Tuition Remission Policy
I. POLICY STATEMENT
This policy is intended to recognize regular, full-time employees who have demonstrated a commitment to the College’s non-profit mission through their years of service, by providing these employees, their dependents, and their partners with certain tuition remission benefits.
II. APPLICABILITY
This policy applies to all current, regular, full-time employees who meet the criteria set forth herein, including faculty, staff, and administrators.
III. DEFINITIONS
Full-time is defined (for purposes of this policy) as having a regular work schedule of at least 30 hours per week.
IV. POLICY
A. Benefit for Employees:
Employees may take advantage of the Tuition Remission Plan at Oxy. Benefits include one class per semester of undergraduate study for a course that directly relates to your current job. Your supervisor should contact Human Resources in writing if you wish to take a job-related class at Oxy.
To qualify, the employee must have completed at least 3-years of continuous full-time employment.
B. Benefit for Children:
Dependent children of full-time employees may take advantage of the Tuition Remission benefit for enrollment at Oxy. To qualify for this benefit:
- the dependent child’s parent or legal guardian must have completed at least *5 years of continuous full-time service at Occidental, up to and including the first day of the semester in which the benefit may be used;
- the dependent child’s parent or legal guardian must remain employed at Occidental in each semester in which the benefit is used;
- the dependent child must be listed as a dependent for Federal Income Tax purposes, or be dependent upon the employee for more than half of their support (subject to verification by the College’s Financial Aid department);
- the dependent child must be under age 30 when they begin the program; and
- the dependent child must have met the regular requirements for admission and be enrolled in a specific degree program.
*Newly hired, regular, full-time employees who were eligible for the Tuition Remission benefit at their most recent employer will qualify for the benefit, provided that Oxy’s Human Resources Department receives written verification of eligibility from the previous employer’s Human Resources Department.
Benefits for dependent children are limited to 4 academic years (8 semesters) of undergraduate study at Oxy. Eligible dependent children must apply through the College’s standard admission process and are not guaranteed admission. Dependent children are required to remain in good academic standing, as defined by the College, to continue receiving this benefit. In addition, they must be enrolled on a full-time basis.
Dependent children receiving Tuition Remission must apply for a Cal Grant and a Pell Grant, and should apply for such other non-institutionally administered financial aid for which they may be eligible. A waiver of this requirement can be obtained by appealing to the College’s Director of Financial Aid, in their discretion. The amount of tuition received from Â鶹ƵµÀwill be reduced by the amount of scholarship(s) received by outside sources.
In the event that an Occidental employee who is eligible for Tuition Remission dies or becomes disabled while their dependent child is enrolled at Â鶹ƵµÀ, the Tuition Remission benefit will remain available to such dependent children. The College will determine whether such a disability exists utilizing objective medical evidence and may, in its sole discretion, obtain medical opinions from physicians of its choice to assist with this determination and in granting or denying this benefit. This determination of a qualifying disability shall be conducted in a non-discriminatory manner and consistent with applicable federal and state law.
In addition, to be eligible, the dependent child must have qualified as the employee’s dependent for tax purposes at the time of death or qualifying disability. Dependents of disabled employees must continue to qualify as the employee’s legal dependent for tax purposes upon and during enrollment.
Dependent children who (i) are not yet enrolled in the College at the time of their parent or legal guardian’s death or long-term disability, and (ii) whose parent or legal guardian completed at least 12 years of continuous service at Occidental, up to and including the date of their death or disability, will remain eligible for tuition remission. Such dependent children must apply for these benefits prior to their 21st birthday.
C. Benefit for Spouses and Domestic Partners:
Spouses and Domestic Partners of employees may take advantage of the Tuition Remission Plan at Oxy. The benefits are equal to one-half tuition remission for undergraduate study at Â鶹ƵµÀwhether or not they are enrolled in a specific degree program. To qualify for this benefit, the employee must be in a full-time, regular position. Employees who are interested in obtaining this benefit for a Spouse or Domestic partner should make a request in writing to Human Resources.
V. POLICY HISTORY
Responsible Officer: Vice President for Finance, Planning, and Operation
Effective Date: August 16, 2019
Last Revised: September 18, 2023
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