Effective Date: November 1, 2014 (revised)
Eligible employees may take courses for personal enrichment, for continuing education, or for credits toward a degree. Dependents of eligible employees may also be eligible for tuition benefits. This policy outlines the benefit provided and the process for applying for the tuition benefit.
Procedure:
Tuition Waiver for Full-time Employees
Eligible full-time employees receive a waiver of tuition for undergraduate and graduate courses taken at Trinity. Courses may be taken for credit or may be audited with appropriate permission. This benefit is available at the start of the first semester coinciding with or following employment.
Additionally, eligible full-time employees receive a waiver of tuition through the Greater Hartford Consortium for Higher Education. Consortium institutions include Charter Oak State College, Goodwin College, Hartford Seminary, Rensselaer at Hartford, St. Joseph College, and the University of Hartford. Employees may take one credit-bearing course on a space-available basis per semester. Regular entrance requirements must be met and courses must be scheduled outside of working hours. This benefit does not pertain to courses taken in pursuit of a doctoral degree and is subject to change by the Board of Directors of the Consortium.
Tuition Waiver for Part-Time Employees
Part-time employees who are contracted for 0.5 FTE or more, and work either full year or academic year, are eligible for a waiver of tuition for one course at Trinity each semester. This benefit is available at the start of the first semester coinciding with or following employment.
Other Information about Tuition Waivers
All regular entrance requirements must be met.
Students are responsible for course expenses such as books, lab fees, and registration fees. Should course enrollment be limited, an employee may be requested to give up his or her place to accommodate tuition-paying students.
Eligible employees may enroll in one course per semester during working hours with the permission of their supervisor. They are required to make up the time lost.
Tuition Reimbursement for Work-Related Courses at Other Schools
Tuition assistance is available to full-time employees who are employed either for the full-year or for the academic year, provided they have completed one year of service in an eligible classification. Tuition is reimbursed up to $1,000.00 per semester, limited to two semesters each calendar year. Courses must be offered by an accredited university or college with the expectation of improvement in knowledge and/or skill related to the employee’s present job. In order to qualify for reimbursement, the courses must be unavailable at Trinity College or at a Consortium institution. They must be taken outside of working hours.
Applications for tuition benefits are obtained in advance from Human Resources. A course description, tuition bill, and any other relevant information must accompany the application which must be authorized by the supervisor. Completed applications are forwarded to Human Resources Department for review; if eligibility criteria are satisfied, the Director will grant provisional approval pending receipt of the final grade.
When the course is completed, a copy of the official transcript is sent to the Human Resources Department. A grade of at least a C (on an A to F scale), or its equivalent, must be attained in order to qualify for the benefit. A check made out to the employee who has taken the course is processed within thirty days of receipt of the final grade.
Non-accredited workshops, training, or courses related to skill upgrading do not qualify for reimbursement under the tuition reimbursement program. Supervisors may fund attendance at such sessions through budgeted departmental allocations for staff training.
If an employee receives tuition benefits from another source, the amount received is deducted from the allocation provided by Trinity College.
Education Benefits for Spouses and Dependent Children at Trinity
Spouses and eligible dependent children either of full-time, twelve-month employees, or full-time academic year employees, receive tuition benefits for courses taken at Trinity.
“Dependent” means a spouse or qualifying child until the end of the academic year in which the child turns 24 as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.
Tuition, One Course
Spouses and eligible dependent children receive tuition remission for one graduate or undergraduate course per semester at Trinity. Courses may be taken for credit or may be audited with appropriate permission. This benefit is available at the start of the semester coinciding with or following full-time employment.
Full Tuition, Undergraduate Program
Spouses and eligible dependent children of individuals who have been continuously employed by the College on a full-time, twelve-month basis on or before December 31, 1982, are eligible for a waiver of 100% of full regular tuition as defined for undergraduate students. Eligibility is limited to four full-time academic years or until a baccalaureate degree is earned, whichever occurs first.
Half Tuition, Undergraduate Program
Spouses and eligible dependent children of individuals hired on or after January 1, 1983, who have been continuously employed by the College either on a full-time, twelve-month basis or a full-time, academic year basis for a minimum of five (5) years are eligible for a waiver of 50% of full regular tuition as defined for undergraduate students. The benefit is available at the start of the first semester coinciding with or following completion of the service requirement. Eligibility is limited to four full-time academic years or until a baccalaureate degree is earned, whichever occurs first.
Other Information about Educational and Tuition Benefits
The dependent tuition benefit is limited to two regular semesters or three regular trimesters per academic year. No additional benefit is available for intersession coursework, e.g., summer courses.
Tuition at Trinity is remitted for credit bearing courses in the regular undergraduate degree program, for the Individualized Degree Program, and for the Rome Program during the academic year. Tuition is not remitted for non-credit or per-capita courses, or special programs such as the Rome summer program. To receive the benefit for the Individualized Degree Program, the Application for Tuition Remission should be completed and submitted prior to the start of the semester, but will be accepted no later than the last day of the drop/add period of the semester in which the waiver is being requested.
Benefits are available for spouses and natural-born or adopted children of eligible employees who are claimed as dependents on the 1040 Income Tax form. Certification of eligibility is required.
Equivalent years of service are not counted for part-time employees nor others not meeting the specific service requirements.
Students are responsible for all expenses associated with courses such as books, lab fees, and registration fees.
Human Resources will verify eligibility for the benefit before the start of each semester. Tuition waiver forms are available in the Human Resources Department.
Employees leaving employment with the College prior to the end of a semester will receive a prorated tuition bill.
Tuition-waiver policies are subject to change by the Board of Trustees of Trinity College.
IRS requirements may require the College to tax employees and dependents taking courses on the value of such courses.
Faculty members should consult the Faculty Manual for further information regarding dependent eligibility and benefit provisions.
Education Benefits for Retirees and Their Spouses at Trinity
Retirees of the College who are at least 60 years of age at the time of retirement and have at least 10 years of benefit-eligible employment may receive a waiver of one course per semester at the College on a space available basis with the permission of the instructor. Spouses also may take advantage of this benefit. Tuition is not remitted for non-credit or per capita courses, and pertains specifically to courses offered on the Hartford campus only. All retirees and spouses are responsible for any expenses associated with courses such as books, lab, and registration fees.
Human Resources will verify eligibility for the benefit before the start of each semester. Tuition waiver forms are available in the Human Resources Department.
See the following policies for additional relevant information:
4.05 Termination of Employment 62
8.14 Benefits for Retirees 287