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Home > Benefits > Tuition Programs > Tuition Exemption Benefits for Support Staff

Tuition Exemption Benefits for Support Staff

Effective March 2007

For Support Staff of the University

Includes non-union support staff and members of Local 100, 1199 SEIU/Morningside, Local 2110, MEBA, MM&P, SSA, and TWU

The Tuition Exemption Benefit Program pays tuition costs, depending on your eligibility, for undergraduate and graduate courses at Columbia University, Barnard College, and Teachers College.

Note that this is not a reimbursement or remission program; your tuition is simply exempted. However, you are responsible for course fees, textbooks and residence fees, where applicable. 

Please read this policy carefully before you apply for the benefit. This material will help you be fully prepared.

Columbia University reserves the right to change or terminate the Tuition Exemption Benefit Program at any time, consistent with its obligations under the National Labor Relations Act. Please note that this program does not cover courses taken outside Columbia University, Barnard or Teachers College. Consult your collective bargaining agreement for more information about tuition.

Eligibility

A person on the payroll as a member of the full-time or part-time support staff is eligible for the Tuition Exemption Benefit.

The Benefit

In general, the benefit for support staff applies during the academic year (September-May) to undergraduate and graduate classes at Columbia University, Barnard College and Teachers College. Eligible spouses, same-sex domestic partners, and dependents may receive the unused portion of a support staff member’s benefit, but only at Columbia.

Procedures: How to Apply

Effective Summer 2007, you must complete the application process as soon as you register; this means your Tuition Exemption and other materials must be submitted to the Student Service Center within five (5) business days after your school's deadline for dropping courses.

Taxation

On what can the Support Staff member be taxed?
The HR/Benefits website is intended only to provide information for the guidance of Columbia University Officers, staff and union employees. The writers of the content have exercised their best efforts to ensure accuracy of the information, but accuracy is not guaranteed. If there are any discrepancies between the information on the website, verbal representations and the Plan documents, the Plan documents will always govern. The information is subject to change from time to time, and the University reserves the right to change or terminate these Plans at any time. The information contained on the website is not intended to replace the plan documents, nor is the information in any way intended to imply a contract.