Education Benefits

View as
PDF

Tuition Remission for Employees

Tuition Remission Benefits for Dependents

Cash Award Scholarship Plan for Dependent Children

Ithaca College's educational benefit program consists of three types of benefits: (I) tuition remission for employees taking courses at Ithaca College; (II) tuition remission for dependent children, and spouses or qualified domestic partners attending Ithaca College; and (III) cash awards for dependent children attending another college or university. These benefits are applicable to tuition only and do not apply to room, board or any fees.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for educational benefits, an employee must be employed in a benefits-eligible position and meet the service and other requirements specified under each benefit. For the purpose of eligibility for this Plan, if you are a faculty member, you will be defined as benefits-eligible if you teach at least seven (7) credit hours both semesters or a total of at least fourteen (14) credit hours during any academic year (August - May). If you are not in a faculty position, you will be defined as benefits-eligible if you work 1,000 hours or more per fiscal year (June - May).

APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES

Application forms, which are available on the Office of Human Resources website or directly from the Office of Human Resources, must be completed by the employee, signed by the appropriate supervisor, dean, or chairperson (as applicable), and returned to the Office of Human Resources by the relevant deadline indicated below. Attention should also be paid to the frequency with which the forms must be competed.

• Tuition Remission for Employees: one month prior to the start of the semester the benefit is to be used. A completed Staff/Faculty Tuition Remission Application must be submitted each semester.
• Tuition Remission for Dependents: June 1 of the academic year in which study will take place, November 1 for spring admission. A completed Dependent Tuition Remission Application must be submitted each academic year.
• Cash Award: June 1 for the Fall semester and November 1 for the Spring semester. A completed Cash Award Application must be submitted for each semester. Proof of enrollment such as a certificate of enrollment and/or a bill for the relevant semester, etc. must be submitted with the Cash Award Application.

I. TUITION REMISSION FOR EMPLOYEES

Ithaca College offers eligible employees the opportunity to take courses that enhance work performance, promote self-improvement, or provide qualifications for career advancement. Tuition remission covers the balance due of tuition charged less any scholarships or grants creditable toward tuition. All other costs (e.g., registration fees, applied music fees) are the employee's responsibility.

ELIGIBILITY

Tuition remission benefits for undergraduate and graduate courses are available to any benefits-eligible employee (defined in the Eligibility Requirements section) who has successfully completed the probationary period by the first day of classes. If the employee's status changes during the semester, continuation of the benefit may be affected.

In some circumstances, graduate tuition may be regarded as taxable income. For additional information, contact the Office of Human Resources.

Faculty members may apply for tuition remission for courses that are outside their discipline. Approval from the dean of their school is required.

GOVERNING GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS

During the Regular Academic Year
Certain restrictions apply to an employee's Tuition Remission benefit. The maximum number of credit hours granted for each eligible employee may not exceed 8 per semester. An employee should not be absent from his or her job for more than three hours per week and is subject to supervisory approval. Classes must be scheduled with first consideration for the work demands of the department, and all classes must be approved in advance by the supervisor.

All classes, including internships and independent studies, are covered during the regular academic year.

During the Summer Period and Winter Break
Employees may not enroll for more than 8 credit hours in summer sessions I and II combined. In addition, they should not be absent from their jobs for more than three hours per week, subject to supervisory approval.

Tuition Remission benefits are not applicable for most courses from which faculty compensation is derived as a percentage of revenue generated, i.e., for independent studies, tutorials, internships, performance study instruction, or any other type of individualized study. Students enrolled in a course of study that requires individualized study during the summer period or the winter break should contact the Office of Human Resources before applying for any Tuition Remission benefits. An employee who wishes to take an independent study that is not covered under the Tuition Remission benefit would have to pay the normal per-hour tuition rate. In addition, Tuition Remission benefits can be applied only to undergraduate courses in which at least seven tuition-paying students have enrolled or to graduate courses in which at least four tuition-paying students have enrolled.

AUDITING OF COURSES

The customary fee to audit a course is covered under the Tuition Remission benefit for benefits-eligible employees once they have successfully completed their probationary period. Employees are responsible for paying any fees.

EFFECT ON BENEFIT WHEN ACTIVE EMPLOYMENT CEASES

If an employee who is receiving tuition remission benefits terminates employment for reasons other than retirement, death, or eligibility for long term disability benefits, Ithaca College reserves the right to provide benefits only until the date of termination. There will be no cost to the former employee if the course is dropped by the termination date.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS

Applicants should obtain course registration information from the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies or the Registrar’s Office, depending on their enrollment status. They should then fill out the “Staff/Faculty Tuition Remission Application”, available from the Office of Human Resources, have their supervisor, chairperson, or dean sign it, and return the form to the Office of Human Resources at least one month before the start of each semester.

II. TUITION REMISSION BENEFITS FOR DEPENDENTS

The spouse or qualified domestic partner and/or dependent children of eligible faculty and staff members are eligible to Tuition Remission benefits upon their admission to Ithaca College as a candidate for their first undergraduate four-year degree. Tuition Remission covers the balance due of the tuition charged for courses taken less any scholarships and grants creditable toward tuition. The employee or dependent are responsible for paying all other fees.

ELIGIBILITY

An eligible employee may apply for tuition remission benefits for a spouse or qualified domestic partner, and for natural, legally adopted, or legally dependent children who are under age 25 at the start of the semester or term. Dependents must apply and be accepted for admission through the College's standard admission process. Eligibility for this benefit has no bearing on the admission decision. As Ithaca College has become more selective, there are cases in which dependents are not accepted for admission.

In order for an employee to receive this benefit, she/he must complete three years of benefits-eligible service (defined in the Eligibility Requirements section of the Introduction) prior to the semester during which their dependent wishes to enroll.

GOVERNING GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS

Tuition Remission benefits are granted only for the number of credit hours necessary to meet given degree requirements (usually 120 credit hours). Each eligible person receives a bank of credit hours equivalent to the number necessary to complete the degree requirements in the major field of study, unless the Ithaca College Cash Award benefit was previously used. In that case, the available bank of credits will be either the number of credit hours remaining after application of the Cash Award benefit (see the section Coordination with Cash Awards) or the number of credit hours necessary to complete degree requirements, whichever is lower.

During The Summer Period and Winter Break
Tuition remission benefits are not applicable for most courses from which faculty compensation is derived as a percentage of revenue generated, i.e., for independent studies, tutorials, internships, performance study instruction, or any other type of individualized study. Employees whose dependents are enrolled in a course of study that requires individualized study during the summer period or winter break should contact the Office of Human Resources before applying for any Tuition Remission benefits. A dependent who wishes to take an independent study that is not covered under the Tuition Remission benefit is responsible for paying the normal per-hour tuition rate in effect at that time.

In addition, tuition remission benefits can be applied only to courses in which at least seven tuition-paying students have enrolled.

Note: All classes, including internships and independent studies, are covered during the regular academic year.

ADMINISTRATION OF BENEFITS

Full-time, paying students may enroll for 12 - 18 credit hours per semester at the regular tuition rate. Similarly, full-time students eligible for Tuition Remission benefits may enroll for 12 - 18 credit hours and will use 15 hours of the benefit. If they enroll for more than 18 hours, the benefit is calculated as 15 hours plus the number of hours over 18. The benefit for part-time students (i.e., those taking fewer than 12 credits) is the actual number of credit hours taken.

It is important to note that Tuition Remission benefits are used on the basis of credit hours taken, not the number of hours successfully completed. For example, if a student attended the College for eight semesters on a full-time basis but only received 12 hours of credit each semester, he or she would have exhausted the bank of 120 hours of credits (eight semesters at 15 hours each) yet only have accumulated 96 hours (eight semesters at 12 hours each). The employee or student would then have to pay the tuition costs necessary to complete the degree. On the other hand, a full-time student could obtain as many as 144 credits (eight semesters at 18 hours each) if the maximum number of credit hours were taken each semester and successfully completed.

Most students, with reasonable planning, will average around 15 credits a semester and end up with at least 120 credits, making it possible for them to graduate in eight semesters with no tuition costs to themselves, as in the following example.

It is important to pay attention to how the credits are accounted for. In the previous example, if the student had taken 15 credits instead of 17 during the fourth semester, he or she would have had only 119 credits at the end of eight semesters and would need to pay for 1 credit in order to graduate.

Combining Full- and Part-time Study
It becomes even more important to pay attention to how Tuition Remission is used when a student combines full- and part-time course loads (e.g., takes classes during a summer session or winter break) or takes over 18 credits during one semester. For instance:

In this example the student took classes for seven semesters, one winter session and two summer sessions and ended up with 120 credits at no tuition cost. However, if 6 credits had been taken during the first winter session, then for the last semester the student would have needed 14 credits to graduate but would have had only 12 credits left in the Tuition Remission bank.

Remember: (1) Part-time credits decrease the number of semesters that can be taken at no charge, but they do not necessarily make it impossible to take the required number of credits. (2) Taking over 18 credits in one semester uses up extra credits. For example, a student taking 19 credits will be charged for 16 credits (the 15 for full-time enrollment plus 1.)

Students using the Tuition Remission benefit should also be aware that credit hours are still charged if a course is dropped after the official add-drop period or if the course is failed. For example, if a student is taking 12 credit hours and drops a 3-credit course late or fails it, he or she is still charged for full-time study, with the credits deducted accordingly.

If a student is enrolled in a program which requires more than 120 credits, please contact the Office of Human Reousrces.

TUITION REMISSION FOR THE SUMMER PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS

Tuition Remission is available for the tuition portion of the Summer Program for High School Sophomores and Juniors. Dependent children wishing to take this special program must meet the eligibility requirement as stated. Any Tuition Remission benefit used for this program will reduce the maximum Tuition Remission benefit. For further information, please contact the Office of Human Resources.

COORDINATION WITH CASH AWARDS

Students transferring to Ithaca College after receiving Cash Awards (see section on Cash Award Scholarship Plan for Dependent Children) will have adjustments made to their Tuition Remission benefits. Their available bank of credit hours will be reduced by 1 credit hour for each $33.33 of Cash Awards used at another institution. For example, if a student has received $2,000 in Cash Awards, the Tuition Remission benefit at Ithaca College is reduced by 60 credit hours ($2,000/$33.33 = 60). (If the student's parents are both eligible Ithaca College employees, $66.66 will be used.) A student may buy back up to two semesters of Cash Award if transferring to Ithaca College and additional credit hours are needed to fulfill the degree requirement.

EFFECT OF PART-TIME STUDY ON THE CASH AWARD BENEFIT

The Cash Award benefit will be pro-rated for part-time study at another institution, not to exceed the maximum benefit. For example, if a student is enrolled in 6 credit hours, then the Cash Award benefit would be calculated as follows: 6 credit hours X $33.33/ credit hour = $199.98.

DUAL-DEGREE PROGRAMS

Currently, Ithaca College’s Tuition Remission benefit for dependents covers only the student’s first undergraduate degree. For students enrolled in dual degree programs, Tuition Remission will only apply to the undergraduate portion of their degree, or their first undergraduate degree. Graduate classes in Masters or Doctorate Degree programs will not be covered under Tuition Remission benefits. Students in the 3-2 Physics-Engineering and 3-2 Chemistry-Engineering programs will be eligible to receive three years of Tuition Remission benefits at Ithaca College, and 2 semesters of Cash Awards benefits for taking classes at the other institution. The student would be responsible for paying for any credit hours in excess of those allowed under the Tuition Remission benefit.

COORDINATION WITH OTHER FINANCIAL AID

The maximum Tuition Remission benefit is the applicable tuition charge, less any tuition assistance specifically designated as an award to be used for tuition purposes and/or based on tuition charges, whether awarded or eligible to be awarded, to a qualifying student. That assistance may include scholarships and grants from state or federal sources, from Ithaca College, or educational benefits through other employers.

For example, if the full time course load tuition for one semester is $10,000, and the recipient is eligible to receive $2,000 from a NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grant, and is also the recipient of a College merit-based scholarship of $2,500 for the same period, then the tuition remission benefit would be reduced by $4,500. Therefore, the total tuition remission benefit would be $5,500 for the semester.

A tuition remission eligible student is required to apply for the New York State (NYS) Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) as well as any other state aid programs specified for tuition purposes that he/she may qualify for or apply for a waiver. A student who does not believe he/she is eligible for NYS TAP or other forms of financial assistance must demonstrate proof of ineligibility by submitting a letter requesting a waiver by June 1st to the College's Director of Student Financial Services. A copy of parent and student NYS taxes for the calendar year prior to the academic year Tuition Remission benefits are being requested must accompany the waiver appeal. Once a waiver is granted, subsequent documentation is not necessary unless the College believes that the student may be eligible for a NYS aid program.

A student is responsible for being aware of the deadlines for applying for financial aid as well as the Tuition Remission benefit in order to avoid late charges. Additionally, a student who fails to apply for the appropriate outside assistance or demonstrate proof of ineligibility will have his/her Tuition Remission benefit reduced by the amount the College estimates the outside assistance would have been or in the absence of the ability to determine an estimate, the minimum amount of the award(s).

EFFECT ON BENEFIT WHEN ACTIVE EMPLOYMENT CEASES

Death, Total Disability, Retirement
Tuition remission benefits are not necessarily terminated with the end of an employee's service. If an employee dies or receives benefits through the College's long-term disability plan, before completing 10 years of benefits-eligible service, dependents currently enrolled at the College will continue to receive their tuition remission benefits.

If an employee dies, retires, or receives benefits through the College's long-term disability plan after completing at least 10 years of benefits-eligible service, all of the employees dependents, whether currently enrolled or not, will remain eligible for benefits.

Termination for Other Reasons
If employment is terminated for reasons other than death, eligibility to receive benefits through Ithaca College's long-term disability plan, or retirement, tuition remission benefits for an employee's spouse, qualified domestic partner and/or dependent children will cease on the last day of work. The College reserves the right to charge the appropriate prorated tuition for any time that remains between the date of termination and the end of the semester or term.

III. CASH AWARD SCHOLARSHIP PLAN FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN

ELIGIBILITY

The Cash Award benefit is for legally dependent children of eligible employees. The child must be under the age of 25 and be pursuing their first baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution other than Ithaca College. To be eligible for this benefit, employees must have completed three years of benefits-eligible service (defined in the Eligibility Requirements section of the Introduction) by the first day of the semester for which a Cash Award benefit is requested.

GOVERNING GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS

An employee’s maximum Cash Award benefit is $500 per semester or summer term, up to a maximum lifetime benefit of $4,000 per child. The Cash Award benefit is paid directly to the institution for tuition only; it does not cover any other fees or costs.

If both parents are benefits-eligible Ithaca College employees, the maximum benefit is $1,000 per semester, up to a total lifetime benefit of $8,000 per child. The total Cash Award benefit cannot exceed the actual tuition charges incurred.

COORDINATION WITH TUITION REMISSION BENEFIT

Students who transfer to another institution after receiving tuition remission benefits at Ithaca College will have their cash award benefit adjusted. Each credit hour of Ithaca College tuition remission will reduce the maximum cash award benefit by $33.33 ($66.66 if both parents are eligible for the benefit). For example, if a student enrolls for 6 credit hours at Ithaca College in the summer and receives tuition remission, the maximum cash award benefit is reduced by $200 (6 x $33.33).

COORDINATION WITH TUITION ASSISTANCE THROUGH OTHER EMPLOYERS

Ithaca College tuition remission benefits are distributed after all other benefits are awarded. Therefore, if an employee's legal dependent is entitled to tuition assistance benefits through another employer, those benefits must be applied first.

EFFECT ON BENEFIT WHEN ACTIVE EMPLOYMENT CEASES

Death, Total Disability, Retirement
If an employee retires, dies, or receives benefits through the College's long-term disability plan any dependents who are currently enrolled at another institution will continue to receive the cash award benefit in effect at the time.

Termination for Other Reasons
If an employee terminates employment for reasons other than retirement, death, or eligibility to receive benefits under Ithaca College's long-term disability plan, the College reserves the right to prorate the cash award benefit for that semester.

The College reserves the right to amend or terminate its benefit program at any time.