Eligibility

Am I Eligible for a CTS?

• You’re a full-time salaried officer of administration, instruction, the libraries, or research or you’re a member of the United Doctors Association (UDA); and
• You or your spouse/same-sex domestic partner has a dependent child—a natural or adopted son or daughter—who is a candidate for an undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university other than Columbia or Barnard College
• AND, effective January 1, 2009, the dependent child is age 26 or under
• Note: Your dependent’s eligibility is not affected when you are on a leave of absence other than for lack of funding.

NO if:

• You are a visiting officer of instruction or research; or a postdoctoral scholar, researcher, or fellow.

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How Soon Am I Eligible?

It depends on when you’re hired. To receive a CTS for a given term, your hire date has to be on or before:

• September 1 for a Fall Term benefit
• January 1 for a Winter or Spring Term benefit
• May 1 for a Summer Term benefit.

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What If My Employment Status Changes?

Layoff

If you are laid off during a term, a CTS for that term will not be revoked. However, you won’t be eligible for a CTS for any subsequent term. This policy also applies to leaves of absence due to lack of funding.

Retirement

Upon your retirement, your or your spouse’s/same-sex domestic partner’s dependent remains eligible for a CTS under the terms in effect for active officers at the time the application is submitted.

Note: To retire, officers must be 55 years or older and must have completed ten years of full-time service as an officer.

Leave of Absence (other than for lack of funding)

Your dependent’s eligibility for a CTS is not affected when you’re on a leave of absence other than for lack of funding.

Death

If a deceased officer had completed ten years of full-time service at death or retirement, any dependent of the officer or of the officer’s spouse/same-sex domestic partner is eligible for a CTS under the terms in effect for active officers at the time the application is submitted.

If a deceased officer had completed less than ten years of full-time service at death, the dependent may receive a CTS only to complete a degree program started before the Officer’s death.

Resignation, Discharge or Release

If you resign, are discharged or released, or switch from a full-time to part-time appointment during a term, you must refund to Columbia a portion of any CTS benefit received for that term. The accompanying tables tell you what portion of your CTS you’re entitled to retain if you leave in a given month. Note that it doesn’t matter which day of the month marks the end of your eligibility; only the month matters. (Eligibility officially ends at the close of business on the last day of the officer’s active employment with the University.)