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Employee Degree Program

This program was designed to allow interested employees the opportunity to pursue a Cornell University degree, both undergraduate and graduate. The degree program must be mutually agreed upon by you and your supervisor and must be current job-related or Cornell career-related.

• Eligibility
• General Information
• Tuition Payment
• Release Time
• Employee Benefits
• Employee Degree Application Forms: Graduate ; Undergraduate
• Tax Information for Graduate Employee Degree Program

Eligibility
Full-time employees: after one year of regular, full-time service at Cornell, all regular full-time, nonacademic employees, non-professorial academic staff members who do not hold voting status on any college, university, or graduate faculty, and ROTC military personnel with a minimum of one year of service may be considered for acceptance into this program. Eligibility must be met on or before the first day of classes for the semester in which you are applying for funding. Employees of the County Cooperative Extension offices are not eligible for this benefit.

Part-time employees: employees hired into part-time positions are not eligible to use the benefit. Full-time employees who have accrued one year of full-time service and move to a part-time position (no less than 20 hours per week) may continue to receive the benefit at the full rate with no proration of the benefit.

Layoff: EDP participants who are placed on layoff status will be allowed to continue participation in EDP while on layoff. Employees who establish the one-year waiting period prior to being placed on layoff may apply to be admitted to the university and receive funding under EDP during their layoff. Taxes for graduate study will continue to be applicable.

Short Tem Disability, Workers' Compensation or Long Term Disability: employees who establish the one-year waiting period prior to being placed on short term disability, workers' compensation or long term disability may continue participation in the Employee Degree Program or apply to the university for acceptance into an undergraduate or graduate degree with funding from the Employee Degree Program. Taxes for graduate study will continue to be applicable.

The following university statuses not eligible for this program:
Temp with benefits
Retiree
Position Leave
University Leave
Family Medical Leave
Termination

General Information: You must apply to and be accepted by a school or college as a regular degree candidate as special student status is not a consideration. Prior to the application process, you will need to have the endorsement of your immediate supervisor, your supervisor’s manager, and the dean or executive officer. It is, therefore, imperative that you discuss your educational plans before applying. After being accepted to a college, you will need to submit the completed degree application form to Benefit Services at least three (3) weeks prior to the beginning of the semester. You cannot use Tuition Aid reimbursement while receiving benefits under the Employee Degree Program.

Tuition payment:
Undergraduate: You are eligible to enroll in up to eight (8) credits per semester and receive a tuition waiver. While participating in the EDP, you are also eligible to enroll in more than eight (8) credits during any two semesters. During these two semesters, you may reduce your work status to no less than part time. This reduction in hours is from the first day of classes to the last day of classes during that semester. You will need to consult with your supervisor prior to enrolling for classes each semester. Tuition for undergraduate EDP is not taxable.
Graduate: You are eligible to enroll in up to eight (8) credits per semester. While participating in the EDP, you are also eligible to enroll in more than eight (8) credits during any two semesters. During these two semesters, you may reduce your work status to no less than part time. This reduction in hours is from the first day of classes to the last day of classes during that semester. You will need to consult with your supervisor prior to enrolling for classes each semester. Taxation: tuition for graduate coursework is considered non-taxable up to $5,250 for each calendar year. This federal legislation is in effect until December 31, 2010. In order to calculate your tuition value, EDP uses the full time semester tuition for your program and divides it by 12. This value is multiplied by the number of credits you register for during that semester. Amounts that exceed the $5,250 tuition value will be forwarded to Payroll and additional tax withholdings will apply based on your tax-withholding card (W-4 Federal; IT 2104 New York State) on file in Payroll. Contact Payroll at (607) 255-8201 if you have general tax withholding questions or email: rb244@cornell.edu

Release Time: Your immediate supervisor will have the responsibility to schedule release time for coursework. Consideration must be given to the personnel requirements and the effective operation of the department. Although release time granted for coursework is recorded as leave with pay, this is subject to modification by the department head based on the department’s on-going operating requirements.

Employee Benefits: Should you enroll for more than eight (8) credits during a semester, you may reduce your workload to below 35 hours per week but not less than 20 hours. Your benefits continue in full except for those salary-dependent programs (e.g., basic life, retirement contributions and, possibly, TDA contributions). Vacation and sick leave accrue on a prorated basis and you remain eligible for regular paid holidays. Employees should confirm their benefit status with Benefit Services at 255-3936.