Fee Waiver Policy

Purpose: As one way to remove barriers to retention within the EMU Teacher Education Program (TEP), we will work to alleviate financial barriers, including but not limited to the registration fees for passing state-mandated assessments, such as the Praxis Subject Matter Assessment and the Teaching Reading Exam. This policy provides guidance in the steps students should take to qualify for a waiver for those fees. 

1. In order to qualify for a waiver, the student must have filed FAFSA and be Pell Grant eligible.

2. Eligible students should first meet with the Financial Assistance Office to determine if options are available from their existing financial assistance packages. Students who receive institutional or federal financial assistance may qualify to have their assessment fees covered. The Financial Assistance Office will notify the Teacher Education Program Director and the Placement and Assessment Coordinator with the outcome of the meeting with the student. 

3. If the student’s financial aid will not cover the cost of registration, the student can then meet with the Program Director to discuss the options available. These may include signing up for extra content-related tutoring, receiving test-taking support, and/or applying for a waiver. 

   1. Content-related tutoring and test-taking support are available through the Academic Success Center. Appointments can be made through Navigate or by walk-in during tutoring hours. 

   2. When going to tutoring, students should bring previous test reports, test prep materials, and/or sample tests for tutors to access.

4. After discussion with the Program Director, the student may apply for the waiver by filling out a google form which will ask for information about preparation, previous attempts, and/or other details.

   1. The Google form will ask the following questions:

      1. Name, semester you are planning to student teach

      2. For which assessment are you applying for a waiver? (a separate form will be submitted for each assessment they are applying for a waiver).

      3. Have you previously taken this assessment? If yes, what were your score(s)? 

      4. What steps have you taken to be prepared for this assessment? The Academic Success Center (ASC) provides test preparation tutoring. You can sign up for an appointment through Navigate or find a time for walk-in tutoring. Your tutor should provide a summary of the preparation you accessed. Please include documentation of tutoring from the ASC. 

5. After the waiver application is completed, the Program Director will make a final decision about approval. Once approved, the student will meet with the Placement and Assessment Coordinator to register for the assessment. 

6. The Placement and Assessment Coordinator will keep a record of students who have received an assessment fee waiver and students will be limited to two waivers per assessment.