University of Minnesota College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS) Employee Educational Assistance Program
Reason for program
The purpose of this University of Minnesota College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS) Employee Educational Assistance Program (the “Plan”) is to provide educational assistance in the form of discounts to eligible employees of the Regents of the University of Minnesota (the “Employer”) when registering for noncredit professional development CCAPS courses.
Benefit
The Plan provides a fifty percent (50%) discount of covered costs to eligible employees enrolled in noncredit professional development CCAPS courses. Eligible employees working in CCAPS employment appointments at the time of registration are provided a one hundred percent (100%) discount of covered costs. Except as may be limited by statute or a collective bargaining agreement that includes an education benefit program, the Employer reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan or any education benefit program at any time.
Eligible employees
The Plan is available to individuals who hold a University of Minnesota employment appointment at the time of registration. This program shall not discriminate in favor of officers or highly compensated employees of the Employer.
Process
Eligible employees will use the Destiny One Registration System to register for noncredit professional development CCAPS courses. The individual’s Destiny One profile will designate whether an individual is an eligible employee, and an eligible employee may claim the discount in the system when registering. Eligible employees working in CCAPS employment appointments will receive their additional discount via communicated coupon code when registering.
Covered costs
Covered costs include the registration fees for noncredit professional development CCAPS course(s).
Costs not covered
Nonregistration costs, such as separate charges for books, materials, parking, or transportation, are not covered costs.
Section 127 plan
Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, provides that gross income of an employee does not include the first $5,250 of amounts paid or expenses incurred by their employer during a calendar year for educational assistance furnished to an employee pursuant to a qualified written educational assistance plan. This CCAPS Employee Educational Assistance Program is intended to be such a plan.
Restrictions
Eligible employees concurrently using the Plan and the Regents Scholarship Program must contact the Tax Management Office at [email protected] to quantify any taxable income.
Tax consequences
Education benefits provided by an employer to an employee up to $5,250 each calendar year are tax-free educational assistance benefits pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 127. To the extent any eligible employee receives educational assistance benefits that exceed $5,250 in a calendar year, such excess benefits shall be subject to income tax and payroll tax withholding in accordance with federal and state laws. An eligible employee shall be responsible for any income tax
liability arising from the receipt of educational assistance benefits under the Plan, whether or not the Employer withheld tax on those benefits.
Notification to eligible employees
The Plan shall be communicated on the CCAPS website and the Destiny One Registration System. Eligible employees working in CCAPS employment appointments shall be notified via the CCAPS Professional Development Policy & Procedures document.
Educational assistance benefits
The benefits provided under the Plan consist solely of the educational assistance described in the Plan for eligible employees described in the Plan. The Plan shall not allow any eligible employee a choice between educational assistance and other remuneration. Except as specifically provided in this Plan document, the Plan does not limit or expand the level of education and training benefits available to an eligible employee under any other education benefit program that applies to the
eligible employee.
Exclusive benefit
The Plan will provide educational assistance for the exclusive benefit of eligible employees. Spouses and dependents of an eligible employee and professionals-in-training appointed to positions without salary do not qualify to participate in the Plan.
Effective Date May 1, 2023.