program. Human Resources then notifies participants of their acceptance or rejection. |
New Timeline
The timeline has been adjusted to coincide with university course registration dates so employees can register for their upcoming semester with confidence.
| Key Action | Dates |
| SEDL Applications open | For spring semesters: Late August For fall semesters: Late January |
| SEDL Applications close | For spring semesters: September 20 For fall semesters: February 20 |
| Human Resources review | For spring semesters: September 25 For fall semesters: February 25 |
| President’s Cabinet selection | For spring semesters: October 15 For fall semesters: March 15 |
| Notification to applicants | For spring semesters: October 31 For fall semesters: March 31 |
FAQ
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What If I am taking courses at another university?
Courses taken at other accredited institutions are covered by the program. You must pay tuition upfront, and at the end of the semester, submit an invoice showing the tuition paid along with proof of passing your classes. You will be reimbursed for the tuition up to the equivalent amount at TXST.
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Do I have to be enrolled in classes before applying for the SEDL program?
You do not need to be enrolled in classes before applying for the SEDL program. It is highly recommended that you are admitted to TXST as a student and to the program you are wishing to take courses in prior to applying to the SEDL program.
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How will dropping a class or withdrawing from my classes affect me?
If you drop below the minimum required number of enrollment hours based on your degree level, you will no longer be eligible for the SEDL program. Your remaining classes will be covered under the ARTS program, but you will not receive the full tuition coverage or paid class release time provided by the SEDL program.
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Do I need to fill out an application each semester?
Yes, only 7 applicants are accepted each long semester (Fall and Spring). The President’s Cabinet will select applicants based on the submitted form and the program criteria outlined in the UPPS 04.04.35 Section 05.03.
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What if I don’t have an acceptable passing GPA?
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.
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What if I don’t work for TXST in a full-time benefits eligible position for a minimum of 1 year after receiving the benefit?
If you don’t work in a full-time (75%-100% FTE) benefits-eligible position at TXST for a minimum of one year after receiving the benefit, you will be required to reimburse salary, tuition and fees per policy UPPS 04.04.35 Section 05.04 I. 2.
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What if I am accepted, but can no longer participate in SEDL?
If at any time your academic plans change and you are no longer able to participate in the SEDL program, please promptly inform the Talent Development & Communications team. This will allow us to maximize the availability of this benefit for other applicants.
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What if I don’t need all of the hours of paid class release time?
The amount of paid class release time is dependent on your credit hours. If you do not require the use of the full number of allocated hours, you may negotiate a reduction in work hours with your supervisor for the semester.
Contact Information
General questions about the Staff Educational Development Leave program | Talent Development & Communications | 5.2557