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HUMAN
RESOURCE POLICY MANUAL
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Purpose:
The purpose of this policy is to provide information about and establish guidelines to administer the University's educational benefits and tuition grant policy.Policy:
It is the policy of The University of Alabama to offer educational benefits, special training opportunities and tuition grants to eligible faculty and staff.
The tuition grant program is concerned only with the payment of tuition. Admission to the University must be obtained in accordance with usual academic rules.
This tuition benefit applies to The University of Alabama only. The University does not have a reciprocity agreement with The University of Alabama at Birmingham or The University of Alabama at Huntsville.
Course related fees, such as laboratory or engineering equipment fees, etc. are not covered by this policy and must be paid by the student.
ELIGIBILITY FOR EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
All regular (not temporary) full-time and part-time faculty and staff are eligible to receive educational benefits upon employment.
Spouses and dependents of eligible faculty and staff are eligible to receive tuition grants after six months of employment of their sponsor.
All University retirees and the spouses and dependents of retirees maintain eligibility for this benefit if they were eligible on the last day of the retiree's employment.
TUITION GRANTS FOR ELIGIBLE FACULTY AND STAFF
The tuition grant provides eligible full-time faculty and staff full (100%) tuition reimbursement for up to three (3) hours during the fall and spring semesters and up to six (6) hours during the summer term at the standard on-campus in-state tuition rate. All other hours taken will be at one-half (50%) tuition reimbursement at the standard on-campus in-state tuition rate. The applicable rate is based on the classification of the enrolled student; i.e. undergraduate, graduate, law or medical.
Eligible part-time
employees will receive a prorated amount of tuition grant based upon their
FTE (full-time equivalency). For example: an eligible part-time employee
of .50 FTE would be eligible for one-half (50%) tuition reimbursement
for up to three (3) credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and
for one-half (50%) reimbursement for up to six (6) credit hours in the
summer term, and for one fourth (25%) reimbursement for all other credit
hours at the standard on-campus in-state tuition rate. The applicable
rate is based on the enrolled student's classification; i.e. undergraduate,
graduate, law or medical.
Higher tuition rates for special enrollment programs do not entitle faculty
or staff to amounts above the standard on-campus in-state tuition rate.
Eligible enrollment periods are the fall and spring semesters and the summer term. The faculty or staff member must be in an eligible employment status through the first day of class to receive a tuition grant for the term.
TUITION GRANTS FOR DEPENDENTS OF ELIGIBLE FACULTY AND STAFF
After eligible faculty and staff have been employed six (6) continuous months, spouses and dependent children may receive 50% tuition grants at the standard on-campus in-state tuition rate for eligible courses. The applicable rate is based on the classification of the enrolled student; i.e. undergraduate, graduate, law or medical. Higher tuition rates for special enrollment programs do not entitle the spouse or dependent to amounts above the standard on-campus in-state tuition rate. If the sponsoring faculty or staff is a regular part-time employee this benefit is prorated based on the faculty or staff's FTE.
Dependent children must be unmarried and under age 26 on the first day of classes.
Only one tuition grant per student will be awarded, even if there is more than one eligible faculty or staff member in their family unit.
PROCEDURES
Eligible faculty and staff who wish to apply for tuition grants for themselves or for their dependents should complete and submit a tuition grant application to the Benefits Office at least one month prior to the beginning of the academic year. Applications are available in the Benefits Office. Only one application per student is necessary for the academic year. The academic year begins with the fall semester and ends with the summer term.
Tuition grants that are approved for students who are later determined to be ineligible will be recalled and appropriate charges will be billed to the student's account. Faculty and staff are responsible for notifying the Benefits Office of any information that would affect eligibility for the tuition grant.
Eligible faculty, staff and dependents will receive the tuition grant as a credit applied to the enrolled student's account maintained by the Office of Student Receivables.
The tuition grant will be granted, if eligibility criteria are met, regardless of any other source of funds (e.g. State of Alabama P.A.C.T., scholarships, federal financial aid, etc.). These funds may also be credited to the student's account. Excess credit will be available for refund to the student.
For student financial aid purposes, the tuition grant is considered a financial resource that must be deducted from estimated financial need in accordance with Federal regulations. Contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office if additional information is needed.
Tuition grants may
have withholding tax implications. The Payroll office can provide
up-to-date information concerning this possible tax liability.
CLASS ATTENDANCE FOR CREDIT COURSES DURING WORKING HOURS
In order for an employee to attend a class during working hours, prior approval by the appropriate administrative official must be given. Such approval is limited to three (3) hours per week with the understanding that the time off does not interfere with the daily operation of the work unit. Time off to attend a class during working hours may be approved as comp time or annual leave or the time off may be made up.
RELEASE TIME FOR NON-CREDIT COURSES/PROGRAMS
The Department of Human Resources occasionally offers specific training that affords opportunities for career development of employees. This training is normally conducted during regular working hours and, if the supervisor approves attendance, employees are not required to make up the time.
To view and fill out the tuition benefit form, click here.
To print this policy
from an Adobe pdf click
here.
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