SOUTH GEORGIAMEDICALCENTER

PERSONNEL POLICY AND PROCEDURE

POLICY TITLE:EDUCATION ASSISTANCEPOLICY NUMBER: PPP 66

PREPARED BY: Director, Human ResourcesEFFECTIVE: 11/24/98

COORDINATED BY: ______DIVISION MANAGERREV: 10/14/98, 10/01/05

APPROVED BY: ______REW:

EDUCATION ASSISTANCE

OBJECTIVE

The Education Assistance plan was developed to provide financial assistance to employees who are students enrolled in or wishing to enter an accredited academic program related to the employee’s job role or to health care in general.

POLICY

To provide financial assistance to eligible employees in the form of tuition reimbursement when established criteria are met and/or scholarship assistance to employees or others upon completion of the required application and interview process.

ELIGIBILTY

Any regular full-time or part-time benefit eligible employee who has completed one year of full or part time employment may apply for tuition reimbursement. Tuition reimbursement is available for courses required of the declared major and to core courses.

Employees as well as non-employees may apply for SGMC sponsored scholarships by inquiring at the Personnel Department.

APPLICABLE DEGREES/COURSE WORK

Eligible employees may request reimbursement for healthcare educational programs leading to degrees preparing students to become RN’s, LPN’s, Surgical Technologists, Medical Technologists, Radiologic Technologists, Paramedics, EMT, Pharmacists, Respiratory Therapy Technologists, Radiation Therapy Technologists, Ultrasound Technologists, Nuclear Medicine Technologists, MRI Technologists, Echocardiography Technologists, Cardiac Cath Technologists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, and others which may from time to time be approved by the Director of Human Resources.

ON-LINE COURSES/DEGREES

On-line courses offered by any schools in the University System of Georgia which are a part of a specific, recognized degree program qualify for tuition reimbursement. Other on-line degree programs will be considered on their own merit and must be approved in advance by the Director

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PPP 66, Education Assistance

ON-LINE COURSES/DEGREES (continued)

of Human Resources. While on-line degree programs are increasing in number and have become

very popular, it is highly desired that a portion of classes which comprise a degree program be taught in aregular classroom setting. Reimbursement for such courses will paid at the per semester hour rate then prevailing at VSU.

RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY

Tuition reimbursement is available to all benefit eligible staff members. It may be granted for courses leading to degrees applicable to the employee’s job, jobs deemed to be in high demand, or others as from time to time approved by the Director of Human Resources. A grade of C in core courses and a grade of B in major courses qualify the employee who has met the stated requirements. Employees may be eligible to receive reimbursement for up to six hours of credit per semester at VSU and at the per semester hour rate then prevailing at VSU.

  1. The Employee shall:
  1. Be enrolled in a post high school degree or certificate program that is related to the employee’s job, a health care job deemed to be in high demand (e.g.RN, LPN, Surgical Tech, Med Tech, Pharmacist, Imaging Tech, Respiratory Therapy Tech, PT, OT, ST, Radiation Therapy Tech) or others as from time to time approved by the Director of Human Resources.
  1. Take up to the equivalent of 10 quarter hours per quarter or 6 semester hours per semester and receive a grade of C or better in core courses and B or better in major courses.
  1. Submit to the Personnel Department at the beginning of each quarter/semester a Tuition Reimbursement Application.
  1. Submit to the Personnel Department at the end of each quarter/semester a receipt indicating the amount of tuition paid and verification of passing the course(s) with grades as stated in 2 above. Grades must be submitted to the Personnel Department within two weeks of the quarter/semester ending to be eligible for reimbursement. Grades must be received on an official document from the school attended and must have the employee’s name printed on the report.
  1. Schedule classes either before or after regular work hours. Time away from the

job to attend school is not permitted except in rare and unusual circumstances.

Division Manager’s approval must be obtained for any such exception.

  1. Be entitled to make one change in the degree which he/she may be pursuing before becoming ineligible for tuition reimbursement.

7 Continue to work for SGMC for one full year following completion of the educational

program as a benefit eligible employee on a full time basis. Failure to complete the full year of service will result in the employee being required to repay all funds paid as tuition reimbursement within the last twelve months of school.

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PPP 66, Education Assistance

  1. The Personnel Department shall:
  1. Review all Tuition Reimbursement Applications for eligibility. The degree being pursued must be related to the employee’s current job role or to health care in general. In addition, review applications which are not direct health care degrees to make a determination if the degree may be used or required in other areas of the facility.
  1. Provide reimbursement upon the receipt of the required documentation of grades and tuition receipt to be the equivalent of up to 10quarter hours/6 semester hours to a maximum limit of the equivalent cost at ValdostaStateUniversity.
  1. Track the progress being made by each employee receiving Tuition Reimbursement. Ensure they are reaching the degree objectives and completing courses which are applicable to the selected degree.

CORRESPONDENCE COURSES

Tuition reimbursement may apply for correspondence courses. These courses must be related to the employee’s job role or to health care in general. Course requirements must be submitted along with a written request for approval of the correspondence course reimbursement to the Personnel Department. Final approval for tuition reimbursement will be made by the Director of Human Resources.

Reimbursement for any given course will not exceed the total cost of the course and in no case shall the reimbursement for a correspondence course exceed $1,000.00 or the VSU comparative cost whichever is less.

POLICY MAINTENANCE

The Personnel Department is responsible for the maintenance and interpretation of this Policy Statement.