- What is the Education Assistance Program?
The Education Assistance Program provides financial assistance to help you further your education so you may improve your job-related skills and possible career promotional opportunities.
- Who is eligible to participate in the program?
All employees classified as a regular full-time and classified as a part-time employee working at least 20 hours per week are eligible to participate, unless precluded by a union, collective bargaining agreement, SCA or other contract.
- What is the maximum reimbursement I can receive under the Education Assistance Program?
Employees classified as a regular full-time employee may receive a maximum reimbursement of up to $5,250 per calendar year for undergraduate and graduate courses. Employees classified as a regular part-time employee may receive a maximum reimbursement of up to $2,625 per calendar year for undergraduate and graduate courses.
- How do I apply for Education Assistance?
- Log in to your personalized benefits account at myAECOMbenefits.com.
- Go to the Other Benefits menu at the top of the page.
- Select Education Assistance.
- Complete the steps to submit a request for pre-approval.
- What criteria must I meet to receive reimbursement under AECOM’s Education Assistance Program?
You must:- Apply for and receive pre-approval before beginning your coursework from your manager (see the next FAQ for details).
- Be enrolled in job-related coursework at an accredited college or university. Accredited colleges and universities which belong to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are listed as available providers.
- Receive a grade of C- or better/pass in the course taken.
- Upon completion of your course, you may submit your request for reimbursement by logging into myAECOMbenefits.com and under the Other Benefits menu at the top of the page select Education Assistance. Then select Submit Docs to upload your grade report, itemized receipts and other documentation to provide that your expenses are eligible for reimbursement.
- How and when do I obtain pre-approval from my manager?
Prior to your course(s) beginning, you must submit a request for pre-approval to your manager. You can submit your request by logging into myAECOMbenefits.com and under Other Benefits at the top of the page select Education Assistance. Follow the prompts to apply for tuition assistance and enter your course information. You must include the course name, the course start and end dates, and the accredited institution at which you are taking the course, along with other information. This ensures that your coursework meets the criteria for qualification under the Education Assistance Program.
After you’ve entered all the required information, your manager will receive an email notification that action is needed to approve your request. Your manager may also log onto their own account on myAECOMbenefits.com and approve your request. Under Other Benefits — Education Assistance, your manager will see an action to approve/decline your request.
- Do the pre-approvals expire?
Yes, pre-approvals expire 105 days after the course end date. If your pre-approval expires, you must complete a new pre-approval request for the course you are taking.
Example: Your course start date is January 4, 2022 and your course ends on May 3, 2022. Since the pre-approval expiration is 105 days after the course end date, your pre-approval would expire on August 16, 2022.
- What expenses are eligible for reimbursement?
Eligible fees include the cost of course(s), books, enrollment, registration, facility, campus fees, technology, library fees, shipping and handling for textbooks, student information services, book rentals, course supplied tools, internet access fees, lab fees, admissions, online learning/distance learning, equipment fees, instructional fees, program fees and college fees. If fees are requested, the receipt documentation provided upon course completion must reflect the specific fees by name and amount.
- What can I submit as proof of successful course completion?
You may submit your official transcript or report card or online grade posting. The document should clearly indicate your name, the class name, semester, grade received and school name. In addition, you must submit an account statement showing line item detail of the expenses you have paid.
- When is the year-end deadline for submitting requests for the 2024 calendar/plan year?
The deadline to receive reimbursement in the 2024 plan year is November 15, 2024. Only claims received by November 15, with all required documentation will be reimbursed in 2024. Claims received after the deadline (or received incomplete by the deadline) will be processed in the next program year. Please keep in mind that a maximum of $5,250 for employees classified as regular full-time and $2,625 for employees classified as regular part-time can be paid during any calendar/plan year.
- If I take courses in the fall and they end in December, how can I be reimbursed if the deadline for submitting completed information is November 15?
If you haven’t completed your coursework by the year-end deadline but will by the end of the calendar year, you may submit a letter or email from your instructor on the school’s letterhead or school email account stating that you will achieve a grade of C- or better, or will pass the course if it’s pass/fail, along with your request for reimbursement. The letter or email from your professor will satisfy the grade requirement.
- When and how will I receive my reimbursement?
This reimbursement will be received within two pay periods, if all required documentation is submitted and approved. Please read the previous FAQ for year-end considerations.
- Can I track my reimbursement request?
You can track the status of your submission in the Education Assistance section on myAECOMbenefits.com (under Other Benefits at the top of the page). Reimbursement statuses will change as itemized receipts and other documentation are received. You will also see a change in status when a decision has been made regarding your reimbursement request.
- What happens if I decide to voluntarily terminate my employment with AECOM?
To receive the Education Assistance Program reimbursement, you must be employed with AECOM at the time of reimbursement. If you voluntarily leave AECOM within one year of receiving reimbursement, you will be responsible for repaying the reimbursement expense to AECOM.
- What happens if my employment with AECOM is involuntarily terminated?
If you are participating in the Education Assistance Program, and AECOM terminates your employment for lack of work or other reason not related to your performance, you will not be required to reimburse the company for approved courses completed prior to the termination date. Also, you will be reimbursed for any approved coursework you are enrolled in at the time of termination, provided you complete all applicable paperwork within 90 days after completion of the course(s).
- As a manager, how do I approve pre-approval requests?
Once you’ve received the email notification that your approval is needed, click approve or deny on the email. You will receive a reminder email if you do not respond to the first request for approval.
- Who do I contact if I have questions about the Education Assistance Program?
Reach out to the AECOM Benefits Service Center.