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Committee considers staff education benefits
A newly formed committee is considering the possibility of improving the education benefit offered to Vanderbilt faculty and staff members.
The charge to the 14member committee stems from conversations staff members had with Gordon Gee during his first 10 months as Chancellor.
"One concern that is consistently raised during my conversations with staff members is the limited opportunity for educational assistance for this particular segment of the Vanderbilt community, in relation to the assistance provided to their families," Gee wrote in the charge letter to committee members dated May 1. "I strongly believe that as an institution of higher learning, Vanderbilt has an obligation to encourage and support the educational advancement of all members of our community."
Darlene Lewis, associate vice chancellor, Human Resource Services, is chair of the committee.
"We have no intention to diminish any benefits," she said. "We're looking into the possibility of enhancing them."
Lewis said the committee is not considering changing the existing tuition reimbursement program for dependent children. Rather, it plans to focus on the aspect of the benefit that reimburses employees for their education expenses and those of their spouses or partners.
"We believe that we are very competitive in our dependent tuition reimbursement program," she said. "However, we need to focus on our reimbursement benefit offered for staff."
While this particular benefit is also offered to faculty, it is rarely used because faculty members have generally achieved their desired level of education prior to joining Vanderbilt.
Currently, the benefit that is being considered allows full-time staff members to audit one Vanderbilt course of up to three hours per semester after three months of employment. Staff may receive a 47 percent discount at Vanderbilt for courses taken for credit. A maximum of one three-hour course each semester and three courses each school year may be taken. Similarly, staff may receive a 50 percent tuition reimbursement for job-related courses taken, with supervisor approval, at another accredited institution.
Spouses or partners of full-time staff members may receive a 47 percent discount at Vanderbilt for one non-degree course per semester.
The tuition benefit for dependent children -- which the committee is not considering altering -- is offered to faculty and staff members after five years of full-time employment. If the dependent is enrolled at Vanderbilt, the benefit is 70 percent of tuition. For dependent children enrolled at other eligible institutions, the benefit is determined by the other school's tuition as compared to Vanderbilt's tuition. To qualify, the child must be enrolled in undergraduate courses leading to the first baccalaureate degree at an accredited college or university. Each eligible child may receive tuition discounts for up to eight semesters or 12 quarters of undergraduate courses. Continuing discounts are contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. The maximum family benefit is 24 semesters per staff member employed at Vanderbilt.
The committee was scheduled to meet for the first time June 18.
"We will meet several times over the summer and the fall," said Lewis. "There is no indication yet as to when the committee will make its recommendations."
Including Lewis, the following persons have agreed to serve on the committee: Jane M. Bruce, director of benefits, Human Resource Services; Karen E. Campbell, associate professor of sociology and director of graduate studies; William J. Corbin, assistant director of administration, Learning Technology Center; Marilyn A. Dubree, director of patient care services and chief nursing officer; Phyllis Ekdall, chief financial officer, Vanderbilt Medical Group; Lisa A. Ellis, department education specialist, pathology resident and graduate programs; Jerry G. Fife, director, contract and grant accounting; Patricia Marett, director of business operations, Division of Administration; Phillip McGovern, business manager, telecommunications; Mark Penkhus, executive director and chief executive officer of Vanderbilt University Hospital; James R. Slater, administrative officer, Department of Cell Biology; Terrie L. Spetalnick, coordinator for internal computing support, Department of Information Technology Services; and Kent D. Syverud, dean of the Law School and Garner Anthony Professor of Law.
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