Tuition Waiver Is an Amazing Employee Benefit

University employees can enroll in two college courses each semester and receive tuition assistance. Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications

University employees can enroll in two college courses each semester and receive tuition assistance. Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications

During my employee orientation in September 2014, I was told about the employee benefit to promote education.

As a communications specialist, I knew learning to further my writing skills and complete research studies would only make me better as an employee. So I took the GRE a month later and in January 2015 began pursuing my M.A. in journalism.

The courses were extremely beneficial. I was able to learn about research and work toward completing a thesis while taking electives that focused on social media, photography and crisis communications. This combination of journalism and marketing communications was the perfect mixture of coursework for someone like me, in the public relations field.

Now, a year-and-a-half later, I’ve nearly completed my degree. Pending the successful defense of my thesis later this summer, I will have my master’s in journalism, which wouldn’t have been possible without these awesome employee benefits.

So here’s how they work:

Full-time university employees are able to take up to two three-hour courses with associated one-hour lab, if applicable, each semester at no cost through the employee tuition waiver benefit.

And here’s what’s even better – with approval of your department head, one course related to your current work duties may be taken during your normal work day.

So if you’re looking to finish your bachelor’s degree, pursue a master’s or higher or just learn a skill such as a foreign language, art or design, check out the Ole Miss course schedule to find what’s best for you.

If you already know what you which courses you want to take, fill out Form 19 and return it to Human Resources before the beginning of the fall semester to receive the employee scholarship.