Division of Financial Services
Tax
Cornell offers four education assistance programs to eligible employees, and one tuition assistance program to the children of eligible employees:
The CCTS award is available to eligible employees' dependent children, as defined by IRS code. When the award is for undergraduate study, it is usually tax-free. When there is an exception, Cornell's Division of Human Resources will inform the employee the award is not tax-free. Awards for graduate study, however, are taxable. The withholding rate of 40 percent is reflected on an active employee's W-2 form, and on a retiree's 1099 form. See HR's CCTS page for more details.
Eligible Cornell employees, with agreement from department management, may enroll in a degree program at Cornell to improve and/obtain skill sets to enhance their job performance. The university will pay for up to eight credit hours per semester, after any available New York State Tuition Assistance is applied. For more information, see HR's Education Benefits at Cornell page or contact the HR Services & Transitions Center.
If you are enrolled in the EMBA program and would like to learn more about possible tax treatments of these benefits, see the Executive MBA Program Tuition Waiver Taxation page.
Eligible Cornell employees can attend classes part-time during the fall and spring. Employees may choose to enhance current skills, obtain new skills, or simply gain new knowledge by obtaining college credits while working towards a personal goal. Eligible staff members may take up to four credit hours per semester without charge, as long as the credits are towards furthering skill sets needed for current employment. Graduate level credits that do not maintain or improve current job skills, however, are subject to federal withholding taxes, and are reported as an increase in the employee's taxable gross income on his or her paycheck. For more information, see HR's Education Benefits at Cornell page, or the Part-Time Study page on the School of Continuing Education's website.
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Cornell's Tuition Aid Program allows eligible employees to obtain training and education at an institute other than Cornell. The program is not limited to college-level courses, but does have limited funds. Only the cost of the course(s) is refunded, books and supplies are the employee's responsibility. To be considered, employees must meet eligibility guidelines and submit a "Tuition Aid Form" to Benefit Services & Administration. For more information, see the HR's Education Benefits At Another Institution page.
Cornell's Organizational Development & Effectiveness (ODE) offers a variety of staff development and training courses. Cornell employees are encouraged to strengthen individual and job performance, and develop skills and abilities. To find out more about what ODE has to offer, visit HR's Career Skills Programs page, or email ODE.
