Emory Report homepage  

February 20, 2006
Courtesy scholarship provides options for summer study

By Alfred Charles

Denise Brubaker has worked at Emory since 1982, and in that time two of her children have enrolled here to earn degrees and a third is on the way this fall.

None of it would have been possible, she said, if the University had not provided courtesy scholarships to defray the tuition costs for her children, who used the award for regular and summer school classes.

“I am very grateful and my kids are, too,” said Brubaker, academic department administrator in the political science department. “It has enabled them to get a substantially better education.”

University officials want more faculty and staff members to be aware that the courtesy scholarship can be used not only during the regular academic year but for summer school as well. Students who are enrolled at other schools can use the benefit to attend summer classes at Emory, and employees who are considering using the benefit for themselves should consider how they could use the courtesy scholarship during the summer, such as working an alternate schedule or taking leave.

Because the summer season tends to be a slow time on campus, administrators say that could be an ideal time for employees—or their children—to enroll in Emory classes.

“We hope more faculty and staff will consider using the courtesy scholarship in the future,” said Sally Wolff King, associate dean of Emory College. “They should also keep in mind that it is available in the summer.”

Arguably the best benefit of working for the University, the courtesy scholarship allows Emory workers to defray part or all of the tuition costs to attend class, either for themselves or their immediate family.

Under the program’s current rules, full time workers who have been employed by the University between two and five years are eligible for a tuition waiver for themselves or their immediate dependents of half of the costs. Workers who have served between five and 10 years are eligible for a 75 percent waiver, while employees with 10 or more years of service are eligible to have their entire tuition costs waived. Part-time workers are also eligible for the benefit, but the required time on the job is slightly different.

The process to use the courtesy scholarship is twofold. The employee, their child, spouse or domestic partner must first be admitted to the school and academic program of their choice. The worker then must complete an online form to request the scholarship.

Students who attend other colleges during the regular academic year but want to attend summer school classes at Emory do not have to be admitted to the University, but can enroll as transient students.

The courtesy scholarship program is administered by the Office of Student Financial Services.

With about three months to go until the summer academic season, this might be an ideal time for those thinking about using the courtesy scholarship for the summer program because there is a slightly expanded list of course offerings over previous years.

“There are more than 100 courses available in a wide variety of disciplines,” Wolff King said. “And it’s a six-week commitment versus a 15-week commitment.”

Larraine Forrester, program administrative assistant to Wolff King, is also using the courtesy scholarship.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for employees to continue their education,” she said.

The courtesy scholarship program probably doesn’t have a booster bigger than Brubaker.

She speaks fondly about the program, which is being used to educate son, Nick, a sophomore with a major in psychology and a second major in philosophy and religion, and daughter Natalie, a senior and a double major in environmental studies and biology.

“Not having to consider tuition costs has allowed my children to go much farther,” said Brubaker, whose third child, son Daniel, is expected to enroll in Emory this fall on a courtesy scholarship. The tuition for Brubaker’s dependents is completely waived because of her length of employment.

She said both of her children have used the courtesy scholarship to attend summer school and courses throughout the year. The perk has literally opened up a world of possibilities for Brubaker’s children. Nick traveled to the United Kingdom one summer to study abroad and Natalie has spent time in Costa Rica for her studies.

“They know how fortunate they are to have access to this caliber of education,” Brubaker said.

For online resources about the Emory courtesy scholarship program, visit:
http://emory.hr.emory.edu/benefits. For information on summer school, visit www.college.emory.edu/summer.

TOP