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Palm Beach State College Board Policy
Title: Degree Recognition
Policy Number: 6Hx-18-5.89
Legal Authority: 1001.64 FS
Date Adopted/Amended: Adopted 1/21/2003; Amended 5/12/2009, 4/9/2013, 5/16/23, 6/17/2025
As a learning institution, the College encourages employees to pursue a college degree that will benefit either their current position or will assist them in attaining the necessary educational background for another College position.
- The degree obtained must be from a regionally accredited institution of higher education as listed by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
- A degree obtained from an institution of higher education outside of the United States must be validated by an organization belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) prior to submission and reviewed by the degree recognition committee.
The College may recognize the completion of an acceptable associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree by awarding eligible non-bargaining regular and fixed term full-time employees up to the amounts below:
- Degree Obtained = Associate’s (i.e., AS, AAS, AA) | Amount Added to Annual Base Pay = $1,500
- Degree Obtained = Bachelor’s (i.e. BA, BS, BAS, BSN) | Amount Added to Annual Base Pay = $2,000
- Degree Obtained = Master’s (i.e., MA, MS, MBA, MFA) | Amount Added to Annual Base Pay = $2,500
- Degree Obtained = Doctoral Degree (i.e., PhD, EdD, EdS, JD) | Amount Added to Annual Base Pay = $3,000
Any portion of the award that exceeds the top of the salary range may be given to the employee in a one-time payment. Pay increases and stipends for fixed term and grant employees must be supported by the applicable budget.
Employees may receive only one award for each degree level during the course of their employment at the College, and the degree must be higher than the degree currently held as a full time employee. Degree recognition may not be submitted prior to the initial probationary period or for degrees earned prior to the previous policy amendment date.
Within eighteen (18) months of completing the degree program, the employee must complete a degree recognition request in the system and the Office of Human Resources must receive official transcripts issued to Palm Beach State College Human Resources from the institution that has awarded the employee’s degree (including degrees earned from Palm Beach State College). The transcripts must indicate successful completion of the applicable degree. The change in the employee’s salary will be effective from the first pay period of the following month after the proof of degree and accurate submission are received by the Office of Human Resources.