Human Resources

The Tuition Exchange Program provides employees, their spouses, and dependent children with an opportunity to receive tuition scholarships at institutions other than Fisher College.

Policy

Fisher College participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program ("CIC")

Eligibility

Full-time faculty, staff who are regularly scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week, their legal spouses, and their dependent children are eligible to participate in the Tuition Exchange Program. Tuition exchange scholarship awards are individually governed by the guidelines of each importing/host institution.

Dependent child, for purposes of this policy, is defined as the employee's natural or adopted child or stepchild, up to 25 years of age, over half of whose support was received from the employee, the employee's legal spouse, or the employee's domestic partner. A child of a divorced full-time employee will be considered to be a dependent child of both of the parents if the parents jointly provide more than half of the child's support

To be eligible for a CIC scholarship award, the employee must have been employed by Fisher College for a minimum of one year as of August 1 immediately prior to the academic year for which benefits are being sought.

Multiple members of the same family may receive CIC and it is possible that there will be some overlap in the years they receive these scholarships.

Duration

CIC scholarships are limited to a maximum of eight semesters of continuous undergraduate enrollment (or 4 semesters of graduate enrollment for some CIC schools) or until completion of the degree, whichever comes first.

CIC Scholarships: CIC scholarships may be awarded for full and part-time undergraduate and graduate programs. CIC host institutions determine whether part-time, graduate, and study abroad students are eligible. Eligibility for graduate program benefits is limited to the employee and spouse. A list of CIC participating institutions and their eligibility guidelines can be found at http://www.cic.edu

Questions should be directed to the Liaison Officer at each participating institution.

The College agrees to accept a minimum of 3 incoming CIC scholarship students each year. There is no limit to the number of CIC scholarships that can be awarded for attendance at other schools. Selection of CIC scholarship recipients is done by the host (importing) school. Awards are made on a competitive basis and are not automatic. Because the scholarship awards are not guaranteed, applicants are encouraged to apply to more than one CIC institution.

The CIC scholarships cover full tuition. Scholarship recipients are responsible for all other expenses such as room and board, books, fees, etc.

Admissions and Scholarship Applications: Each fall Fisher College will solicit applications for new CIC scholarships to be awarded for the following academic year. Completed applications must be received in the Human Resources Office by November 20 of each year. All CIC applicants must also go through the regular admissions and financial aid procedures of the host institution. Admission is determined by the host institution. Participation in CIC in no way guarantees admission nor does admission to the participating school guarantee a scholarship.

Fisher College reserves the right to limit use of either CIC scholarships in order to maintain any required ratios that may be required for participation.

Renewal

Students must apply for renewal of CIC benefits each year. Renewal eligibility for the CIC scholarship requires annual re-certification of eligibility by Human Resources, satisfactory academic standing, and compliance with CIC renewal requirements at the awarding exchange institution.

Change In or Termination of Employment

A change in the status of employment (i.e., full-time to part-time) or termination of employment will result in continuation of the scholarship through the end of the academic term in which the event occurs. In the event of the death or permanent disability of the employee, the scholarship may continue until the student has completed eight continuous semesters of course work (four semesters for graduate studies) or he or she is awarded the degree being sought, whichever occurs first.

Compliance

Fisher College is committed to complying with all CIC guidelines and regulations and reserves the right to change this policy at any time in order to so comply.

Appeals

If an employee believes extenuating circumstances prevail regarding this Policy, he or she may submit a written appeal to the Tuition Appeals Committee, composed of the Vice President for Finance and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The situation will be reviewed and a recommendation will be made to Human Resources who will notify the employee of the final decision.

Taxation of Benefits

This Policy is not intended to imply or state the taxable status of benefits covered by the Policy. Benefits under this Policy are taxable to the employee only to the extent directed by the Internal Revenue Code which may be amended from time to time.

Administration

The Tuition Exchange Program is administered by Human Resources and information may be obtained in that office. Employees should contact Human Resources in advance of the student's anticipated matriculation date in order to meet all application deadlines.

The College encourages employees to participate in educational activities that will increase their job proficiencies and develop their full career potential.

All regular full-time employees and full-time faculty are eligible to apply for tuition reimbursement. The maximum reimbursement is $2500 per year (September 1 though August 31). There is a one year waiting period. Employment must be continuous from start to completion of the course and studies must be taken outside normal working hours and not interfere with the employee's work schedule. Approval for tuition reimbursement must be obtained prior to the start of classes.

Any participating employee who resigns or who is discharged prior to completion of the course(s) for which he/she is seeking reimbursement will not be eligible to receive reimbursement under this policy.

Educational assistance is an employee benefit, not a right; therefore, supervisors must approve all requests for tuition reimbursement and review applications in light of job requirements, job performance, job relatedness, nature of course, etc. For example, a billing clerk, enrolling in a degree program for Fashion Design should not qualify for tuition reimbursement. Our interests are primarily in reimbursing employees for courses related to their present job, or the whole environment of jobs at Fisher College. Courses should be, as a minimum, related to either the present job, or to potentially advance in normal career progression at Fisher College.

Fisher College will refund the tuition, up to $1500 annually, for course work properly approved and satisfactorily completed. For the purpose of this policy, "satisfactorily completed" shall ordinarily mean attainment of not less than a grade-level "C" for undergraduate courses; graduate courses will require a grade-level of at least "B". When grades are not available (such as in a pass/fail situation), a student must take the course for credit and obtain written notice that credit for the course has been earned.

Study should take place at state accredited colleges and universities, law schools, business schools, graduate and professional schools.

To apply, please fill out the Tuition Reimbursement Request Form and return to the Office of Human Resources.