Educational Assistance Benefits

Summary Plan Description (pdf)

•  Courses taken by employees at Northwestern University

•  No prior years of qualified service required

•  $10,000 maximum annual educational assistance benefit

•  Educational Assistance above $5,250 per year must be included as non-cash compensation and added to an employee's taxable wages. For example, if your tuition benefits for winter and spring quarter are $4,000 and you receive an additional $2,000 in assistance in the summer quarter, you would expect to see $750 spread between your July-September paychecks ($6,000 - $5,250 = $750).

•  Requires an application each calendar year

Satellite Offices

Eligibility

•  Full-time regular status employees

•  Customary work place is located more than 200 miles from Chicago

Benefit

•  Eligible for Educational Assistance benefits at institutions other than Northwestern University

•  The amount of the benefit granted will not exceed the amount of the corresponding benefit applied to Northwestern University tuition

Application Process

•  Submit the Educational Assistance for Satellite Offices application each term

•  Include a copy of the institution's billing statement

•  Upon approval of the application, the University will issue the benefit directly to the employee

Employee Portable Tuition Benefits

Summary Plan Description (pdf)

•  Undergraduate or graduate courses taken by NU full-time employees at schools other than Northwestern University

•  Full-time employees are eligible with one year of full-time service (must be full-time at the beginning and completion of course)

•  100% reimbursement of tuition and mandatory fees – up to $2500 per calendar year

•  Along with completed application, you must submit an itemized invoice (showing tuition, all fees, all payments made along with any financial aid received), proof of full payment (if not included in itemized invoice), and final grade report showing letter grade of “C” or higher or “P” for pass

•  Supervisor's approval is required (signature on application form indicates the course(s) are job-related)

•  Applied towards $10,000 maximum annual educational assistance benefit

•  Educational assistance above $5,250 per year must be included as non-cash compensation and added to an employee's taxable wages. For example, if your tuition benefits for winter and spring quarter are $4,000 and you receive an additional $2,000 in assistance in the summer quarter, you would expect to see $750 spread between your July-September paychecks ($6,000 - $5,250 = $750)

•  Reimbursement payments will be processed through Payroll Department via direct deposit

•  Requires an application at the end of each semester/quarter

Portable Tuition Benefits

Summary Plan Description (pdf)

•  Undergraduate courses taken by dependent children at schools other than Northwestern University

•  Eligibility requires 5 or more years of Qualified Service

•  Based on billed tuition and mandatory fees minus financial aid such as scholarships and grants

•  Benefits are provided for up to 8 full-time semesters (12 quarters) and up to age 25

•  Terms for which this benefit is received will coordinate with the Reduced Tuition benefits such that benefits are received for no more than eight full-time academic semesters or twelve full-time academic quarters.

•  Requires an application form for each term of study

•  Checks are made payable to the school, but may be made payable to you with proof of payment.

•  Payments are issued by Accounts Payable and forwarded to the Benefits Division for pick up or mailing to the employee.

* Eligibility requires date of hire prior to January 1, 2000 . Employees hired prior to January 1, 2000 may choose either the percentage or flat amount plan for each child in a family. Once the percentage plan is chosen for a child, an individual may not later choose the flat amount plan for that same child.

Reduced Tuition Plan

Summary Plan Description (pdf)

•  Undergraduate Courses taken by the spouse and dependent children at Northwestern University

•  Benefit based on billed tuition minus forms of financial aid; mandatory fees are not eligible expenses

•  Day School benefits are provided to a dependent child up to 8 semesters (12 quarters); limited to undergraduate study toward a degree or teaching certificate

•  Terms for which this benefit is received will coordinate with the Portable Tuition benefits such that benefits are received for no more than eight full-time academic semesters or twelve full-time academic quarters.

•  School of Continuing Studies benefits are limited to 4 classes per term

•  Study Abroad programs sponsored and billed by Northwestern University are eligible for the benefit

•  Dependent child eligible up to age 25

•  Requires an application each calendar year