Education Benefits

Full time employee hired before September 1, 2004:

• 15 credits per year at TC or
• 12 credits per year at Columbia University
• From September 1 through August 31
• May not enroll for more than 6 credits during each of Fall and Spring semesters and no more than 3 credits in either of the summer terms.
• Class schedule should not interfere with operations. If a class is scheduled during work hours, it must be approved by the Department Head.

Full-time employee hired on or after September 1, 2004 is eligible for the tuition exemption after 6 months of service.

• 12 credits per year at TC or
• 9 credits per year at Columbia University
• From September 1 through August 31
• May not enroll for more than 6 credits during each of Fall and Spring semesters and no more than 3 credits in either of the summer terms.
• Class schedule should not interfere with operations. If a class is scheduled during work hours, it must be approved by the Department Head.

Tuition exemption is granted only during the semester of employment and may not be deferred nor applied retroactively.

If the student is employed for less than a full term, tuition exemption will be prorated.

All courses are eligible under tuition exemption except for fee-based courses and restricted courses listed in the Office of the Registrar.

The unused portion of the employee's tuition exemption during any term may be transferred to the spouse. The terms for spouse are the same as employee.

Employee must have five (5) or more consecutive years of full time service for spouse to use the unused portion of the employee’s tuition exemption.

Full-time employee hired prior to January 18, 1979 and who has completed five (5) or more consecutive years of full time service at TC is eligible to receive from TC tuition assistance for each dependent child admitted to a degree program in an accredited institution of higher education on the following basis:

• Full tuition for each dependent child admitted to undergraduate and graduate degree programs at one of the schools of Columbia University.
• Full tuition for a dependent child admitted to a degree program at TC.
• Tuition for each dependent child admitted to an undergraduate degree program at an accredited non-Columbia institution equal to the cost of the tuition for each academic year or 35% of the basic tuition fee at Columbia University.

Full-time employee hired on or after January 18, 1979 and who has completed five (5) or more consecutive years of full time service with TC is eligible to receive from TC partial tuition assistance for each dependent child formally admitted to an undergraduate degree program at Columbia or at any other non-Columbia accredited institution.

• Tuition for each dependent child admitted to an undergraduate degree program at an accredited non-Columbia institution equal to the cost of the tuition for each academic year or 35% of the basic tuition fee at Columbia University.
• If the student is attending school on a part time basis the total amount of the tuition scholarship awarded may not exceed the total dollar amount for which the student would be eligible on a full-time basis over a 4 year period.

Full-time employee who was hired on or after January 18, 1979 and who has completed five (5) or more consecutive years of full time service at TC is eligible to receive from TC:

• Full tuition for a dependent child enrolled in a graduate degree program at TC.
• All courses are eligible except restricted courses at TC and at Columbia University.

"Dependent Child" includes a natural child, a legally adopted child and a dependent stepchild who lives in the same household as the eligible employee and who may be taken as a dependent of the eligible employee pursuant to the provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

Application for Degree/Trade/Certificate Program