Tuition Reimbursement Highlights For College/University Courses

DATES FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS ARE:
Spring/Summer semesters – the first working day of September, and Fall/Winter semesters – the first working day of April. Applications received prior to these dates will be held and not date stamped until those dates.

The Office of Human Resources no longer allows for the discretionary six (6) hours of release time. The discretionary workrelease is now work-study and must first be approved by the appointing authority of the agency/facility. The Application Form (4575), a work-study schedule, and a Obligated Service Agreement must be submitted by each applicant requesting any work study, with a copy going to TSD for documentation and data tracking.

Work Release applies only to full-time, 40 hours release. Full–time release is paid back at a 3 to 1 ratio of obligated State service.

All participating colleges and universities must be accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Courses may be traditional on-site, satellite, distance, correspondence and/or web-based. If you are seeking a degree or certification to be recognized by a Board or Commission, it is YOUR responsibility to verify that the college/university is recognized by the Board or Commission.

Reimbursement – you must be a DHMH employee on the date that you submit documents for payment.

Eligibility – You have satisfactorily completed an original probationary period or equivalent by the starting date of training, and you are a permanent full-time or part-time (50% or more) State Merit System employee.

All Headquarters employees (those not employed at DHMH facilities, hospital centers, local health department, or regional offices) must have a Career Development Plan (CDP).

Reimbursement is for tuition only. Books, fees, and other related expenses are the responsibility of employee. Remember the word reimbursement - there is no pre-payment associated with this program. You must provide proof of payment and successful course completion documentation before reimbursement is issued.

Rate of reimbursement – Up to the University of Maryland College Park rates. As of Summer 2008 semester, undergraduate rate is $273 per credit; graduate rate is $444 per credit. Part-time employees reimbursement rates are pro-rated. A maximum of 18 credits can be taken per Fiscal Year.

Priority for tuition reimbursement will be given to the hard to fill classifications within DHMH (see page 3). Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Psychology. Only these classifications can receive both time and money, because of their high vacancy rates.

All course reimbursement and/or wok-release/study requests must be pre-approved (prior to the start date of the class) by the supervisor or appointing authority. Applicant must adhere to the deadlines in these Guidelines.

Prorated schedule of work-release/study (Appendix A). All work-release/study time will be monitored by the facility/agency in conjunction with employee’s registration coordinator and timekeeper.

Each DHMH “unit” (defined as a hospital center, residential facility, local health department, regional office and/or headquarters administration) should have a designated Out-Service Training Coordinator. Your respective Out-Service Training Coordinator should have all the forms necessary for you to apply for reimbursement and/or work release/study, and will forward your paperwork to Training Services.

Forms required for all requests: Application Form (4575) completely filled out with proper signatures, course description/s. Career Development Plan, Obligated Service Agreement, and Work Study Schedule as required, (see detailed instructions).

Reimbursement will not be approved for any program sponsored, in full or in part, by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) or any other Maryland State agency or department.

All Tuition Reimbursement approvals are based on projected State budget funds. Therefore, all approvals are pending program funding.