Hi Everyone
Today I want to talk about Tuition Assistance. This benefit is part of your Career Development funds. You can receive up to $1800.00 to apply toward any class or course that leads to a Degree, Certificate or a License.
Tuition Assistance from ICD Field Policy Manual
1. Standards applicable to the use of Career Development funds for tuition assistance are as follows:
a. The tuition assistance program will be separate from existing, contractually obligated reimbursement programs.
b. The use of such funds will be limited to tuition costs, the costs of mandated books, and the payment of course-related fees such as required lab fees. Career Development funds will not be used to pay for such things as monetary incentives, parking fees, non-required books, or subscriptions to periodicals. In addition, the use of Career Development funds for the purchase of such items as personal computers, sets of tools, firearms or kits, engine analyzers, or any engine repair equipment, even if such equipment is associated with a given course, is prohibited. Neither may Career Development Program funds be used for equipment rental fees, such as aircraft, boat, welding, scuba gear rental, Travel or Lodging.
c. Tuition assistance funds may be used for either degree-seeking or non-degree seeking courses. However, classes or courses with the primary purpose of recreation or personal enjoyment, rather than career or educational development (e.g., Weight Watchers, golf, and martial arts), are not eligible for tuition assistance funding.
d. There will be annual limits on the amount of funds available for tuition assistance and on the amount of tuition assistance that will be payable on behalf of a represented worker over a specified period of time.
e. A total of $1,800.00 per year per eligible worker for credit or non-credit courses provided by schools listed in the current “Accredited Institutions of Post-Secondary Education” or by private occupational/vocational schools recognized by state boards of vocational education. For states without state boards of vocational education, and for other exceptions, the Institute for Career Development will make a determination as to the eligibility of a provider not included in the current “Accredited Institutions of Post-Secondary Education” to receive tuition assistance funds.
2. The annual limit of $1,800.00 per eligible worker is not cumulative. Individuals may not carry forward unused portions of their tuition assistance for use in later years.
3. With the exception of correspondence courses, tuition assistance funds will be payable to the institution at the commencement of a course.
4. Efforts should be made to present courses at the work site in order to take advantage of any efficiencies associated with group rather than individual participation in these courses.
5. Reimbursement will be provided in accordance with the aforementioned standards for courses beginning after the effective date of the respective LJC’s Career Development Program financing.
6. If an employee receives tuition reimbursement from any other source, no duplication of payment will be made to that employee.
Combining Tuition Assistance and Customized Course Funds Also Known as Issuance 14
The objective of this policy is to explore what happens when individuals with clear career goals are allowed to accelerate progress through more flexible access to program funds. The Local Joint Committee (LJC) would approve and monitor combined usage of both Tuition Assistance (TA) and Customized Course (CC) funds either for a degree program or for a certificate program. For example, given current limits on TA and CC spending, up to $3,800 would be made available for qualifying individuals to apply to either tuition bills or to customized course expenditures in a given year.
The LJC is responsible for fulfilling all of the following four exception guidelines when allowing an individual to combine TA and CC funds:
1. In some instances it may be appropriate for a participating Steelworker to petition the LJC to spend over the limits of his/her TA and CC yearly allotment in order to complete a specified course of study leading to certification or a degree which is recognized by an accredited national body.
2. The LJC will maintain spending limits in compliance with established Governing Board policy and will consider extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis when reviewing a Steelworker’s petition to exceed his/her TA/CC yearly allotment.
3. If a Steelworker seeks to combine his/her TA and CC funds in accordance with this policy, LJCs would be required to (a) secure written approval from the lCD national office on a case by-case basis, and (b) maintain an Educational Development Plan (EDP) on file at the site.
An added requirement by the Leon Lynch LJC is all requests for Vouchers for Tuition Assistance MUST be done in person. NO FAXES OR E-MAIL ATTACHMENTS. All receipts presented for Tuition and Books reimbursement MUST be from the School or Book Store with dates, description, cost before a reimbursement can be made. No hand written receipts.
Winter Catalog 2012
www.ihlearningcenter.org
Until Next week
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