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.
Fall 2024 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 completes the program application. |
| Step 2 | 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 3 | The President’s Cabinet selects seven Bobcat employees to participate in the program. |
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 |
Contact Information
General questions about the Staff Educational Development Leave program | Talent Development & Communications | 5.2557