Chancellor Robert Hemenway, in his faculty and staff convocation address, said: "KU will significantly expand the number of employees who can take classes tuition free. We will expand our tuition assistance program for staff from the current 30 people per semester to 100 people a semester."
The tuition assistance program uses state-allocated money to finance staff members' tuition so that they may finish a degree or take courses for self-improvement. The program has been in place for about 20 years.
Lindy Eakin, associate provost for support services, said: "The relative cost is minimal for the real gain in staff improvement. Averaging 70 people, taking three hours at the in-state undergraduate rate, equals only about $14,000."
Qualifications include being a KU employees who has worked half time for at least three years or full time for at least a year. To apply, employees submit a completed application, a transcript of previous college courses, a brief statement explaining how the course will benefit the employee and the university, and a letter of support from the employee's supervisor.
The application deadline for spring 1997 tuition assistance is 5 p.m. Nov. 15. Applications are available in the Office of the Provost, 132 Strong Hall. For more information, call 864-4904.