General Requirements
Tuition Assistance Programs are available to faculty and staff (undergraduate and graduate student employees are not eligible for these programs). Employees must complete all student requirements to be registered. We suggest that you contact the appropriate admissions office of the school you wish to attend. If you plan on attending Binghamton University you should contact either Undergraduate Admissions or Graduate Studies to begin this process. Registration as either a matriculated or non-matriculated student and completing your course registration is required prior to applying for employee tuition assistance.
New York State residency information will be required at the Student Accounts Office (607) 777-2702. Please review the residency information/requirements.
University Health Service
If you were born on or after January 1, 1957, you will be required to provide proof of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). In addition, all students must verify having received information on meningitis and indicate whether or not meningitis vaccine has been received. These requirements are mandated by NYS Public Health Law; students must fulfill them in order to be eligible to register for classes. For more information visit the University Health Service website or call (607) 777-2221.
Student Code of Conduct
Prior to registration you will need to acknowledge the "Student Code of Conduct."
Important Notice Regarding Employee Educational Assistance
The Office of the University Controller has advised that under current Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations, employer educational assistance plans are taxable under the conditions listed below, whether payments are made to the employee or to an educational institution on behalf of an employee. Tuition waiver assistance is included in the category of payment to an educational institution on behalf of an employee.
Payments to an employee taking graduate or undergraduate level courses are eligible for exclusion from taxable income, up to $5,250 in a calendar year. Any excess over $5,250 is taxable. The $5,250 exclusion applies even if the education is not job-related.
Also Note:
- Unpaid parking tickets, library fines, etc. will block a registration.
- Course registration in BANNER must be completed before your tuition application can be processed.
- You may participate in both Space Available (if eligible) and Tuition Waiver each semester.
- Tuition Waiver requires both successful completion and supervisor approval and can be used for independent study courses.
- Tuition Waiver is subject to post semester audit by Human Resources.
- Fees (including late and/or cancellation fees) are not covered. Visit the student accounts website for fee details.
- Books are not covered.
- Applicant must be an employee of SUNY at the time the course begins and ends. Termination of employment during the semester of course enrollment will result in full tuition liability.
Employee Tuition Assistance
Employees interested in applying for tuition assistance can obtain information and/or applications by:
- Reviewing the Programs information below;
- Visiting the Human Resources forms page;
- Visiting the HR Office in Couper Administration Building, room 244;
- Call 607-777-6618
All the usual academic rules regarding enrollments, prerequisites, grading, and degree requirements remain in effect.
Programs
The UUP Space Available Program
Article 49 of the current agreement between the State of New York and United University Professions (UUP) provides for a tuition waiver for one course per semester on a "space available" basis. The course must be taken at a state-based SUNY operated campus.
- Only credit-bearing courses taken at Binghamton University or other state-operated SUNY campuses are covered.
- Non-credit courses, courses taken at community colleges, and course audits are not covered.
- Applications are approved for those courses which are not filled with tuition-paying students.
- An application must be submitted separately for each semester.
An applicant must register for the course through the usual student registration procedures. Once registration is finalized, employees should submit their Space Available form to Human Resources.
In some departments and programs, it is important to check with the department before classes begin, indicating your interest in taking a class on a space available basis.
Space Available applications should be submitted to Human Resources as soon as possible (we recommend 30 days prior to start of classes) and no later than the end of the first week of classes.
How do I submit a UUP Space Available Application?
- If you are a Binghamton employee taking a course via another SUNY campus, check with the instructing campus--via their website, office of human resources or their registrar's office--to confirm if they require you to use their UUP Space Available Application.
- If you are taking a course at Binghamton University, use the electronic application link on our Forms page. Log in with your Binghamton
University Computer Account ID and password at: Space Available Program Application and Instructions
- Please finalize your course registration prior to submitting your Space Available application to Human Resources. For course registration assistance, contact your school's Admissions Office and/or chat with a Student Accounts representative at 607-777-2702.
- Notify BU Human Resources as soon as possible at 607-777-6618 if you withdraw your enrollment or the course is cancelled.
SUNY B140W Tuition Waiver Program
The SUNY Tuition Waiver Program is available to University and Research Foundation employees (excluding student employees). The percentage of tuition waived depends on the applicant's full-time employment status, the degree to which the course is job related, and the amount of available funding.
- Employees are expected to be on the payroll for the duration of the course taken.
- This program pays for up to two tuition credits per semester for credit courses at a state-based SUNY operated campus, dependent on available funding.
- Fees are the student's responsibility and are not eligible for reimbursement.
- This program does not include courses taken at community colleges, non-credit courses, or course audits.
- You and your supervisor or department director must sign the B140W application form to be considered for reimbursement.
- It is recommended that you pay your tuition bill by the designated due date since there is no guarantee that SUNY Tuition Waiver funding will be available for reimbursement.
- Award notification is generally communicated to applicant after funding availability is confirmed from SUNY to campus HR, but no sooner than after the first week of classes.
- A separate application must be submitted for each semester and are due in Human Resources by the end of the first week of each semester.
- Tuition Waiver is subject to post semester audit by Human Resources.
- Any course for which a waiver is received must be satisfactorily completed; otherwise, the waiver is withdrawn and the individual is responsible for the full tuition cost.
- Applicant must be an employee of SUNY at the time the course begins and ends. Termination of employment during the semester of course enrollment will result in full tuition liability.
How do I submit a SUNY B140W Tuition Waiver Application?
Your paper application each semester requires your supervisor's signature and should be submitted to Human Resources in advance, and no later than the end of the first week of classes. Waiver applications received after the deadline will be placed on a waiting list and approved only if funding is available.
Employees interested in applying for Tuition Waiver can obtain information and/or applications as follows:
- Visit the Human Resources forms page
- By clicking the Tuition Waiver Application link below
- Visit our offices (Couper Administration Building, room 242)
- Call 777-6618 or email Meaghan Liberati
- You and your supervisor must sign the University Tuition Waiver Program Application & Instructions (B-140)
NOTE: The Office of Human Resources is generally notified in the Fall regarding the status of SUNY Tuition Waiver allocation for Binghamton University. There is no guarantee funding will be available.
As an example, applications for courses taken in Summer 2023 will be considered part of 2023 - 2024 funding.
To avoid late fee charges, it is recommended to pay your tuition and fees by their due date. Once Human Resources is notified about possible funding, registrants will be contacted by our office regarding the status of their B140 tuition waiver application.
The NYS & CSEA Partnership
Employees represented by CSEA may qualify for either the tuition voucher program or tuition reimbursement program benefits, depending upon the educational institution.
You can obtain further information and forms via:
- website: http://www.nyscseapartnership.org/
- call office 1-800-253-4332, Option 2
- email: learning@nyscseapartnership.org
Management/Confidential
Online Courses
The Management/Confidential (M/C) online courses are offered for entire statewide M/C workforce through our own Continuing Education group at no charge to employees. These course offerings meet a wide variety of professional and personal development needs. For additional information and to register please follow this link:
MC Certification and Licensure Exam Fee Reimbursement Program
The Certification and Licensure Exam Fee Reimbursement Program reimburses eligible M/C employees up to $600 for certification and licensure examinations through the Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER).
Email GOER if you have questions regarding the above program.
PEF Employees
The Governor's Office of Employee Relations sponsors a tuition reimbursement program for PEF Employees.
More information is available at https://goer.ny.gov/public-employees-federation-afl-cio-pef
NYSCOPBA Employees
NYSCOPBRA tuition reimbursement program
