Dear Colleagues:

Open Enrollment for Tuition Reimbursement (courses outside of UMW)  for courses starting January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022, has begun and will end on Thursday, October 28, 2021. The complete policy and procedures are posted online but some important and key provisions are listed below. You may contact Denise Frye at dfrye2@umw.edu with any questions.

Program Purpose:

Eligible employees enrolled in a degree seeking program at other accredited institutions of higher education will be provided with tuition reimbursement up to a specified amount for courses after completion of the course and submission of proof of grade.

Eligibility:

This policy applies to classified, wage, administrative professional faculty, and other non-faculty part-time employees. Graduate Assistants who are required to be enrolled in UMW graduate programs are not eligible for this program. Eligible employees must be continuously employed by the University for a minimum of one year prior to their application for reimbursement and job performance must be satisfactory or at the “contributor” level. Tuition up to the approved amount will be reimbursed upon receipt of proof of completion of approved courses.  Employees who receive tuition reimbursement must remain employed at the University of Mary Washington during the term of the courses taken and for one year after receipt of tuition reimbursement for those courses(s) or be subject to terms for repayment as described in the written agreement.

Important Information to Know:

• The open enrollment period is for courses taken January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022 (The open enrollment period for courses taken July 1 to December 31 will be in April 1 – April 21)
• The program’s funding will be limited to $50,000 per calendar year; $25,000 will be budgeted for each period  January-June and July-December.
• Each eligible employee may receive up to $2,500 in assistance each period. The amount of assistance will vary depending on the number of requests and the available funds for that period e.g. where $25,000.00 is available, 20 requests may each be awarded  $1,250.
• A Tuition Reimbursement Request form is required to be submitted to Human Resources during open enrollment for courses starting January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022. (Link to the form is on page 3 of the policy and forms may be scanned to jhudgins@umw.edu or delivered to Human Resources Rm 209)
• The Finance office will notify the employee the Tuition Reimbursement Request Form has been approved within 2 weeks of the open enrollment timeframe closing and request the following:

1. a) Proof of enrollment  in a degree granting program
2. b) Schedule of the institution’s fees
3. c) Proof of payment

• The assistance awarded will then be reimbursed to the employee upon submission of evidence of course completion with a minimum grade of “C” or “PASS” if a Pass/Fail course. Submission of grade must be within 30 days of semester end. The employee will receive reimbursement within 10 business days of grade submission to the Finance Office.

Thank you,

Denise M. Frye
Benefits Manager
Office of Human Resources
University of Mary Washington