Electrical and Computer Engineering
PAYROLL INFO & FAQ
Setup
The following steps are for students who have a Social Security Number (SSN). If you do not have a SSN/card you will need to complete additional steps before proceeding.
- Complete the Personnel Information form
- Complete the Employee Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement (For Non-Benefits Eligible Employees and Student Employees)
- Schedule an appointment with Bob Knudsen (robert.knudsen@utah.edu) in the ECE department to begin processing your payroll. Payroll processing can take several days/week, please plan to meet with Bob at least 1 week before your requested start date.
- Bring documents listed below to appointment
- After payroll has been set up, sign up for direct deposit through CIS
Domestic Students
- Option 1: U.S. Passport - OR
- Option 2: Permanent Resident Card - OR
- Option 3: Driver's license AND Social Security Card
These are the most common documentation for students to have but is not comprehensive. See full-list of acceptable I-9 documentation options.
International Students
- Passport
- Most recent I-94
- I-20
- Social Security Card*
FICA (Social Security) Taxes Exclusion Requirements:
- Undergraduate students must be: Enrolled and registered for 6 or more credit hours in the current semester at the University of Utah AND Employed at the University of Utah as a part-time employee assigned to work less than 30 hours per week in a positionnot eligible for benefits. (Total FTE can’t be over .74)
- Graduate students must be: Enrolled and registered for 3 or more credit hours in the current semester at the University of Utah AND Employed at the University of Utah as a part-time employee assigned to work less than 30 hours per week in a position not eligible for benefits. (Total FTE can’t be over .74)
- If a student works at the University of Utah during the summer semester, they must be enrolled and registered at the University of Utah as a student for the above stated credit hours during the summer semester in order to qualify for Student-Employee FICA exclusion.
- If you are a foreign visitor, you might be qualified for FICA exemption under your visa status. Please consult with the Tax Service Office.
To apply for this exemption, students must complete the relevant form available from the payroll office at 411 Park Building. A form must be filled out each semester to keep the exemption in effect.
GLACIER - International Students
When you receive an email from Tax Services, set up your correct tax status with GLACIER as soon as possible.
Employees are required to enter information into GLACIER and submit the required forms and documents to the Tax Services Dept. within 7 days of receiving the email from support@online-tax.net (this is not spam). Otherwise, the maximum amount of tax will be withheld from their paychecks.
Questions about taxes or how to withhold/file?
- Contact or visit the Financial Wellness Center
- International students should review the ISSS Tax Help page
Graduate students are that are employed at as an RA or TA at 20 hrs/week (.5 FTE or 100%) qualify to receive tuition benefit. Additional Graduate student benefits include the University Graduate Student Health Insurance plan subsidized at 100% and valued at approximately $2,720/year – see Graduate Subsidized Insurance Program (GSHIP).
| Step | Deadline/Time |
| 1. Complete the Tuition Benefit Form – this will be emailed out prior to the start of term. | By end of the 1st week of the term |
| 2. Graduate Advisors will enter the form information into the Tuition Benefit Program (TBP) system.
New hires must be added to payroll before being entered into TBP system (see steps above) |
1-2 days |
3. The TBP system will send an email to you.
|
ASAP |
| 4. Once information has been confirmed/signed the TBP will implement the coverage to your bill. Tuition will be adjusted at midnight on the day you approve the tuition benefit email. | Next day |
| 5. Tuition is due on the add/drop deadline (end of the 2nd week of the term). Tuition and fees that have not been paid by the deadline will incur a $75 late fee and result in a hold placed on the student’s account that will need to be resolved prior to registering for credits for the next semester. If the late fee is due to a delay on the part of the department please let the Graduate Advisors know to submit a late fee waiver. | Tuition Deadlines by Term |
Additional Information for Graduate Students
Tuition FAQs
General Tuition Benefit Policies
- Students on tuition benefit are required to enroll in a minimum of 9 credits
- After students have completed their PhD proposal exam they may enroll in only 3 credits of thesis research and qualify as full-time status (international included)
Tuition Benefit does NOT cover
- 12 or more credits taken in a term
- Withdrawn courses – students will be billed for these credits prior to the next term. If a student withdrawing from a course/credits causes them to go below the minimum enrollment levels they will be charged the full cost of tuition for that term
- Undergraduate credits (1000-4000 level courses)*
- Re-taken courses*
*Courses that can count towards your total minimum course registration (9 credits), but will not have their tuition covered:
The above tuition rates are for students enrolled in coursework. For thesis only there is a difference of approx. $210 (resident) and $730 (non-resident) per credit hour.
| Charge |
Notes |
| Base Tuition | Covered by Tuition Benefit Waiver if employed at as an RA or TA at 20 hrs/week (.5 FTE or 100%) |
| International Student Surcharge
$150 |
It is the student’s responsibility to pay this (International Only) |
| Engineering Differential Tuition*
$95.05 per credit |
100% TA: It is the student’s responsibility to pay this
100% RA: Covered by faculty grants 50/50 TA/RA: Only 50% of differential tuition will be covered by faculty grants, the other half will be the student’s responsibility to pay |
| Mandatory Fees | Covered by Tuition Benefit Waiver |
| Thesis Per Hour Tuition | Covered by Tuition Benefit Waiver |
| Non-Thesis Per Hour Tuition | Covered by Tuition Benefit Waiver |
| Late Fee
$75 |
Tuition and fees that have not been paid by the semester add/drop deadline will incur a late fee and result in a hold placed on the student’s account that will need to be resolved prior to registering for credits for the next semester. If the late fee is due to a delay on the part of the department please let the Graduate Advisors know to submit a late fee waiver. |
What is Differential Tuition?
Differential tuition is a charge that Universities add to the base tuition to help cover the costs of programs that are expensive to administer. Course differential tuition fees go towards the listed department to fund curriculum and teaching assistant salaries.
Differential tuition is considered outside of base tuition fees and is covered by the student unless they have been hired by an RA, in which case the student’s PI has budgeted their research funding to cover the student’s differential tuition.
- You're not on payroll - This is important for new students or students who have not worked with the dept. for 6+ months to verify
- We are waiting on your PI to get us billing information to put into the TBP system
- You haven't confirmed/signed the TBP form - check your email
- Your tuition is being paid through a grant/fellowship and have additional steps you need to take
Health Insurance FAQs
Graduate Subsidized Health Insurance Plan (GSHIP)
To qualify, for GSHIP you must be supported as a Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant through tuition benefit.
If you are eligible for the subsidized program, do not complete your own enrollment with the insurance carrier. When you complete the Tuition Benefit Form there will be a place to indicate whether you would like to be enrolled in the Graduate Subsidized Health Insurance Program (GSHIP). If the email from the TBP systems states that you incorrectly enrolled/not enrolled in GSHIP, please contact a Graduate Advisor.
All eligible University of Utah students, graduate and undergraduate, can enroll in a student health insurance plan serviced by United HealthCare Student Resources – see plan description
Students may also enroll in a private plan not offered through the University, although international students who purchase a private plan will be required to complete a waiver process and the coverage purchased must fulfill certain requirements in order for the waiver to be approved. Visit the Student Health Center website or contact Kerry Hill for more information.
Subsidized health insurance includes automatically enrollment in Medical (United), Vision (EMI), and Dental (EMI) health insurance.
100% of the health insurance is covered by the Graduate School.
Students who wish to add dependents to their policy may do so at any time during the open enrollment period. You can begin the enrollment process by clicking on the appropriate Explore Policy link on your school’s UHCSR page. A link to enroll your dependents can also be found in My Account during the open enrollment periods.
For EMI, there is a form for subsidized grads to add dependents. Contact tuitionbenefit@gradschool.utah.edu
Please note:
- The department does not cover dependents.
- Health insurance coverage for dependents is not subsidized.
Grant & Fellowship FAQs
This can be dependent on the particular grant/fellowship, but the first step is filling out the department Tuition Benefit Form correctly so that the graduate advisors are aware that you are receiving a fellowship instead of/in addition to your assistantship role.
Some grants may require you to give additional information such as the contact for university billing. Please see the University Contact section below.
Income Accounting
University of Utah Billing
Income Accounting Webpage
801-581-7344
income@utah.edu – please include name and UNID to speed up process
Graduate School
Graduate Fellowships, Awards, and Benefits
Matthew Plooster
PARK 145
801-581-6020
fellowships@gradschool.utah.edu
Graduate School
Tuition Benefit Program Administrator
LoGan Gowers
PARK 145
801 585-1372
l.gowers@utah.edu