Many students face a mountain of debt once they begin attending the University.

But students born into the household of a University employee can pursue their education at little to no cost, according to University policy.

All full-time University employees can use an instructional fee waiver after completing a semester of work, regardless if they’re a custodian, an instructor or a top-tier administrator.

The waiver allows them to take up to 16 credit hours of courses for free each year.

Their “dependents,” including children, can take an unlimited number of courses for free until age 24. They must pay general and course fees — generally about $1,000 — and any costs for living on campus or being an out-of-state student.

Dawn Hubbell-Staebel, a general studies writing lecturer, said the waiver is a great way for the University to give back to its employees, especially if they’re coping with personal tragedies.

“My husband became unemployed the same year I was receiving treatment for cancer, which depleted us of any savings for our kids to go to college,” said Hubbell-Staebel, who has taught at the University for more than 20 years.

Without the waiver, she is certain her oldest son, now a sophomore, couldn’t have pursued his liberal studies degree without accruing significant debt.

“We decided, as a family, it was better for him to come to BGSU and use the waiver, so he could have the most opportunities,” Hubbell-Staebel said. “He’s now in Spain studying abroad, something he probably wouldn’t have been able to do elsewhere.”

This semester, 149 employees and 358 of their dependents used a waiver to take tuition-free courses, said Rebecca Ferguson, the University’s chief human resources officer.

The policy does not cost the University anything because it does not require any additional hires or resources, Ferguson said. It has been in place for at least two decades and was most recently revised in March 2010.

Similar policies are common at many public universities.

For example, at Kent State University, all general and instructional fees are waived for full-time employees and their dependents after a 120-day waiting period, according to its website.

At Miami University, all instructional fees are waived for full-time employees after nine months of employment and for their dependents after three years of employment, according to its website.

“It’s not an abnormal benefit, but it’s very rich here,” Ferguson said. “It’s a wonderful policy that can really change lives and attract and retain faculty members.”

Many students without access to a waiver said they supported the policy.

“It’s empowering, especially for lower-end employees who may have otherwise been unable to send their kids to college,” said senior Shawn Walters, who knows some students who have used a waiver. “It gives them a fighting chance to better their lives.”

A few students, however, said without proper restrictions, the policy could create unfair situations for hard-working students struggling to make ends meet.

“It doesn’t seem right,” said freshman Robin Fink. “Some students who get good grades may not be able to afford college, yet students who are nearly failing could come here and essentially get a free ride because their mom or dad works here.”

Freshman Corrinne Burns, daughter of math instructor Beth Burns, said she hasn’t heard any students call her waiver “unfair,” but admitted some are jealous.

But to Burns and her sister, junior x, the waiver is motivation to achieve good grades while becoming engrossed in the college experience.

“I’m very grateful and thankful,” Corrinne said. “I don’t know that many students who have the opportunity to not be in debt their whole life.”

To view a PDF of the University’s instructional fee waiver policy, read this story online at BGNews.com.