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How to: Get Your Boss To Pay For School

Published on Monday January 28th , 2008

By Heather Johnson

Chances are, when you were in college, you didn't appreciate the luxury of having only two or three classes a day, skipping those classes whenever you felt like it but still managing ro get decent grades, and reading a few chapters a night for homework. Now, after spending years cooped up in a cubicle for 8+ hours each day without a summer vacation to look forward to, going back to school doesn't seem like such a bad idea, especially if you can get your boss to pay for it. A higher degree or extra certification often results in a pay increase and will make you more desirable to competing businesses. Some companies encourage their employees to sign up for special classes and workshops, but many of us have to convince our bosses that investing in our education will also benefit them.

For businesses in the IT and science industries for example, "skill sets can become outdated in a matter of months," according to Certification Magazine. Employers in these fields are always striving to be seen as cutting edge, and one of the most economical and effective ways for them to cultivate that image is through the continued education of their employees. What options, then, do employees have for taking advantage of extra courses?

1. Make looking for a company that supports continuing education a part of your job search.: The most logical way to get your boss to pay for school is to only work for a company that actively encourages employees to register for extra classes. Whether they plan to fly you overseas for a week long workshop or agree to pay for a semester of night classes in your city's community college system, finding out a company's policy on continuing education is a smart move before you sign the paperwork.
2. Always get approval before you sign up for a course: Even if your company has a pretty relaxed policy towards funding education, they might be annoyed if you decide to register for a class and expect them to pay for it without first getting approval. Monster Learning urges employees to "learn [their] company's policies" and "look for reimbursement rules in the literature you received when you were hired on the company's Web site or intranet or through a quick call to HR."
3. Tuition Reimbursement: Employers may be open to sponsoring a tuition reimbursement program because they "often see less turn-around and more employee loyalty when they provide" financial solutions to continuing education, according to Jamie Littlefield at About.com. Make inquiries at work to find out if your full-time or part-time job offers complete or partial tuition reimbursement, or if they participate in a business-college partnership in which professors or trainers "come directly to the workplace."
4. Be prepared to work with HR: If you work for a larger company, the human resources department is most likely the office that you'll want to visit in order to find information on education assistance programs. The HR department keeps files on each employee, so the people there can best advise you on what courses or programs you're eligible for.
5. Online Degrees: Pursuing an online degree is a popular method of furthering your education because it can be done in your free time. Supervisors won't have to worry about course schedules getting in the way of your daily responsibilities, and you might be more likely to finish the course if you have the freedom to study on a more flexible schedule.
6. Develop a solid plan: Whether or not your company is accustomed to paying its employees to go back to school, your boss will have a lot of questions for you if you decide to bring up the subject.
• Make sure you are prepared to outline exactly how the proposed course or degree will directly benefit your job performance, as well as the company as a whole.
• You may also have to pledge your loyalty to the company for a certain amount of time as a way to ensure a solid return on their investment.
• Calculate the number of hours you plan to spend on the class outside of work, including homework and study time. Your boss may be concerned that you will want to leave work early to meet with a study group or finish a project. Assure him or her that your career comes first.
7. Ask your employer to sign a contract: The article "Getting Your Employer To Pay For Your Online Degree" warns employees that they may be asked to sign a contract "before getting any school aid" from their company. If your company does not present a contract, however, consider asking human resources to generate one for you that outlines when and how your tuition will be paid and by when you must complete your courses. This reimbursement checklist from Monster Learning can help guide you when deciphering the exact percentage of the reimbursement, grade requirements and more.
8. Try to find your company a good deal: While your boss may not want to pay for a basic class at an Ivy League university, he or she might be more open to funding a class taken at a community college or even a course given by a professional organization.

Before asking your boss to pay for extra courses or certification programs, make sure you develop a solid plan that includes researching your company's tuition reimbursement policies, your commitment to the company, different types of education courses including online degrees and training offered by professional organizations, and how further education will affect your job performance, the company's reputation and your pay expectations.

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