Tuition Benefit (Reimbursement) Program

IMPORTANT NEWS!

The Tuition Benefit application process will go ONLINE in January, 2010 (tentatively). Employees will apply for the tuition benefit using the Employee Self-Service system. Eventually, paper applications will no longer be accepted. For now, please continue to apply for tuition reimbursement as usual. In the coming months, more information about this transition will be posted on this page.
Please be sure you know how to login to the Self-Service website! Go to: https://cmil.mycmsc.com/ and click on “HRMS PRD 8.8” to login.

TUITION BENEFIT (REIMBURSEMENT) PROGRAM

The City provides a tuition benefit program to help employees do their present job more effectively and to prepare for promotional opportunities within City government. The amount of tuition available depends upon the particular union or employee group to which an employee belongs. Most full-time employees are eligible for up to $1200 per calendar year for tuition and required textbooks (the amount varies by bargaining unit and employee group). Most employees are eligible to begin using the tuition benefit for classes that start immediately after their employment begins.

Certain bargaining units are also eligible for equipment/supply reimbursement and/or membership dues reimbursement (see Amounts Chart below).

• Account Balance: To request your current Tuition Benefit account balance (be sure to include your full name and department) click here to send an email message or call 286-3650.
• Administrative Guidelines: click here (pdf)
• Amounts Chart: click here (pdf) -- Revised 10/21/09
• Questions? Click here to send an email message or call 286-3650.
• What the tuition Benefit does not cover: click here (pdf)

Employees must remain in service for a 6-month period after the successful completion date of approved courses, seminars or conferences or the amount will be deducted from the employee’s final paycheck.  You will not receive reimbursement if you leave prior to completion.  Employees of Local 215, MPFFA, must remain in service for a 1-year period.

 Exceptions are:  Retirements, transfers to MPS, positions eliminated due to budget cuts, or tuition reimbursement used by employee at the department’s request.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING RECEIPTS:

1. A valid receipt must be submitted with any course, seminar, convention, conference, membership dues, and license/certification reimbursement request.
2.  The receipt MUST show that payment was made, as well as the AMOUNT PAID. 
   • Examples of valid receipts include:
     • cash register receipt
     • cashier's check
     • money order
     • credit card statement (must show the charge on the statement)
     • canceled check (a copy of BOTH sides is required).  OR, you may submit  copy of the front of the check (not a check carbon) and a copy of the bank statement that shows the check number has cleared).  Otherwise, you should contact the school or organization and request that they provide you with a paid receipt or statement (*see below). 
     • *official receipt or tuition statement provided by the school or organization (must be on official letterhead)
     • If you paid by cash, you must still provide a paid receipt or letter from the school or organization.
   • Examples of unacceptable receipts include:
     • check carbons
     • invoices or registration forms requesting payment, or showing a balance is due.
     • receipts that are not legible.
3. Failure to provide a valid, paid receipt will result in the application being returned to you which will delay your reimbursement.

Please always download an application from this page each time you apply for reimbursement so that you are always using the most up-to-date version.

ER75 (R. 11/08)

Use this application only for courses that are MORE than 3 weeks in length and ALL college-level courses: 

• MS Word - type DIRECTLY on this version
• Adobe PDF - print and complete this version by hand

ER75-D (R. 06/09)

Use this application for conferences, conventions, seminars and non college-level courses of LESS than 3 weeks in length.   For ALL college-level courses, regardless of the length, use the ER-75 application.

• MS Word - type DIRECTLY on this version
• Adobe PDF - print and complete this version by hand

ER75-A (R. 11/08)

Use this application for Membership Dues reimbursement (not all unions are eligible):

• MS Word - type DIRECTLY on this version
• Adobe PDF - print and complete this version by hand

ER75-C (R. 04/09)

Use this application for Certification and/or License Fee reimbursement.  NOTE:  Only Management Pay Plan employees are eligible:

• MS Word - type DIRECTLY on this version
• Adobe PDF - print and complete this version by hand