Okay, now that I have officially ticked off every single Human Resources professional on the planet, I feel that a short qualifying statement is in order along with a disclaimer. Human Resources personnel work very hard for their money, without them an organization would not be...er...well...organized. They make sure you get your benefits, pay grades, performance plans and other corporate goodies you are so deserving of. God bless Human Resources personnel for all that they do. Now for the disclaimer, all opinions noted here are specific to the few Human Resources people who do not have a clue on education, distance education or are even really interested in it, inevitably this person will likely be just the human being in charge of the (your) company's tuition reimbursement benefits as Mr. Murphy and his law dictate.
True story, I just happen to know a guy who is going for his MBA. For years the policy of his company was that the school must be regionally accredited. Okay, so far so good, nothing unusual about that. One fine morning, a Human Resources person had the brilliant idea to limit that benefit even further, now a school has to be regionally accredited of course and also it must be AACSB accredited or ABET accredited. O-k-a-y...I think in a long drawn out mental breath, that's a little on the stringent side but again, workable. Stupid, of course as you have many fine (and famous) schools that are neither ABET or AACSB that are wonderful business schools, such as Liberty University but if you want to attend Rollins College or King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, you're set (both are AACSB, I couldn't make this stuff up).
Then I come to find out via this guy that the company will generously reimburse an engineering degree from a school that is AACSB but not ABET or reimburse a business degree from an ABET school that is not AACSB or any combination thereof. Yeah, now we have entered the land of the absurd Human Resource policy.
Quick note, for those who do not know ABET = engineering, and AACSB = business. Thus accepting an ABET accreditation for a business degree is not only nonsensical it's also ignorant.
In my personal circumstance I was employed by a government agency who deals with money and I work in their law enforcement unit. Since I was getting a criminal justice degree I was told for 2 years that this was a non-agency specific degree program despite my working as a (hold your breath now) law enforcement officer. That's right, according to Human Resources, a degree in criminal justice had nothing to do with my law enforcement job, but a degree in multimedia arts would be just hunky dory. I missed about $15,000.00 in potential reimbursement because of this person's stupidity and it hurt. So how did I eventually overcome?
Well a few tips to remember first off:
- 1.) Recognize that policies are written by people, often just one person and at times by a person who isn't even with the company anymore. As such, policy is subject to change, even in favor of you once in a while.
- 2.) Realize that education reimbursement is really not the focus of Human Resources people. In fact it is often just dumped on their department because it seems like something they should know, right?
- 3.) Things like accreditation, transfer credits, professional licensure are all very, very complex and can be maddeningly confusing. Especially for your less than, shall we say, bright, Human Resources personnel. As such, they tend to stick to the letter of the policy, literally. In other words if it isn't spelled out that you or your degree program and/or school are good to go, you may hit a snag.
So here are some tips for overcoming the absurdity.
- 1.) Know what you are talking about. Have the facts on your side. Understand accreditation to the extent that you can educate someone else about it if you have to, you just may.
- 2.) Understand your degree program, the admission requirements, tuition, their accreditation, etc.
- 3.) Try to start your appeal at the bottom and steadily work your way up the chain of command. Don't just kick in the vice president's door and demand money. Instead be patient and appeal one level up with each subsequent denial but never give up until you've hit the top or get your wish.
- 4.) Be justified in your appeal. It is not unreasonable for a company to require your degree be accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education, in fact it is not even unreasonable for them to specifically ask for regional accreditation.
- 5.) Don't go against the grain unless you have to. Look, if your company wants you to go to school "A" and you want to go to school "B" but for all intensive purposes, the two schools are the same, try to picture yourself going to school "A" and see if maybe it wouldn't be a good fit. Of course if it isn't then it isn't, but at least consider it.
- 6.) Be logical, even when they are not.
- 7.) Don't get mad or frustrated, simply say "okay" and go to the next level.
- 8.) Don't take things personally.
- 9.) Have your argument in a professional letter format to give to anyone interested.
- 10.) Have your facts in order, within the letter and supporting documentation ready upon request, this is of course such things as a statement of accreditation from your school.
- 11.) Lastly remember that tuition reimbursement is a benefit, not a requirement of your employer. If they simply don't want to see the light, be prepared to change schools, change employers or just suck it up. Try not to make such an issue of it that you get the entire benefit revoked for everyone, otherwise you may have to change cities, change states or change your shorts depending upon your fellow coworker's reaction.
Hope this helps
---Cajun