Tuition Assistance FAQs
Do I have to complete a separate tuition request form every
semester?
Yes. Classes, credits, and sometimes majors vary among semesters
so you must submit a complete request form every semester. Additionally,
by signing the request form you certify that you understand and
abide by UPMC's tuition guidelines. This certification must be
provided for each semester.
What is an official class schedule?
A semester class schedule must be submitted with staff advancement
requests to document the course of study. An official class schedule
displays the following information, preprinted by the school:
- student name
- school name
- semester
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- class titles
- class start/end dates
- number of credits for each course
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What is an itemized bill?
An itemized bill is a document from your school that shows a
breakdown of the tuition charges and fees for a specific term.
UPMC's tuition benefit may only be applied to the actual tuition
charges; it does not include fees, books, or other expenses —
so the itemized statement is needed to document the actual tuition
amount separate from these other charges.
What is proof of payment (reimbursement only)?
A document showing proof of payment verifies that all charges
have been paid in full and shows the method of payment used. A
receipt from the school is only acceptable if it clearly itemizes
payments. Because only your payments are eligible for tuition
reimbursement, it is necessary to prove the amounts you have actually
paid. The following is a list of acceptable proof documents:
- personal check (front and back)
- credit card statement with employee’s name preprinted
and showing charges to the school
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- student account statement showing applied cash receipts,
loans, scholarships, or grants
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Why is anticipated aid not acceptable as proof of payment?
Anticipated aid amounts may change during the course of the semester.
Aid amounts credited to the account must show the actual amount
and the date the aid was applied.
What type of third party payments affect the amount of tuition
assistance for which I am eligible?
The purpose of the tuition assistance program is to provide help
with your actual out-of-pocket tuition expenses. As a result,
if your tuition is paid by another source, such as a scholarship
or grant, your amount of eligible assistance decreases. Student
loans must eventually be paid by you, so they do not affect the
tuition assistance benefit in any way.
What is proof of successful completion (reimbursement only)?
Proof of successful completion is a grade report (or certificate
or test results if a certification exam). The grade obtained must
be an "A", "B", "C", "P", or "S".
I heard the money I receive from UPMC will be taxed. Is this true
and when will I have to pay the taxes?
Yes. Staff tuition assistance is considered taxable income at
state and local levels. Dependent tuition assistance is considered
taxable income to the staff member at the federal, state, and
local levels. Reimbursements are taxed at the time you receive
the payment in your pay. Advancement taxes are deducted from your
pay at the end of the semester.
Why do I need to supply proof of dependent status with my tuition
assistance request and when do I need to supply it?
As with all UPMC benefits, staff must supply proof of dependent
status when first electing or utilizing a benefit. Marriage certificates,
UPMC Domestic Partner Affidavit, or court ordered guardianship
documents must be provided with a tuition assistance request for
a dependent if the proof has not already been provided to the
UPMC Employee Service Center. UPMC also does periodic audits of
dependent status where additional documentation may be requested.
If I am applying for tuition assistance for my dependent for the
summer semester, why is it necessary for me to provide spring grades?
The dependent child tuition benefit requires students take a
minimum of 12 credits per semester. Typically, students carry
less than 12 credits per semester during the summer term. An allowance
is made during the summer term for students to take less than
12 credits if they were full-time students in the preceding spring
semester. Also, dependents who were full-time students in the
spring at an ineligible school and are attending an eligible school
during the summer can apply for tuition assistance for the summer
term. The grade report from the spring semester documents the
full-time status.
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