Tuition remission - Private

It is a program that enables the "Eligible Employees" of "Eligible Human Service Providers" to attend state-supported undergraduate courses at any Massachusetts community college, state college, or the University of Massachusetts, excluding the UMass Medical Center, on a tuition-free basis. This program does not remit costs for program fees, application fees, laboratory fees, books and supplies, or any other costs.

2. What is an "Eligible Human Services Provider?"
An "Eligible Human Services Provider" is a provider of Human Services that holds a current contract with a department or agency within any of the Secretariats of Human Services, Elder Affairs, or Administration and Finance to provide services under state object codes M03 and MM3, who is registered with the Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers, Inc ("the Council"). Qualification will be determined (at a minimum) on the basis of lists of providers under contract with the Commonwealth.

"Human Services" refers to programs that assist, maintain, or improve the personal, mental, or physical well being of individuals or families, including social, habilitative, rehabilitative, health, mental health, mental retardation, employment and training, vocational, and elder services, but specifically excluding special education services.

3. Who is an "Eligible Employee?"
To receive tuition remission an "Eligible Employee" must:

a.       Be employed for a minimum of 30 hours/week by an Eligible Human Services Provider.  Independent contractors are not eligible for this program.

b.      Be employed in a position for which at least 60% of the employee’s wages and benefits are funded by Human Services contracts with the Commonwealth.

c.       Have completed at least six months of service with the Eligible Human Service Provider at the time of submitting the Certificate of Employee Eligibility for Tuition Remission to the employer.

d.      Be eligible for tuition remission under any personnel or employer policy of the Eligible Human Services Provider covering tuition remission.

e.       Have been admitted to an eligible Massachusetts state-supported course at a community college, state college, or the University of Massachusetts.

4. What academic programs are eligible for tuition remission?
Full tuition remission will be provided to an Eligible Employee who is enrolled in a Massachusetts state-supported undergraduate program at any state community college, state college, or the University of Massachusetts, excluding the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Graduate courses are not eligible for tuition remission.

Non-state-supported courses are those offered by a public institution's division of continuing education and any others identified by the institution. There is no tuition remission for these non-state-supported courses such as continuing education.

5. What are some of the limits to this program?

a.       Admission to state-supported courses is on a space-available basis. Because of this limitation, schools may delay admittance until the first day of class.

b.      There is no tuition remission for non-state-supported courses such as continuing education, or evening and weekend classes.

c.       A Certificate of Employee Eligibility for Tuition Remission must be submitted to the Council and approved.

6. Suppose an employee terminates his/her employment?
If an Eligible Employee receives a Certificate while employed by an Eligible Human Services Provider, and then leaves their employment after the course begins, eligibility for tuition remission will cease when the course ends.

7. What steps could be taken now?

a.       Human Service Providers can register for the program and complete an annual renewal form. A registration fee is required for each agency, as is an annual renewal fee of $45.

b.      Employees interested in the Tuition Remission Program should call their school registrar to ask whether their course(s) are "state-supported,"and register for eligible course(s).

c.       Agencies may send in renewal forms along with completed certificates to speed up the process.

8. How does an organization become an Eligible Human Services Provider?

a.       Review Guidelines for Tuition Remission for Employees of Eligible Human Service Providers to the Commonwealth. (See Guidelines).

b.      Complete registration process and submit signed registration form to the Tuition Benefits Coordinator at the MCHSP, Inc.  

9. What is a "PPA" or a Principal Purchasing Agency on the registration form?
PPA stands for the Principal Purchasing Agency, the primary state agency that contracts human services from a private provider. Examples of  PPAs are the Department of Mental Health, Department of Mental Retardation, and Department of Social Services. When filling out the registration form, please use acronyms (e.g., DMH, DMR, DSS).

10. What happens after an organization registers to become an Eligible Human Services Provider?

a.        After approval, the Council will mail to the organization's designated Human Resources Representative an approval letter and forward copies of the Certificate of Employee Eligibility for Tuition Remission Program for duplication and distribution to the organization's employees. Copies must be double-sided or they will not be accepted by the Council.

b.      Completed Certificates must be returned to the Council with the signatures of the Eligible Employee, Human Resources Representative, and the CEO.

c.       The Eligible Employee must present approved certificates to a public higher education institution when tuition payment is requested.

11. How does an organization obtain updates regarding the program?

As this information may change, you should periodically review the MCHSP  website -- http://www.providers.org.  The Council will notify Eligible Human Service Providers of substantive program changes.  

12. What is the Dept Code and SC number on the back of the Certificate form?

a.       The Department Code is the initials of the state agency your organization has a contract with to pay your employees' wages and benefits. DMH, DMR, DPH, DSS or DYS are a few examples.

b.      The SC number is the contract number starting with the letters SC, followed by alphanumeric characters of the appropriate human services contract.

13. Do I have to pay $10 for each certificate?
Yes. Each certificate is processed individually. Please note we do not accept personal checks; agency checks only.

14. May I take any course I want?
You may take undergraduate state-supported courses that your employer feels will improve performance in your current position and/or advance your career in the human services field. Your employer may have specific policies regarding courses they deem eligible. Course admission is limited by space availability and school requirements. Graduate courses and continuing education courses are not eligible for tuition remission. Contact the school to find out:

a.       If there is space available for the class

b.      If the course is state-supported

c.       The payment and registration schedule  

15. What does "courses with direct correlation to the employee's current position" mean?
Courses that are approved by your agencies CEO/COO and will either improve your performance in your current position or advance your career in the human services field.

16. Are my family members eligible for the Tuition Remission Program?
No. Family members are not eligible for this benefit.