31.99.01.R0.02 Employee Scholarship Program

Effective: November 12, 2003

Supplements System Policy: System Regulation 31.99.01

1. ELIGIBILITY

1.1. The Employee Scholarship Program is available to all budgeted full-time employees. For scholarship purposes, budgeted employee means that the employee is listed by name in the approved operating budget. New employees applying for the Scholarship must be employed by Texas A&M University-Commerce for six months prior to the start of classes.

1.2. Texas A&M University System employees of the Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas Agricultural Experiment Station agencies with assigned headquarters in certain approved counties are eligible to participate in the A&M-Commerce Employee Scholarship Program. The approved counties are Collin, Delta, Fannin, Hopkins , Hunt, Lamar, Kaufman, Rains, Rockwall and Van Zandt. New employees of these two agencies must be employed by the agencies for six months prior to the start of classes for eligibility.

2.CREDIT HOURS AND TUITION

The University will provide an institutional scholarship to employees for up to six (6) credit hours each semester for 100% of the cost of tuition. In accordance with System Regulation 31.99.01, up to four credit hours per semester may be taken during normal working hours.

•  All fees will be paid by the employee.

•  The Scholarship may be used for either undergraduate or graduate courses.

•  The Scholarship is tax-free to employees.

•  Audit, extension, or correspondence courses do not qualify for Scholarship.

•  Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

 

3.REQUIREMENTS TO ENROLL IN COURSES DURING WORK HOURS

The Texas A&M University System Regulation 31.99.01, Employees Registering as Students, allows employees to take classes during work hours, provided that class attendance does not interfere with the employing department's accomplishment of work. The following apply to A&M-Commerce:

•  An employee may attend classes during the normal workday provided prior approval is obtained from the department head.

•  Employees taking courses must work the full number of hours for which they are paid or they will be required to report leave time. Leave time includes vacation time, comp time, or leave without pay.

 

4.APPLICATION AND PAYMENT

4.1. The Employee Scholarship Application is available online at http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/hreeo/training/emp_sch_prog.htm Completed applications must be submitted to the Payroll Office for eligibility certification prior to the 12 th class day.

4.2A completed and approved application is presented to Financial Services in lieu of tuition payment. Employees will be issued a promissory note for a loan that covers the costs of tuition. The promissory note must be signed by the employee and returned to Financial Services for the scholarship to be in effect. If the employee completes the course with a grade of "C" or better, the promissory note will be paid with an Employee Scholarship. If the course is dropped or the employee receives a grade below "C," the employee will be billed for repayment of the loan.

References : Procedure H31.06

Contact for Interpretation: Office of Human Resources