Governor Pete Ricketts has announced a new benefit to provide tuition assistance for dependent children of Nebraska state government employees that attend any of Nebraska’s community colleges.
The program will be implemented by the state in partnership with the state’s community colleges. It will be available as of the 2022 summer session. The program will cover 100% of the tuition costs after other funding sources, such as grants and scholarships, have been applied.
Chief Human Resources Officer and Department of Administrative Services Director Jason Jackson says “this program provides another way for us to not only enhance our current teammates’ work experience, but also help recruit and retain a strong workforce in state government.
Children up to age 25 are eligible to participate as long as they conclude their studies by the age of 27. Paul Illich is president of Southeast Community College and says those participating in the tuition reimbursement program could help fill a statewide shortage of skilled workers in fields in a variety of fields, including health care, information technology and construction.
He says 90% of those graduating from community colleges in Nebraska stay in the state. The cost of the program is estimated to be about $1 million a year. It was approved by the Nebraska Legislature during the 2022 session.