Fee Waivers

Fee Waiver Program

Certain colleges and universities assign fee waivers to the Diocese for our teachers in exchange for mentoring their students who are studying to become teachers.  To request a fee waiver, please complete the request form here.  The colleges and universities with which we have exchange of services arrangements with are:  The Ohio State University, Ohio Dominican University, Ashland University and Otterbein University.  We presently have fee waivers available only from OSU and ODU.  Waivers from the other schools with which we have agreements will be announced when they become available.  The deadlines to apply for fee waivers are as follows unless otherwise specified:

For Autumn Term - 3rd Friday in July
For Spring Term - 1st Friday in December
For Summer Term - 1st Friday in April

Registration opened for Summer, 2020 at The Ohio State University on February 17, 2020.  The deadline to apply for a fee waiver for OSU for the summer term is Friday, December 4, 2020.  Registration is now open for Ohio Dominican University, with summer classes beginning June 1st for the first summer session.  The deadline to apply for a fee waiver for ODU is Friday, December 4, 2020.

Waivers are awarded based on a hierarchy established in the COACE Agreement.  This information is outlined below:  Article 13 - Professional Development Assistance Program

If you have additional questions regarding this program, please contact Lisa Axene, HR Manager at:  laxene@columbuscatholic.org

ARTICLE 13-PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

13.1 The following provisions apply to fee waivers:

A. Disbursement of fee waivers earned by the schools of the Franklin County Deaneries shall be made according to the following provisions:

1. First Priority: The teacher working directly with the college student has first priority to use any credits earned as a result of the teacher's supervision of the student teacher. Said teacher must apply as outlined in Article 13.1 D.
2. Second Priority: After application of the above priority any teacher in the schools of the Deaneries [COACE schools] that accept student teachers may apply for any unused but available fee waivers, as outlined in Article 13.1 D. The fee waiver shall be placed in a fee waiver bank from which the Superintendent is to make equitable distribution. Teachers possessing a Provisional, Professional, or Permanent Ohio Certificate or an Ohio License shall be given first consideration for fee waivers.
3. Third Priority: After consultation with the President of the Association, the Diocesan Office of Catholic Schools may release fee waivers to teachers, administrators or others not covered by this Agreement.

B. As far as practicable, assignment shall be by seniority. A teacher's seniority shall be defined according to the placement of that teacher on the salary scale. Teachers shall not be limited to the number of fee waivers they may use if said fee waivers are available. No one other than a teacher may use fee waivers except as provided in 13.1 A.3.

C. A teacher who receives a fee waiver but does not use it must return the unused waiver to the Office of Catholic Schools Personnel Office prior to the date it has been scheduled for use. Failure to return unused fee waivers without good cause will result in the denial of future fee waivers to such a teacher for two (2) years from the date that the fee waivers were to have been originally used.