Education Benefits

Michigan Tech offers education benefits for eligible employees and their spouses, designated eligible individuals, and dependents. Eligible employees can utilize the Employee Education Program (EEP), while their spouses, DEI's, or dependents can utilize the Tuition Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP).

Employee Education Program (EEP)

Policy

Eligible employees who meet the program requirements may take classes at Michigan Tech, with tuition and lab fees waived. Please note: The benefit varies depending on your employment status; please contact Benefit Services for more information.

Employees are responsible for the cost of books, supplies, equipment, and penalties. If you successfully complete the course(s) with a passing grade of a "C" or higher (credit or audit), the University will cover your tuition charges.

Eligibility

• Employees must maintain an active employment status at the University for the entire duration of the course.
• A regular, full-time, exempt employee receives 2 classes, or 6 credits, whichever is greater, per semester.
• A regular, full-time, non- exempt employee receives 2 classes, or 6 credits, whichever is greater, per semester.
• UAW members receive 9 credits per semester.
• AFSCME members receive 9 credits per semester.

Enrollment and Admission Requirements

Employees must receive permission from their supervisor to take a course, meet the the requirements of eligibility, and be subject to the general regulations and course prerequisites published in the current catalog.

Remote Employees

All eligible Michigan Tech employees whose office is located more that 150 miles in driving distance from Houghton, Michigan, are eligible to receive the Employee Education Benefit for courses taken at an accredited college or university other than Michigan Tech.

The maximum course load for remote employees if 2 courses per semester, up to $6,000 per calendar year.

Guidelines for Remote Employees:

• The employee follows the Employee Education Program guideleines as written.
• The college or University must be an accredied post-secondary educational institution.
• A copy of the grade sheet must be sent to Benefit Services upon completion of the class(es).

Procedures

Once an employee has discussed and received approval from their supervisor to enroll in a course, they will complete the following:

1. If not previously enrolled at Michigan Tech, complete an application for admission online at mtu.edu/apply. If the employee has a break in enrollment, they must be readmitted by Student Records and Registration.
2. Register for courses online in Banweb (after admission or readmission). Registration priority is based upon total credits earned.
3. Employees must complete the EEP Application Form and have it signed by their supervisor. The form and a copy of your tuition bill must be sent to Benefit Services (benefits@mtu.edu) for approval. The Cashier's Office must then validate the bill by the due date to avoid late charges.
4. If an employee qualifies for EEP, as well as the Senior Citizen or a Tribal tuition program, Michigan Tech will apply the benefit as an employee before applying any other applicable benefit.
5. Summer semesters will be treated as one semester (not as Track A or Track B). If an employee takes classes in the summer, the benefit will be applied as one semester and will not apply to both Track A and Track B.

Termination of the Education Benefit

Tuition must be reimbursed to the University if an employee fails to maintain active employment during the semester in which the class is taken, or for any courses failed or dropped without approval.

Release of Course

If extenuating circumstances arise that require an employee to drop a course after the drop date, employees may apply for an emergency/conflict allowance by contacting Benefit Services for a "Release from Course" form, which must be approved by the employee's supervisor.

Release from Course forms must be must be received during the semester the course is being taken. Requests to be released from a course will be reviewed by Human Resources, who will determine whether or not the request is approved.

Taxability

The Employee Education Program benefit may be taxable to the employee if the graduate classes are above the IRS limit. Employees can refer to the Tax & General Accountant in Accounting Services for more information.

Tuition Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP)

Policy

Spouses, Designated Eligible Individuals (DEI), and dependents of eligible employees who meet the program requirements are eligible for a reduction in tuition for University degree programs at Michigan Tech. The TRIP program will provide the following discounts based on years of service (applies to benefit eligible employees):

• Less than 1 year of service: not eligible
• 1-3 years of service: 50% discount
• 4+ years of serviceL 75% discount

Note: The TRIP benefit becomes available to benefit eligible employees the semester following the date they surpass their years of service eligibility requirement.

Limitations

• The TRIP benefit does not include books, supplies, fees, equipment, penalties, or room and board.
• The TRIP benefit may be affected by funding received from other sources (e.g. grants, scholarships, 529 plans, M.E.T., T.I.P., etc.) To avoid potential conflicts or limitations, employees are encouraged to consult with a plan administrator for an external funding source and/or the Michigan Tech Financial Aid and Student Billing offices for guidance.

Eligibility

Eligibility for the program is limited to the employees’ spouse or DEI and/or unmarried children, who are dependents of the employee. Children are considered a dependent until the age of 26. Children who are married are not eligible.

If an employee has opted out of Michigan Tech’s health insurance because their spouse or DEI has medical coverage through another employer and can provide proof of dependency, the employee’s dependent would be considered eligible.

If an eligible unmarried child has more than one eligible parent working at Tech, he or she is eligible for only one TRIP benefit. The student is eligible for no more than 50% or 75% tuition reduction through this program. The discount that will apply is the greater of the two parents’ discount.

Employees eligible for the Employee Education Program cannot utilize the TRIP benefit.

Dual enrollment and non-dual enrolled (high school) students are eligible for the TRIP benefit. The TRIP benefit plus the high school contribution will not exceed actual tuition and related fees.

Study abroad charges will be eligible only if billed as Michigan Technological University tuition. Study abroad fees, housing fees, and other charges are not eligible for the TRIP benefit.

Extenuating Eligibility

Spouses or DEI and dependent children of eligible employees on approved leave of absence, not to exceed one year, will continue to be eligible for the TRIP benefit.

Eligible employees who are on active military duty will be eligible to participate in the TRIP benefit.

Under the following circumstance, the spouse or DEI and dependent children will retain eligibility until completion of their current degree program. For these individuals listed below, eligibility in current program will be retained until the student graduates or does not enroll in classes at Michigan Tech in a term (excluding summer), whichever comes first. If there is a gap in the current program (excluding summer), dependents will no longer be eligible for the program. Individuals in this situation will be eligible as long as their admission date is prior to:

• the death of the eligible employee, except that, for dependents of employees with at least two years of service and who were in good standing with the University at the time of their death, TRIP eligibility will remain available for a period of two (2) years following the eligible employee’s death.
• the layoff of the eligible
• The retirement of the eligible employee (years of service + age = 70, or MPSERS eligible)
• the child getting
• the eligible employee becomes qualified for long term
• the child turning

Additional extenuating circumstances may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for the possibility of extending the provisions outlined in this policy.

Enrollment and Admission Requirements

Student applicants must be admitted or readmitted to Michigan Technological University in accordance with the normal requirements for admission and readmission. The student is responsible for all fees, books, room and board.

Students continue to be eligible as long as they meet the academic requirements for Michigan Tech attendance under the Dean of Student Affairs Scholastic Standards Policy.

Procedures

A TRIP application form can be obtained from and returned to the Benefits office. The form is to be signed by the eligible employee or retiree (as long as dependent was enrolled at the time of retirement) and student. One application form is to be completed for each student each semester the student is enrolled in the undergraduate, Master’s Degree, or Ph.D. program.

Forms should be submitted during the following timelines:

If your application is turned in late, you may be responsible for paying your tuition bill with your own resources. After your application is processed, your account will be credited. 

TRIP benefits will not be paid if the TRIP application is submitted later than sixty (60) days after the beginning of the semester. 

After the eligibility of the employee has been verified by the Benefits Office, a copy of the application is sent to the Financial Aid Office for student eligibility approval.

The Financial Aid office will:

• Check to see if the student is registered and has scheduled classes.
• Enter a TRIP resource amount in the student’s financial aid
• Retain applications with TRIP benefit dollar amount

The Student Billing Office will make the TRIP adjustments to the student’s account.

Dual Enrollment

If an dependent is dual enrolled in high school and the University, they may be eligible for the TRIP benefit in addition to a dual enrollment tuition payment from their high school. The TRIP benefit, plus the high school contribution, may not exceed actual tuition and related fees.

Procedures outline in the TRIP policy must be followed. A letter from the high school stating the course(s) and the amount paid under the dual enrollment program must be provided with the TRIP application form every semester.

Refund

If the student drops a course or withdraws from the University during the refund period, any credit applicable to the TRIP benefit will revert back to the University.

Termination of the TRIP Benefit

Except as stipulated, the TRIP benefit will be discontinued at the conslusion of the semester during which the employee or student comes ineligible or employment is terminated, or ROTC member is reassigned.

Taxability

The TRIP benefit may be taxable to the employee. Undergraduate level classes are not taxable. Graduate level classes are taxable. Employees can refer to the Tax & General Accountant in Accounting Services for more information.