Tuition Assistance Program BeYournefits

Full-time employees are eligible to receive up to $2,000 per fiscal year based on the successful completion of classes (defined as a final grade of C or better). Covered costs include tuition, books, lab costs, and student fees. Requests for tuition assistance are submitted to the Human Resources Office prior to course registration and are subject to the review and approval of the Department Director and Village Manager and are subject to the availability of funds. Funds are currently available for this fiscal year and are being requested for the next fiscal year.

Lieutenant Steven Barger is a participant in the Village's Tuition Assistance program and was asked a few questions about the program. Here are his thoughts:

Was it hard to get the tuition assistance through the Village? No, the process is very simple and Judy has always been extremely helpful. The village policy has an attached application form that you fill out every semester. This application is easy to fill out and most of the information stays the same with the exception of the courses each semester.

What are the reasons why you are taking advantage of this benefit?

Earning my MPA has always been a goal of mine. Having higher education expands my knowledge of my job and gives me a 30,000-foot view of public safety. In Public Safety we know how to be law enforcement, paramedics, and firefighters. Most of us lack the business aspect of managing people and budgets, and this has given me those skills. While I could pay for college on my own with loans and pay as I go programs, this has allowed me to work through programs faster and have much less need for loans. When I came to BHI as a full-time employee I was 50% completed with my AAS. On this program offered through the village, I have completed my AAS and will graduate in December of 2022 with my BS. Additionally, I have been accepted into a master's program starting next spring. The tuition assistance program has opened up many opportunities for me to serve the village in a much larger capacity.

Without this benefit, would you be pursuing additional education? Yes, I would pursue the education, but it would be one or two classes at a time. This would lengthen my time in school and push reaching specific goals further into the future.

Would you encourage fellow employees to take advantage of it too?

Absolutely! We currently have a 50% reimbursement for up to $2,000 a year. I can tell you that taking full-time classes has allowed me to finish my AAS and my BS in Dec. 2022 in just under 4 years. Whether your goal is AAS or something more, this program is very helpful and I'm grateful for the support.

Anything else you would like to say?

Programs like this show the investment the village is willing to make into us and to groom its own leaders. I've worked at other places that have similar programs that either one, hide the benefit because they don't really want you to use it, or two, they make the process very difficult. This has been a smooth process and again Judy has made it very simple. Also, Chris McCall, Chief May, and Zack Hewett have also quickly reviewed my application and signed it. This reduces the anxiety of not knowing if it would get denied or not. Also, I'm not sure what the process is, or who is responsible, but reimbursement comes very quickly after grades are submitted to Judy.