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 harpen
those number two pencils, power up that laptop and enroll yourself
in a class. That’s what approximately 300 Children’s
employees did last year, and with the help of Children’s tuition
assistance benefit, going back to school has never been more affordable.
Whether to complete a degree or to enhance your skills and knowledge,
chances are tuition for your class will cost you next to nothing.
That’s because tuition assistance reimburses full- and part-time
employees (with the exception of medical and house staff) for courses
relevant to their jobs or career advancement. Employees are eligible
for tuition assistance ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 per year.
Rebecca Maltese, research assistant in Neurobehavioral
Study, enrolled in an Abnormal Psychology class last fall at the
Harvard Extension School. “I remembered hearing about tuition
reimbursement during my orientation,” Maltese says. “At
the time, I worked with children with a variety of disabilities,
and the class helped me understand the situations that the children
and their families came from.” In addition to its direct relevance
to her job, the class also has paved the way for her return to graduate
school in September to study school counseling.
Finding time for all of the work involved can be the most difficult
aspect of returning to school. Zarina Belcher,
administrative associate in Marketing, Strategic Planning and Physician
Relations, has been working toward her bachelor’s degree by
taking two to three classes a semester at U-Mass Boston. “It’s
tough to find the balance,” Belcher says. “The classes
and homework aren’t that difficult, but finding time to read
is hard. I carry my books wherever I go, because you never know
when you’ll have a spare minute.” After earning her
degree with a concentration in Management Information Systems, Belcher
hopes to move into information technology. “I would like to
be able to stay at Children’s as I advance my career. Tuition
assistance helps make that possible.”
Arlene Beauchemin, director of Learning
and Development in Human Resources, understands that tuition assistance
is one of Children’s best tools for holding onto committed
employees such as Maltese and Belcher. Another clear advantage,
she says, is helping employees do their jobs better. “In order
to support the mission of the hospital, it’s essential for
employees to maintain their competencies at the cutting edge. Education
is the key to that effort.”
Applying for tuition assistance is easy. To be eligible, a course
must meet for at least 20 contact hours, be graded and be directly
related to the employee’s current position or a reasonably
attainable position within the hospital. Students are reimbursed
once the course is completed with a grade of C or better.–NT
For complete eligibility requirements or to apply, click on
Work/Life Benefits
on the Human Resources page of the intranet or call Learning and
Development
at ext. 5-7771.
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