Education Assistance
RISD offers education assistance to staff budgeted to work at least 30 hours per week and 1560 hours per year and who have completed one year of service by the course start date. Employees must submit requests for educational assistance to their supervisor via Workday. Upon approval from the supervisor and the area vice president, Human Resources receives the request for final approval.
Requests for educational assistance must be submitted and receive full approval before the course(s) start. Employees pay for courses up front. Employees directly receive reimbursement upon successful completion of the course with a grade of C or higher. The maximum benefit is $2,500 per fiscal year and covers tuition expenses only.
Coverage: Benefits cover education that maintains or improves job-related skills or that is required for a job-related degree or certificate.
Start date: Classes that start after completing one year of service.
End date: Coverage ends on the last day of active employment.
Continuing Education (RISD)
RISD offers Continuing Education Classes at RISD to staff budgeted to work at least 20 hours per week and 1040 hours per year and who have completed the orientation and review period. Members of their respective families (e.g. an employee’s spouse, domestic partner and/or dependent children) may also take courses offered by RISD Continuing Education as part of this benefit program.
Coverage: Courses are at reduced or no tuition in the college’s Continuing Education program. Reference the Continuing Education website for more information on how and when to register for classes, along with class registration limits. All fees/costs over and above tuition are the responsibility of the individual.
Start Date: The benefit covers classes that start after completion of the orientation and review period.
End Date: Coverage ends on the last day of active employment.
Tuition Remission (RISD)
Full-Time Staff
Qualifying dependents of RISD staff members who have accrued three years of service in positions budgeted to work at least 30 hours per week and 1560 hours per year are eligible for remitted tuition to attend RISD.
Coverage: Four years of remitted RISD tuition (five years for the architecture program) as a full-time student in RISD’s undergraduate program. Applicants must apply and be accepted through RISD’s Admissions Office.
To receive the tuition benefit, the employee must submit their application to Human Resources 30 days prior to the beginning of the first semester of each academic year.
Start date: Tuition incurred after meeting eligibility criteria above.
End date: Coverage ends on the last day of active employment.
Part-Time Staff
Qualifying dependents of RISD staff members who have accrued five years of service in positions budgeted to work at least 20 hours per week and 1040 hours per year are eligible for remitted tuition to attend RISD.
Coverage: Four years (five years for the architecture program) of remitted tuition as a full-time student at $1,000 per year.
Applicants must apply and be accepted through RISD’s Admissions Office.
To receive the tuition benefit, the employee must submit their application to Human Resources 30 days prior to the beginning of the first semester of each academic year.
Start Date: Tuition incurred after meeting eligibility criteria above.
End Date: Coverage ends on the last day of active employment.
Tuition Remission (External)
Tuition is defined as that which is disclosed as tuition and/or academic fees, on an itemized invoice, which are verified in writing by the external higher education institution (e.g. a higher education institution other than RISD).
Coverage: Up to four years of remitted tuition to any dependent attending a full-time undergraduate degree program.
• Dependents of employees who have at least three (3) years of service in a position budgeted at 30 hours per week and 1560 hours per year receive up to 20% of remitted tuition based on RISD’s current annual tuition.
• Dependents of employees who have at least seven (7) years of service in a position budgeted at 30 hours per week and 1560 hours per year receive up to 35% of remitted tuition based on RISD’s current annual tuition cost.
Start date: Tuition incurred after meeting eligibility criteria above.
End date: Coverage ends on the last day of employment. If employment is terminated, the employee will be responsible for refunding to RISD a prorated share of the value of the tuition payment for the current semester. If the employee retires or deceases while employed at RISD, an eligible dependent will continue to receive tuition remission if they are enrolled at the time in a two- or four-year program at an accredited college or university.
Recipients must be legal dependents as defined by the IRS for federal income tax purposes and must be enrolled as full-time undergraduates in an accredited two- or four-year college or university. Payments are made each semester for a maximum of four academic years or eight academic semesters, or the equivalent. Board, room, and other special fees are not covered.
If the dependent student withdraws from school or drops to part-time status, they are no longer eligible to receive tuition remission for that semester. The employee will need to return any remitted funds or submit reimbursement in the same amount to RISD.
Employees can submit their request for tuition remission through Workday. See instructions to complete the request process. RISD’s tuition remission benefit is per dependent child; therefore, if both parents work at RISD, a dependent child may only claim the benefit under one parent.
*The information above provides a summary of our tuition remission benefits. For specific details on eligibility requirements, payments, and other information regarding the tuition remission program and policy, please contact Human Resources at 401 454-6606.