One of the great benefits to working on a college campus is the opportunity to expand our horizons by taking classes. For SIU employees who are completing a degree or simply seeking personal growth, the price is right: tuition and most fees are waived for those taking SIU courses on campus or online.
I’m personally taking advantage of this opportunity by enrolling in an online Spanish class this fall. I know that many other employees have completed degrees or are working on them now.
I encourage all employees to look into this great benefit of working at SIU. You can learn more by reviewing our tuition waiver policy and attending the upcoming “The More You Know” fair for employees. You can even sign up for classes at the fair.
Beyond traditional benefits
For most of us, the term “employee benefits” means health care, retirement and vacation. The ability to attend classes, use Morris library, and gain access to employee discounts are among many other benefits that are available to faculty and staff.
You can learn about all of these, as well as other campus resources, at the “The More You Know” fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. August 7, in rooms 150 and 160 of the Student Services Building. You may be surprised to learn how many opportunities are available to you.
Supporting and retaining employees
Those looking into higher education from outside may wonder why SIU and many other colleges and universities have policies and practices that encourage employees to take classes. In fact, higher education is not alone. Many organizations and industries encourage and cover the costs of employee education to help their staffs grow personally as well as professionally.
Helping employees advance their education and knowledge helps them be better employees and contributes to employee retention. Our job is to make sure employees know what opportunities are available to them. I hope you’ll come join us on August 7 to learn more.