Tuition Reimbursement Policy

Overview

The company recognizes that educational development is important and should be encouraged. ABX Air’s Tuition Reimbursement plan was established to provide an opportunity for employees to obtain additional education or training in order to increase their competence in their present jobs and to prepare for future advancements within the company.

Core Requirements

ABX Air will reimburse eligible employees for pre-approved tuition expenses. Tuition reimbursement will be provided up to an annual maximum of $2,500 for part-time and full-time employees and $1,250 for casuals.

This policy applies to all employees.

Eligibility

All full-time, part-time, and casual employees are eligible for this program upon employment. Casual employees must work at least four days per month during the duration of their courses to be eligible.

Approved Programs & Courses

Degree Programs

Tuition reimbursement is available for associate, bachelor or graduate degree programs, regardless of whether they are ABX job-related or not. Colleges or universities must be accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. A list of these agencies is provided at the end of this policy. A more up-to-date list is available on the U.S. Department of Education’s web site.

Non-Degree Programs

Individual classes outside of a degree program will be reviewed for approval on a case-by-case basis and are restricted to courses that are directly related to your present position or to prepare for another specific position in the company. Courses that meet this criteria, but are not consistent with the intent of this program may be denied for reimbursement. A preparatory class intended solely to prepare the student for an examination or certification will not be covered under the tuition reimbursement program. This program does not cover flying lessons, ground school, and other flight crew training or exams.

Reimbursement Level

Tuition reimbursement will be provided up to an annual maximum of $2,500 for part-time and full-time employees and $1,250 for casuals. Expenses such as textbooks and lab fees are not eligible for reimbursement. The annual maximum is based on the calendar year, January through December. Reimbursement will be credited to the calendar year in which the class was completed. For example, if a class is completed in December but the reimbursement is not paid until January, the reimbursement is considered part of the prior year annual maximum allowable amount. New hires are limited to one-half the annual maximum during the first six months of their employment. Reimbursement will be paid at 100 percent as long as you receive a grade of C or above, or "pass" in a pass/fail class.

Employee Responsibility

Pre-Approval

YOU MUST HAVE YOUR COURSES PRE-APPROVED BY HUMAN RESOURCES IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. Any tuition reimbursement request submitted to Employee Benefits after the class has started will be denied. To have your class pre-approved, send a completed Tuition Reimbursement Course Approval Request (available in the forms bins) to the Benefits Department in Human Resources. You will be notified whether your request has been approved or denied, usually within ten (10) working days of receipt of your form. The Tuition Reimbursement Request will be returned to your attention for you to re-submit when applying for your reimbursement.

Applying for Reimbursement for Your Tuition

After you have completed the class, you must re-submit the pre-approved Tuition Reimbursement Request to the Human Resources Department within 60 days of completing the class. The following information must be attached:

1. Evidence of the grade earned: Official grade report or transcript (internet printouts are not acceptable).

2. A verified statement of the cost of tuition or adequate receipts.

Allow at least 20 working days for reimbursement after submitting all relevant documentation to the Benefits Department.

If You Terminate Employment

Involuntary Termination

If you are terminated by the company for any reason except business conditions, eligibility for reimbursement ends immediately, whether your class is completed or not. If a participant is laid off or terminated due to a slow economy, job elimination, or other business conditions over which the employee has no control, the employee maintains eligibility for reimbursement at the completion of the course, as long as the class began prior to the layoff or termination.

Voluntary Termination

If participants quit their employment with ABX before the class is completed, eligibility ends immediately.

Grants / Scholarships

Grants, scholarships, or other funds which the employee does not have to repay must be disclosed when applying for Tuition Reimbursement. ABX’s payments will be coordinated with these programs so the employee does not receive more than 100% reimbursement for the tuition.

Tax Status

The rules of this program are governed by the Internal Revenue Code. As such, certain reimbursements may be subject to income taxes. All reimbursements are processed through the ABX payroll system, regardless of whether they are subject to income tax or not. The payment of any taxes due remains the responsibility of the employee. Finally, the rules of this program may be modified at any time without notice to keep the program in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code.

Accrediting Agencies

This is a list of the regional institutional accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education:

	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, commission on Higher Education
	New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
	New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Technical and Career Institutions
	North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Higher Learning Commission
	North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Executive Board of the Commission on Schools
	Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities, Commission on Colleges and Universities
	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
	Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
	Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Schools
	Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities