Our current UNAC/UA CBA changed our members' education benefit to match 2018 BOR policy, getting rid of a six-month wait period and ensuring that you (UNAC members), your spouses, and your dependents are eligible for this tuition waiver benefit when you need it.
The policy details found here are copied from the BOR Policies and Regulations (chapter 04.06.010) and reflect the agreed-upon education benefit for UNAC members, spouses, and dependents:
UNIVERSITY REGULATION
PART IV – HUMAN RESOURCES
Chapter 04.06 – Benefits and Leave
R04.06.010. Employee Education Benefits.
Regular benefit eligible employees (hereafter regular employees), their spouses and dependent
children are authorized a waiver of course credit hour charges, also referred to as “tuition” under
the following conditions:
A. Regular employees of the university may have tuition waived for up to sixteen credit
hours per academic year with a maximum of eight credit hours per semester.
B. Regular employees may have course credit hour charges waived for up to four university
approved non-credit courses in each semester, not to exceed eight non-credit courses per
academic year. Prior to the start of each academic term, the list of university approved
non-credit courses will be provided by the Statewide Office of Human Resources.
C. Notwithstanding subsections A and B of this section, regular employees with an
employment contract with the university for the following academic year, but who are off
contract during the summer, may have up to sixteen graduate or undergraduate course
credit hour charges waived per summer session. Such employees may have up to eight
non-credit courses waived from a university approved list per summer session. The
employee’s tuition waivers shall not exceed sixteen credit hours and eight non-credit
courses per academic year.
D. An academic year begins with the fall semester and ends with the summer term.
E. Regular employees may take up to three credit hours during working hours with prior
written approval by the supervisor, without having to make up the time if, in the opinion
of the supervisor, the coursework will be of direct benefit to the university.
F. Regular employees may take university approved non-credit courses during working
hours with prior written approval by the supervisor. Employees are not required to make
up the time for their attendance at university-approved non-credit courses.
G. Regular employees may attend credit courses that do not directly benefit the university
during working hours with prior written approval of the supervisor. The employee shall
use accrued leave or make up lost work time through a flexible work schedule requested
through and approved by the supervisor.
H. Spouses and dependent children under the age of 24 of regular employees may have
course credit hour charges waived as provided in this section.
I. Regular employees who qualify for education benefits through their employment status
are not eligible for education benefits as an employee’s spouse or dependent child.
J. An individual who qualifies for permanent disability during his/her regular employment
under the University of Alaska’s long-term disability plan will have course credit hour
charges waived for a period of three academic years following qualification.
K. A regular employee who has included university coursework as part of an approved leave
of absence is entitled to the same education benefits as a regular employee.
L. Education benefits cease upon termination of employment except for:
1. Those courses in which the employee, spouse or dependent child is currently enrolled
and classes are in session at the time of termination; and
2. An employee in layoff status as provided in R04.07.110.F.3.
M. An employee is responsible for any tax liability generated from employee education
benefits.
N. Course credit hour charges will not be waived for the following, except as provided:
1. Self-support courses, except for non-credit university approved courses taken by
employees;
2. Non-credit courses for spouses and dependent children of employees;
3. 500 level courses;
4. Year-long courses;
5. WWAMI Medical Program courses; but tuition for coursework provided by the
University of Alaska may be waived if otherwise eligible; and
6. The Colorado State University Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree program,
including the first two years of courses which UAF delivers through a partnership
with Colorado State University.
O. For purposes of this regulation “spouse” includes an individual determined by the
university to be a financially interdependent partner of a university employee.
(02-02-18)