University Human Resources

Employee Education Program

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Employee Education Program

Brown University offers financial reimbursement to eligible staff employees for qualifying educational goals.

Brown University empowers its dedicated staff employees by offering the Employee Education Program (EEP). Through the EEP, staff members can gain access to financial assistance, enabling them to pursue a wide range of courses both within Brown and outside of Brown.

Questions? Email educational_benefits@brown.edu and include "EEP" in the email subject line.

Eligibility

Employees are eligible to use the EEP benefit if they meet the following three criteria:

  • Staff working a minimum of 67% time (equivalent to at least 1,300 hours per year).
  • Applicants must have completed a continuous six months of employment at the time of application.
  • Employment status in good standing

Union members will receive education benefits as described in their respective Collective Bargaining Agreements.  Additionally, faculty members, dependents, and spouses are not eligible to receive education benefits under this program.

Program Guidelines

The EEP offers eligible employees the opportunity to have qualifying expenses covered for one of the following options each calendar year (January 1 - December 31):

EEP for Brown University Courses

Eligible staff members can take up to three Brown University degree courses, job-related courses or non-degree courses at the School of Professional Studies each calendar year.

EEP for Courses Outside of Brown

Eligible staff members can receive up to $5,250 to pursue degree or job-related courses at accredited institutions each calendar year.
  • Brown University courses and non-Brown courses cannot be combined within the same calendar year. 
  • The start date of an eligible course determines the calendar year to which it belongs. Please keep this in mind when planning your course schedule. 

Eligible courses can be taken in various formats, including classroom settings, online platforms, or hybrid formats. This allows employees to choose the learning environment that best suits their needs and preferences.

Application Guidelines

Complete the appropriate EEP application:

Applications should be emailed to educational_benefits@brown.edu prior to the start date of the course (two weeks preferred). Please include "EEP" in the email subject line.

Course Payment and Grade Requirements

  • No money is exchanged. The EEP sends through a credit to the student's account at the beginning of the semester.
  • Upon the successful completion of courses taken at Brown University, the Registrar's Office or the School of Professional Studies will provide official confirmation. 
  • Participants must pay the school that they are attending up front and then submit for reimbursement once the course has been successfully completed.
  • Participants must submit a grade report and itemized paid invoice to educational_benefits@brown.edu. Please include "EEP" in the email subject line.
  • Tuition reimbursements will be direct deposited on the next available pay period, or if you do not have direct deposit, a check will be issued for the reimbursable amount.

The following expenses are not eligible for reimbursement under this program:

  • Conferences, workshops and seminars
  • Membership, licensing and exam fees
  • Travel, lodging, meals, and parking expenses
  • Supplies and other miscellaneous fees

EEP Penalties

During the semester in which an employee is approved for a course/courses through the Employee Education Program and they voluntarily terminate from the University, do not work at least 67% time, receive a grade below a C, fail the course(s), or drop the course(s) after the drop deadline date, they will be responsible for the following:

  • For Degree and Job-Related Brown Courses: The full cost of tuition for the course(s) must be reimbursed back to the University.
  • For Non-Degree Courses at the School of Professional Studies: You must submit a request to cancel your enrollment no later than 14 days prior to the course start date. If a cancelation is made after the course start date(s), the full cost of tuition for the course(s) must be reimbursed back to the University.
  • For Non-Brown courses: Employees will not be reimbursed for their tuition costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

The EEP covers degree programs in any area of study at Brown and outside of Brown. EEP participants registered in degree programs, job-related courses or certificate courses/programs can enroll in traditional programs, distance learning or hybrid programs. If the employee is not enrolled in a degree program, the course must be job-related to what they presently do at Brown.

Eligible employees can attend Brown University or accredited, degree granting universities/colleges outside of Brown that belong to one of the accrediting agencies listed on the EEP website.

Participants must submit a completed EEP application prior to the course start date. For courses that are job-related, justifications are required from the employee and supervisor as to why a course is job-related including cost per credit and course description.

The Benefits Office determines if a course:

  • maintains or enhances the employee’s skills needed in the present position at Brown or
  • is a requirement either by law or of Brown University

Participants cannot combine Brown and non-Brown courses within the same calendar year. Participants need to wait for the new calendar year in order to enroll in a new program.

The start date of the course determines which calendar year the class falls into.

  • Brown courses: no money is exchanged. The EEP sends through a credit to the student’s account at the beginning of the semester. Additional fees are then waived once the email string is sent asking for the EEP credit to be posted.
  • Non-Brown courses: participants must pay the school that they are attending up front and then can submit for reimbursement once the course is successfully completed and a grade report/Itemized paid invoice is received.
  • The IRS allows Brown to give employees $5,250 in tax-free tuition per calendar year. Graduate degree candidates and those enrolled in job-related graduate courses (level 2000
    and above) are taxed in compliance with IRS regulations.
  • Brown undergraduate courses (level 0001 - 1999) are tax exempt.
  • Participants enrolled in non-Brown courses do not exceed the IRS calendar year limit of $5,250 and therefore are not taxed.

All courses reimbursed under this program must be taken on the employee’s own time. If a class is only available during an employee’s normal work hours, the employee may inquire about an alternative work assignment (AWA) with their supervisor. Any work time missed must be covered by earned vacation time or an approved AWA. Completion of class assignments must be done outside regular work hours. When there is a conflict between class responsibilities and the employee’s job responsibilities, the job
responsibilities must come first.