The University of Memphis

Staff Degree Incentive Program

POLICIES

A degree that provides employees with (a) supplementary skills and education to perform their current jobs, (b) required education for certification or licensure related to their current jobs, or (c) education that qualifies employees to perform more complex duties in their current job title family, e.g., Accounting, Technology, Librarian, etc.

Each year, the Executive Committee will determine the reward system for degree completion. Ordinarily, provided funds are available, a reward will be available in the form of a one-time monetary payment. The amount of the payment, if any, will be established during the budget process each year.

This policy will be revised each July 1 to reflect the reward system in place for the current fiscal year.

When one-time monetary rewards are granted for degree completion, the payment dates are no earlier than one month following the date of graduation but in no case later than one year following graduation.

Terms and Conditions:

• Employees are eligible for a one-time monetary reward only for degrees earned after June 30, 2005.
• The employee must be a regular, full-time employee with at least one year of consecutive, active service at the University of Memphis at the time of graduation. The employee may not have been on leave without pay during the latest year of service.
• An employee may receive a reward for only one degree earned while employed by the University of Memphis.
• Degrees must be from an accredited institution of higher learning.
• If the employee had no previous degree, the reward will have no stipulations if all other terms and conditions are met.
• For subsequent degrees earned, the reward is conditional upon the degree being job related.
• The reward program is contingent upon approval through the University budget process for the current fiscal year.

Eligible employees should notify Human Resources of their graduation by submitting a request for reward consideration, which is based on provision in effect at the time. The "Notification of Graduation and Request for Staff Degree Incentive Reward" form must be signed by the employee and supervisor (see link below), and a transcript must be attached.

Monetary Rewards for FY2005-06

Degree Level	First Degree or Subsequent Degree that is Job Related
Bachelor's	$1,000
Master's	$2,000
Doctoral	$3,000

Examples:

• An Administrative Secretary had no degree when he was hired. He earned a Bachelor's degree in MIS while working at the U of M. He is eligible for a reward because this is his first degree.
• An Accountant I earned a Master of Arts degree before being hired. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Accounting while working at the U of M. The subsequent degree is eligible because it is job related.
• A Graduation Analyst was hired with a Master's degree. She completed a Doctorate in Engineering while working at the U of M. The subsequent degree is not eligible because it is not job related.