Go Back to Educational Assistance Menu
The fee reimbursement program is intended to serve as a means of career (job-related) development as well as individual professional development. The program should enhance the value of the employee to the institution.
2.2.1 Eligibility
A. Any regular part-time or full-time faculty, administrator and professional staff who has been employed for at least six months, may, upon approval of the president, be eligible to participate. Employees with temporary service immediately preceding regular employment shall receive credit for such service if they qualify for leave accrual and longevity adjustments. Requests for tuition or maintenance fee reimbursement shall be submitted at least two weeks prior to enrollment (See Exhibit EB-4). The approval process for this program includes routing through normal University channels, e.g., Department, Chairperson, Dean, Vice President for Academic Affairs, President. Regular part-time employees may receive a pro rata portion of assistance based on percentage of contract for employment.
B. Reimbursements normally will be limited to personnel working toward the doctorate, or other terminal degree. However, requests for aid to pursue degrees below the doctoral level in technical/professional disciplines, and for the retraining of administrative/professional staff will be considered. All reimbursements should be recommended on the basis of the following priorities:
1. Requests from minority/female personnel,
2. Requests from tenured faculty,
3. Requests from tenured/non-tenured personnel of departments in which the institution desires further development.
C. Employees who retire with at least ten (10) years of service maintain eligibility under this program.
D. The status of an employee on the published first day of classes for each term determines eligibility for participation in this program. Any change in status after the first day of classes shall not affect eligibility for that term or the amount of assistance received.
2.2.2 Fee Paid/Type Course Paid/Number of Hours
A. This program is designed to provide maintenance or tuition-related fees for an employee who takes credit courses on a part- time basis while continuing work responsibilities at the home institution.
B. Reimbursement may not exceed actual maintenance or tuition-related fees for a maximum of six credit hours per semester. Tuition-related fees may include maintenance fees, tuition, debt service fees, service charges and incidental fees payable at the time of registration. This maximum does not apply to summer study.
C. Employees enrolled in specialized graduate degree programs or similar concentrated programs for which fees are in excess of the prevailing graduate fee rates shall be reimbursed equivalent to the maximum fee waiver they would receive if they enrolled in any non-concentrated graduate courses for that semester (i.e., six hours times the published graduate hourly fee at the institution attended).
Fees for such programs may not be discounted for individual students, except as provided above.
D. For individuals who wish to attend other than a Tennessee public institution under the faculty/administrative/professional staff tuition maintenance fee reimbursement program, Tennessee Technological University will pay a credit hour amount up to the credit hour amount required to attend Tennessee Technological University. Additionally, per Tennessee Board of Regents Guideline P-130, this program is subject to funds being budgeted and available within the institution.
2.2.3 Payback Provisions
A. The recipient, unless retired, shall be required, after completion of the course or courses, to be employed by the institution for not less than one (1) month of full-time employment for each month of the term of participation in the Faculty/Administrative/ Professional Staff Tuition Reimbursement Program.
B. Participants must complete with passing grades all courses in which they enroll under this program in order to take subsequent courses in this program. A grade of incomplete or withdrawal from a course after the drop/add deadline is not considered as achieving a passing grade. The employee must pay for and successfully complete the same number of semester hours before again being eligible for this program. Exceptions will be made only in cases (1) where a course is failed for valid health reasons or (2) where another substantial reason has been approved by the president or a designee.
2.2.4 When the Participant May Attend
Except for retirees, courses must be scheduled in counsel with supervisors to insure optimum job performance. Courses should be scheduled at times other than during normal work hours unless annual leave or flextime, based on the institution's needs, has been approved.
A. Accounting/Budget Provisions
1. Requests/recommendations for Faculty/ Administrative/Professional Staff Tuition or Maintenance Fee Reimbursement Program shall be submitted to the president prior to each academic term, using the form which appears in Exhibit EB-4. A separate contract is not necessary. If the employee is required to pay fees when due, fees may be paid in accordance with the provisions of the TBR Deferred Payment Guideline B-070 provided a deferred payment plan has been implemented at the institution the employee is attending. It is the obligation of the recipient to repay the fees if course work is not satisfactorily completed.
2. Complete materials supporting each tuition or maintenance fee reimbursement request shall be maintained. Also, each recipient shall be required to provide the president with official grade reports for each course taken.
2.2.5 Where The Participant May Attend
Participants may attend accredited public and private institutions of higher education. Requests for participants will be reimbursed at the current semester hour rate at explained in Employee Benefits, Section 2.2.2.