Children’s Center Employee Child Care Tuition Discount (Policy #352)

The purpose of this policy is to define the availability and eligibility requirements for a child care services discount provided to eligible UW-Whitewater Children's Center employees. This benefit is intended to support employees in balancing their work and family responsibilities, reduce financial barriers to accessing high-quality early childhood education and care, and assist the Children's Center in attracting, recruiting, and retaining qualified staff. By offering this discount, the Center seeks to promote employee well-being, strengthen workforce stability, and support continuity of care for children and families served by the program. 

The Children’s Center

This policy applies to all benefit-eligible permanent employees of the Children’s Center who enroll a child in the center’s child care program and seek to utilize the staff tuition discount benefit. Employees of UW-Whitewater who are not employed within the Children’s Center are not covered under this policy. 

Benefit-Eligible Permanent Employee: An individual employed by the Children’s Center in a full time position that is not classified as temporary, student, or limited-term.

Child Care Tuition: The standard rate charged by the Children’s Center for child care services, excluding fees such as registration, late payment, or other additional charges.

Children’s Center: The on-campus child care program providing services to enrolled families.

Continuous Employment: Ongoing employment in a benefit-eligible permanent position without separation from the Children’s Center.

Discount: The 20% reduction applied to child care tuition for one eligible child per family in accordance with this policy.

Eligible Child: A child enrolled in the Children’s Center whose parent or guardian meets the eligibility requirements outlined in this policy.

Family: A household unit in which a benefit-eligible employee is the parent or legal guardian of one or more children enrolled in the Children’s Center.

Highest Weekly Tuition Rate: The greatest tuition amount charged per week among children enrolled within the same family, used to determine where the discount is applied.

1. Discount Amount
   
   Full time employees will receive a 20% discount on child care tuition for one active child per family enrolled at the UW-Whitewater Children’s Center.
    
2. Application of Discount
   
   
   • The discount applies to one active child per family.
   • If more than one child from the same family is enrolled, the discount will be applied to the child with the highest weekly tuition rate.
   •  In the event of equal tuition rates, the discount will be applied to the youngest enrolled child.
   • The discount applies to tuition only and does not apply to registration fees, late fees, or any other additional charges.
   • The discount may not be combined with other tuition discounts, subsidies, or financial assistance programs.
     
     
3. Enrollment Process
   
   To enroll and receive the discount, full time, benefits-eligible permanent employees must contact the Children’s Center Director and complete all required enrollment documentation.
    
4. Conditions of Use
   
   
   • The discount is contingent upon continuous employment in a benefit-eligible permanent position at the Children’s Center.
   • The discount is subject to availability of child care openings within the center. Enrollment is not guaranteed.
   • Continued eligibility for the discount is based on maintaining satisfactory employment performance and compliance with tuition payment policies.
   • Employees must remain in good standing to maintain eligibility for the discount. “Good standing” includes maintaining satisfactory job performance, adherence to center policies and expectations, and successful completion of assigned job responsibilities. Employees currently on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), disciplinary action, probationary status, or with documented ongoing performance concerns are not considered in good standing and may be ineligible for the employee tuition discount until concerns are resolved.
     
     
5. Tuition Account Expectations
   
   Employees receiving the tuition discount shall maintain their child care account in good financial standing.
   • Tuition payments must be made according to the established tuition payment schedule.
   • Standard late fees and payment policies shall apply to all employee accounts.
   • If an employee account becomes past due beyond two weeks of tuition or exceeds an outstanding balance of $500, the employee tuition discount may be suspended until the account is brought current.
   • Repeated late payments or failure to maintain a payment agreement may result in permanent removal of the tuition discount benefit.
     
     
6. Termination of Discount
   
   The discount will be discontinued if:
   • The employee is no longer employed by the Children’s Center; or
   • The employee no longer meets benefit-eligible permanent status; or
   • The child is no longer enrolled in the program.

• Qualified Employee Discount Rates
• IRS Publication 5137 (IRC Section 132(c)(1)(B)
• SYS 180 Appendix A: Enumerated Needs of Various Institutional Constituencies

First Approved: September 14, 2026

September 2031

Questions regarding the interpretation of this policy should be directed to:
Position Title: Children’s Center Director
Department: Children’s Center
Telephone: 262-472-1768
Email: ccdirector@uww.edu