What If My Employer Doesn't Offer Tuition Assistance?

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Guide to Online Education

Our comprehensive guide addresses what online education entails, what online learning options exist, how to select the best online education for your needs, and much more.

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eLearners.com. (2007). Guide to online education. Retrieved 8/21/2008, from the World Wide Web. http://www.elearners.com/
guide-to-online-education/.

Getting Someone Else to Pay For Your Online Education

What If My Employer Doesn't Offer Tuition Assistance?

Guide to Online Education > Paying For Online Education > Getting Someone Else to Pay > Tuition Assistance

It is always easier to ask for something—more pay, more vacation, more resources—before you accept a job. You have the leverage to make requests, especially if you are entertaining other job offers, because the employer knows he or she is competing with other companies. It costs to recruit an employee; money spent on advertising is just one part of the equation. Interviewing, training and loss of productivity while the new employee learns the job are other factors. It is in the employer's interest to get the first-choice candidate in quickly and get back to business. If you are a job-seeker, make tuition assistance a part of your compensation package; ask for it to be included in your offer letter, and it will save you a hassle later.

Fast Fact: In 2002, 79% of employers reported providing educational assistance to employees taking college classes. In 2003, 72% of employers offer undergraduate educational assistance and 69% of employers offer graduate educational assistance.

Society for Human Resource Management 2003 Benefits Survey

If you are already employed, but there is no tuition assistance policy in place, it could be because the subject simply has not come up. Be the first to ask. Once it has been broached, a meaningful dialogue can take place. Even if no substantive policy results, your efforts to trailblaze will work to the advantage of your current and future co-workers. Like maternity leave and personal leave, education benefits may be handled on a case-by-case basis at smaller companies.

There is no need to offer up a sob story. Leave your divorce, your kids, your mounting consumer debt, and your health concerns out of the equation. Present your case in a professional manner. Contain the matter to your worth as an employee and the merits of an education.

6 Tips For Talking To Your Boss About Tuition Assistance

Do your research first.

If the company is doing well, and you can show how you have contributed to its success, your boss will likely be more open to discussing your request.

Have a plan in place.

Know which school you wish to attend; the major, or area of continuing education, you wish to pursue; the exact cost; and the length of time you estimate it will take to complete your degree.

Make an appointment with your boss.

With no human resources specialist to run interference, you'll have to speak with the boss directly. Do not try to catch him or her between meetings, or at the close of the day when everyone is rushing off. If you have a supervisor, and have a good relationship, you may want to enlist him or her to help in getting the meeting. Keep that person in the loop. Try not to give the impression that you are jumping the chain of command. If it is feasible, invite that individual to the meeting as well. It is likely you will have to go through a secretary or other administrative assistant. Inform that person that the nature of the meeting pertains to your professional development at the company.

Provide a deliverable.

A formal presentation with dimmed lights and a projector is probably not necessary. A document in memo format should be sufficient. Include the length of time you have worked at the company, your contributions whether in revenue-generating or cost-cutting measures, and your responsibilities. It would be helpful to include a brief rationale for how this expenditure would benefit the company. Attach copies of financial documents detailing tuition and fees, course outlines you have printed from the website, and contact information for the school.

Communicate your commitment to the company.

Make your enthusiasm for the company known, indicate that you wish to stay, and assure your boss that your education will not interfere with your duties.

Remind your boss of the bottom line.

Not only is tuition assistance a morale booster and an excellent retention tool, it is worthwhile from a financial perspective as well. The boss can expense it as a training cost.

Present your case and wait. Don't expect an immediate answer. Give your boss the opportunity to consider all the points. Close the meeting with the understanding that you will follow up within two weeks. If the answer is "no", don't be afraid to ask "why?" It may be something that you can fix. But don't hound your boss. Wait until your next performance review to bring it up again. Cut a deal. Try to make it part of your compensation package.

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6 Tips For Talking To Your Boss About Tuition Assistance