HR Policies: 6.10.4
Employee Degree Program
Subject: Encouraging Employee Growth
Number: 6.10.4
Issued: 10/1/80
Revised: 6/30/98
Purpose
Staff of the university may undertake formal Cornell University
degree programs to improve their effectiveness as Cornell staff
. Programs must be mutually agreed upon by the staff member and
department management. The degree program to be pursued must be
job-related or Cornell career-related. Both the staff member and
department head must explain in the application and in supporting
documents how the proposed program will benefit both the staff member
and the university.
Eligibility
After one year of regular full-time service at Cornell, all regular full-time
nonacademic staff , nonprofessorial 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 the Employee
Degree Program.
Part-time nonacademic staff are not eligible for this program.
Admission
A staff member interested in pursuing a Cornell University degree program
should begin by contacting the local hr representative or designee or
Benefit Services in the Office
of Human Resources.
The staff member must apply to and be accepted by a school or college as a regular degree candidate (special student status will not be considered).
The staff member must secure the endorsement of the immediate supervisor, the supervisor's manager, and the dean or executive officer.
The staff member must forward a completed Degree Program for Cornell University Staff Application form to the Benefit Services Office in the Office of Human Resources at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester.
Tuition and Fees
For academic programs undertaken in any Cornell division, the university
shall relieve the staff member of payment of the general fee and
residual tuition costs, after applying any support available through
the New York State Tuition Assistance Program.
Employee Degree participants are not eligible for tuition-aid reimbursement while receiving benefits under the Employee Degree program.
Part-Time Study
Staff accepted into the program who maintain full-time employment
status may take a maximum of 8 credit hours of coursework per semester
through Continuing Education
& Summer Sessions, Extramural Study, and Related Programs.
Release Time
The staff member's immediate supervisor will assist a staff member
in scheduling release time for coursework, giving due consideration
to the personnel requirements of the department and its effective
operation. The scheduling of release time is subject to modification
by the department head based on the department's on-going operating
requirements.
Release time granted for coursework will be recorded as leave with pay.
Full-Time Study
Staff accepted into this program are allowed a maximum of
two academic terms at no less than half-time employment (20 hours)
to enroll as full-time students (in order to fulfill any residency
requirements for the degree). During this period, the staff member
will receive prorated pay.
Fringe Benefits
During the period of half-time employment, the staff member's benefits
are continued in full except for salary-dependent programs (such
as life insurance) where coverage is prorated. Vacation and sick
leave accrue on a prorated basis and the staff member remains eligible
for regular paid holidays. Affected staff should clarify their
benefit status prior to commencing their part-time staff member
status with Benefit Services in the Office of Human Resources.
Coursework
The number of credit hours of coursework an individual may pursue
while in the role of full-time student/half-time staff member is
limited only by the policies of the college or department in which
the student is enrolled.
The staff member must meet all course requirements, including exams and written assignments. All homework must be done on the staff member's own time.
Coursework pursued while in full-time study/half-time employment must be taken at times other than scheduled work hours.
Administration
All applications are subject to the approval of Benefit Services.
The university reserves the right to modify or discontinue this
program at any time.
Should the program be modified or discontinued, the privileges of staff enrolled under the program will continue until the end of the period originally projected for completion of the degree program or withdrawal from the program.
Contact the local hr representative or designee or Benefit Services (607) 255-3936 in the Office of Human Resources for more information.