Educational assistance for employees and retirees
Seventy-five percent of the educational fee is waived for any eligible employee registering for not more than six credit hours of University of Missouri college level credit courses per semester (three credit hours in the summer session). Activity fees, books, and other expenses are the responsibility of the participating employee. HR-303 covers the educational assistance policy in detail and several frequently asked questions are listed below.
FAQs for active employees
(If you are retired, please also see FAQs for retired employees)
Q: Who is eligible for educational assistance?
A: The following groups are:
- Benefit eligible administrative, service and support staff who have completed six months of continuous employment immediately prior to class registration
- Benefit eligible academic, teaching and research employees
- University retirees (Please see FAQs for retired employees below)
Note: Employees on unpaid leaves of absence, including those in layoff status, are not eligible for educational assistance.
Q: Are there any exceptions to the eligibility requirements?
A: For administrative, service and support staff, the completion of six months of continuous employment may be waived, with supervisory approval, if the course is considered a required part of the employee's job.
Q: Is successful completion of the probationary period required in order to qualify for educational assistance?
A: Policy requires that the employee be benefit-eligible (“regular”) and have completed six months of continuous employment immediately prior to registration. Successful completion of the probationary period is not required.
Q: Do the monies allocated under educational assistance satisfy the requirement for financial enrollment?
A: No. Please contact Cashiers for additional information on the requirements for financial enrollment.
Q: What happens if the employee transfers from benefit-eligible to non-benefit-eligible while enrolled under educational assistance?
A: The employee continues to be eligible for educational assistance as long as they remain an employee for the duration of the course(s) they were enrolled in when they moved to non benefit-eligible status. Continuation of eligibility applies only to the semester when the transition occurs. .
Q: What are the specific benefits of the program for active employees?
A: 75 percent of the educational fee for MU college level credit courses is waived for a maximum of 15 credit hours per academic year (six hours for Fall and Spring semesters and three hours for Summer Semester).
Q: Does educational assistance include miscellaneous fees?
A: No. Employees must pay for books, lab fees, computer fees, student activity and other special fees.
Q: What fees apply when an employee audits a course?
A: The entire educational fee is waived. However, employees who audit an Independent Study or MU Direct course must still pay 25 percent of the educational fees.
Q: Is the benefit the same for both undergraduate and graduate course credit?
A: The 75 percent education fee coverage is the same for undergraduate and graduate level courses.
Q: Are Educational benefits Taxable?
A: Effective January 1, 2002, the tax on graduate level courses has been abolished. Undergraduate or graduate level courses are tax-free.
Q: Can a department cover the employee's portion of the educational fees?
A: If the course is job related, the department has the discretion to pay the portion of the fees not covered by educational assistance.
Q: Are courses from other colleges covered?
A: No. Educational assistance applies only to the University of Missouri college credit courses.
Q: Are courses offered through Independent Study and MU Direct?
A: Yes.
Q: How should time off to attend class be handled?
A: The following options are available with supervisory approval:
- Schedule the courses during non-working hours
- Make up lost time (for non-exempt employees this must occur during the same work week to avoid overtime)
- Take an adjustment in pay
- Charge the time to vacation
- However, when the department requires an employee to take a job-related course, class attendance is considered part of the regular work schedule
Q: Can a supervisor refuse to permit an employee to use educational assistance?
A: Educational assistance is a staff benefit. Departments may not refuse to pay educational assistance because of departmental funding. However, it is important to note that class attendance does not take priority over regular job duties. If the requirements of the job conflict with class attendance, the department can refuse to approve educational assistance.
Q: What happens if the employee is terminated or quits prior to the end of the course?
A: HR Policy stipulates that an employee must remain a University employee through the end of the course to maintain eligibility for educational assistance. The student is responsible for payment of the full amount of the course fee, less any applicable refund.
Q: What happens if the employee drops or withdraws from a class?
A: When a course is dropped ON or AFTER the first day of class, the employee is responsible for payment of the full amount of the course fees, less any applicable refund.
Q: How do you determine whether an employee has registered for the maximum number of allowable courses for the semester when the courses include Independent Study or MU Direct?
A: For Independent Study courses, HRS will look at the semester of actual enrollment. HRS will not assess whether the coursework from the previous semester has been completed.
Q: Is the 75 percent tuition waiver charged to the department?
A: Educational assistance is part of the flat fee charged by Faculty and Staff Benefits to departments for every benefit eligible employee. It will not be charged to departments separately for those who take courses.
Q: What is the process for getting the educational assistance benefit?
A: The process is as follows:
- Complete the educational assistance program questionnaire and authorization form (completion instructions).
- Submit the form to your immediate supervisor for approval.
Note: Documentation is required for courses required by the department when the employee has not completed six months of employment. - HRS accepts electronic approvals for educational assistance forms. Employees may complete the form and forward to their supervisor and/or fiscal officer as an attachment.Approved forms may be forwarded to muhrs@missouri.edu. HRS will not accept forms directly from employees via e-mail. Hard copies may be taken in person or mailed to HRS at 201 S. Seventh St., Room 130, Heinkel Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211.
Note: It is up to the department to ensure that correct approvals are on the form. - HRS will verify and approve the request if appropriate, and then forward it to the Cashiers Office at 15 Jesse Hall.
- Apply for admission to the University of Missouri.
- Register for classes
Q: Who does an employee call with questions regarding educational assistance?
A: For questions regarding university policy, please contact HRS at 573-882-7701.
Q: Who does an employee call with questions regarding refunds?
A: For questions regarding billing and refunds, please contact the Cashiers Office at 573-882-3097 or call 573-884-CASH.
FAQs for retired employees
Q: Who is eligible for educational assistance?
A: All former employees who have retired under an approved MU retirement program.
Q: What are the benefits of the program for retirees?
A: If class space is available, 100 percent of the educational and student activity fee is waived for any college level credit course. There is no limitation to the number of hours, except those established by the college or school for full-time students.
Q: Does educational assistance include miscellaneous fees?
A: No. Retirees must pay for books, lab fees, computer fees, and other special fees. Note: The student activity fee is not waived for the Center for Independent Study or Extension Teaching.
Q: Are courses from other colleges covered?
A: No. educational assistance applies only to the MU college credit courses.
Q: Are courses offered through Independent Study and Extension covered?
A: No.
Q: Is it possible to audit a course?
A: Yes. No registration or admission procedures are required, unless you would like the university to record the course on your permanent record.
Q: May a person on Disability Retirement participate?
A: Yes.
Q: Who is responsible for paying the educational assistance for retirees?
A: Retiree's tuition waiver is paid out of the general operating funds for educational assistance.
Q: What is the process for getting my educational assistance benefit?
A:
- Complete the educational assistance program questionnaire and authorization form (completion instructions).
- Obtain signature approval from the Faculty and Staff Benefits department at 573-882-2146.
- Apply for admission to the University of Missouri.
- Register for classes.
Q: Who does a retiree call with questions regarding educational assistance?
A: For questions regarding educational assistance, please contact HRS at 573-882-7701.