(A) Regular full-time regular employees covered hereunder may receive reimbursement for the tuition for job-related courses. Any employee desiring to receive such reimbursement must receive approval from the department head and the City Manager prior to enrolling in the course or courses.
(B) The payment of tuition reimbursement shall be subject to the following guidelines:
(1) The course or courses must be taken from an accredited or approved college, university, secondary school, technical institute, business institute, or trade school.
(2) The course or courses must be directly related to the employee's current position or a promotional position for which the employee is eligible, or must be part of a degree program related to the employee's current position or a promotional position. The employee must submit an outline of their degree course work and gain approval for participation in the reimbursement program from the City Manager. Submissions must be prior to starting any course work and prior to city budget hearings held each year.
(C) The city will pay 100% in tuition reimbursement for any course that a member passes up to the maximum amount stipulated in division (D) of this section. Reimbursement will be made within 30 days following the conclusion of the course work, and after submission by the employee of documents showing completion and passing grades.
(D) The maximum amount which an employee covered hereunder can receive in any one calendar year for tuition reimbursement shall be $1,500.
(E) An employee covered hereunder who terminates employment with the city within two years after completing a course or courses under the tuition reimbursement program shall refund to the city all money received for courses taken within two years of the employee's termination date. The amount to be refunded may be withheld from any termination pay due the employee. Employees whose services are terminated by the city will not be required to make a refund.
(Ord. 3664, passed 2-11-20)