DEGREE ATTAINMENT
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to guide employees on the submittal of documentation for proper degree recognition and record-keeping requirements.
GUIDELINES
When an employee earns a degree, an official transcript must be requested from the accrediting institution and sent directly to the Human Resources office. Once the official transcript has been received in Human Resources, Human Resources will complete a Personnel Action Form (PAF) which will be forwarded to the president for approval. The completed PAF ensures proper degree recognition for the bonus and record-keeping requirements.
Employees who are receiving a degree from a regionally accredited institution may be eligible, unless otherwise stated in the employment letter or other documents, for a one-time bonus of $1,000. Employees receiving a degree to meet the minimum position requirements are not eligible for the bonus. Employees receiving a second degree of a higher designation may be eligible. Employees who are receiving a second degree of the same designation, (e.g., a second associate degree), are not eligible for the bonus. If a bonus is approved by the president, it will be paid during the following payrolls: degree earned in spring (June 30), degree earned in summer (September 30), degree earned in fall (January 31).
Employees eligible to receive the one-time bonus must have the transcript submitted to Human Resources within one semester following degree attainment to receive the one-time bonus (ex. employee attains a degree in spring, the employee must request the transcript to be sent directly to the Human Resources office by the end of summer). Late notification will delay the processing of the bonus. Notification past one semester following degree attainment will result in the employee being ineligible to receive the one-time bonus.
Approved: Executive Council, March 4, 1991
Editorial Changes, April 22, 1993
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, September 9, 1997
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, May 1, 2000
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, February 7, 2005
Editorial Changes: October 12, 2006
Reviewed and Recommended: President’s Council, November 24, 2014
Approved: L. Anthony Wise, Jr., President, November 24, 2014
Editorial Changes, September 10, 2015
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, September 9, 2019
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise Jr., September 9, 2019
Review/Recommended: College Council, January 27, 2025
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise, Jr., January 27, 2025