Graham School Courses for University Staff

The University will pay full tuition for benefits-eligible University staff members working at least 35 hours per week to attend selected noncredit Graham School Courses pertaining to the employee’s current job or future position in the employee’s current field.

One-half the cost of course tuition (for up to two courses per quarter) is covered through the Educational Assistance Plan. The Graham School waives the remaining cost of tuition. The employee’s department must pay an administrative fee for each course. This fee varies depending on the course being taken, and ranges from $100 to $150 per course.

The Business and Professional Programs certificate programs provide quality career-related education in convenient short, intensive, related seminars, allowing students to continue developing their careers, broadening their perspectives, and strengthening their skill sets.

For some seminars, University employees may be placed on a waitlist pending an assessment of public enrollment in individual sections. In these rare cases, University employees will be selected from the waitlist on a first come, first-served basis.

Please Note: Neither the 50% educational assistance benefit nor the 50% Graham School tuition waiver are subject to tax withholding because all courses for which employees enroll under this program must meet the "job related" standards as defined by the IRS. For more information about the Graham School of General Studies please visit their web site.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be benefits-eligible staff members at The University of Chicago, working at least 35 hours per week.
• Applicants must be eligible for at least one-half tuition remission from the University.
• Applicants must secure authorization from their home departments for the following:
  1. Release time from work to attend desired courses if a course is scheduled to meet during the employee's regularly scheduled work hours
  2. Authorization to pay the administrative fee by the department
  3. Authorization of tuition remission from the University of Chicago
• Applicants must participate fully in each course in which they enroll, attending all sessions for the entire time class is held and completing all assignments.

Faculty members are not eligible for this program.

Graham School Courses and Certificate Programs

• View Graham School Courses for Staff

Registration Information

UHRM Training and Development processes all staff registration paperwork for approved, tuition-free Graham School courses. Once the registration paperwork is processed by UHRM, it is then sent to the Graham School. Once the Graham School receives the paperwork from UHRM, your registration will be processed and confirmed.

University staff may take just one course prior to applying to the certificate program. If you wish to register for a Graham School course, please complete the following forms in hard-copy:

1. A Course Registration Package (Download as PDF)
2. A Form 62 (Interdepartmental Order Form) with your department’s account number and appropriate signature, authorizing UHRM to charge your department the appropriate administrative fee for each course in which you enroll.

UHRM cannot process incomplete or erroneous paperwork and such errors may delay or prevent registration.

Hand deliver, mail, or send materials via Faculty Exchange at least 30 business days prior to the course start date to:

UHRM Training and Development
Attn: Megan Dines – Training Assistant
6054 S. Drexel Ave, Room 147-I
Chicago, Illinois 60637

The Graham School will confirm course registrations via U.S. mail or e-mail.

Cancellation Policy

A full refund of the administrative fee will be issued if you provide the Graham School with written notice of cancellation at least five business days prior to course start date. After this date, your department will lose the administrative fee (unless the Graham School cancels the course) or, with permission from Steven Laymon, Associate Dean for Graduate and Professional Studies at the Graham School, you may send a substitute to take your place. Failure to attend a course in whole or in part does not entitle a registrant to a refund.

Certificate Program Application Process

Providing they can demonstrate mastery of the course prerequisites, students may enroll in just one course prior to applying for the Certificate program. Application is easy and inexpensive, requiring just a $40 application fee. To apply, please complete the Certificate Application (PDF) available online or in the Graham School catalog.

Please call the relevant program manager to confirm space availability. All certificate program applications should be sent directly to the Graham School of General Studies, as stated on the application form.

Contact Information

The Graham School of General Studies can answer your questions about:

• Certificate Program Applications
• Course Descriptions
• Registration Confirmations

UHRM Training and Development can answer questions about:

• Registration Packages and completing your registration paperwork
• Graham School Courses approved for University Staff