Union Commonwealth University Announces Update to Employee Tuition Policy

Barbourville, Ky. (WYMT) – Union Commonwealth University is offering a special opportunity to its staff. The university is offering free tuition to any full-time employee who wishes to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree.

“Being able to pursue a graduate program without having to pay tuition fees is a real added benefit and we believe it represents value to our staff and our community,” said UCU President Dr DJ Washington.

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The university already had a pre-existing policy, but it covered fewer credit hours and required one year of employment before eligibility. Now, with the new updates, the policy extends to staff with at least six months of tenure.

“We decided to give more opportunities to our staff so they can take advantage of it,” he said.

Washington says offering this free opportunity to provide resources to his staff is a way to give back to those who give so much.

“In small private institutions and in rural communities, we’re not always the highest paid. We don’t always have the human capital to help us do our jobs,” he said. “So any time we can create resources or opportunities to help our people, everybody wins.”

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This policy enables the university to engage in its mission of serving others by providing opportunities for growth.

“It’s a bigger way, beyond ourselves, that we can serve,” he said. “Whether it’s helping our people from a training standpoint, helping them feel more confident in their roles or helping them continue to grow and elevate.”

After the school’s recent name change, President Washington wants to remind the Bulldog family that Union College will always be a part of who they are.

“We will always be Union College. We will always be Union. We will always have the bulldogs as a part of our identity,” he said.

This is Washington’s third week as interim president. He is a Union alumnus, former Union board member and former bulldog athlete.

He said it was great to be back home and have the opportunity to work with the Union staff.