Columbia University Human Resources

Children: Eligibility

 

When Eligibility Starts

The children of a full-time, salaried Officer (as defined in "Officers: Eligibility" and "Officers: The Benefit") are eligible to receive tuition exemption for the next full term of the school they wish to attend after the Officer is hired or promoted. For details regarding terms, refer to the academic calendar of the particular school.

To be able to receive the Tuition Exemption Benefit, children must also be accepted into the school they wish to attend. Click on the “Prospective Students” link at www.columbia.edu for more information.

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Important Notice to Children of Same-Sex Domestic Partners

Please see Benefits in Brief for Faculty and Other Officers 2008 (PDF) / 2007 (PDF) to understand the definitions of same-sex domestic partners for purposes of receiving University benefits.

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Eligibility: Undergraduate Tuition

Eligible children are age 26 or under, and are the biological or adopted sons or daughters, or are under the legal guardianship, of:

  • A full-time, salaried Officer of administration, instruction, the libraries, or research
    OR
  • The spouse or same-sex domestic partner of a full-time, salaried Officer (for example, stepchildren of Officers are eligible).

Ineligible children are over age 26, or are the biological or adopted sons or daughters, or are under the legal guardianship, of:

  • A visiting Officer of instruction or research
  • A postdoctoral research scientist, scholar or fellow
  • The spouse or same-sex domestic partner of a visiting Officer or postdoctoral research scientist, scholar or fellow.

Eligibility: Graduate Tuition

Eligibility for graduate tuition depends on the Officer’s hire date.

  • Officer hired after June 30, 1993, and continuously employed at Columbia University: There is no Tuition Exemption Benefit for graduate school or graduate level courses for Officers' children.
  • Officer hired between July 1, 1987 and June 30, 1993, and continuously employed at Columbia University:
    The child's Tuition Exemption Benefit for graduate school or graduate level courses is equal to 50% of tuition costs, regardless of age, financial dependency or marital status, except for courses at the Law School or Teachers College, which are not covered.
  • Officer hired before July 1, 1987, and continuously employed at Columbia University:
    The child's Tuition Exemption Benefit for graduate school or graduate level courses is equal to 100 percent of tuition costs, regardless of age, financial dependency or marital status, except for courses at the Law School or Teachers College, which are not covered.
 

Changes in the Officer’s Employment Status That May Affect Children's Eligibility


Involuntary Termination

In general, if the Officer’s employment is terminated, discharged or released by Columbia University — other than for cause — during a term, the Tuition Exemption Benefit for that term will not be revoked. However, the Officer's child will not be granted tuition exemption for any subsequent term.

However, if an Officer's employment is terminated for cause, the Officer will be required to refund the remaining portion of any Tuition Exemption Benefit received for the term, based on "Refunding Your Benefit" below.

Resignation or Part-Time Appointment

If the Officer resigns or switches from a full-time to a part-time appointment, the child's eligibility for the Tuition Exemption Benefit officially ends at the close of business on the last day of the Officer’s active, full-time employment. If the child does not withdraw from University courses, and tuition exemption has already been granted for a term, the child or Officer may be required to refund a portion of the benefit, based on the “Refunding The Benefit” table below.

Leaves of Absence

  • Officers of Administration, Instruction, and the Libraries: If the Officer is granted a leave of absence, children's eligibility is not affected.
  • Officers of Research: If the Officer is put on a lapse-of-funding leave and a term has already begun, children's Tuition Exemption will not be revoked for that term. However, dependents will not be granted any further tuition benefits for the duration of the leave. If the Officer is granted a leave of absence other than for lapse of funding, children's eligibility for that term is not affected.

Retirement

Upon the Officer’s retirement, children remain eligible for the Tuition Exemption Benefit, under the terms in effect (at the time the application is submitted) for active Officers with the same hire date. To retire with this benefit, an Officer must be 55 years or older and must have completed ten years of full-time service.

Death

If the deceased Officer had completed ten years of full-time service at death or retirement, children are eligible for the Tuition Exemption Benefit under the terms in effect (at the time the application is submitted) for active Officers with the same hire date. If the deceased Officer had completed less than ten years of full-time service, children are eligible to receive the Tuition Exemption Benefit only to complete a degree program begun before the Officer’s death.

Refunding the Benefit

PLEASE NOTE: These are estimates only; please refer to the tuition policy and calendar of your school's Registrar.

Per Term
If you leave :

 

1/4 Through Term

1/2 Through Term

3/4 Through Term

End of Term
You must refund:

 

 		75%

 

 		 50%

 

 		25%

 

 		0%

 
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