2017-29714 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2017-29714
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE TO AMEND THE CITY'S
EMPLOYEE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS SET FORTH IN THE
ATTACHED EXHIBIT "3".
WHEREAS, the City Commission passed Resolution No. 2015-28891 on January 14, 2015,
to amend the Employee Tuition Assistance Program, which had not been updated since 2004; and
WHEREAS, effective January 2015, the City began administering a two-year pilot Tuition
Assistance Program with a $305,000 budget allocation, but only 21.96% ($67,000) of the funds were
utilized; and
WHEREAS, during the two-year pilot program, the number of employees that received
assistance was twenty-nine (29) undergraduates, fifteen (15) graduates, and twelve (12) non-degree
enrollees; and
WHEREAS, the Administration saw a need to improve the program structure as well as
streamline the procedure for approving course work and processing the tuition reimbursements, as
outlined in Exhibit"3.", Administrative Procedure HR.20.1.
WHEREAS, the Administration is recommending the following enhancements to the City's
Employee Tuition Reimbursement Program: a six (6) credit hour limit per semester and an eighteen
(18) credit hour limit per year; reimbursement of tuition cost at 90% for an "A," 80% for a "B," and
60% for a "C"; non-degree coursework/certification programs reimbursed at 70%; and, the maximum
annual reimbursement for each participant not to exceed the allowable federal government
maximum ($5,250 for 2017); and
WHEREAS, the Administration's recommendations were approved by the Finance and
Citywide Projects Committee at its meeting on November 18, 2016.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby accept
the recommendations of the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee to amend the City's Tuition
Assistance Program as set forth in the attached Exhibit"3“.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this II day of J an liar( , 2017.
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COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: January 11, 2017
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE TO AMEND THE CITY'S
TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS SET FORTH IN THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT
RECOMMENDATION
We still believe that a Tuition Assistance Program is a valuable tool in enabling our employees to
reach their personal goals, while also creating a pool of qualified staff to contribute to the City.
Therefore, the administration is recommending a more streamlined, simplistic procedure for
approving course work and applying the tuition assistance reimbursement.
Areas of clarification are recommended as follows and will reflect in the Administrative Procedure No.
HR.20.1 (Exhibit 3—Revised Draft Procedure):
•All coursework must be related to a City of Miami Beach career path
• Six(6) credit hour limit per semester; eighteen (18) credit hours per year
• No reimbursement for PhD's
•The tuition per credit hour rate for classes taken at Miami-Dade College is $118.22 (this rate will be
updated by the Human Resources Department, as needed)
• Reimbursement will be at the following levels, with the per credit hour rate (tuition only, exclusive of
fees) not to exceed the FIU rate, for traditional Undergraduate and Graduate programs, published
each July in the State University System of Florida, Tuition and Required Fees
(www.flbog.edu/about/budget/current.php):
o 90% reimbursement for courses in which employees earn an "A"
? Includes a "passing" grade on a pass/fail basis
o 80% reimbursement for courses in which employees earn a"B"
o 60% reimbursement for courses in which employees earn a "C"
• Corporate/Executive programs (ie. MPA, MBA)will be reimbursed at the same grading scale above,
at$714 per credit hour(including on-line courses and courses at private schools)
• Maximum allowable reimbursement for each employee, regardless of the educational program they
are enrolled in is$5,250 per year(federal government cap for exemption from withholding tax)
• Approved, non-degree, work-related courses shall be reimbursed at 70% of the course cost,
exclusive of books and other fees
Page 352 of 775
• Approved, certification courses, directly related to a City of Miami Beach career path, will be
reimbursed at 70%on a pass/fail basis. (Examples of certification programs: Film, Human Resources,
Finance)
Using the recommended changes proposed above, we are proposing a $300,000 budget allocation
using the following participation scenarios:
Undergraduate Program
•40 enrolled employees
• Each of the 40 employees takes 6 credit hours per semester for a total of 18 semester hours per
year at$162.61 per credit hour(using FIU per credit hour rate)
•40% earn an "A" which results in a cost of$42,148
•40% earn a "B" which results in a cost of$37,465
• 20% earn a "C" which results in a cost of$14,050, for a total expenditure of$93,663
Graduate Program(traditional)
• 10 enrolled employees
• Each of the 10 employees takes 6 credit hours per semester for a total of 18 semester hours per
year at$398 per credit hour(maximum allowable per year$5,250)
•40% earn an "A" which results in a cost of$21,000
•40% earn a "B" which results in a cost of$21,000
•20% earn a "C" which results in a cost of$8,617, for a total expenditure of$50,617
Executive/Corporate Program
• 10 enrolled employees
• Each of the 10 employees takes 6 credit hours per semester for a total of 18 semester hours per
year at$714 per credit hour(maximum allowable per year$5,250)
•40% earn an "A" which results in a cost of$21,000
•40% earn a"B" which results in a cost of$21,000
•20% earn a "C" which results in a cost of$10,500, for a total expenditure of$52,500
Certification Programs (City of Miami Beach career path)
•50 employees at an average of three (3) courses at$500 per course = $1,500
• Completion of courses on a Pass/Fail basis, reimbursed at 70%for a "Pass"
• Estimated annual cost for certifications is$52,500
Non-degree Programs (City of Miami Beach career path)
•25 employees at an average of three (3) courses at$250 per course = $750
• Completion of courses on a Pass/Fail basis, reimbursed at 70%for a "Pass"
• Estimated annual cost for certifications is$13,125
With the recommended changes, the Administration intends to make Tuition Assistance a smooth
process for those employees wishing to expand their knowledge and skills by obtaining a degree or
certification in a career-related path at the City. These amendments will also improve the process for
the Human Resources staff that is responsible for processing the tuition assistance reimbursement
Page 353 of 775
request.
ANALYSIS
Beginning in January 2015, the program utilization was as follows: twenty-nine (29)
undergraduate enrollees, fifteen (15) graduate enrollees, and twelve (12) non-degree seeking
enrollees. With a total of fifty-six (56) employees utilizing the program, to date, approximately
$67,000 has been reimbursed, that is 21.96% of the current budget. The majority of our
employees attended Miami-Dade College (21.4%), Florida International University(19.6%), and
Barry (19.6%). We have determined that some aspects of the current program are vague and
somewhat confusing to the user, as well as the Human Resources staff that is calculating the
reimbursement. Several employees voiced their concern about the way tuition assistance is
being applied when compared to the illustration used in the January 14, 2015, Commission
memo (Exhibit 1). For example, the information provided to the FCWPC and Commission
includes executive degree programs at colleges such as Barry, Nova, and FIU, in which the City
has partnered with these schools to offer varying preferred tuition rates, costing as much as
$760, exclusive of application and lab fees, books and other related expenditures. The cost
analysis used for the two-year pilot program was based on the following assumptions for an
Undergraduate student at FIU and a Graduate student in a corporate Master of Business
Administration program at $760 per credit hour. The tuition assistance budget allocation for the
two-year pilot program is $305,000. This budget was arrived by using the following
assumptions:
Undergraduate Program
• 56 enrolled employees
• Each of the 56 employees takes 6 credit hours per semester for a total of 18 semester hours
per year at$203.59 per credit hour
• 40% earn an"A" which results in a cost of$66,000
• 30%earn a"B" which results in a cost of$37,000;
• 30%earn a"C" which results in a cost of$25,000, for a total expenditure of$128,000
Corporate Graduate Program (Business Administration)
• 18 enrolled employees
• Each of the 18 employees takes 6 credit hours per semester for a total of 18 semester hours
per year at$760 per credit hour
• 60% earn an"A" which results in a cost of$118,000; and
• 40%earn a"B" which results in a cost of$59,000;
• 30% earn a"C" which results in a cost of$25,000, for a total expenditure of$177,000
However, as we near the end of the two-year pilot program, and look back at past practices, we
believe that the program was not used to its full potential due to the conflicting class approval
process and the misunderstanding of the reimbursement process, especially as it relates to the
Corporate/Executive Graduate programs. Additionally, we received a letter from the Director,
Master of Public Administration ("MPA") at FIU regarding their program structure for the
Executive MPA and how the tuition is determined. An MPA program cost is $32,000, with$2,000
of those dollars used for books and food, resulting in a $714 per credit hour tuition rate. The
Director also states that the MPA program has been very successful since its inception in 1978,
with 2800 graduates (Exhibit 2).
Page 354 of 775
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends adopting the Resolution.
Legislative Tracking
Human Resources
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Exhibit 1
❑ exhibit 2
❑ Exhibit 3
Page 355 of 775
EXHIBIT # 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2015-28891
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FINANCE AND
CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE TO AMEND THE CITY'S TUITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM AS FOLLOWS: TUITION ASSISTANCE SHALL BE BASED ON, BUT NOT
EXCEED, THE ESTABLISHED CREDIT HOUR TUITION RATE IN THE STATES
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM AT THE TIME OF ENROLLMENT; ASSISTANCE SHALL BE
BASED ON A SLIDING SCALE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE EMPLOYEE'S
PERFORMANCE IN APPROVED COURSEWORK FROM ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS
OF HIGHER LEARNING WITH A SIX CREDIT HOUR LIMIT PER SEMESTER;
ASSISTANCE SHALL BE LIMITED TO 80 PERCENT OF THE TUITION COSTS FOR
COURSES IN WHICH EMPLOYEES EARN AN "A," 60 PERCENT WHEN THEY EARN A
"a," AND 40 PERCENT WHEN THEY EARN A "C," EXCEPT GRADUATE COURSES
FOR WHICH ASSISTANCE REQUIRES EARNING NO LESS THAN A "B"; A
REPAYMENT REQUIREMENT IF THE EMPLOYEE SEPARATES FROM EMPLOYMENT
BY THE CITY WITHIN TWO YEARS OF HAVING RECEIVED ASSISTANCE, WITH AN
EXCEPTION FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LAID OFF OR DIE; AND APPROVING THE
REVISED CITY OF MIAMI BEACH EMPLOYEE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SET
FORTH IN THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT A.
WHEREAS, there City of Miami Beach (City) has a long-standing tradition of
encouraging employees to further their education by offering a tuition assistance program; and
WHEREAS, the tuition assistance program has not been revised since 2004: and
WHEREAS, costs for a post-secondary education have risen considerably in the
intervening years; and
WHEREAS, tuition assistance is available only to full-time City of Miami Beach classified
employees who have completed their probationary periods, or for unclassified employees who
have a minimum of six (6) months of continuous service. (Time served in a
Provisional/Temporary status is excluded); and
WHEREAS, the Finance and Citywide Projects (FCWP) Committee members reviewed
the status of the program and recommended the following changes at the December 12, 2014
meeting: tuition assistance shall be based on, but not exceed, the established credit hour tuition
rate in the State's University System at the time of enrollment: assistance shall be based on a
sliding scale directly related to the employee's performance in approved coursework from
accredited institutions of higher learning with a six credit hour limit per semester; assistance
shall be limited to 80 percent of the tuition costs for courses in which employees earn an "A,"60
percent when they earn a "B,^ and 40 percent when they earn a "C," except graduate courses
for which assistance requires earning no less than a "B"; and a repayment requirement if the
employee separated within two years of having received assistance, with an exception for
employees who are laid off or die; and
WHEREAS, a revised City of Miami Beach Employee Tuition Assistance Program that
incorporates the recommendations of the FCWP Committee, and other clean-up revisions, is
attached as Exhibit A; and
Page 356 of 775
WHEREAS, the applicability of the revised City of Miami Beach Employee Tuition
Assistance Program, as set forth in Exhibit A, to employees covered by a collective bargaining
unit will be subject to negotiations when the current collective bargaining agreements expire.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMi BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and the City
Commission hereby accept the recommendations of the Finance and Citywide Projects •
•
Committee to amend the City's Tuition Assistance Program as follows; tuition assistance shall
be based on, but not exceed, the established credit hour tuition rate in the State's University
•
System at the time of enrollment; assistance shall be based on a sliding scale directly related to
the Employee's performance in approved coursework from accredited institutions of higher
learning with a six credit hour limit per semester; assistance shall be limited to 80 percent of the •
tuition costs for courses in which employee's earn an"A,"60 percent when they earn a "B," and
40 percent when they earn a "C," except graduate courses for which assistance requires
earning no less than a "B"; and a repayment requirement if the employee separated from
employment by the City of Miami Beach within two years of having received assistance, with an
exception for employees who are laid off or die, within two years of having received assistance;
and approve the revised City of Miami Beach Employee Tuition Assistance Program set forth in
the attached Exhibit A ,
PASSED AND ADOPTED this Vi day of J4 tkey , 2015.
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Page 357 of 775
COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Condensed Title:
A resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, accepting the
recommendation of the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee to approve changes to the tuition
assistance program.
Key Intended Outcome Supported:
Ensure that a universal culture of high quality customer-service is driving the conduct of the City
Commission and all City employees
Item Summary/Recommendation:
The Tuition Assistance Program is an employment benefit,so long-term that the last time it was reviewed
was ten years ago in October 2004. The purpose of the program is to encourage employees to further
their education by taking approved or accredited courses which will improve their performance in the
services they were hired to perform or would be relevant to the employees' career development and
potential advancement within the City.
After significant discussion, the FCWPC recommended that the tuition assistant program be modified as
follows, upon City Commission approval, for employees in the unclassified and`others"salary groups.
• Assistance based on a sliding scale directly related to the employee's performance in school, for
approved coursework from accredited institutions of higher learning
• Six credit hour limit on the number eligible for tuition assistance per semester
• A repayment requirement if the employee separates within two years of having received assistance,
with an exception for employees who are laid off or die
Undergraduate Programs
• 80%reimbursement for courses in which employees earn an"A"
• 60%reimbursement for courses in which employees earn a`B"
• 40% reimbursement for courses in which employees earn a"C"
Graduate Programs
• 80% reimbursement for courses in which employees earn an'A"
• 60%reimbursement for courses in which employees earn a"8'
Applicability of these changes to employees covered by a collective bargaining unit will be a subject to
negotiations with representatives from the American Federation of State County and Municipal
Employees (AFSCME), Communications Workers of America (CWA), Fraternal Order of Police (FOP),
Government Supervisors Association of Florida (GSAF)and the International Association of Firefighters
(IAFF)when current collective bargaining agreements expire.
Advisory Board Recommendation: _
At the December 12, 2014, Finance and Citywide Projects Committee meeting. members unanimously
li voted to continue approve changes to the tuition assistance program as set forth herein.
Financial Information:
Source of Amount Account
Funds: 1 $305.000 011-9590-000367
• 2
OBPI Total 1
Financial Impact Summary:
City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking:
Sylvia Crespo-Tabak, Human Resources Director
Sign-Offs:
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DATE !—iii-/S-
Page 358 of 775 .
e. MIAMIBEACH
City of Miami geoeh, 1700 Convention Center Drive,M+cmi Roach.Florida 33130,www.rniorn;beockil,goV
COMMISSION MEMORAMDUM
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: January 14. 2015
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS
COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
BACKGROUND
At the November 19, 2014, City Commission meeting, the subject program was referred
to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) for its review and
recommendations and the matter was addressed at the December 12, 2014, meeting.
The Tuition Assistance Program is an employment benefit, so long-term that the last
time it was reviewed was ten years ago, in October 2004. Budgetary allocations during
the same period of time have fluctuated between $30,000 and the current $20,000 per
year. Expenditures in 2004 were over budget by almost $8,000 but every year since
then, except for 2010. expenditures were significantly below allocated amounts. In fiscal
year 2013/14, 34 employees made use of the benefit for a total expenditure of slightly
over$19,000. Based on the amounts reimbursed, six of the 34 employees who filed for
reimbursement are enrolled in post-graduate programs.
The purpose of the program is to encourage employees to further their education by
taking approved or accredited courses which will improve their performance in the
services they were hired to perform or would be relevant to the employees' career
development and potential advancement within the City, The City reimburses tuition
only for one course per semester for a total of 12 credit hours per calendar year.
To be eligible for reimbursement, employees must successfully complete each course
taken, which means earning a grade of"C" or better and a "pass" if the course is graded
on a passtfail basis. Reimbursement rates are as follows:
• Approved undergraduate community college and non-credit/certificate courses -
$158.25;
• Approved undergraduate university courses- $251.16; and
• Approved graduate courses -$531.15. •
DISCUSSION
At the December 12, 2014. meeting, Committee members were informed that in addition
Page 359 of 775
FCWPC RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH TUITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
January 14,2015
Page 2
to the tuition assistance program, the City of Miami Beach has partnered with Barry
University, Carlos Albizu University, Florida International University and Nova
Southeastern University to offer employees preferred tuition rates for a number of
programs. Offerings vary, yet despite significant discounts, post-graduate credit hours
may cost as much as $760, exclusive of application and lab fees, books and other
related expenditures.
In April 2014, staff undertook an informal survey regarding tuition assistance and
received eight responses from municipalities in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
One did not offer any assistance; another offered it to select bargaining unit employees
and a third suspended its program due to budgetary constraints.
The different approaches among the entities that responded were striking. Two entities
allocated a certain amount to the program and reimbursed at the State tuition credit hour
rate until the allocations were exhausted. Since there were no limits an the number of
credit hours eligible for assistance, reimbursement was based on available funding. If
an employee delayed submitting the required information, he or she ran the risk of losing
out on the benefit due to budgetary constraints.
Two municipalities, the Village of Key Biscayne and the City of Doral, based their
reimbursements on employee achievement. An "A° was reimbursed at 100%, a "B' and
75% and a "C" at 50% at both organizations. The Village of Key Biscayne reimbursed
an employee up to $4,000 per fiscal year and the City of Doral reimbursed up to 18
credits per fiscal year.
Miami-Dade County reimburses up to 50% of tuition costs to any employee who earns a
"C" in an approved course after financial and other assistance has been applied.
ANALYSIS PRESENTED TO THE FCWPC
Should the City elect to make changes to the Tuition Assistance Program, the matter will
have to be negotiated with labor representatives as part of the collective bargaining
process. Changes, if adopted. may apply to employees in the unclassified or "others
salary groups upon adoption.
The attached revised program procedures incorporate the following:
• Assistance based on a sliding scale directly related to the employee's
performance in school
• No limit on the number of credit hours eligible for tuition assistance
• A repayment requirement if the employee separates within two years of having
received assistance, with an exception for employees who are laid off or die
The Administration recommends a two-year pilot program because it is difficult to
anticipate how much interest the program will generate and whether the City will be able
to afford to offer such an employment benefit. The cost analysis is based an the
following assumptions and the undergraduate tuition cost at Florida International
University and $760.00 per credit hour for the Corporate Master of Business
Page 360 of 775
•
FCWPC RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH TUITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
January 14.2015
Page 3
Administration also at Florida International University.
Undergraduate Program
• Instead of 28 employees, 56 enroll in an undergraduate program (a twofold
increase);
• Each of the 56 takes 6 credit hours per semester for a total of 18 semester hours
per year at$203.59 per credit hour,
• 40% earn an "A"which results in a cost of$66,000;
• 30%earn a"B"which results in a cost of$37,000; and
• 30% earn a "C" which results in a cost of $25,000 for a total expenditure of
$128,000
Corporate Master of Business Administration
• Instead of 6 employees, 18 enroll in this graduate program;
• Each of the 18 takes 6 credit hours for a total of 18 semester hours per year at
$760 per credit hours;
• 60%earn art"A"which results in a cost of$118,000; and
• 40% earn a "B" which results in a cost of $59,000 for a total expenditure of
$1 77,000
Consequently, based on the above assumptions. this pilot program could run at
$305,000.
RECOMMENDATION
After significant discussion, the FCWPC recommended that the tuition assistant program
be modified as follows, upon City Commission approval, for employees in the
unclassified and others salary groups.
• Assistance based on a sliding scale directly related to the employee's
performance in school, for approved coursework from accredited institutions of
higher learning
• Six credit hour limit on the number eligible for tuition assistance per semester
• A repayment requirement if the employee separates within two years of having
received assistance, with an exception for employees who are laid off or die
Undergraduate Programs
• 80% reimbursement for courses in which employees earn an"A"
a 60% reimbursement for courses in which employees earn a "B"
• 40% reimbursement for courses in which employees earn a "C"
Page 361 of 775
FCWPC RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH TUITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
January 14,2015
Page 4
Graduate Programs
• 80%reimbursement for courses in which employees earn an"A"
• 60% reimbursement for courses in which employees earn a"B"
Applicability of these changes to employees covered by a collective bargaining unit will
be a subject of negotiations with representatives from the American Federation of State
County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Communications Workers of America
(CWA), Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Government Supervisors Association of Florida
(GSAF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) when current collective
bargaining agreements expire.
The Administration recommends adoption of the FCWPC's recommendation and further
recommends that beginning with the 2016/17 fiscal year budget, program costs be re-
evaluated during the budget allocation process.
Attachment
JLM/KGB/SC-T
7:1AGENDAl2015JenuarytHuman Resources+Tuition Reimbursement Rates at CMS Memo.tlucx
•
Page 362 of 775
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH EMPLOYEE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The City of Miami Beach Employee Tuition Assistance Program ("Program") is
established to provide financial assistance to eligible employees voluntarily
participating in training or educational programs from accredited institutions of
higher learning designed to improve their effectiveness which directly
benefits City operations, activities and objectives; provide professional
development; and help prepare employees For other opportunities within
the City's service.
Tuition is the fee for instruction and lab fees only, and does not include
textbooks, exams, audit fees, or any other expenses.
Tuition assistance is available to full-time City of Miami Beach classified
employees who have completed their respective probationary periods and to
unclassified employees who have no less than six months of continuous
service. Time served in provisional/temporary status is not included when
determining eligibility.
An accredited institution of higher learning, as defined in the Higher Education
Act, is an educational institution that awards a bachelor's degree or provides
not less than a 2-year program that is acceptable for full credit towards a
degree; is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of
education beyond secondary education; and is accredited by a nationally
recognized accrediting agency or association, or if not so accredited, is an
institution that has been granted preaccreditation status by such an agency or
association that has been recognized by the Secretary of Education.
QUALIFICATIONS:
The tuition assistance shall be based upon and not exceed the established
credit hour tuition rate in the State university system at the time of enrollment
and shall be limited to six credit hours per semester. Upon successful
completion of approved coursework, the assistance schedule is based on the
following levels of achievement:
1. Grade A = 80% reimbursement
2. Grade B = 60% reimbursement
3. Grade C = 40% reimbursement; except for graduate level courses which
are not eligible for reimbursement at this level of performance
4_ A passing grade on a pass/fail basis =80% reimbursement
Employees receiving financial assistance including scholarships, fellowships,
grants, special discounts and/or Veteran's benefits, will be eligible for tuition
assistance after the financial assistance has been applied to the tuition costs.
Exhibit A
Page 363 of 775
The City reserves the right to determine and amend the number of courses, the
number of credit hours, and the level of tuition assistance prior to the beginning
of a school semester.
EMPLOYEE ELIGIBILITY:
Tuition assistance is available to full-time City of Miami Beach classified
employees who have completed their respective probationary periods and to
unclassified employees who have no less than six months of continuous
service. Time served in provisional/temporary status is not included when
determining eligibility.
(a) For classified employees, an overall evaluation of "meets
expectations" or higher on the latest employee performance
evaluation preceding the beginning of classes.
Exception: A classified employee whose latest overall evaluation is
less than "meets expectations" may be eligible for tuition
assistance for coursework related to specific areas of performance
that have a requirement to take courses as a part of their job
performance, upon approval of the Human Resources Department.
(b) Unclassified employees must receive the approval of his or her
supervisor to participate in the Program.
COURSEWORK ELIGIBILITY:
Guidelines for establishing eligible coursework are as follows:
(a) Degree and certification programs at accredited institutions which
relate directly to career opportunities within the City of Miami Beach
are eligible for approval.
(b) For those employees who have been approved for a degree
program, all general education courses specifically required by the
school will be approved. •
(c) All other coursework will be considered on a course by course
basis.
(d) All courses must be taken outside of working hours unless the
employee's department director approves the use of annual leave. If
administrative I eave is granted to take a course during working
hours, which requires City Manager approval, no tuition assistance will
be granted.
Page 2 of 4
Page 364 of 775
(e) Online Internet courses and programs provided by accredited Florida-
based educational institutions are eligible for tuition reimbursement
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR:
The department directors shall be responsible for verifying that all approved
coursework is in compliance with this administrative procedure, as well as
all other aspects of the program. Department directors shall approve or
disapprove all reimbursements for degrees, programs, and coursework for
employees within their departments.
EMPLOYEE OBLIGATIONS:
In order to be eligible for tuition assistance, employees receiving tuition
assistance under this Program must remain in the City's employ for a minimum
of two years following the last tuition assistance payment. Employees
separating from City service prior to the expiration of this period will reimburse
the City for the assistance received during the final year of employment through
deductions from their final payroll check. If the final paycheck is insufficient, the
employee will still be responsible for making arrangements to reimburse the
City or their separation papers shall be coded as not having left the City in good
standing and the employee shall remain responsible for any remaining
reimbursement.
In the event the employee fails to reimburse the City, the services of an
attorney required to collect such debt shall be sought and such attorney's fees
and court costs shall be added to the amount owed the City.
No reimbursement will be required of those employees who have been laid off.
If the employee dies while in the City's service, no reimbursement will be
sought from the employee's estate,
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Employees wishing to participate in the Program shall submit to their
department directors an application for coursework/degree approval no later
than thirty days prior to the start of classes.
COURSEWORK, DEGREE REVIEW AND APPROVAL:
•
The department director shall approve or disapprove the employee's request
after verifying the employee's eligibility for participation in the Program.
(a)Approval
After the department director approves the request, a copy of the original
application is returned to the employee advising them of the approval.
Page 3 of 4
Page 365 of 775
(b) Disapproval
If the department director disapproves the application, he or she shall advise
the employee of the reason for the rejection no later than 30 days from the
date of the receipt of the application..
REIMBURSEMENT: _ - - -- - -- -- - ------ - - ---- -All approved applicants will submit a request for reimbursement, along with
tuition receipts, official grade notifications, and all supporting
documentation, to their department directors no later than thirty days from
receipt of their grades. The departments shall submit all applications to the
Human Resources Department, whether approved or disapproved, with the
supporting documents for final review and reimbursement approval.
PENALTIES:
Should an employee submit documentation which the employee knows is false
or intentionally misleading in order to receive benefits to which the employee is
not entitled, the employee shall be deemed ineligible to continue to participate
in the Program and shall repay City of Miami Beach for any tuition assistance
received while in the City's employ. The employee may be subject to
disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, dismissal from the City service.
•
Page 4 of 4
Page 366 of 775
i FLORIDA EXHIBIT # 2
•
UNIINTERNATIONAL VERSITY
Human Resources Department
City of Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Dear Sir/Mme:
It has come to my attention that there are questions about tuition charged by the
Executive Master of Public Administration Program(MPA). In this letter, 1 hope to
clarify these questions.
The Flt; MPA Program is offered by the only public research university in Miami.
The program has been offered continuously since 1978.and has over 2,800 graduates.
The program is supported by 14 taculty members who are dedicated to public service
research -with over 400 publications in the field of public administration. All our
faculty arc certified as graduate faculty, and the few adjuncts that we hire arc
credentialed according to our accreditation standards- i.e. 10 years of experience at
the level of director or higher.
The FIU MPA program is the only NASPAA-Accredited program in Miami-Dade
County. NASPAA accreditation is a quality assurance for curriculum, students and
faculty of the program. While other institutions in the region offer non-accredited
graduate degrees in public administration. they tend to teach courses using non-
qualified faculty. Our average incoming MPA student has a 3.6 out of 4 undergraduate
GPA_ in short, the FIU MPA is a quality program delivering quality curriculum by
quality faculty to quality students.
The Executive cohort of our MPA program is designed for working processionals with
experience of 5-10 years of public service experience. The curriculum is designed to
meet the needs of professionals- with core courses in budgeting, finance, human
resource management.policy making and leadership. Additionally, the program offers
elective courscwork in strategic planning, public private partnerships, media relations,
and executive leadership. The program has excellent retention rates because we are
very selective in admission and we are very careful with curriculum design.
Because we are a public institution and our students are public and non-profit students.
the PMPA is priced to barely recover its costs. The NMPA does not generate profit
and every dollar generated from the cohort is reinvested in the program. The program
does include the cost of books and food which amounts to less than $2.000 of the
$32.000 tuition charged by the program_ Therefore. the cost per credit for our EMPA,
excluding cost of books and food, is S714 per credit hour. I want to emphasize that this
amount is the actual cost amount-the revenues generated by this program barely
Department of Public Administration,Steven J.Green School of International and Public
Affairs
11200 S.W-Sth Street,PCA 257•Miami,FL 33199•Tel:(305)348-5890•Fax:(305)34S-5848
Florida International University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Institution • TOO via FRS 1.800-955-
8771
Page 367 of 775
P. 2
recover its expenses.
Offering an accredited program is expensive-- for example, the cost of a research
faculty is almost I O times the cost of an adjunct laculty member. Quality and
accreditation requirements unfortunately have costs associated with them. However,
accreditation assures that your employees are in fact receiving the proper education
and are not just receiving a degree.
If you have questions, or to chat about this matter, please contact me at (305) 348- .
4338 (work) or at (305) 903-9990 (home). I may also he reached by c-mail at
ntalkadry(teliu.edu.
Sincerely Yours
)
Mohamad A lkadry, Ph.D.
Director, Master of Public Administration
Professor. Department of Public Administration
•
Page 368 of 775
tsbbler
DATE ISSUED: Page: SEQUENCE
it 1, 1 �L." k
i v i i v , : 0 .t.;\‘......,1 i MAY, 2015 1 of 4 NUMBER:
DATE UPDATED: HR.20.01 =
CITYWIDE PROCEDURE DECEMBER, 2016 m
q
SUBJECT:
EMPLOYEE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM "
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT:
HUMAN RESOURCES
PURPOSE:
The City of Miami Beach Employee Tuition Assistance Program ("Program"), which was revised in 2015
per Resolution 2015-28891, is established to provide financial assistance to eligible employees
voluntarily participating in training or educational programs from accredited institutions of higher learning
designed to improve their effectiveness which directly benefits City operations, activities and
objectives; provide professional development; and help prepare employees for other
opportunities within the City's service.
Tuition is the fee for instruction and lab fees only, and does not include textbooks, exams, audit
fees, or any other expenses except for those executive degree programs where the tuition is inclusive
of fees for books and other expenses.
An accredited¢it stitution of higher l arnirng, as defined in t h e Higher Educatiorn.Act, is yan educational
institution that awards..a bachelor's'°degiree.:.or provides'no less than air o (2r) yea. ogram that is
acceptable: it full credit towards a degree s legally authorized within such State to provide`a program
of educationi beyond secondary. ducation; and is acc edited by a nationally recognized accrediting
agency or.association, or if not so accredited, is an institution F:that has been granted pre-accreditation
status by such an;.7.,::-.;z:;;' agency5or association that ias been recognized by the.Secretary of Education
w
PROCEDURES:
Reimbursement
,71
1. TuitOn assistance for undergradua a courses taken ats,Miami ade College (or similar
cornit�untt co le e) will be'reimburse; "up to$118.22 per credit hour. This rate will be updated
by the Fliitxtat Resources Departmen s needed.
2. For traditional undergraduate and graduate courses, tuitidii"-assistance shall be based:Upon and
not exceed the Florida International University (FIU) established credit hour tuition rate in the
published State University System at the time of enrollment. This rate is updated each July and
posted on the web at http://www.fibog.edu/aboutlbudoeticurrent.php.
3. For nontraditional graduate programs, (Corporate/Executive) tuition assistance shall be
reimbursed up to $714 per credit hour. This includes Executive programs at FIU, Barry, Nova,
etc.
4. There is no reimbursement for PhD's.
5. Approved non-degree, work-related courses shall be reimbursed at 70% of the course cost,
exclusive of fees for a"Pass" grade.
6. Approved certification courses shall be reimbursed at 70% of the course cost, exclusive of fees
for a"Pass"grade.
Tuition assistance shall be limited to six (6) credit hours per semester, and eighteen (18) credit hours
per year. At no time shall the annual tuition assistance for each employee exceed $5,250, the federal
government cap for withholding tax exemption. (This amount is subject to change based on updates to
the federal guidline.)
Page 1 of 4
Page 369 of 775
DATE ISSUED: Page: SEQUENCE
V1 I M I a E C H MAY, 2015 2 of 4 NUMBER:
DATE UPDATED: HR.20.01
CITYWIDE PROCEDURE DECEMBER, 2016
SUBJECT:
EMPLOYEE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT:
HUMAN RESOURCES
Upon successful completion of approved coursework, the assistance schedule is based on the following
levels of achievement:
• Grade A= 90% reimbursement
• Grade B = 80% reimbursement
• Grade C = 60% reimbursement; except for graduate level courses which are not eligible for
reimbursement at this level of performance
• A passing grade on a pass/fail basis = 90% reimbursement
Employees receiving financial assistance including scholarships, fellowships, grants, special
discounts and/or Veteran's benefits, will be eligible for tuition assistance after the financial assistance
has been applied to the tuition costs.
The City reserves the right to determine and amend the number of courses, the number of credit hours,
and the leveI.,of tuition assistanceipriar,tothe beginning of aschool
z-c semest er a w
i • m ei,,,z7
vir ,, � < N w .r» y :
Employee Eligibility :17
e.{e: iM may.v4 a4.h S
Tuition assistance is available to,full-time::City of Miami Beach employees who have completed their
respectiveprobationary periods ryr
a) ` -Unclassified/Other employees must have completed six;�(6) months of continuous
service and-receivethe approval of his` .rr ervisor,
b) (Classified ,,employees must :meet regc rrertierti stated in, their respective'!;.6.-:=.,-4.7 O
llective
Bargaining A reement in order to be eligible.
Note: Time�served inpprovisional Item ors status is not included whhen determinin ell ibilit
P P ry . .2.,..-._._ 9 9 Y
Coursework Eligibility
Guidelines for establishing eligible coursework are as follows:
a) Degree programs at accredited institutions which relate directly to career
opportunities within the City of Miami Beach are eligible for approval.
b) For those employees who have been approved for a degree program, all general
education courses specifically required by the school will be approved.
c) All courses must be taken outside of working hours unless the employee's
Department Director approves the use of annual leave.
d) Non-degree, work related courses (or City of Miami Beach career path).
e) Certification, work related courses (or City of Miami Beach career path)
Department Director
Department Directors shall be responsible for verifying that all approved coursework is in
compliance with this administrative procedure, as well as all other aspects of the program.
Page 2 of 4
Page 370 of 775
DATE Page: SEQUENC
MIAMIBEACH MAY, 2015UED: 3 of 4 NUMBER:
CITYWIDE PROCEDURE DATE UPDATED: HR.20.01
DECEMBER, 2016
SUBJECT:
EMPLOYEE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT:
HUMAN RESOURCES
Department Directors shall approve or disapprove all reimbursements for degrees, programs, and
coursework for employees within their departments.
Employee Obligations
There is a repayment requirement if the employee separates from employment from the City of Miami
Beach within two years of having received assistance, with the exception for those employees who
have been laid off.
Employees separating from City service prior to the expiration of the two (2) year period will reimburse
the City for the assistance received during the final year of employment through deductions from their
final payroll check. If the final paycheck is insufficient, the employee will be responsible for making
arrangements to reimburse the City or their separation papers shall be coded as not having left the City
in good standing.
In the event ths->;efnptoyee fails o ft burse the City, the services of an attorney req,; ec + Ot
such debt shall be sought and such attorney's fees and court costs shaltbe added to the amount owed
the City. d,
?
Application Procedure ,
.'
Employees-wishing to participate i re the Program $Mall su iptt to theirKDepfititment Direcctors the
attached Tuition Assistance Program Application Formkalong rift) the supporting"dbcumentafigp stated
in Part I of the application,iio late than 30 days priorfovthe.start-of classes,
Coursewoik:Degree Review and Approval PO
The Depaiti a Plrector shall approve or.,disapprove the employee's request after ve ing the
employee'F'eiigit ility for participation in the Program. `' "
Reimbursement
Employees seeking reimbursement shall submit their pre-approved application form along with the
supporting documentation stated in Part I and II of the application, no later than 30 days from receipt of
their grades. Departments shall submit all applications to the Human Resources Department with the
supporting documentation for final review and reimbursement approval.
Penalty
Should an employee submit documentation which the employee knows is false or intentionally
misleading in order to receive benefits to which the employee is not entitled, the employee shall be
deemed ineligible to continue to participate in the Program and shall repay City of Miami Beach for any
tuition assistance received while in the City's employ. The employee may be subject to disciplinary
action, including, but not limited to, dismissal from the City service.
Page 3 of 4
Page 371 of 775
DATE ISSUED: Page: SEQUENCE
M i;- :1 MAY, 2015 4 of 4 NUMBER:
DATE UPDATED: HR.20.01
CITYWIDE PROCEDURE DECEMBER, 2016
SUBJECT:
EMPLOYEE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT:
HUMAN RESOURCES
Prepared by:
Director, Human Resources Department
Reviewed by:
Internal Auditor
Assistant City Manager
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Page 4 of 4
Page 372 of 775
MIAMIBEACH FOR HR USE ONLY:
Tuition Assistance Program
g m
Application Form
General in rrt anon ,
Date:
Name: Date Employed: City ID#:
Department: Classification
Phone: Course Schedule Dates:
Name of Educational Institution:
Educational Objectives ❑ Non Degree ❑ Undergraduate Degree ❑ Graduate Degree
Academic Degree ❑ Non Degree ❑ Associate's ❑ Bachelor's ❑ Master's
Major (Area of Concentration):
DO NOT WRITE IN SHADED AREAS
COURSE(S)REQUESTED TOTAL ELIGIBLE DATE GRADES GRADE AMOUNT INITIAL FOR
CREDITS YIN RECEIVED APPROVAL
.
2.
State how coursework meets the objectives of the Tuition Assistance Program:
[ Part 1: Cou aria.Degree Review and Approval .
Department verification: ❑ Approved ❑ Denied, reason:
Documents provided: ❑ Tuition Assistance Application
❑ Class Schedule
❑ Catalog Description(s) for course(s) listed above
Department Director's Signature Date
Part if: Reimbursement
Attach the following supporting documentation and submit to the Human Resources Department no later than 30
days after grades have been posted:
❑ Supporting documentation provided with Part I
❑ Course Registration Statement
❑ Receipt of Payment in full
❑ Grade(s) received for course(s) listed above
Employee Signature
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Page aRtie175
U.tHR 2007 Policy-Employee Tuition Assistance Application.docx