Tuition Assistance Benefit policy update allows for earlier registration
A new pilot Tuition Assistance Benefit program will allow eligible faculty and staff earlier course registration for most University of Colorado campus programs.
Taking effect for the fall 2021 semester, the change gives employees greater access to CU’s robust courses and curriculum, provides more time to prepare for the first day, and invests in the university’s workforce.
University of Colorado Staff Council, a systemwide governance group, has long advocated for such an improvement to the popular benefit. CU President Mark Kennedy lauded the council’s efforts.
“These improvements became a reality in large measure due to ongoing advocacy from the University of Colorado Staff Council,” Kennedy said. “We still have progress to make with the tuition benefit and I appreciate that we will have ongoing engagement on the issue.”
Eligible employees may receive nine waived credits for eligible courses at any CU campus per academic year. In the 2019-2020 academic year, 2,562 employees used tuition assistance benefit credits.
Details of the benefit vary by campus. Here’s a breakdown of policy changes:
|
Campus of Registration |
Undergraduate Registration requirements |
Graduate Registration requirements |
Wait List |
|
CU Anschutz |
May register seven (7) calendar days prior to the first day of the semester or the first day of class, whichever is earlier. |
May register seven (7) calendar days prior to the first day of the semester or the first day of class, whichever is earlier. |
Allowed to wait-list. |
|
CU Denver |
Not allowed to register prior to the first day of the course. |
May register seven (7) calendar days prior to the first day of the semester or the first day of class, whichever is earlier. |
Allowed to wait-list. |
|
CU Boulder |
May register seven (7) calendar days prior to the first day of the semester or the first day of class, whichever is earlier. |
Allowed to wait-list. |
|
|
CU Colorado Springs |
May register seven (7) calendar days prior to the first day of the semester or the first day of class, whichever is earlier. |
Allowed to wait-list. |
|
Earlier registration
Faculty and staff using tuition assistance for CU Anschutz, CU Boulder or UCCS undergraduate or graduate courses may register seven days before the start of the semester, or the first day of class, whichever is earlier.
Previously, CU Boulder courses were not open for employee tuition assistance registration until the first day of the semester, and CU Anschutz required registration on the first day of the course. UCCS began allowing registration seven days in advance with the spring 2020 semester. Previously, UCCS adhered to the first-day-of-the-semester rule.
Eligible employees taking graduate courses at CU Denver may register seven days prior to the first day of the semester or the first day of class, whichever is earlier. Undergraduates must still register on the first day of the course.
Wait lists
Faculty and staff attending any CU campus may add themselves to a wait list, if a desired course is full.
Continued Staff Council advocacy
Meeting last week with UCSC leadership, President Kennedy thanked the council for its continued advocacy for the benefit. Staff Council expressed appreciation for these changes, while noting that other tuition benefit issues remain and deserve continued discussion.
Learn more
Dependent tuition assistance policies remain unchanged. Watch for upcoming policy changes to Administrative Policy Statement 5024.
Visit the Tuition Assistance Benefit webpage for usage guidelines, campus deadlines, tax implication details and more.