Employee Educational Scholarship Program (EESP)

Purpose of ProgramThe program is designed to provide eligible Florida Atlantic University (FAU) employees the opportunity to enhance their job skills and further their education by attending classes at FAU during their employment tenure. The program also will provide a University benefit that will aid in the recruitment and retention of FAU employees. Eligible full-time employees at FAU may enroll for up to six (6) credit hours of graduate or undergraduate instruction* per term (Fall, Spring and Summer) under the Employee Educational Scholarship Program. *Qualified employees who take courses (including internet courses) offered at the Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale (Tower), Davie, Commercial, SeaTech, MacArthur or Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie) campuses are eligible for the Employee Educational Scholarship Program. Contract courses or other special programs are not eligible for this scholarship. Employees will be responsible for the additional cost and fees associated with such programs as the Executive MBA, International MBA, FEEDS and E-College.

Implementation Date: Beginning Fall Semester, 2001

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a full-time employee (1.0 FTE) on the day before classes begin for the semester.
• Employees assigned to Temporary/Visiting appointments are not eligible to participate in the Employee Educational Scholarship Program.
• SP employees must have completed six months of full-time, continuous, satisfactory, and permanent service with Florida Atlantic University. Law Enforcement Officers serving a twelve-month probationary period will also be eligible to participate in the EESP after six months of full-time, continuous, satisfactory service with FAU. Employees' performance must be at the "Achieves" or "Satisfactory" level on the day before classes begin.
• Faculty and Administrative, Managerial and Professional (AMP) employees must have completed six months of continuous service with FAU and be in good standing with the University on the day before classes begin.
• Employee's employment record must be discipline free for a minimum of six months prior to first day of classes.
• Enrollment is contingent upon supervisory approval and verification of eligibility status.
• Participation in the program is to be conducted on the employee's own time. Employees are encouraged to take classes during off-duty hours. However, if that is not possible, supervisors may approve leave (annual leave, accrued compensatory leave, or leave without pay) or adjust the employee's established work schedule, as long as this does not conflict with departmental operations.

Other Important Requirements:

• Employees enrolled in undergraduate courses must receive a grade of C or better for courses taken in order to avoid being charged for the course(s).
• Employees enrolled in graduate courses must receive a grade of B or better for courses taken in order to avoid being charged for the course(s).
• Employees will be responsible for paying for any course(s) they Withdraw or Drop after the official
• FEE Petition Process Form

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Certify that the employee meets all requirements of the Employee Educational Scholarship Program.
• Certify that the approved course(s): (a) maintains or improves the employee's job related skills; (b) meets the expressed requirements of the employer or are imposed by the University as a condition of employment; (c) were taken to qualify the employee for a career change; or, (d) were taken to meet the minimum educational requirements of the employee's current position.

Tax Information

For courses beginning on or after January 1, 2002, the payment may be for either undergraduate or graduate-level courses. The payment does not have to be work related courses. If your employer pays more than $5,250 for educational benefits for you during the year, you must generally pay tax on the amount over $5,250. For more information log on to: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch11.html#d0e10825.

Please note that the IRS has final approval authority in these matters.

Enrollment Procedures for Eligible Full-Time FAU Employees:

1. Prior to registration, the eligible University employee shall obtain the required Employee Educational Scholarship Program form from the University's Department of Personnel Services, Room 106, Administration Building, Boca Raton campus. The forms also are available at each campus (administrative offices) and on the Personnel Services web site (www.fau.edu/admin/fiscal/personnel). This form is to be completed, necessary approvals are to be obtained, and the form is to be returned to FAU's Department of Personnel Services (ADM 106) for verification and final approval on or before the last day of Drop/Add.
2. All approved Employee Educational Scholarship Program forms will be forwarded to the University Cashier's Office (University Controller) by Personnel Services. It is the employee's responsibility to process the registration form and pay any additional fees due at the Cashier's Office by the published deadline.
3. Admission, counseling, registration, fee payment, drop/add, and procedures for the employee will be the same as for other students as outlined in the University Catalog and the Schedule of Courses for each term except the following:
   1. Prior to fee payment, the eligible employee shall verify approval and processing of the Employee Educational Scholarship Program form with the University Cashier's Office. The EESP form may be used in lieu of fee payment for up to six (6) credit hours. The employee must pay for registration credits in excess of six (6) credit hours.
   2. When different course levels are involved, the employer shall pay the credit hours with the highest cost. The employer shall pay the following fees (for up to six credit hours) in accordance with the existing University fee schedule:

      Matriculation Fees
      Building Fees
      Capital Improvement Fees
      Student Financial Aid Fees
      Activity and Service Fees
      Athletic Fees
      Student Health Fees

      The employee shall pay any additional fees including, but not limited to:

      Application Fees
      Photo I.D. Fees
      Late Registration Fees
      Late Payment Fees
      Material and Supply Fees

4. Academic counseling, testing, learning resources, Student Health Services, and all other facilities of the University will be available to employees registering for courses on the same basis as to other students.

Questions regarding FAU's Employee Educational Scholarship Program

All questions regarding this program may be directed to the following contacts:

Benefits Office

Marie Mascaro, Sr. Assistant Director
(561) 297-3074
Email: mmascaro@fau.edu

Pierre Michel, Benefit & Retirements Manager
(561) 297-3071
Email: pmichel@fau.edu

ActionLine
(561) 297-2030
Email: actionline@fau.edu

University Cashier's Office
Linda Sancilio
(561) 297-2419
E-mail: lsancil@fau.edu