Spouses and Same-Sex Domestic Partners: Eligibility

 

The spouse or same-sex domestic partner of an Officer is eligible to receive the Tuition Exemption Benefit 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 receive the Tuition Exemption Benefit, an Officer’s spouse or same-sex domestic partner must also be accepted into the school he or she wishes to attend. Click on the “Prospective Students” link at www.columbia.edu for more information.

 

Important Notice to 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.

 

Eligibility

Eligible spouses or same-sex domestic partners are those of:

• Full-time, salaried Officers of administration, instruction, the libraries, or research

Ineligible spouses or same-sex domestic partners are those of:

• Visiting Officers of instruction or research
• Postdoctoral research scientists, scholars or fellows
• Officers of the Columbia University Press
  

 

Changes in the Officer’s Employment Status That May Affect Your 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 spouse or same-sex domestic partner 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 by the spouse or same-sex domestic partner for the term, based on "Refunding Your Benefit" below.

Resignation or Part-Time Appointment

If the Officer resigns or voluntarily switches from a full-time to a part-time appointment, the spouse’s or same-sex domestic partner’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 spouse or partner does not withdraw from the University, and tuition exemption has already been granted for a term, the spouse or partner may be required to refund a portion of the benefit, based on “Refunding The Benefit” below.

Leaves of Absence

• Officers of Administration, Instruction, and the Libraries: If an Officer is granted a leave of absence, eligibility for the spouse or same-sex domestic partner is not affected.
• Officers of Research: If the Officer is put on a lapse-of-funding leave and a term has already begun, the spouse’s or same-sex domestic partner’s Tuition Exemption Benefit will not be revoked for that term. However, the spouse or same-sex domestic partner will not be granted any further Tuition Exemption Benefits for the duration of the leave. If the Officer is granted a leave of absence other than for lapse of funding, the spouse’s or same-sex domestic partner’s eligibility for that term is not affected.

Retirement

Upon the Officer’s retirement, the spouse or same-sex domestic partner is eligible to receive the Tuition Exemption Benefit only to complete a degree program begun before the retirement, and only if the Officer is 55 years or older and has completed ten years of full-time service.

Death

If the deceased Officer had completed ten years of full-time service at death, the spouse or same-sex domestic partner is 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%