Educational Benefits
UNC Charlotte offers many options for college-level coursework. Employees in full-time, permanent positions are granted three tuition waivers per academic year. Departments can choose to fund Academic Assistance for qualifying education, and there is a scholarship fund just for staff members.
Want to learn more about our Professional Development Options? Visit the Professional Development page for more information.
Tuition waiver
The Tuition Waiver program is available to employees who are in permanent positions and regularly scheduled to work 30 hours or more each week, nine months of the year or longer. Tuition Waivers may be used to cover tuition expenses for up to three courses an academic year (spring, summer and fall semesters) at any of the 17 schools within the UNC system.
Tuition Waiver Details and Resources
The Tuition Waiver program enables eligible employees to have the tuition waived for courses taken at UNC Charlotte or any of the other schools in the UNC System. Use the links below to learn more about this valuable benefit.
Learning and Development Financial Assistance (academic Assistance)
The Learning and Development Financial Assistance (Tuition Reimbursement) program provides reimbursement of the approved cost of eligible courses by the employee’s department if funds are available, courses are approved as work-related, and if there is evidence of satisfactory completion of a preapproved course. Requests for reimbursement must be submitted within 30 days of receipt of grade(s).
Learning opportunities that benefit the University may be approved for financial assistance, including academic courses and degrees from accredited institutions; certificates, certifications, and licenses required for employment; continuing education needed to maintain credentials; audited academic courses; as well as other work-related courses, workshops, and seminars (including those taken through non-accredited organizations at the University’s discretion). Effective December 11, 2025, the new statewide Employee Learning and Development Policy replaced the former Academic Assistance Program, expanding employee eligibility and eliminating previous rigid credit-hour and reimbursement caps to grant the University greater localized flexibility to fund your professional and educational advancement. OSHR Employee Learning and Development Policy.
Learning and Development Financial Assistance Details and Resources
The Learning and Development Financial Assistance program is designed to assist the University in workforce planning and development. It provides tools to support both non-academic and academic activities that directly relate to the University’s identified knowledge, skills, and abilities, and which support the University’s mission, vision, and values. The learning and development financial assistance program is not an employee benefit, right, or entitlement; it is a management tool for workforce development. Utilization of the program may be identified, described, and documented in the employee’s performance plan or Individual Development Plan (IDP) to help employees develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities that make them better qualified to perform the duties of their present jobs and advance their careers. The program provides reimbursement of approved costs if funds are available at the department level.
scholarship fund
The Janet B. Royster (JBR) Memorial Staff Scholarship Fund was created in August of 2011 by the UNC Staff Assembly in memory of UNC-TV employee Janet B. Royster.
Questions?
To learn more about programs offered at UNC Charlotte, visit the Office of Graduate Admissions or the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for information.
With questions regarding billing, please reach out to Niner Central at ninercentral@charlotte.edu.
Contact the Learning and Organizational Development team through HR Connect if you have questions about the tuition waiver or academic assistance programs.