Columbia University Home
Columbia Directory
Contact Us PAC Service Center Give Feedback Site Map Search HR
  • left portrait
  • office
  • right portrait
  • logo_benefits.gif
Home > Benefits > Tuition Programs > Tuition Exemption Benefits for Support Staff > Eligibility > When Eligibility Starts

When Eligibility Starts

Support Staff and Spouse or Same-Sex Domestic Partner

A support staff member and his or her spouse/same-sex domestic partner can apply for and receive the Tuition Exemption Benefit as of the staff member’s hire date.

If the hire date falls after a term’s first day of classes, the staff member, or spouse or same-sex domestic partner, receive a pro-rated portion of the normal tuition benefit. Use the tables titled “Pro-rated Tuition Exemption Benefit for Support Staff” below to calculate the available benefit.  

to top

Pro-rated Benefit Available Per Term Based on Hire Date

In points available per term:

HIRE DATE
FULL-TIME SUPPORT STAFF
 PART-TIME SUPPORT STAFF
MEBA, MM&P, SSA, LOCAL 2110, NON-UNION LOCAL 1199
TWU, LOCAL 100
SSA, LOCAL 2110, NON-UNION
LOCAL 1199
TWU, LOCAL 100
On or before the first day of class
7
7
6*
3*
3*
3*
Weeks 1 & 2
6
5
0
3
3
0
Weeks 3 & 4
5
4
0
2
2
0
Weeks 5 & 6
4
3
0
2
2
0
Weeks 7 & 8
3
2
0
1
1
0
Weeks 9 & 10
2
1
0
1
1
0
Weeks 11 & 12
1
0
0
0
0
0
After week 12
0
0
0
0
0
0

* If less than one year of employment. Reimbursable points for these unions change after the first year of employment; see "Eligibility At A Glance" for what is available after the first year.  

Dependent Waiting Periods

The following waiting periods apply before dependent children are eligible for the Tuition Exemption Benefit:

  • Non-union support staff, Local 2110, Local 1199, MEBA, MM&P, or SSA: Dependents are eligible after the support staff member has worked 2 years
  • Local 100 or TWU: Dependents are eligible after the support staff member has worked 4 years.

    to top

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.