MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State University employees will no longer pay for attending undergraduate classes under a revised program approved Friday by the Board of Trustees.

Currently, employees meeting normal admission requirements pay 50 percent of tuition to attend classes on a part-time basis. Under the revised program, all faculty, professional and staff personnel may enroll in undergraduate courses for credit at no cost with a limit of six credit hours per semester or three credit hours per intersession or summer session.

University officials cited recent advances in technology and increases in information as the need to help current and future employees expand their education.

"The constant advance in technology and the recent explosion in information experienced throughout the economy impacts those who are employed throughout the university," said Norm Beck, associate vice president for human resources and auxiliary services.

"The revised program will enhance through additional education, the performance of employees within their current work assignments," he said. "The new fee remission program also addresses the expanded need of employees to be able to pursue career development opportunities through additional education without causing an undo financial burden on their families."

The program also will be used by Human Resources Services as a recruiting tool, allowing the university to attract quality employees in an ever-increasing competitive market, Beck said.

Ball State established the Educational Assistance Program in 1975 and expanded it over the years to include all employees. In fiscal year 1999, 165 employees participated and accounted for 1,231 credit hours.

In other business, the board approved increasing vehicle registration and restricted parking fees. The increase is the first since 1994 and is necessary to fund projected maintenance and improvements to parking facilities.

Vehicle registration rates (yellow stickers) will increase from $25 to $35 per year while restricted parking fees (red stickers) for surface lots increase from $40 to $45 a semester. Parking garage fees go up from $40 to $50 a semester.

Also, the board approved the name of the Department of Secondary, Higher, and Foundations of Education be changed to the Department of Educational Studies. The change is necessary to properly describe the department, university officials said.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager