Anyone familiar w/ tuition remission?

[ECB]

As I can't get a "real" answer from my own HR dept, thought I'd come to you all....

If I were to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree, I would get tuition remission for it.

I don't know that I want to get a graduate degree, though, at least right now. A local university offers a 4 course certificate program that includes the 4 courses I'm most interested in anyhow.

BUT - you can't get remission for it. I'd have to pay for it entirely myself. I asked HR what the reason is for this, and I got that the remission is a "benefit for creditable courses toward the undergraduate or graduate degree".

Yeah, I know that. But that doesn't tell me WHY. What is the rationale behind it?

Any insight?

[UMaineTeach]

they just want to to get a degree and not a certificate with their money? Maybe the certificate doesn't help them in the same way an employee with a extra degree would?

[mountainlove]

I wonder if it's because it's a certificate program rather than a masters. I'm not sure. Our university (the one I work at) gives tuition remission for undergrad. and some grad degrees. In order to receive it, you have to be enrolled in a degree program, I believe.

[cgpm]

I know at my work the courses and/or degree program have to be related to your work. I.e. they are not going to pay for me to get a master's in music performance when I teach science.
Not sure your scenario, but that's the only other reason I could think of.

[MadamePresident]

While certificates can probably help, I wouldn't give it nearly the same weight as an actual degree. My employer will only reimburse for classes related to a degree.

[ejpint]

I'd say it's most likely a case of needing to draw the line somewhere. They've decided to only reimburse for classes leading to a degree.

[DefenseAgainstTheDarkArts22]

I had a company whose policy was that the degree had to be related to what you were working in. If you're working in AP and going for a Personal Fitness degree they wouldn't pay. "I don't want to finance the degree so my good employee can leave" mentality.

[livinitup]

At its simplest, it probably has to do with how your company wrote its policy.

That said, you can always ask for for an exception. You'd be surprised how often a written request for an expecption is granted.

Otherwise, it might be how your company received credit hours from the college. My company "earned" credit points through interns, and the college only allowed them to be used in the same program. So certificates might not apply.

And final thought, the college may have a 'certificate' program but use the same classes as their Bach/Master program. Maybe you can get remission on the classes that way.