Skidmore offers internal and external tuition benefits to support the educational goals of eligible employees and their families.

• Internal tuition benefits may be used by eligible employees and dependents for undergraduate courses and programs at Skidmore.
• External tuition benefits provide limited reimbursement when an eligible dependent child attends another accredited college.

Eligibility depends on the employee’s appointment, length of service, and the specific program. Human Resources determines eligibility for faculty and non-union staff. Union employees should refer to the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Looking for Tuition Exchange? Tuition Exchange is a separate, competitive scholarship program for eligible dependent children applying to participating colleges and universities. [Learn about the Tuition Exchange Program]

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Internal tuition benefits

The internal tuition benefit provides free or prorated undergraduate tuition at Skidmore for eligible employees and their dependents. It may apply to individual courses, non-matriculated study, or an undergraduate degree program at Skidmore.

Employee eligibility

The internal tuition benefit is available upon hire to employees in eligible appointments, including:

• Regular full-time employees in appointments of at least nine months
• Regular part-time employees in 12-month appointments who are scheduled to work at least 1,365 hours per year
• Temporary full-time employees in appointments of at least nine months
• Eligible union employees, subject to the applicable collective bargaining agreement
• Employees in approved shared appointments, who receive a prorated benefit
• Eligible Skidmore retirees

Human Resources determines whether an employee’s appointment qualifies for the benefit.

Dependent eligibility

Eligible dependents generally become eligible for the internal tuition benefit after the employee completes three years of continuous eligible service. Depending on the employee’s appointment and applicable College policies, eligible dependents may include:

• A spouse
• A qualified domestic partner
• A legally dependent child
• The legally dependent child of a qualified domestic partner

Human Resources determines dependent eligibility.

Using the benefit as an employee

Eligible employees may enroll in undergraduate courses at Skidmore on a credit or non-credit basis, subject to course availability and registration requirements. Before enrolling, employees should:

1. Review available courses and registration information.
2. Complete the Internal Tuition Grant Application.
3. Obtain advance approval from their supervisor when a course meets during regular work hours.
4. Make arrangements for any required time away from work or make-up time.
5. Register through the appropriate Skidmore office after receiving the necessary approvals.

Employees are generally admitted to courses on a space-available basis after the regular student registration period. Employees may enroll in one course per semester during regular work hours. Courses taken outside an employee’s regular work schedule do not require supervisor approval.

Using the benefit for a dependent

Eligible dependents may receive a tuition benefit of up to 100% of Skidmore tuition.

A dependent who wishes to pursue an undergraduate degree must apply for admission through Skidmore’s regular admission process and meet all applicable admission requirements and deadlines. Eligibility for an employee tuition benefit does not guarantee admission to the College.

A dependent who is not pursuing a degree may be able to enroll as a special student in credit-bearing or non-credit courses when space is available. Special-student registration is coordinated through the Office of the Registrar.

An Internal Tuition Grant Application must be completed for each eligible dependent and academic term.

Students seeking assistance with costs not covered by the tuition benefit should contact the Office of Financial Aid to learn about available financial aid and application requirements.

Summer courses and programs

Eligible employees and dependents may use the internal tuition benefit for qualifying Summer Sessions courses and other eligible undergraduate offerings administered by the College.

The student must meet all academic, registration, and program requirements. Application, material, supply, activity, and other applicable fees remain the responsibility of the employee or dependent.

What the internal benefit covers

The internal benefit applies to eligible undergraduate tuition. It does not generally cover:

• Admission or application fees
• Registration fees
• General College fees
• Laboratory, material, activity, or special course fees
• Private instruction, including individual music lessons
• Books and supplies
• Room and board
• Other non-tuition expenses

Eligible dependents may live in College housing at their own expense only when housing is available after other students have been assigned or when the student holds an eligible Residential Life position.

Changes in employment

If an employee leaves Skidmore or moves into an appointment that is not eligible for the benefit while the employee or dependent is enrolled, the tuition benefit generally continues through the end of the current semester and then ends.

Different continuation provisions may apply to eligible retirees or to the dependents of an employee who dies after completing the required period of eligible service. Contact Human Resources for an eligibility determination.

Apply for the internal tuition benefit

Complete the Internal Tuition Grant Application before the employee or dependent enrolls.

[Internal Tuition Grant Application]

For information about course availability and registration, contact the Office of the Registrar.

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External tuition benefits

The external tuition benefit provides limited reimbursement for undergraduate tuition paid for an eligible dependent child attending an accredited college other than Skidmore.

Employee eligibility

The external tuition benefit becomes available after three years of continuous eligible service.

Eligible appointments generally include:

• Regular or temporary full-time employees in appointments of nine to 12 months
• Part-time employees in 12-month appointments who are scheduled to work at least 1,365 hours per year
• Full-time faculty members appointed to temporary positions for at least two consecutive semesters in each qualifying year
• Employees in approved shared appointments, who receive a prorated benefit
• Eligible union employees, subject to the applicable collective bargaining agreement

Human Resources determines whether an employee’s appointment and service meet the eligibility requirements.

Benefit amount

Skidmore provides 75% of eligible tuition expenses, up to:

• $975 per semester
• $1,950 per academic year
• Eight semesters of undergraduate study

The payment is issued to the employee after Human Resources receives and approves the required application and supporting tuition bill.

Eligible dependents

The external tuition benefit may be used for:

• A legally dependent child of the employee
• A legally dependent child of the employee’s qualified domestic partner

The child must meet the College’s dependent eligibility requirements. Human Resources may request documentation confirming dependent status.

Eligible programs

The student must be pursuing an undergraduate degree at an accredited two-year or four-year college other than Skidmore. The external benefit applies to eligible tuition expenses. It does not cover room, board, fees, books, supplies, or other educational expenses.

External tuition and Tuition Exchange

A dependent may not receive both an external tuition benefit and a Tuition Exchange Scholarship for the same semester. When a dependent is eligible for both programs, the family must select which program to use for that academic term.

[Compare this benefit with the Tuition Exchange Program]

How to apply

A separate application must be submitted for each academic term.

1. Complete the External Tuition Grant Application.
2. Attach an itemized tuition bill from the student’s college.
3. Make sure the bill identifies the student, institution, academic term, and eligible tuition charges.
4. Submit the completed application and bill to Human Resources.
5. After the application is approved, the payment will be issued to the employee.

[External Tuition Grant Application]