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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
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. Listed below are the various university statuses not eligible for this program:

Part-time
Temp with benefits
Retiree
Position Leave
University Leave
Family Medical Leave
Termination

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.

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: You are eligible to take up to eight (8) credits per semester and receive a tuition waiver. You are also eligible for two semesters of more than eight (8) credits, of which these semesters are considered full time to the Employee Degree Program. While the pursuit of an undergraduate degree remains non-taxable, the value of coursework leading toward a graduate degree may be considered taxable income until December 31, 2001.  As of January 1, 2002, graduate coursework will be non-taxable up to the maximum of $5,250 for the calendar year. Please refer questions regarding current taxation of this benefit to benefits@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.