POLICY 06:07:14

EDUCATIONAL LEAVE

This policy is consistent with Tennessee Board of Regents Policy No. 5:01:01:13

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish the criteria and process regarding educational leave for
employees at Pellissippi State Community College governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Policy

Introduction
1. It is the policy of Pellissippi State Community College to provide time off to
  regular college employees, to continue their education and/or participate in
  research, grants, or fellowships on a full-time basis.
2. Requests for educational leave for regular employees must be approved in
  advance by the president. Such approval must specify the length of the leave
  which normally should not exceed twelve (12) months.
3. Each request for leave will be evaluated on its own merits and approval will
  depend upon the evidence provided as to the enhancement of the employee’s
  value to the college resulting from the leave.
4. Leave of absence for periods exceeding one (1) year may be granted upon
  recommendation of the president and approved by the Chancellor as stated in
  TBR Policy 5.01.01.03.
Educational Leave of Absence with Pay
1. Employees on educational leave of absence and receiving compensation through
  the payroll system of the college, regardless of the original source of the funds,
  are eligible for the following benefits:
  1. Retirement (Refer to Section IV. of this policy, Retirement Credit, for
    procedures to request retirement credit.)
    1. Regular full-time employees who have received final approval
      from the college and the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement
      System (TCRS) for the period of the leave will continue to accrue
      creditable service and/or to have employer contributions paid on
      their behalf.
    2. Individuals who receive TCRS approval and who continue in the
      retirement program should not participate simultaneously in any
      other retirement system.
    3. Employees whose request for retirement credit is denied by TCRS
      will be removed from participation in the retirement program for
      the duration of the leave.
  2. Basic Group Insurance
    1. Employees on approved educational leave who receive
      compensation from the college may continue their participation in
      the basic group insurance program.
    2. The employee’s portion of the premium will be withheld by payroll
      deduction and the college will pay the employer’s portion.
    3. The amount of the deduction and scheduled life insurance
      coverage will be the deduction and life schedule in effect
      immediately prior to the beginning of the leave.
  3. Other Group Insurance
    1. Employees on approved leave with pay may, at their option,
      continue membership in other group insurance plans available to
      active employees.
    2. In all such plans except the group medical/life insurance plan noted
      above, the full cost of the plan is born by the employee.
    3. These premiums will be withheld by payroll deduction in
      accordance with established procedures.
  4. Unemployment Compensation Benefits
    1. The college will provide unemployment benefits based on the
      provisions of State and Federal unemployment compensation acts.
  5. Social Security
    1. Employees will continue participation in Social Security with
      coverage and applicable taxes based on the compensation paid
      during the leave.
  6. Federal Withholding Tax
    1. Federal withholding taxes will be based on compensation paid to
      the employee during the leave and upon the applicable withholding
      tables.
  7. Longevity Pay
    1. Employees on approved educational leave with pay are considered
      to be eligible for longevity pay, and payments will be made on the
      regular schedule.
  8. Educational Assistance
    1. Refer to the eligibility requirements contained in the various
      programs of TBR Guideline P-130.
2. Employees on educational leave are not eligible to accrue or use annual, sick or
  other leave benefits during the period not worked.
Educational Leave of Absence without Pay
1. Employees on an approved educational leave of absence and receiving no
  compensation from the college are eligible for the following benefits:
  1. Retirement (Refer to Section IV. of this policy, Retirement Credit, for
    procedures to request retirement credit.)
    1. Employees who have received approval from the college and
      TCRS will receive retirement credit for the period of the leave.
  2. Basic Group Insurance
    1. Employees on approved educational leave without pay are eligible
      to continue their participation in the group medical/life insurance
      program.
    2. If they elect continuation of coverage, employees must pay both
      the employee and employer share of the premium.
    3. The Administrative Affairs division (Payroll and the office of
      Human Resources) will bill the employee for the full premium, in
      advance, on a monthly basis.
    4. The rate of contribution and the life insurance coverage will be the
      rate and life schedule in effect immediately prior to the beginning
      of the leave.
  3. Other Group Insurance
    1. Employees on approved leave without pay may, at their option,
      continue membership in other group insurance plans available to
      eligible employees.
    2. In all such plans, the full cost of the plan is born by the employee.
  4. Educational Assistance
    1. Refer to the eligibility requirements contained in the various
      programs of TBR Guideline P-130.
2. Employees on an approved educational leave of absence and receiving no
  compensation from the college are not eligible for the following benefits:
  1. Unemployment Compensation Benefits
    1. Unemployment benefits will not be provided for employees who
      do not receive compensation from the college while on leave.
  2. Social Security
    1. The college will not make any contributions during a leave without
      pay.
  3. Longevity Pay
    1. Longevity is not payable during a leave of absence without pay,
      nor is the period considered as eligible service.
  4. Leave Benefits
    1. Employees on educational leave are not eligible to accrue or use
      annual, sick or other leave benefits during the period not worked.
  5. Educational Assistance
    1. Refer to the eligibility requirements contained in the various
      programs of TBR Guideline P-130.
Retirement Credit
1. An Application for Retirement Credit for Educational Leave of Absence form
  should be submitted along with a written request for a leave of absence to the
  president. If the leave request is approved, the application for retirement credit
  should then be forwarded to the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System. The
  TCRS Board of Trustees is responsible for granting final approval for retirement
  credit.
2. To be considered for retirement credit, the leave must be for the purpose of
  attending school or engaging in academic research related to employment, and
  must be intended to increase the employee’s usefulness to the college. Approval
  by TCRS is granted conditionally upon the employee’s immediate return to
  employment after the leave for a period of at least one year of service. An
  individual may not receive retirement credit for educational leave in excess of two
  years during the individual’s lifetime.
3. Example of the types of leave which will be considered for retirement credit is as
  follows:
  1. The leave is for formal study at an institution of higher education leading
    to an advanced degree in a field relevant to the faculty/staff member’s area
    of professional responsibility.
  2. The leave is for a formal period of research or post- doctoral study in a
    field related to the faculty/staff member’s area of professional
    responsibility. Such leaves will include, but not be limited to, periods of
    study supported by grants, such as the Guggenheim, Fulbright-Hays,
    Rockefeller Foundation, or Ford Foundation fellowship.
  3. In rare cases, retirement credit will be allowed for an approved educational
    leave for formal study leading to an undergraduate degree or professional
    certification directly related to enhancing an employee’s ability to perform
    his/her job. A written statement justifying the leave must be provided and
    approved by the president.
4. When retirement credit is approved for a leave of absence which occurs after
  1981, creditable service and/or contributions during the leave will be handled in
  the following manner:
  1. Employees Receiving Compensation
    1. TCRS Member Creditable service in TCRS will be granted for the
      period of the leave and the employer contribution will be made
      based on the rate in effect during the period of the leave and the
      annualized salary in effect immediately prior to the educational
      leave; however, employer provided employee contributions will
      not be credited to the employee’s account.
    2. ORP Member Employer contributions equal to 10% (11% of salary
      above the Social Security wage base) of the annualized salary in
      effect immediately prior to the educational leave will be made.
  2. Employees Receiving No Compensation
    1. >TCRS Member Creditable service will be granted but no employer
      contributions will be made during the leave period.
    2. ORP Member Employer contributions equal to 10% (11% of salary
      above the social security wage base) of the annualized salary in
      effect immediately prior to the educational leave will be forwarded
      to the ORP.
    3. If the employee is an ORP member and does not return to service
      following the educational leave of absence, the college should
      request a refund from the ORP vendor(s) of the employer
      contributions which were made during the leave period.
    4. If retirement credit is approved for a leave of absence which
      occurred prior to July 1981, the TCRS member must pay employee
      contributions plus interest based on the salary earned in the year
      immediately prior to the commencement of the leave; the ORP
      member must contact the TCRS Prior Service Section directly to
      initiate an individual calculation.
Sources: TBR Policy 05:01:01:13; T.C.A. § 49-8-203

Adopted by TBR June 25, 1993. Source: TCA 2-1-106
Revised by TBR June 25, 1993
Revised by TBR October 2, 1998
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, November 27, 2023
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise, Jr., November 27, 2023