Supervisors Should Embrace Flexibility for Successful Tuition Remission Program

Posted By: HR avatar

Published to Newsletter on Apr 27, 2022

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UNM’s mission is, in part, to “provide students the values, habits of mind, knowledge, and skills that they need to be enlightened citizens, to contribute to the state and national economies, and lead to satisfying lives.” 

The educational attainment of UNM employees is a key contributor not only to their success, but also to the overall effectiveness and success of our institution. To support staff in their quest for knowledge and self-improvement, UNM offers the Employee Tuition Remission benefit program. 

Carrying out this program can sometimes lead to conflict between the desires of individual employees and the needs of the University and the individual business units. To meet the obligations of the institution, and to provide employees with this important benefit, flexibility and collaboration is required by both the staff member and their supervisor.

  • Employees should discuss their goals for educational attainment with their supervisors, and supervisors should provide guidance how their Tuition Remission benefit can support those goals.
  • Employees should first seek out courses that are offered outside their regular work schedule. 
  • If a desired course is only offered during the work day, the employee and supervisor should work together to arrange an alternate work schedule or arrange for the use of paid time off if the provisions are met (see UAP 3700, Section 3.2).
  • Granting staff time away from daily obligations can be challenging for supervisors and may not always be possible. However, when it is possible, supervisors should look beyond the short-term inconvenience of adjusted schedules and work with their staff to find ways to support their pursuit of education and self-improvement. 
  • Schedule changes should be discussed and agreed upon by both parties prior to course registration. This will help avoid future conflict. 

Support of an employee’s educational goals is a win-win situation for both the staff and the University. But, for everyone to benefit, understanding and flexibility by all is needed. 

More detail on the Tuition Remission Benefit Program, along with expectations for all parties can be found in University Administrative Policy 3700. 

Tags: Benefits