CHS has established an educational assistance program to provide employees with the opportunity to enhance their development, increase knowledge and skills, and earn undergraduate and advanced degrees related to their work.

Eligibility. Regular full-time employees who have completed twelve months of continuous employment are eligible to apply for the program. In order to be eligible, employees must obtain the written approval of their manager.

Covered expenses. Tuition costs, examination fees and required laboratory fees at an accredited institution are covered by the program. Books, travel, parking, lodging and extraneous fees are not reimbursable expenses. Employees will not be paid for their time spent in courses in which they enroll voluntarily.

Annual reimbursement limit. The annual dollar limit on reimbursable tuition expenses is $2,500.

Job-related. Courses must be directly related to the employee’s current job, an advanced position within the company, or an identifiable career path within the company in order to qualify for reimbursement. Classes must not interfere with an employee’s normal work schedule. No more than two classes may be taken per semester.

Approval. The Executive Council will review and determine the final approval for tuition reimbursement requests.

Taxability. Tuition reimbursement payments may be subject to tax and tax withholding. Employees should consult with their tax advisor.

Application process. Employees should complete the application and receive approval before enrolling. Forms are available from the human resources department.

Employee reimbursement to the company. Employees who voluntarily leave employment with CHS within two years of receiving tuition reimbursement must reimburse the company for any payments received under this program within the year prior to their departure.