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Program Relaunches in 2023

Innovation and continuous improvement have long been an important part of UW-Eau Claire’s values. Our Employee Tuition Reimbursement Program is a perfect example of that. Relaunching in the spring of 2023, employees will be eligible to take undergraduate courses at UW-Eau Claire or UW-Eau Claire—Barron County and be reimbursed for tuition upon successful completion of the course.  

Employee eligibility

  • Faculty and Academic Staff employees must have a half-time or greater appointment to be eligible. All University Staff employees are eligible with the exception of University Staff temporary employees. Student employees are not eligible.

Program Overview

  • Eligible employees can enroll in up to two undergraduate courses per semester at UW-Eau Claire or UW-Eau Claire—Barron County. Questions about eligible courses can be directed to Blugold Central.  
  • The window to register opens seven days before classes begin for non-degree-seeking students. Degree-seeking students can register during their assigned enrollment period. 
  • Tuition, including differential tuition, will be reimbursed upon successful completion of the course if the employee is still employed at the institution. Successful completion is defined as a “C” or higher.
  • Textbooks, supplies, travel costs, online course fees and special course fees are not reimbursed and are the responsibility of the employee. Questions about fees should be directed to Blugold Central. 
  • Segregated fees will be waived (the employee is responsible for the textbook rental charge).
  • Tuition and fees for courses must be paid in full in order to be reimbursed for tuition as part of this program. Payment must be made by established due dates for the semester or balances will be subject to late fees and finance charges which are not reimbursed.
  • Tuition reimbursement that exceeds $5,250 per calendar year is taxable. 

Registration dates

The window to register opens seven days before classes begin for non-degree-seeking students. Degree-seeking students can register during their assigned enrollment period.

Next steps: how to get started

  1. First, ensure supervisor support if a course is during your scheduled work hours. This program is a joint commitment by the employee to take the class and the supervisor to commit to supporting the employee to attend the class.
  2. Complete the Blugold Employee Tuition Program eform. This must be done before registering for classes.
  3. Review the admissions page and determine if you need to complete a non-degree-seeking student application. If your intention is to take courses to complete a degree, please contact admissions to learn about the next steps to apply for admission. 
  4. Once the Employee Tuition Reimbursement Program eform and application are completed and approved, an employee can complete the normal registration process once they are eligible to enroll. 
  5. After registering for the course, the eform will be returned to you. Once the course is complete, resubmit the form with the final grade entered. The form will be rerouted for final confirmation. Once all confirmations have been completed, you will be notified to submit the reimbursement request. 

Reimbursements

Reimbursement requests must be submitted through the Shared Financial System (SFS) within 90 days of the end of the term. The course(s) must be paid in full to be reimbursed. The total amount to be reimbursed and the funding string information for the reimbursement can be found on the eForm.

Visit this page to learn how to create, modify, resubmit and expense reimbursement in e-Reimbursement. For assistance, please contact Firstsource Support Team in the ASK Center at 715-836-3131 or askcenter@uwec.edu. 

 

FAQs

How do I find courses offered during an upcoming term?
How do I find courses offered during an upcoming term?

All undergraduate courses are eligible for this program. To find out what classes are being offered, including instructor, dates and times, click here

What is a non-degree-seeking special student application?
What is a non-degree-seeking special student application?

The non-degree-seeking special student application is for individuals who are not enrolled students and are planning to take UW-Eau Claire classes. The application is the first step an employee must take to participate in the Blugold Employee Tuition Program.

Do I need to reapply each semester to continue taking...
Do I need to reapply each semester to continue taking classes as a non-degree-seeking special student?

Provided that there is not a break in enrollment for the major terms (fall term or spring term), a non-degree-seeking special student does not need to reapply. If there is a break in enrollment for undergraduate non-degree-seeking students of one year (two major terms) or more, they will need to reapply. If a student does not take a class in a given semester that results in a break in enrollment and the student must reapply to take future courses.

What happens if I withdraw from a course while in the...
What happens if I withdraw from a course while in the Blugold Employee Tuition Program?

If a student withdraws from a course in the program, a “W” is not considered satisfactory completion of the course. In that situation, the employee is responsible for any tuition that is due based on the date of the withdrawal. You can access UW-Eau Claire's refund schedule here.

What if I do not earn a satisfactory grade of ā€œCā€...
What if I do not earn a satisfactory grade of “C” in a course?

Employees are responsible for paying the tuition and fees associated with any course they take as part of this program if they fail to earn a satisfactory grade. In this situation, Blugold Central can create a payment plan for any employee who has a balance due.

Is supervisor approval required...
Is supervisor approval required for the Employee Tuition Reimbursement Program?

Yes, an eligible employee must receive their direct supervisor’s permission to take a course through this program. Class schedules could impact an employee’s ability to complete their work at UW-Eau Claire therefore an employee must work with their supervisor to determine if a flexible work schedule is appropriate. 

Questions?

For questions regarding the Blugold Employee Tuition Program, contact Blugold Central at blugoldcentral@uwec.edu.

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