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HomeMy WebLinkAboutE-7 Staff Report - APU MOU TUITION DISCOUNT PROGRAMCONSENT ITEM E-7 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER FROM: TALIKA M. JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DATE: APRIL 4, 2022 SUBJECT: APPROVE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY FOR CITY OF AZUSA EMPLOYEE TUITION DISCOUNT PROGRAM BACKGROUND: Azusa Pacific University (APU) offers a range of degree and graduate level programs structured for working adults with classes offered at night and online. In partnership with the City of Azusa, APU will offer particular degree programs at a discounted tuition for eligible City employees, and their dependents, who are interested in furthering their education. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the City Council take the following action: 1) Approve the attached Memorandum of Understanding with Azusa Pacific University providing tuition discount programs to all eligible employees and their dependents. ANALYSIS: APU offers a range of degree and post-graduate programs through a flexible learning model that is ideal for adult learning and further development. The courses are offered in-person and in online formats, with classes scheduled in the evenings and/or weekends. Under the terms of the MOU, APU and the City will commit to enter into a mutually beneficial education and employee development partnership, where APU will offer discounted tuition to City employees, and their dependents (spouse, depended child under the age of 26), for access to graduate and professional bachelor degree programs. These programs include the Master of APPROVED CITY COUNCIL 4/4/2022 APU MOU April 4, 2022 Page 2 Business Administration, Master of Business Management, Master of Public Administration, Master of Arts in Leadership, Master of Science in Organizational Psychology and the Bachelor of Business Administration. The discount will be $800 per session for a full-time student and $500 per session for a part-time student. With the permission of the City, APU will have opportunities to promote these programs and recruit students, including on-site information meetings, use of City logo in University promotion material and other promotions mutually supported by the City and APU. APU’s tuition discount program will play an important role in the City’s workforce development. This partnership will provide employees an opportunity to further their education, consequently applying their learned knowledge and skills to their current roles at the City. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no impact to City for entering this agreement with APU. Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved: Shivali Mohan Talika M. Johnson Human Resources Manager Director of Administrative Services Reviewed and Approved: Sergio Gonzalez City Manager Attachment: (1) Azusa Pacific University Memorandum of Understanding – Tuition Discount Program 1 Memorandum of Understanding Tuition Discount Program This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Azusa Pacific University (herein "APU") located at 901 East Foothill Boulevard. Azusa, CA 91702 and City of Azusa (herein "Partner") located at 213 East Foothill Boulevard, Azusa, CA 91702 documents the commitment of both parties to enter into a mutually beneficial education and employee development partnership. Through this MOU, APU offers discounted tuition to members of Partner to provide access to graduate and professional bachelor degree programs. Agreements 1.The APU Graduate and Professional programs included in this agreement are the Master of Business Administration (MBA), the Masters of Business Management (MBM), the Masters of Public Administration (MPA), the Masters of Arts in Leadership (MAiL), the Masters of Science in Organizational Psychology, and the professional undergraduate Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) at all locations and through any delivery mode where offered by School of Business and Management. 2.Partner members and member dependents (spouse, dependent child under the age of 26) shall receive a tuition discount of $800/session for full-time enrollment in Graduate and Professional programs stated in #1 above or $500/session for part-time enrollment in Graduate and Professional programs stated in #1 above. This rate applies exclusively to units in the programs mentioned in #1 above. 3.Tuition discounts will be available to Partner members and member dependents described above under the following conditions: ●There is a current and signed MOU on file. (Should a current MOU not be in effect, the tuition discount would be discontinued at the beginning of the subsequent term for each student utilizing the discount.) ●The student maintains a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) for the MBA, MBM, MPA, MAiL and MSc.Org. Psych. The student maintains a 2.0 GPA for the BBA. ●The student maintains continuous enrollment in a program at the minimum level of half-time student status (one class per 8-week session). ●If a student experiences a disruption in enrollment due to unexpected life events, an approved Leave of Absence must be signed by their Program Director to remain eligible for tuition discount upon return. 4.Tuition discounts will not be stackable with any other institutional aid available to APU students, but can be swapped out if the Partner employee so chooses. For example, the Partner employee can choose to forego the tuition discount to receive an APU scholarship instead, but cannot receive both. Attachment 1 2 5. APU may, at any time, require verification of current employee status of any Partner employee receiving the above listed discount. Verification of employment will be required at the time of registration each semester. Verification of employment will be established by letter from Partner. This can be provided in person, or can be scanned and emailed to the registering staff. Should the student not be able to furnish verification of employment or, in the case of dependents, verification of dependency, APU reserves the right to discontinue the discount for that student. 6. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides for the confidentiality of student educational records. APU may not disclose to the Partner educational information, including indicators of academic performance, nor permit inspection of an employee's educational records without the written permission of the employee. 7. No other costs such as fees, books, software, travel, or incidentals are included in the discount. 8. Tuition and fees are charged according to the Azusa Pacific University Graduate and Professional Catalog in effect at the time of the student's enrollment. Tuition and fees are subject to change. The discount rate offered here is subject to adjustment annually with renewal of the MOU. 9. Partner employees enrolled at APU are billed directly by the University for tuition and fees. Partner employees are solely liable for payment of all tuition and fees, regardless of financial aid or Partner tuition remission/reimbursement policies. 10. Partner offers opportunities for APU to promote programs and recruit students. The promotion and recruitment process shall include on-site information meetings up to two times per year and advertisements as approved by the Partner; use of Partner logo in University promotions and on the University website; and other means of promotion and recruitment mutually supported by APU and Partner. Partner agrees to communicate with eligible employees via email an invitation to the program during each enrollment period (six times per year). 11. Any proposed marketing project(s) to be conducted by APU related to the tuition discount program involving the Partner will be approved or denied by the Partner within ten (10) business days from email receipt of the proposed marketing project(s). APU must receive written permission to utilize Partner’s name, logo, or information about the tuition discount program. Partner's written request to use APU's name, logo, or information about the tuition discount program will be approved or denied by APU within ten (10) business days of request being received via email. (The trademarks used by Azusa Pacific University are the property of Azusa Pacific University. Their use without permission is strictly prohibited, by downloading the university trademark and logotype, you agree to the following guidelines and additional guidelines outlined in the graphic standards manual available for download at https://www.apu.edu/universityrelations/standards/design/. 12. This MOU is signed for an initial period of one (1) year, effective on the same date of the last signatory to the agreement, and may be renewed by mutual agreement between APU and Partner after review. Should the MOU expire and not be renewed, the tuition discount will be discontinued for the next term/session; not the current term/session. 13. It is understood and agreed that APU and Partner may amend or extend this MOU by written amendment, provided such revisions or modifications are mutually agreed upon. 14. This MOU contains the entire agreement between the Parties and supersedes all prior or written or oral agreements with respect to the subject matter herein. Any modification to this MOU must be in writing signed by each of the Parties. 3 15. The undersigned individuals hereby represent that they are authorized to execute this MOU on behalf of their respective organizations. 16. This agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same document. Counterparts may be exchanged by facsimile or email. Each counterpart, whether an original signature or a facsimile copy, shall be deemed an original as against any Party who signed it. Agreed by: Azusa Pacific University Signature:______________________________ Name:_________________________________ Title:__________________________________ Date:__________________________________ Agreed by: City of Azusa Signature:______________________________ Name:_________________________________ Title:__________________________________ Date:__________________________________ Agreed as to Form by: Azusa City Attorney Signature:______________________________ Name:_________________________________ Title:__________________________________ Date:__________________________________ :