Education Benefits
Palm Beach State Registration Fee Waiver
After six months of full-time employment, employees, their dependent children and
spouse are eligible for tuition waived for up to two courses (up to 8 credits or 240
clock hours) at a time. This does include courses in the limited access programs (criminal
justice, fire, nursing, etc.) and courses toward the Bachelor of Applied Science degree.
However, all courses must be taken on a space available basis. The employee must pay
all fees beyond tuition including but not limited to application, registration, and
special fees. If a grade of "C" or better is not earned, the employee will be responsible
for repayment of the course(s) tuition. For more information refer to Board Policy #6Hx-18-5.76. To register for credit or non-credit courses under the Tuition Fee Waiver policy,
please complete an Employee/Dependent Request for Fee Waiver Form and submit to the Office of the Registrar.
Dependents of instructional faculty, counselors and librarians may take up to four (4) Palm Beach State College tuition waived classes per semester. Dependents of PSAV Instructors may take up to two (2) Palm Beach State College tuition waived classes at a time. If you are a bargaining unit member, please complete the Bargaining Unit Member Dependent Request for Fee Waiver Form submit to the Office of the Registrar.
Tuition Reimbursement
Staff who have completed a minimum of six months of full-time employment are eligible to receive tuition reimbursement under Board Policy # 6Hx-18-5.88. Tuition (not including fees) will be reimbursed for a total of nine semester credit hours per fiscal year for graduate or undergraduate courses, junior or senior level at a regionally accredited institution other than Palm Beach State.
All bargaining unit members who have completed a minimum of six (6) months of employment at the College are eligible to receive tuition reimbursement for a total of nine (9) semester credit hours during their contract year and three (3) additional credit hours during the summer for graduate or undergraduate courses at the junior or senior level. PSAV Instructors are eligible to receive a total of nine (9) semester credit hours per fiscal year.
Courses must be taken at a regionally accredited four-year college or university, completed with a minimum of a "C" grade and you must not have received payment for the course(s) through other funding sources. An employee in a grant-funded position is eligible provided that it is permissible under the grant, and there are sufficient funds in the grant to cover the tuition reimbursement costs. Please complete and submit a Tuition Reimbursement Form to the Office of Human Resources for processing. Funds will be dispersed upon a first come first serve basis, up to the amount budgeted for the fiscal year.
Degree Recognition
As a learning institution, the college encourages employees to pursue a college degree that will benefit either their current position or will assist them in attaining the necessary educational background for another college position. To recognize the completion of an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university, the college will award all full-time non-unit employees, who have been employed in full-time status for a minimum of one year with an award of $1,000 to their base pay, not to exceed the maximum of the salary range. Employees may receive only one award for each degree level during the course of their employment at the college, and the degree must be higher than what they currently have. For more information refer to Board Policy #6Hx-18-5.89. Employees must complete and submit a Degree Recognition Form to the Office of Human Resources for processing.
Florida 529 Savings Plan
The Florida 529 Savings Plan is an investment plan that allows you to choose from 11 investment options and let's you decide how much and how often to contribute. There is no minimum contribution needed. The 529 Plans can be used for any qualified higher educational expense, including tuition, room & board, textbooks, graduate school and much more. There are no income, age or Florida residency requirements. Payroll deduction is available by providing a Payroll Deduction Authorization Form to the Payroll Department after account has been established. Please visit www.myfloridaprepaid.com or call 1-800-552-4723 for additional information.
Florida Prepaid College Plan
The Florida Prepaid College Plan allows you to select from options with specific costs, payment schedules and benefits. The plan is guaranteed by the State of Florida and can be used for tuition and other specified fees at a Florida College or State University and other schools nationwide. The child or his/her parent or legal guardian must have been a Florida resident for the past 12 months when enrolling. Payroll deduction is available by providing a Payroll Deduction Authorization Form to Payroll Department after account has been established. Please visit www.myfloridaprepaid.com or call 1-800-552-4723 for additional information.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
The PSLF Program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue to work full-time in public service jobs. Under this program, you may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance due on your William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loan Program) loans after you have made 120 qualifying payments on those loans while employed full-time by certain public service employers. You can find more information as well as the required Employment Certification for Public Service Loan Forgiveness form by visiting www.studentaid.ed.gov/publicservice.
Lynn University
Available to all regular full-time employees of Palm Beach State College as well as their eligible family members (spouse, as recognized by the state of Florida, or qualified domestic partner and adult dependent children over the age of 19). As a Palm Beach State employee, you are eligible for a waived application fee and 20% tuition discount on any evening undergraduate or graduate degree from Lynn University (including your MBA). Eligible family members can also enjoy a 10% tuition discount on the evening or graduate program of their choice. Classes are held online or on campus in Boca Raton.
For more information, please visit the Lynn University website.
