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| IS - 2054 Tuition Reimbursement/Educational Benefits | Human Resources Release Date: 4/6/01 Revision 1: 3/15/07 |
| Policy | |
Employee Handbook 6.01, Educational Benefits
Because Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) recognizes the changing requirements of the workplace and the desire of employees to advance professionally, the College provides a wide range of professional development opportunities for eligible employees. Tuition reimbursement and tuition waivers provide support for employees who wish to advance their education.
With the approval of the department control agent, a regular full-time employee may use the two types of educational benefits available. A regular part-time employee is eligible to apply for limited educational benefits as indicated below.
2. Types of Educational Benefits – Regular
Full-Time Employees
2.1 CNM Courses - Regular full-time employees are eligible for tuition, registration and distance learning fee waivers for courses taken at CNM. Books, supplies, program fees, and any other fees will not be reimbursed to the employee. Regular full-time employees are eligible for 12 credit hours per year (June 1 – May 31). With supervisor approval, employees may use up to three hours of release time per work week to take CNM courses. A request to take CNM courses may be approved or denied based upon department needs and the effect of the employee’s absence on department operations.
Per the CNM Employee Handbook, Section 6.01, B (5), Waivers are not granted for costs or fees for courses offered as part of special CNM programs including, but not limited to, the Workforce Training Center and Emeritus Academy.
An employee with unsatisfactory performance evaluations may be denied this educational benefit.
2.2 Course Taken Outside of CNM – Regular full-time employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement for courses taken outside of CNM at the rate of 12 credit hours per year (June 1 – May 31). Tuition costs are reimbursed at the actual cost or at the current University of New Mexico tuition rate, whichever is less. This reimbursement does not cover late fees, lab fees, registration fees, books/supplies, or any other non-tuition related fees. Courses must be taken on the employee’s own time.
3. Types of Educational Benefits – Regular
Part-Time Employees
3.1 CNM Courses – Regular part-time employees are eligible for tuition, registration and distance learning fee waivers for courses taken at CNM. The regular part-time employee is eligible for 4 credit hours per year (June 1 – May 31). Books, supplies, program fees, and any other fees will not be reimbursed to the employee.
Per the CNM Employee Handbook, Section 6.01, B (5), Waivers are not granted for costs or fees for courses offered as part of special CNM programs including, but not limited to, the Workforce Training Center and Emeritus Academy.
3.2 Courses Taken Outside of CNM - Part-time employees are not eligible for tuition reimbursement for courses taken outside of CNM.
4.
Tuition Waiver for CNM Courses
4.1 Eligible employees complete a Tuition Waiver form, if requesting tuition and registration fee waivers for courses taken at CNM, and submit to her/his supervisor, dean or division assistant vice president/president for approval prior to class registration.
An employee cannot request a waiver for the same course more than once. If an employee drops a waived course after the drop deadline, CNM will not honor a waiver for that class again.
Tuition Reimbursement for Institutions Outside of CNM
4.2 An eligible employee must complete an Application and Approval for Professional Development Tuition Reimbursement form and submit to his/her supervisor to apply for reimbursement. Parts I and II must be approved by the employee's supervisor prior to class registration.
The department will retain a copy of the Tuition Waiver form, and/or the Application and Approval for Professional Development Tuition Reimbursement form for departmental files, and forward the original to the appropriate Vice President for the Division. The department and employee are responsible for monitoring the use of tuition reimbursement/waivers to ensure that the limits are not exceeded. If it is determined that tuition paid to an employee under this program exceeds the limits of this benefit, the employee will be billed for any excess tuition/fees paid by CNM.
Reimbursement for tuition is made through the Business Office three times per year in July, October, and February. Proof of completion of the course (a grade report) and receipts indicating payment must be provided. Application for payment is made upon successful completion of the course. Successful completion is defined as one of the following grades:
- C or better for A, B, C, D, F courses
- P for Pass/Fail courses
- CR for Credit/No-Credit courses
- PR for Graduate Thesis/Dissertation work
Because the reimbursement check does not accompany a paycheck, it is forwarded to the representative in the division office of the Vice President. The division representative forwards the check to the employee in his or her respective department.
The value of tuition benefits covered by this administrative directive may be taxable to the employee.
Tuition reimbursement does not cover late fees or any other non-tuition related expenses. The costs are the responsibility of the employee.
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| Forms: |
Tuition Waiver Application and Approval for Professional Development Tuition Reimbursement |
| Support Materials: | Not Applicable |
| Reference Materials: | Employee Handbook 6.01, Educational Benefits |