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Cornell Children's Tuition Scholarship (CCTS)

Cornell University offers eligible employees a program to provide assistance in paying tuition costs for their children.

The Cornell Children's Tuition Scholarship (CCTS) program assists employees' children in reaching their higher education goals. CCTS provides the children of eligible employees a partial scholarship for study at Cornell or other accredited institutions, and is administered pursuant to the approval of the Board of Trustees as adopted on January 20, 1966, and as amended from time to time. 

Online application*

* The online application for the next academic year (Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring) will be available the first week of April each year. Applications will not be reviewed without the name of the school the student will attend.

Eligibility

The benefit payable will be dependent on the employee’s most recent hire date. The employee may be responsible for providing proof of prior service.

Employees:

  • Regular full-time employees, ROTC staff or CURW Chaplain who work thirty-five (35) or more hours per week for a term of eight (8) or more months and have satisfied a four (4) year, full-time service requirement;
  • Employees (hired after December 10, 2014), who worked at an institution of higher education immediately prior to joining Cornell in a permanent, benefits-eligible position and who worked at that institution for a period of at least four years of full-time service.
    • The former employer/institution of higher education must have had a program substantially similar to CCTS;
    • Employees will be credited with time served to offset the four (4) year, full time service requirement;
  • Part-time employees hired prior to July 1, 1985 (eligible for a pro-rated benefit);
  • Full-time or part-time employees who have previously satisfied a four (4) year, full-time service requirement. The benefit payable will be dependent on the employee’s most recent hire date. The employee may be responsible for providing proof of prior service. (Effective for applications filed for the 2009/2010 academic year and beyond);
  • Employees who have accrued the four (4) year, full-time waiting period and move to a part-time position (no less than 20 hours per week or the equivalent effort.) (Effective for applications filed for the 2009/2010 academic year and beyond)
  • Part-time employees who have worked part-time for at least eight years (Effective for Applications filed for the Spring 2015 academic year and beyond)
  • University retirees

Children:

  • Eligible children shall include: natural-born children, adopted children, stepchildren, and foster children, provided that the foster children have been living in the home of and primarily supported by the employee for at least five years prior to application for CCTS.  Note: Only one employee may claim the student during any given semester.

The CCTS benefit is not available for:

  • Employees of the County Cooperative Extension Associations
  • Students working toward a certificate or diploma*

Student employment does not accrue eligibility toward the CCTS benefit.

* Board of Trustees Amendment, effective 12/11/2014: Students who have a medical condition that precludes the completion of a standard degree program, should be accorded the opportunity to complete a certificate or diploma that meets their needs and provides educational development in the appropriate setting. Medical documentation from an attending physician is required in order to approve the certificate or diploma.

 Employment Status Change

Employment Status Change

CCTS Benefit Changes

Break-in-Service

Benefit levels will be based on the terms of the award in effect on the most recent hire date.

Part-time

An employee hired prior to July 1, 1985 may work at least 20 hours but less than 35 hours per week and receive a prorated tuition payment.

Layoff

Benefit will be continued through the term in which the layoff commences and continue for one additional academic term.

Resignation or Termination

Benefit will be continued through the term

University Leave of Absence

Benefit will be continued until the end of the term in which the leave of absence commences.

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Benefit will be continued while on FMLA.

Disability

Benefit will be continued at the rate received as an active employee.

Retirement

Upon your retirement, your children retain eligibility for a CCTS whether or not they are receiving CCTS benefits at the time of your retirement.

Note: To retire, you must be 55 years or older and must have completed ten years of credited service at the university.

Death

If you are CCTS eligible upon your death, your children will retain eligibility for a CCTS whether or not they are receiving CCTS benefits at that time.

Benefit Level

Your benefit level is determined by your date of hire at the university.

Date of Hire

Service Requirement

Maximum Scholarship

Benefit Level at Cornell

Benefit Level at Other Institutions for all Hire Dates

Prior to July 1, 1983

Currently eligible

10 semesters of undergraduate study or a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.

A maximum of 14 semesters, including 6 semesters of graduate education at Cornell.

100% of tuition, less administrative fees* (currently $9,980 per year)

CCTS pays 30% of the outside school’s tuition and fees. The minimum benefit amount is full tuition or $1,000 per academic year, whichever is less.

If the outside school’s tuition is greater than Cornell’s endowed tuition and fees, CCTS will pay 30% of Cornell’s endowed tuition and administrative fees.

No benefits are paid for graduate study at other institutions.

July 1, 1983 - June 30, 1985

Currently eligible

10 semesters of undergraduate study or a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.

A maximum of 14 semesters, including 6 semesters of graduate education at Cornell.

50% of tuition and administrative fees

July 1, 1985 – present

4 years of full-time service; part-time employees are not eligible**

10 semesters of undergraduate study or a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first

Graduate study is not available.

50% of tuition and administrative fees

* Administrative fee policy as established/amended by the Board of Trustees on July 12, 1972.

** Effective 12/11/2014, the Board of Trustees amended the policy to allow part-time employees who have worked for at least 8 years to be considered for eligibility for this benefit. This affects those employees who are applying for the spring 2015 semester and forward.

 How to Apply

CCTS is a reimbursement program. You may therefore apply for CCTS benefits at any time by completing the following steps:

  1. Check to see if your student's school is accredited. Search for your school on the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
  2. Complete one application per academic year. Select all terms your student will be attending for the academic year. Please note that the collection of the student's social security number is necessary in order to track the history of usage by the student within our database. It is never shared outside of the database.
    1. Online application (use with active NetID)
    2. Paper application (pdf) is available for retirees and those who do not have an active NetID.
  3. E-mail ccts@cornell.edu with any status changes (eg. the student changes schools or a change in parent information). Do not complete another application.

Application Process

For Cornell Students

Once your application has been reviewed and approved for eligibility:

  • CCTS notifies Financial Aid with the award amount for the academic year to credit to the student’s account;
  • You will receive notification that the award payment was made once the student is enrolled for at least six credits.  No further action by the employee or the student is required for that academic year;
  • Cornell students may receive benefits for summer/winter courses taken at Cornell, without prior authorization from the school or college granting the Cornell degree;
  • Cornell students may also receive benefits for summer/winter courses taken at another institution. Payments to outside schools are provided at 30% of the outside school’s tuition and fees. Contact ccts@cornell.edu for the form used for courses outside of Cornell.  Summer/winter credits are deducted from undergraduate semesters.

For Students Enrolled at Other Institutions

Once your application has been reviewed and approved for eligibility: 

  • You will receive an approval email with a blank Certification attached;
  • The email instructs you to keep the attachment as you will need to download it and give it to the school for each semester in that academic year that you want CCTS to make a payment;
  • You will need to complete the top portion and submit the Certification form to the school your student is attending, for completion;
  • Once the school sends the completed form back to you, it is your responsibility to submit the form to the HR Services and Transitions Center, 395 Pine Tree Road, Suite 110, Ithaca, NY 14850.  You can also fax it to 607-255-6873 or email:  ccts@cornell.edu;
  • Submit only the certification for the current term the student is attending. Certification forms for future terms will not be accepted by the HR Services and Transitions Center  (i.e. do not submit both fall & spring certification forms at the same time);
  • Payments for CCTS awards cannot be made until the completed Certification form is received;
  • Once the payment has been approved, you will receive an email confirming the amount that will be sent to the school.  As indicated in the email notice, please allow 2-4 weeks for the school to receive the award;
  • CCTS is not responsible for late fees that may accrue due to the date of receipt of the CCTS payment.

Any changes to the student’s status during the year, should be emailed to ccts@cornell.edu.

Benefit Payment

  • Cornell students of employees hired prior to July l, 1983 will receive an award equal to 100% tuition, less administrative fees *(currently set at $9,980 per year);
  • Cornell students of employees hired on or after July 1, 1983 will receive an award equal to half of the tuition and administrative fees;
  • Payments for a new academic year are made at the start of the new fiscal year (July 1).  Fall payments can begin being made at that time.  Spring awards are processed after Thanksgiving;
  • In order for awards to be made to outside schools, a completed CCTS Certification must be submitted to Cornell's HR Services and Transitions Center;
  • The CCTS award is received by schools as student aid; therefore, the award may reduce other federal aid, e.g. Pell awards, workstudy.  The school may also reduce/cancel grant money based on their school policy. Families should contact the college their student is considering, to find out what the policy is for adjusting the student’s aid package with the CCTS award.

A CCTS payment is always made directly to the institution.

  • When a student is attending an institution other than Cornell, the plan does not make payments until the completed CCTS Certification Form is received by the HR Services and Transition Center.
  • Colleges may require a student to pay tuition and fees at the time of registration.  You may want to discuss if the school will waive the portion that CCTS will provide;
  • The student’s college will reimburse the student after it has received payment from Cornell if there is a credit on the student’s account.
  • The CCTS plan does not provide direct reimbursement to you or the student.
  • CCTS is a reimbursement plan, not a prepayment.

Please be aware that the CCTS award cannot be posted to a student's Cornell bursar account until they are enrolled for at least six credits during the fall and/or spring semesters.

You or the student must notify the institution and the HR Services and Transitions Center if a student’s attendance plans change. If the CCTS payment is made, the full term will be deducted from the total semesters of eligibility unless you or the institution reimburse the CCTS plan.

Payments can be made for courses taken prior to matriculation.  We would need a letter/email from the degree granting school, confirming the semester and number of credits that they are accepting as part of the student’s degree program.  The student should confirm with the prior school that they will accept a retroactive payment.  Some schools do not as they have been audited and that academic year closed.  

CCTS benefits will only be coordinated with other scholarships or awards that must be applied to tuition. Awards that can be used for other purposes (books, room & board, living expenses), such as the PELL Grant, will not be considered. The amount of the CCTS benefit will be reduced only if the combined payment from CCTS and the other award (TAP, Excelsior, ROTC scholarships, or scholarships awarded solely for tuition costs) exceeds the total cost of tuition and fees.

* Administrative fee policy as established/amended by the Board of Trustees on July 12, 1972.

Tax Information

Undergraduate

The CCTS benefit is generally not taxable if it covers undergraduate education; however, under the Internal Revenue Code, the child must be a natural, adopted, foster or stepchild and a dependent. For tax purposes, a child is a dependent if you provide more than half of the child's support. In short, a child can be a dependent even if he/she does not qualify as an exemption on your tax return. In the event of divorced or separated parents, if either of the parents can pass the support test, BOTH parents pass it.

If you indicate that the student is not your dependent, these additional taxes will be deducted from your paycheck during the semester in which the award is made using the withholding rate determined by your completed W4 form on file in payroll.

Retirees with a taxable value will receive a 1099 at the end of the calendar year.

All taxes will apply to the benefits paid for the children of an employee's domestic partner. State taxes will not be applied to the benefit paid for the children of the same-sex spouse who was married in NYS and can provide a marriage license (this also applies to other qualified same-sex marriages).

Visit the Department of Financial Affairs for details on taxes.

Graduate

Benefits for graduate CCTS are taxable. The CCTS award and withholding will be reflected on your annual wage and tax statement (W-2) if you are an active employee. The net value of the award will be reflected on the student's bursar account. Graduate CCTS must be completed at Cornell and only employees hired prior to July 1, 1985 are eligible to receive this CCTS benefit.

Visit the Department of Financial Affairs for details.


Frequently Asked Questions

Do I complete an online application for each semester?

An online application is completed once for the entire academic year.  Check off the semesters in which you would like reimbursement during that    academic year.  If there are any changes to the student’s status, please email ccts@cornell.edu and the changes will be made on the original application submitted.

How does the outside school get paid by CCTS?

Once you are approved for the benefit, you will receive an approval email from CCTS.  The email consists of an attachment and complete instructions, part of which directs you to keep the email or save the attachment to your desktop as you will need to download, complete the top portion and submit it to the     school for each semester you wish reimbursement.   It also instructs you to only send one form at a time. Do not send Certifications for multiple semesters.

Do we pay the tuition that is due, or will the school waive the 30% until they receive CCTS?

CCTS is a reimbursement plan, not a prepayment.  You should ask the school if they will waive the 30% amount expected from CCTS and allow you to only pay the difference.  Keep in mind that CCTS is not responsible for late fees incurred due to the date the CCTS award is received by the school. 

How soon am I eligible?

Eligibility begins on your four-year, full-time anniversary date. For CCTS purposes, the academic year starts as of July 1 and ends June 30. If you become eligible during an academic semester, your CCTS benefit will begin with the onset of the following semester (i.e. if eligibility occurs after January 1, full eligibility begins as of July 1; if eligibility occurs after July 1, full eligibility begins as of January 1).

Is there an age or marital status limit?

There is no age or marital status limit. However, the benefit may be taxable if your student is no longer a dependent. The maximum benefit is based on your date of hire. Refer to benefit level chart.

I have two (or more) children. Would both be eligible?

Yes, as long as each meet the eligibility requirements of the scholarship.

My spouse/domestic partner and I are both Cornell employees. Does this mean that our child would receive the benefit through both of us?

If both parents are employed by Cornell (as either faculty and/or staff) and are eligible to receive CCTS benefit, a child may receive only one parent’s benefit. However, if their benefits differ based on date of hire eligibility, they may select the higher benefit amount for Cornell.

My parent and I are both eligible for CCTS. What type(s) of assistance can I receive?

As an employee, you are eligible to use Tuition Aid Reimbursement and as the child of an eligible employee, you may be eligible to receive the CCTS benefit if you are enrolled in at least 6 credits during the academic semester. The combination of both benefits cannot exceed the maximum CCTS benefit for the term.

Are benefits available for step-children?

Yes, step-children become eligible on the day of the marriage and the benefit level is dependent on the hire date of the employee.

What happens to eligibility for children upon divorce?

Benefits for biological/adopted children of Cornell employee continue.
Legal Separation: Benefits continue.
Benefits for stepchildren will end at the end of the term in which the divorce is finalized.
Domestic Partnership: Benefits will end at the end of the term in which the partnership terminates.

Are courses taken in an Advanced Placement Program at Cornell eligible for CCTS?

Yes, retroactively. Application should be made after the student has been accepted for enrollment in a degree-granting institution. Payments are made retroactively upon receipt of written verification from the institution indicating that the credits will be applied toward the student’s degree. Reimbursement will be obtained through the Office of the Bursar.The Advanced Placement credits received are converted to a percentage of a semester and that percentage will be deducted from the number of semesters of CCTS eligibility.

What if my employment status changes?

If you experience a life change such as a layoff or leave, please contact HR Services & Transitions Center to understand how your eligibility might change.

What is the benefit for Part-Time Study?

A CCTS is pro-rated using twelve (12) credit hours as a minimum full-time load. Students must be enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours during the academic semester to be eligible.

What about summer/winter session courses?

Cornell students may receive benefits for summer/winter courses taken at Cornell. Cornell students may also receive benefits for summer/winter courses taken at another institution. Payments to outside schools are provided at 30 percent of the outside school’s tuition and fees. Summer/winter credits are deducted from undergraduate semesters.

What about study abroad?

Cornell and non-Cornell students may receive benefits for credits in a study abroad program.  Prior approval is not necessary in order to receive CCTS.  Please contact ccts@Cornell.edu to notify CCTS of the program the student will attend.

Will CCTS be reduced by other scholarships the student receives?

Only those scholarships that specifically state they cover tuition or fees are coordinated with CCTS; meaning that CCTS benefits will be reduced only if the combined payment from CCTS and the other scholarships exceeds the total cost of tuition and required fees.

What is TAP and how does it affect CCTS?

TAP is the Tuition Assistance Program administered by the New York State Higher Education Corporation. CCTS benefits will be coordinated only if the combined payment from TAP and CCTS exceed the total cost of tuition and required fees.

2023 Virtual Workshop Recording 

Presentation Slides

Video Transcript

00:00:00:02 - 00:00:27:03
Unknown
My name is Michelle LaFave. I am a Benefits Associate with the Health and Welfare Department in the H.R. Division of Cornell, and I administer the Education Benefit. So the Cornell Children's Tuition Benefit is for children of employees. But I also administer the employee degree program, tuition aid program, benefit. So if you have any questions on the benefits available at Cornell, please feel free to reach out.

00:00:27:06 - 00:01:10:09
Unknown
All right. So today we're going to discuss the Cornell Children's Tuition Scholarship. Thank you all for coming. Today, we're going to go through the benefit itself, the program and any amendments that were instituted while the program has been available at Cornell. Your eligibility as an employee, the eligibility of your children or the students who are going to be using the program, how you apply, how we as Cornell make payment for the CCTS benefit, any tax issues or implications that come about as a result of this benefit when you use it, if you have an employee changes, we'll touch on how you can look at how your benefit continues to be available or not.

00:01:10:18 - 00:01:39:06
Unknown
And then I'll provide some questions and answers that are frequently asked about the benefit and provide you with resources on how to contact us. So the Cornell Children's Tuition Scholarship provides children of eligible employees a partial scholarship for study at Cornell or other accredited institutions. And this benefit was administered and approved by the Board of Trustees in January of 1966.

00:01:39:06 - 00:02:07:00
Unknown
And as you'll see, there were some amendments over the last few years. The one thing that I would like to make sure that people understand the CCTS benefit is designed to be a reimbursement program. So our office does our very best to process and send payments to schools as quickly as we can. But understanding that it's reimbursement program, the expectation is that if the bill comes due, you would make the payment and then reimbursement would be provided.

00:02:07:00 - 00:02:40:18
Unknown
Here is our website and the slides will be available to you who have attended. So I will send those out. Also, in addition to the session being recorded. So after the 1966 institution of the program, there were some Board of Trustees amendments. So in July of 2009, the Board of Trustees approved that if anyone switched from full time to part time study as of the 2009/2010 year, they would become eligible, but they must first attain the approval.

00:02:40:18 - 00:03:17:20
Unknown
This likely doesn't apply to any or many of us right now, but we wanted to provide you with that information. In 2009, the board also approved that if any employees had prior experience or prior service with the university, then you could provide the benefit to your students. So if you worked for the university and then you left, but then you came back, if you could establish that you had that four years of eligibility or that period of eligibility or some combination of that between your past employment and your current employment, then you would qualify for the benefit.

00:03:17:20 - 00:03:50:22
Unknown
Amendments were also put forth in December of 2014, and the board allowed that if anyone was a new hire faculty or staff member coming from a university higher education university, immediately prior to joining Cornell, they would be eligible for the benefit. Now note, the program that they were coming from or the institution they were coming from needed... needs to have a program that's substantially similar to our CCTS program in that, payments and eligibility, etc. are the same or substantially similar.

00:03:50:22 - 00:04:14:07
Unknown
And so we could provide the benefit. What happens in a situation like this if it applies to anyone here on the call, we would need to have some type of employment verification from your prior employer, employer showing that you fulfilled or had some portion of that four years of service in a full time benefits eligible position for that time to be counted here at Cornell. In 2014,

00:04:14:13 - 00:04:42:12
Unknown
the board also allowed that if anyone worked part time so prior it was only available to full time employees. In 2014, the board allowed that any part time employees were hired after on or after July 1st, 1998...1985... I'm sorry. That they would become eligible for the CCTS benefit. One other amendment that was approved by the board is students who have a medical condition that precludes a standard completion of a standard program would be allowed.

00:04:42:20 - 00:05:15:14
Unknown
So if you have a student, a child who has a disability and would not be able to complete a regular associate or bachelor's degree and there is some alternative they can complete, then with a doctor's note, the CCTS program could provide funding to a program such as that. So eligibility, what is paid? So you as an employee, if you're hired at Cornell prior to July 1st of 1983, you're obviously currently eligible because you've completed the four years way surpassed.

00:05:16:14 - 00:05:43:20
Unknown
What you would receive is ten semesters of undergraduate education or the attainment of a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first. And then you would be allowed to have graduate studies at Cornell for your child. So the maximum provided is 14 semesters, and that would include a maximum of eight for graduate studies, and it must be at Cornell. So if you're hired prior to July 1st of 1983, this is a benefit for you.

00:05:44:10 - 00:06:19:01
Unknown
Also, if your child is attending Cornell, you get 100% of benefit minus the administrative fees, which many people don't know about, but they do count as a part of the rules from the board. So the administrative fees are not paid, but you do receive 100% of tuition minus that 30% is given for schools outside of Cornell. If you're hired between July 1st of 83 and June 30th of 1985, you are eligible since you've completed the four years and the benefit is much the same as for the scholarship.

00:06:19:01 - 00:06:45:03
Unknown
So you do get 14 months as a maximum. Ten can go towards undergraduate degrees or the completion of a bachelor's degree and then a maximum of six goes towards a graduate level degree at Cornell. The difference here for those hired during that period is they receive 50% of Cornell's tuition and fees. So if your student is attending Cornell and you are hired between those dates, you would receive 50% of tuition.

00:06:45:03 - 00:07:11:02
Unknown
Again, it's 30% at an outside school. This next segment probably applies to most of us here on the call, if not all. So if you're hired on or after July 1st of 1985, you need to complete the four years of service. Part time is eligible. So this slide is a little outdated. But what you receive is ten semesters of undergraduate study or the attainment of a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first.

00:07:11:15 - 00:07:37:10
Unknown
If your child is attending Cornell, you do get 50% tuition and fees paid. And if they're attending a school outside of Cornell, it's 30%. So if you are on the call and you're a Cornell Extension... Cornell Cooperative Extension employee for the association, unfortunately the benefit would not be available to you. We can discuss if there's anyone here, please feel free to contact me.

00:07:37:10 - 00:08:01:02
Unknown
So for eligible children. So if you... if your child is a natural born child or adopted child stepchild and they're your dependent, you can go ahead and apply for the benefit for them. For anyone who is in a domestic partnership and has a domestic partnership agreement on file with us here at Cornell, your child can also be eligible for the benefit or your partner's child would be eligible for the benefit.

00:08:01:02 - 00:08:26:13
Unknown
Excuse me. In that case, though, it would be taxable as they are not your dependent. And we'll talk about taxation in a little bit. But just be aware if you're applying for the benefit for a domestic partner’s child, it is a taxable benefit. If you have a foster child and they've been living in your home and being supported by you for at least five years prior to applying for CCTS, then that child is also eligible for the CCTS benefit.

00:08:27:08 - 00:08:50:23
Unknown
One question I get a lot is what if I am the parent of my grandchild? Unfortunately, unless they're legally your foster child, you would not be able to use the benefit for them. So how do you apply? So here is the website or our website so you can get to the application. You would go online and apply online for the CCTS benefit.

00:08:51:15 - 00:09:14:20
Unknown
The benefit application opens in April of the academic year, so the academic year runs summer, fall, winter, spring. So for example, if your child is attending this coming fall of 2023, the application is going to open the first week of April so you can make your application. Same with the summer. If your child is attending in the summer of 2023, that's considered a part of the next academic year.

00:09:15:00 - 00:09:36:14
Unknown
And so you wouldn't submit your application for the 2022-2023 year, but you would submit for the 2023 to 2024 year. Please be aware that you need to submit only one application per academic year so your child may be attending in the summer, fall, spring. You do not need to go online and submit the application a second time.

00:09:36:21 - 00:10:02:07
Unknown
You will receive information when you apply the first time that would be used a second time. So if you have any changes, perhaps your child has changed schools during the academic year. Please notify us by email so we can make the change to the record. But you would not have to submit a new record for anyone who is retired because the benefit does continue through retirement as long as you were eligible before you retired.

00:10:02:16 - 00:10:39:03
Unknown
Or if you... let's say you are the parent of a student who was... who did have a parent who was a Cornell employee, but that parent has passed away, you would not likely be able to do the application online. And so if you go to our website, you will find the application form to be printed. Please download, print the form and send it in to us, will enter you into the system and make sure you get the proper documentation to apply for the benefit. How are payments made? So Cornell will make payments if your child is attending Cornell through our inter-office payment system.

00:10:40:05 - 00:11:00:06
Unknown
If your child though is attending a school outside of Cornell, you would, once you apply for the application, if it is approved, you will receive an email. So the email for anyone who has a child not attending, Cornell is going to say, ‘Your application is approved here is a form you need to fill out.’ This is the certification form that needs to be used every semester.

00:11:00:06 - 00:11:24:12
Unknown
So the online application itself only done once a year, but the certification form is used every semester your child attends. All payments are made directly to the school. So we are unable, whether it's Cornell or an outside school, to make a payment to a parent or a child attending the university. All payments from Cornell must go directly to the university or college

00:11:24:12 - 00:11:43:07
Unknown
your child is attending. So please be aware that if you do make the payment prior to Cornell making the CCTS payment, you'll have to work with the school to get the money back or have it applied to another semester. When we process the payments for the fall, we usually start in July. So your application is submitted in April.

00:11:43:07 - 00:12:09:06
Unknown
It is processed prior to July, but the payments for the certifications or the Cornell payments that we make, we do not make them until the first after the 1st of July. And that's because that's our fiscal year here at Cornell. If you are applying for the spring semester excuse me, we process the applications after Thanksgiving. So it may... they may come in prior to the semester as it would because the semester starts in the spring.

00:12:09:06 - 00:12:45:12
Unknown
But we don't start to process until after Thanksgiving. So feel free to get your forms in. Applications and forms are processed in the order received as quickly as we can. And so you don't have to delay until July 1st or Thanksgiving. You can get them in before, but we'll process them starting on those times for each semester. So as mentioned, the payment calculation is 100% if you're hired prior to July 1st, 1983, and your child is attending Cornell, if you're hired after July 1st of 1983, it's 50% of the cost.

00:12:46:04 - 00:13:09:11
Unknown
If your student is attending a school outside of Cornell, it's 30% of fees of the tuition, mandatory fees, so applicable mandatory fees, and it's up to a maximum of 30% of Cornell's tuition. So what we do is calculate what the maximum endowed tuition would be for a student here, 30% of that. And then we pay that amount at a maximum.

00:13:09:11 - 00:13:40:06
Unknown
Now note, the CCTS program does pay for some fees, but it does not pay room and board. So we cannot pay room and board. We cannot pay savings account, travel accounts, stuff like that. We do make payment towards mandatory fees that would apply to every student. So matriculation fees, ID card fees, if maybe there is a graduation fee that is going to be applied, those types of fees are paid, but we cannot pay towards room and board.

00:13:40:06 - 00:13:59:10
Unknown
One thing that we do consider is tuition based funding. So this is a question later, but I'll touch on it quickly. Now, if your child is... is receiving any type of funding, let's say from the school, it's a scholarship. If that tuition payment... if that payment is tuition based and can only be used towards tuition, we must consider it in our calculation.

00:13:59:22 - 00:14:28:00
Unknown
If it's a scholarship or funding that can go to anything. room and board, books, we wouldn't consider it. But we do ask that the school would let us know if there's anything that's tuition based only. So the tax implications. So if you're if your child is doing an undergraduate degree, it is not taxable. It would be taxable though, if the child is not your dependent.

00:14:28:05 - 00:14:50:22
Unknown
So if you have a child possibly living with the other parent, but that parent provides at least 50% of their living expenses, the child is considered a dependent. It does... the child does not have to be your dependent or claimed on your tax forms as long as they're providing the provided 50% of living expenses by you or the other parent, the child would be considered a dependent.

00:14:50:22 - 00:15:26:19
Unknown
And so the benefit would not be taxable. If that's not the case, if the child is older or if the child lives outside of you or the other parent's home and the living expenses are not provided at least 50%, then the benefit would be taxable and it's taxed through your payroll. Again, as I mentioned before, if the child is not your dependent and the child is the child of a partner, your domestic partner, in that case, again, the paten... benefit would be taxable to you. Graduate level degrees if you are qualified for that benefit level,

00:15:27:00 - 00:15:49:18
Unknown
those are taxable. Again, they're based on date of hire. But if you are applying for a child who's doing a graduate degree at Cornell, then the benefit would be taxable and we would contact you about the benefit of the tax implications on that. So if you have an employment change so here's our website that talks about if there's a change of employment status for you, but I'll give some examples.

00:15:49:18 - 00:16:16:14
Unknown
If you are on a leave, the child will be able to get funding through the following semester. So they complete the semester, they get an extra semester. If you are a long term disability, for instance, you would continue to be able to gain the benefit if you retire from Cornell. And as long as you've fulfilled the requirement before you retire, any children you have would be eligible for the benefit, even... even if you are in retiree status.

00:16:17:01 - 00:16:45:17
Unknown
Now, of course, if you leave the university, you end employment. Your benefit for CCTS would end at that period. All right. So going over just a few quick reminders, the CCTS program is a reimbursement program. We do our best to make payment prior to when your tuition bill may become due for your child. We do our very best to make sure they’re processed, that doesn't always happen.

00:16:45:17 - 00:17:11:20
Unknown
And so in a case like that, please make sure to make the payment so you do not incur any late fees or incur any penalties because this program unfortunately would not be able to fund you for any of those penalties. So again, please try to get the form in as soon as possible. We do try to process as quickly as we can, but if the tuition bill becomes due and we have not made the payment or it has not been received, please make sure to make the payment and then reimbursement will happen.

00:17:13:08 - 00:17:36:17
Unknown
Your eligibility and benefits amounts are based on your hiring date. So most of us right now would qualify if we've been a university for four years for 50% benefit for now, 30% benefit outside of Cornell. When you make the application each year, which opens in April, you only have to do it once per academic year. So you only have to go online and do that application once.

00:17:36:17 - 00:17:59:19
Unknown
Or if you did the paper form because of your status, you would only need to do that one time per academic year. And the academic year falls. Summer, fall, winter, spring. So if your child's attending in any of those semesters, you only need to do one application. The certification form, though, would need to be done each semester they're attending.

00:17:59:19 - 00:18:22:05
Unknown
And that's what's said here; a certification form for any institutions outside of Cornell, the maximum being paid is 30% of Cornell's tuition. So we calculate the maximum each year of this maximum tuition over the semesters, and that's the maximum we can pay. So let's say your child is attending university. That's over 10,000. The equivalent of CCTS would be over $10,000.

00:18:22:05 - 00:18:49:11
Unknown
We wouldn't likely be able to make that payment based on this year's numbers. The maximum that can be paid each semester are for the fall and spring. I'm sorry, are... is $9,368, so just note that there is a maximum. There's a cap on what can be paid, but we will pay up to the maximum 30%. If you do qualify for the graduate benefit, please note that no graduate education outside of Cornell is paid.

00:18:49:11 - 00:19:13:05
Unknown
So if your child, if you do qualify for the Cornell tuition scholarship for graduate level benefit, your child must be completing that degree at Cornell. All right. So I'm going to go over some Q&A and then, you know, we're almost at the end, so we'll get to the questions shortly if there are any out there, how soon am I eligible?

00:19:13:05 - 00:19:42:03
Unknown
So the eligibility for CCTS is four years of full time benefits eligible in a benefits eligible position or the equivalent of part time. So if you have been working part time for at least eight years or over a period of time, about eight years, you can please contact me. We can try to calculate what your eligibility is and determine if you are eligible for the benefit. Is age or a marital status a limit?

00:19:42:03 - 00:20:10:01
Unknown
So the answer is no. As long as the child remains your child, which would be the... the case, they are eligible for the benefit. But note, if they're no longer your dependent or they're the child of a domestic partner, the benefit would become taxable. If I have two or more children would both be eligible? So your benefit is eligible for as many children as you have, as long as you meet the requirements for eligibility.

00:20:10:01 - 00:20:42:21
Unknown
My spouse, domestic partner and I are both Cornell employees. This means our child would see the benefit from both of us? The answer is unfortunately no. So the benefit can only be received from one parent. So if you're both Cornell employees, what we ask you to do is look at your date of hire. If by chance, one of you is hired prior to 1985 and your child is attending Cornell, you would get a richer benefit of 100% if you're both around the same time of employment after 1985, July 1985, then the benefit is 50%.

00:20:42:21 - 00:21:04:10
Unknown
It doesn't matter. But only one parent can apply for a child. Each academic year. Now you can switch the benefit if you're both employees each academic year that's allowed. But no, you wouldn't be able to get two benefits for one child in the same academic year. How do I find out if the educational institution is eligible for CCTS?

00:21:04:19 - 00:21:27:23
Unknown
So we will make payment to accredited universities even outside of the United States. If you're unsure, you can contact our office and I can provide information on whether the school is eligible, but we can, as long as it's an accredited university, make payments towards that university attainment of that degree, even if it's outside the United States. What is the benefit for part time study?

00:21:27:23 - 00:21:56:05
Unknown
So if your child is not attending university full time, they're going part time. CCTS can only make payment for six or more credits during the fall and spring semester. So if your child is attending university, they're not doing a full load, but they're doing at least six credits for the fall and spring semester. CCTS can make payment towards that if they're attending in the winter or the summer and it's less than six, we can still make payments.

00:21:56:12 - 00:22:16:19
Unknown
The one thing we want to make sure you're cautioned against is you get a maximum of ten semesters based on your qualification for an undergraduate degree and any time used will be counted towards that. So if you don't do a full semester in a fall, we do take a percentage of the... percentage of one semester and use it so you wouldn't have a full semester left.

00:22:16:19 - 00:22:44:19
Unknown
Even if you're doing part time study. Are there any deadlines for the CCTS application? There are not. So right now we do not have a deadline system and to the next question, we can make retro payments for prior semesters in prior years. Please note though, because the payment is made directly to the school, you have to make sure that the school is able to accept payments for prior years. So there is no deadline.

00:22:44:19 - 00:23:01:04
Unknown
You have to submit the application after April 1st. But let's say we're in the middle of the spring semester for this year or last, next year and you realize you didn't submit the application. You can at that point... we can make payments for the fall and spring semester. But again, please be sure to follow up with the school.

00:23:01:15 - 00:23:24:20
Unknown
The payment is made directly to the school and then you're reimbursed through the school. So make sure one, that they can accept the funds after a prior year has closed. And two, that you know how you're getting your money back. So whether they reimburse you directly or they apply it to another semester, please communicate with the school to make sure payments can be reimbursed to you if you submit for a prior year or semester.

00:23:26:13 - 00:24:00:04
Unknown
Will CCTS be reduced by other scholarships the student receives? So just to touch on this briefly and to give you a little bit more information, if your child is receiving funding scholarships for tuition, we do consider that when we're calculating CCTS. If let's say your tuition is $10,000, you're getting a scholarship for $9,000. CCTS would only be able to make a payment of up to a thousand because that's the complete tuition and fees.

00:24:00:18 - 00:24:25:05
Unknown
If that $9,000 is applied only to tuition, let's say the $9,000 example can be applied to anything. So it can be applied to room and board, it can be applied to books and or it can be applied to tuition. We wouldn't have to consider that as a... a full funding source. And so we would be able to pay 30% towards your tuition and fees through CCTS.

00:24:25:05 - 00:24:49:24
Unknown
Let's see. The next question frequently asked is will the CCTS award reduce the parental contribution? The answer is yes. It could. It does influence it. Financial aid offices do look at the fact that Cornell does provide this funding. So in some cases it may be more beneficial for you not to use a CCTS benefit, and that would lower your contribution.

00:24:49:24 - 00:25:11:07
Unknown
But that is a conversation to be had with the school your child is attending. So they may not consider it when you're calculating your parental contribution or they may. Again, that is a conversation to be had by them. And though the benefit to you is free, unless it's taxable, you don't have to use it. But if you are able to, it is a great benefit.

00:25:11:07 - 00:25:31:17
Unknown
So here's our website again and our email address. We do have a designated email address. It's ccts@cornell.edu. You can visit our website for more information. As I said, this webinar is going to be posted online so you are able to access it later. If you do have any questions further to that, again, my name is Michelle.

00:25:31:22 - 00:25:51:13
Unknown
Here's my information, my email address and my phone number. If you have any questions that we're not answering today or that are very specific to your situation, please feel free to contact me and we can set up a time to have a meeting. So I'm going to go through what is in here, ask the questions that have been asked.

00:25:51:13 - 00:26:16:20
Unknown
I hope that I have provided all the information you need, but I will go through and see what the questions are. Provide answers to those. And if there's anything that I haven't touched on or I haven't talked about that you do have a question about, please feel free to... to contact me. So first question, can you provide some information on what kind of scholarships... effect CCTS?

00:26:16:22 - 00:26:42:01
Unknown
I believe I did that, but again, happy to answer the question. So if you do have merit scholarships, merit awards, any type of academic award that is applied only to tuition, CCTS will have to consider that in our calculation. If those awards are for any expense that the child would incur. So, room and board, books, anything like that, we do not have to consider.

00:26:42:01 - 00:27:04:20
Unknown
It is in our calculation and we would be able to make the full CCTS payment of 30% to an outside school. If I have twins. Should one employee apply for one child and the other employee apply for both? If you're both parents at Cornell, that is a choice. So you can both you can both apply for one child or one person can apply for both kids at the same time.

00:27:04:20 - 00:27:27:02
Unknown
Again, the benefit will only apply to one parent. One parent can apply for each child. So if you choose, mom does it this year, Dad does it next year for both kids or you both take a child each year, that's fine, but the benefit can only be provided from one parent and you can apply for as many kids as you have or need to.

00:27:27:02 - 00:27:51:20
Unknown
Great question. So this next question if my four year anniversary is in October, would I be eligible? Would I not be eligible until the spring? This is a great question. So if your... your anniversary date, your date of employment falls in between a semester? So October Frances is a great example. You are not eligible until the spring, winter and spring of that academic year.

00:27:52:01 - 00:28:10:07
Unknown
So if this year, your anniversary falls in October, you wouldn't be eligible for the fall semester because you wouldn't have met your four years of full time benefits eligible employment, but you would be able to use the benefit in the winter or the spring if your child is attending at that time. So please be mindful of that. Same with the fall spring semester.

00:28:10:07 - 00:28:48:11
Unknown
If you're hired, let's say in March, your anniversary falls after January 1st, you wouldn't be eligible for the spring semester. You would have to wait until the fall of the following year. So please be mindful of anniversary dates and when qualification occurs. Suppose the employee okay, so suppose the employee was otherwise eligible but dies. So again, the child's... as long as the child has the I'm sorry, it's obvious the employee has met the years of eligibility for the program and that employee has passed away.

00:28:48:11 - 00:29:05:08
Unknown
If they have any dependent kids or kids who are not dependent, they would still be eligible for the benefit. If the child is no longer a dependent of that employee who has passed away, the taxation would be sent to that child. So taxation would apply to that child. They would receive a 1099 at the end of the year.

00:29:05:24 - 00:29:28:24
Unknown
So if you're an employee or you have your child has an employee parent who has passed away, you can still use the benefit. If you were eligible before the person passed away. How many semesters of graduate study of Cornell are reimbursable? So as long as you were hired prior to July 1st of 1985, you would be eligible for the graduate benefit.

00:29:28:24 - 00:29:52:17
Unknown
At Cornell, we provide a maximum of six semesters, so you get a total of 14 for both undergraduate and graduate level, perhaps you used only eight for the undergraduate level, then the remaining six are available, but there is a maximum of six available for reimbursement at Cornell. Oh, let's see if I become eligible in fall. Would I still apply in April?

00:29:52:20 - 00:30:17:20
Unknown
Yes. So if you draw anniversary date, you know, falls before July 1st, you are able to apply for the benefit in the April when the application process opens, we will look at the eligibility. Your application may be delayed just a bit based on making sure you make it to that for your time. But as long as the four years are approved, you would... or attained, you would be approved for the benefit.

00:30:18:03 - 00:30:36:07
Unknown
Again, as I mentioned in the Q&A, there is no deadline. So if you want to wait until you're at the four years and then you place the application, no problem at all. We can make payment to past semesters, but you would have to make sure you communicate with the school to find out how you would receive that funding back.

00:30:36:07 - 00:31:00:18
Unknown
Let's see. The other question talks about reimbursement, who is being reimbursed. So it is a reimbursement program, but paid directly to the school. So let's say your child is going to Cornell... We do our best to make sure payments are sent to the Cornell Financial aid office and bursar bills are updated prior to when it's due, if at Cornell or at another institution.

00:31:01:02 - 00:31:24:01
Unknown
The payment is not made prior to when the bill is due that CCTS certification sees its payment will be processed and sent to the school of attendance. And then you, as the parent, would have to work with the school to make sure you can get the funding back. So let's see. So someone asks about the maximum being 9000.

00:31:24:01 - 00:32:01:17
Unknown
So that was a 9000 amount per semester. So yes, Cornell tuition is about $60,000. So Max would be 18, but that's based on the entire year. So CCTS is paid out each semester. We cannot make annual payments because some tuition may change. Tuition and fees may change each semester. So the payments are made per semester. The form, if it's if attending a school outside of Cornell needs to be completed each semester in order for us to make funding to the school, let's see a question asked about child attending Cornell.

00:32:02:15 - 00:32:24:19
Unknown
So are there any special considerations given? I don't believe there are the child... if your child is considering attending Cornell, they would need to apply as any traditional student would apply. Of course, your child can make it known that you're an employee, but the tuition is paid based on your dates of hire here at Cornell. So I don't know that any special consideration per se is given.

00:32:25:06 - 00:33:10:08
Unknown
But when your child is applying, you can feel free to talk with the admissions office regarding this. Let's see. So the other question is, if your child has a scholarship that applies to tuition, let's say it's $15,000 or $20,000 tuition, but Cornell pay 30% or 5%. So 30% of $20,000 is going to be more than 5000. So if your child is... is going to a school where the tuition is $20,000 and they're receiving $15,000 worth of funding CCTS... and this and the funding is applied for tuition only CCTS would only be able to pay up to 5000, which is the maximum of both that other funding.

00:33:10:15 - 00:33:36:17
Unknown
And it's putting you at the $20,000 limit. If it's less than 15 or that 15 can be applied to some other funding other than tuition, we would consider the full 30%. But again, if the amount being paid is more than 30% for an outside scholarship, Cornell can only make payment to the balance or the difference to make you whole for both tuition costs because we can't pay more than that.

00:33:39:24 - 00:34:07:08
Unknown
But see, someone's asking about the maximum tuition paid. So yes, correct. The amount I gave before the $9,368 is the maximum we can pay out to a fall or spring semester because that's a full funding. You should not expect more than that. No, because it is 30% based on a semester cost of Cornell's maximum Cornell's endowed tuition and 30% is the maximum we would pay.

00:34:09:04 - 00:34:36:00
Unknown
Another question came in about Cornell and down amount. What does that mean? I hope I just answered that question, but I'm happy to repeat again. If your child is attending a school where the tuition 30% of the tuition is going to be more than 30% of Cornell's endowed tuition, we would cap it at that amount. So that amount for the 2022-2023 year for the fall and spring semesters were $9,368.

00:34:36:09 - 00:35:00:23
Unknown
If 30% was calculated of the school. Your child is attending tuition and fees is more than that amount. The 9,368, that's the maximum that you would receive for the fall and spring semester. So 9,368 for the fall, 9,368 for the spring. But that's the maximum that can be paid out in those semesters for the CCTS benefit.

00:35:00:23 - 00:35:24:08
Unknown
Oh, let's see. In the case of other scholarships, is there a minimum that Cornell would pay anyway? So we would pay 30%? I'm not sure I'm understanding this question. So feel free to send me an email separately if I don't answer your question right now. In the case of other scholarships, is there a minimum? So Cornell can only pay up to 100% of tuition fees that we are provided by the other school.

00:35:24:13 - 00:35:49:24
Unknown
So there is no minimum per say. But if the other funding that comes in is, let's say the tuition is 20,000 and the funding that comes in is like 10,000. Cornell can only pay a maximum of 1,000 because that puts you to the full 20,000 for tuition. So I hope I answered your question. If I haven't or I misunderstood, please, please feel free to email me separately and we can discuss.

00:35:49:24 - 00:36:13:24
Unknown
Let's see if the outside scholarship reduces the tuition owed or Cornell pay 30%. And I think again, if if this question isn't being answered or I'm not providing the information clearly for what's provided, if there is outside funding, please feel free to contact me. I'm happy to answer any questions. But Cornell will pay 30% of tuition and fees as presented by the school on that certification form.

00:36:13:24 - 00:36:36:21
Unknown
This is for outside schools. We pay 50% at Cornell for outside schools will pay 30% of tuition and fees. So if you know, the tuition and fees is 30% and you're receiving outside funding, we pay 30%. As long as it doesn't surpass them. The total of what we were told is the tuition of these, let's say the next question.

00:36:36:21 - 00:37:05:08
Unknown
I think the last question is earlier you mentioned you can only have one application per academic year, but now you're saying if you had twins, one parent can do both one year. Okay. So if you have twins, let's say so per child per year, one application is submitted. So if you have a child who is attending Ithaca College, let's say you submit the application online for that child attending Ithaca College and they would receive the benefit.

00:37:05:08 - 00:37:32:13
Unknown
What you'd have to do every semester they attend is fill out the certification form. So the online application only needs to be submitted once. If you have twins and you are the only employee at the university, So your spouse or the other parent is not an employee of the university. You as the Cornell employee, would be submitting one application per academic year for each of those kids, the twins, so each twin would get their own application.

00:37:32:13 - 00:38:06:03
Unknown
You can subject more than one application, obviously, because you have more than one child, but per child, only one application is available or needed to be done. Each year. If you and the other parent of the child are both employees at Cornell, only one of you can submit for a child. So if I have a twin and one is Bob, one is John, I can submit for John and Bob or my spouse can submit for John, I can submit for Bob, but we both couldn't submit for Bob or both submit for John.

00:38:06:03 - 00:38:33:13
Unknown
So I hope it's a little bit clearer. Sorry if I'm not being clear and please feel free to contact me. But each child attending university, whether it's four kids in a family or one child only, needs one application done online per academic year. And then the form, if they're attending a school outside of Cornell, the certification form needs to be submitted and certified by the school each semester so we can make funding to the amount that's being charged for tuition.

00:38:34:23 - 00:39:04:07
Unknown
Let's see. So someone's asking further about the maximum. So the maximum number I gave you is based on the 2022-2023 year. That amount will change because Cornell's tuition is increasing. I haven't calculated what that amount would be, so I couldn't give you that number. But going forward, the number would be more than $9,368. That's just based on what the tuition was for this academic year, the 2022 to 2023 academic year.

00:39:04:07 - 00:39:30:21
Unknown
So that number will change. But again, the maximum and you can calculate it yourself if you know the tuition is going to be 30% of Cornell's endowed tuition for that academic year. The question is, does the reimbursement cover all tuition a non Cornell University, as long as it does not exceed 30%? Or is it 30% of non Cornell tuition up to the value of equal to 30% of Cornell's endowed.

00:39:30:21 - 00:40:13:03
Unknown
So we pay 30%. So if the school sends us a form that says the tuition is $9,000, we would pay 30% of that as long as there's no other funding coming in, that amount would not get to the to the maximum of Cornell's. If the tuition is $10,000 per semester, $20,000, let's say per semester or maybe $30,000 at Cornell's tuition per semester, if that amount is more if 30% of the calculation of that school's tuition is more than 30% of Cornell's tuition, then that amount would be reduced or the maximum that can be paid is 30% of Cornell's endowment tuition.

00:40:13:03 - 00:40:34:06
Unknown
So please feel free to contact me if you have any more questions about this. I do have a question about study abroad. Study abroad is covered under CCTS. We would need information and again, the certification form or if the child is attending Cornell information from the study abroad office. But yes, it can cover study abroad. We do not...

00:40:34:10 - 00:40:54:03
Unknown
we would cover tuition and fees, as we usually do for any program, but we couldn't cover expenses like airfare spending, money, stuff like that. But the tuition and fees can be covered. So the person asking in the question about the tuition being over 60, please contact me. We can set up a call so that I can answer...

00:40:54:03 - 00:41:17:18
Unknown
So I'm not answering your question as clearly as you need it answered. So we can do some examples and work through that. That is it for questions. I'm going to give everybody just another minute. If you have any questions, please pop them in the slide you continue to see is our contact information. Please feel free to contact if you have any questions that weren't answered here or if you need clarification on the CCTS benefit.

00:41:18:09 - 00:41:42:05
Unknown
Our webinar presentation will be uploaded to the website, so please look out for that if you would like to watch again. But if you need any specific information or have any specific questions, please feel free to contact me directly. Let's see. So one other question that came in. Will CCTS cover certificate type programs at an eligible and accredited college?

00:41:42:05 - 00:42:04:03
Unknown
You know, unless your child has some medical condition that precludes them from completing a traditional degree, CCTS can only be paid towards associate and bachelor level degrees and then master or graduate level if you're eligible for that benefit. But we do not make certification payments. If you doing a certificate, it has to be attainment of an associate or a bachelor's.

00:42:04:03 - 00:42:28:11
Unknown
If I retire early, does the child does this still cover the child? So as long as you have met the requirement for the CCTS benefit, which is four years of employment in a benefits eligible position or the equivalent of four years, if you're in a part time position and you have met the requirements for Cornell retirement, as long as all that is met and you have retired, the child will continue to be covered or be eligible for the benefit.

00:42:28:17 - 00:42:49:08
Unknown
Yes. I want to thank you all for taking the time to join us for the CCTS presentation. If you have any questions. My contact information is here on the screen. Please feel free to contact me and I will set up a time to meet with you. Or we can just answer questions by email, if that makes sense. Thank you all for taking the time and have a great day.