Frequently Asked Questions (Shenandoah University Employee Information about Tuition Exchange)
Qualifying dependents of full-time benefited employees with at least one year of employment at Shenandoah University may be eligible for participation in the Tuition Exchange program at other participating colleges or universities. The employee themselves may also be eligible to apply for Tuition Exchange.
Tuition Exchange.Inc (tuitionexchange.org) and CIC Tuition Exchange Program are both “tuition exchange networks” that Shenandoah University belongs to. Students can submit applications through one or both portals depending on the college/university they are applying to and what program they participate in.
TE colleges/universities are required to cover full tuition or at least the minimum amount of their charged tuition (this is called minimum “set rate” value). Each year the Tuition Exchange Board of Directors establishes the “set rate” value amount based on a weighted average of all participating TE college/university tuitions. This means that the set rate value will change each year. In other words, if the student is selected for a TE scholarship, the amount they receive may differ per college/university. To learn if the college is offering a full tuition amount or a “set rate” value, visit the tuitionexchange.org site and click on a participating schools name their tuition exchange amount. Tuition Exchange Scholarships do not normally cover any fees, housing and food or books and supplies.
There are two important steps in the process.
First, the employee’s dependent applies for admission to one or more Tuition Exchange participating colleges.
Second, the employee submits a Tuition Exchange application through one or both the Tuition Exchange websites. This application will initially be directed to Shenandoah University for review. Before submitting the application further, a Shenandoah University Tuition Exchange Liaison Officer (TELO), with the assistance from the Human Resources Department, will determine if the employee is eligible for participation in the tuition exchange program. Once eligibility is confirmed, the Tuition Exchange application will be forwarded to the respective colleges. The participating college determines whether or not a TE Scholarship is awarded; Shenandoah University does not make this decision.
Keep in mind, an admissions application must be submitted to the college or university. Additionally, submit the actual Tuition Exchange application. Admissions deadlines can be found on college websites and the Tuition Exchange deadlines can be found on the Tuition Exchange websites. Pay attention to all deadlines to ensure the best opportunity for approval.
It depends on the participating TE college’s policies and procedures, and the number of scholarships the college has available. This will vary from college to college. This award is not an entitlement at each college and some colleges have to limit how many they offer each year, so it is not a guarantee that a Tuition Exchange Scholarship offer will be made.
Shenandoah University pays a membership to Tuition Exchange and a fee per applicant. AT THIS TIME, Shenandoah is choosing not to pass this fee along to our employees.
It is a good idea to apply for financial aid at the same time the admission application is filed just in case the participating TE college does not offer a TE Scholarship or requires the FAFSA to make the TE selections. If the student waits to find out if a TE Scholarship is offered before applying for aid, it may be too late to apply for the participating college’s grant aid. Also, even if a TE Scholarship is offered, the student may still need financial assistance beyond the TE Scholarship.
For more information visit www.tuitionexchange.org or https://cic.edu/networks/tuition-exchange-program/ to review a current list of participating TE institutions for each program. For questions about TE at another college, contact the Admissions Office at that college. For general questions, contact us in the Office of Financial Aid at (540) 665-4538 or finaid@su.edu.
Yes, you would need to remain employed full time at Shenandoah University for the duration of the time that your dependent receives the TE Scholarship. TE program eligibility is reviewed each semester.
No, you do not need to submit a new TE application each year. In February of each year a Tuition Exchange Liaison Officer (TELO) at Shenandoah University will be prompted to recertify your eligibility in the Tuition Exchange program. The college where your dependent receives the TE Scholarship will receive this re-certification and should be able to then offer the TE Scholarship for the next academic year. Your dependent should at all times maintain the required GPA for the TE Scholarship and be in good standing with the college where they receive the TE Scholarship.
The Office of Financial Aid. If you have questions about the program please email finaid@su.edu or call (540) 665-4538.