Beginning in summer 2008, university staff members
will be eligible for reimbursement of
tuition for part-time undergraduate courses at colleges or
universities other than Johns Hopkins.
The new offering is a response, in part, to changes in
the university's own undergraduate course
offerings for part-time students.
Undergraduate programs offered formerly by the
university's School of Professional Studies in
Business and Education were discontinued or restructured
when SPSBE was reorganized into two
separate schools. The Carey
Business School and the School of Education
both began operations Jan.
1, 2007.
Effective in June 2008, the Carey Business School will
offer only two upper-division (junior and
senior years only) undergraduate programs, a bachelor of
science in business and management and a
bachelor of science in information systems. It will no
longer offer freshman and sophomore (100- and
200-level) courses. The interdisciplinary studies
undergraduate degree program has been phased out.
Heidi Conway, senior director for benefits services
and HR shared services, said that these
changes created a gap in undergraduate education
opportunities for Johns Hopkins staff.
"We needed to close this gap for our employees who are
trying to advance their education and
create opportunities for themselves," Conway said. "We are
dedicated to helping our employees, and
we feel this new reimbursement policy fills an important
need and addresses their concerns." Even
before SPSBE's reorganization, Conway said, some staff
members had expressed an interest in taking
courses elsewhere, either because certain disciplines
weren't offered at Johns Hopkins or because
other institutions were located closer to their homes.
Effective July 1, 2008, all full-time staff members
will be eligible to use the tuition
reimbursement plan to attend part-time undergraduate
programs outside the university. The new plan
does not apply to graduate studies at other schools.
It will provide 100 percent reimbursement of tuition
(not of fees) up to $2,000 per calendar
year. This reimbursement will be available to employees
taking part-time freshman- through senior-
level under- graduate credit courses at degree-granting
accredited colleges and universities.
Reimbursement will be available only for successfully
completed credit courses. Employees,
therefore, will have to pay tuition upfront and apply for
reimbursement after the course is completed.
Reimbursement will not be made for noncredit courses.
Reimbursement forms will be available on the Benefits
Services Web site
(hrnt.jhu.edu/
benefits/index.cfm) starting in July. The forms must be
submitted with
appropriate documentation of the grade earned in each
course.
The tuition remission plan for classes taken at Johns
Hopkins will continue to be offered. Those
enrolled here are also eligible to participate in the new
reimbursement plan for undergraduate studies
taken elsewhere. Staff members planning to participate in
both plans will be limited to a calendar year
IRS maximum benefit of $5,250 for credit courses for
employees and their dependents.
The program and the Carey Business School are
currently developing an informative Q&A that
will be available on the Benefits Services Web site in the
beginning of the year.
For more information, contact the Benefits Education
Assistance Program at 443-997-6890.
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