
Eligibility
Am I Eligible for a PTS?How Soon Am I Eligible?
What If My Employment Status Changes?
Am I Eligible for a PTS?
YES if:
- 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 natural or adopted son or daughter who is enrolled in grades K–8 at a private school.
NO if:
- You’re a visiting officer of instruction or research, or you’re a postdoctoral researcher, scholar, or fellow; or
- The child is in nursery school, pre-kindergarten, or grades 9 through 12. Note: A PTS will cover only one year of kindergarten.
Other requirements:
- Both you and the child must live within the five boroughs of New York City; and
- The school must be located within the five boroughs of New York City.
Note: Eligibility is not affected when the officer is on a leave of absence (other than for lack of funding), provided the child still attends school within the five boroughs.
How Soon Am I Eligible?
You can receive a PTS as soon as you are benefits eligible, though you will be only partially covered for a school year already underway. The table below illustrates the portion of the PTS you are entitled to receive if you are newly hired. Note: The day of the month does not have an impact on your benefit.
| NEW HIRES |
|
| Month of Hire |
Proportion of Scholarship you Receive |
| September |
100% |
| October |
90% |
| November |
80% |
| December |
70% |
| January |
60% |
| February |
50% |
| March |
40% |
| April |
30% |
| May |
20% |
| June |
10% |
What If My Employment Status Changes?
Layoff
If you are laid off during a school year, a PTS for that school year will not be revoked. However, you won’t be eligible for a PTS for any subsequent year. 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 PTS 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.
Leave of Absence (other than for lack of funding)
A child’s eligibility for a PTS is not affected when you’re on a leave of absence other than for lack of funding, provided that the child continues to attend school within the five boroughs.
Death
If a deceased officer had completed ten years of full-time service at the time of death or retirement, any child of the officer or of the officer’s spouse or same-sex domestic partner is eligible for a PTS 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 the time of death, the child may receive a PTS only to complete a school year 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 PTS benefit received for that school year. The table at left tells you the portion of the PTS 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.)
| Officer's Resignation, Discharge or Release, OR Child's Departure from School Listed on Application | |
| Month of Separation |
Proportion of Scholarship you Receive |
| September |
10% |
| October |
20% |
| November |
30% |
| December |
40% |
| January |
50% |
| February |
60% |
| March |
70% |
| April |
80% |
| May |
90% |
| June |
100% |
