Q. What is Metropolitan College?
Metropolitan College is a workforce development and educational opportunity partnership that includes Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC), the University of Louisville (UofL), Louisville Metro government, State of Kentucky and UPS.
Q. How do students get into Metropolitan College?
A student must be employed by UPS, attend one of the two participating schools (JCTC, UofL), and complete the steps listed on the Get Started Checklist.
Q. Do I have to attend college full-time while participating in Metropolitan College?
Metropolitan College students can attend school part-time or full-time. MC Students are encouraged to review the MC academic advising guide for additional information.
Q. Can a student major in any subject?
Students can major in any subject for which they are academically qualified. Visit the University of Louisville and Jefferson Community and Technical College websites for more information.
Q. Where do students sign Student Agreements and how often is this done?
All new MC students are prompted to sign up for an appointment to sign their first MC agreement at the conclusion of the on-line orientation, The Student Transition Program (STP). Returning MC students can sign their agreement on-line through their My MC page or by scheduling an appointment through their My MC page. Students must sign a Metropolitan College Student Agreement for each semester that they enroll in classes. By signing the agreement, students are obligated to work at UPS from the agreement start date through the agreement end date for that semester. However, students will not be allowed to sign if they have not completed the Metropolitan College program requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to read through the Student Agreement before signing.
Q. Is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) required and how often must it be completed?
Yes, the FAFSA is required. Metropolitan College is a government sponsored organization, and as such its mission and responsibility is to utilize funding in a responsible manner. In order to subsidize costs and sustain the program, all Metropolitan College undergraduate students must complete a current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and all additional procedures required by the Financial Aid office at the institution resulting in an “official” status prior to signing an agreement. The application must be completed every October. Participants must be considered a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen to file and complete a FAFSA to participate in the Metropolitan College program. If you are a UPS employee who cannot file and complete a FAFSA, you may be eligible for Earn and Learn, a tuition assistance program fully funded by UPS.
Q. If I live out-of-state, am I eligible for tuition benefits?
Yes, the tuition benefit will, however, be limited to the regular per credit hour undergraduate Kentucky resident tuition rate at the institution in which the student is enrolled. Non-resident students will be financially responsible for the difference.
Q. Does Metropolitan College provide tuition benefits for the summer semester?
Yes, Metropolitan College participants will be permitted to enroll up to the maximum number of credits allowed by their academic institution (JCTC or UofL) in the summer terms. Students should meet with an academic adviser at their institution to determine the appropriate number of credits for their individual academic plan. MC students are STRONGLY encouraged to enroll in summer courses to make progress toward their graduation.
Q. What happens if I’m unable to sign my student agreement by the institution’s payment deadline? What happens if I’ve signed an agreement but still owe semester charges?
It is important that you know the tuition deadline when you register for classes.
As a prospective MC student, your options for tuition payment are as follows:
If your first day of employment is BEFORE the tuition deadline and you have completed all checklist items you should sign a MC agreement and pay fees* and/or uncovered tuition costs** on or before the payment deadline.
If your first day of employment is AFTER the tuition deadline you must pay your tuition by your school’s tuition deadline and then sign your agreement by the MC Student Agreement semester deadlines (October 15 for fall, March 15 for spring, August 1 for summer) to be eligible for reimbursement. You typically have two payment options:
- Pay your tuition, fees, and uncovered tuition costs in full.
- Contact your institution to determine if you are eligible to enter into a payment plan.
*Fees not covered by Metropolitan College include, but are not limited to: housing, student recreation fee, meal plan, health fee, course fees, lab fees, parking fees, JCTC distance education fees, etc.
**Tuition costs not covered by Metropolitan College include, but are not limited to: undergraduate tuition charged at a rate higher than the in-state per credit hour rate, tuition that exceeds the full-time undergraduate in-state tuition rate, Winter Term courses at UofL, etc.
Q. What grade do I have to earn to qualify for Metropolitan College benefits?
Students must get a grade of “C-” or better and remain actively employed through the semester work commitment date to receive tuition benefits.
The work commitment dates for tuition benefits are as follows:
- December 31st for Fall semester
- May 31st for Spring semester
- September 30th for Summer semester
Q. What do I need to know about the Academic Completion Bonus Program?
Bonuses are provided for semester completion.
Q. Do students have to work at UPS after they graduate?
Students have no obligation to work at UPS beyond the end of each semester’s work commitment date. Please note there are work commitment dates to qualify for tuition benefits and fee payments and there are work commitment dates to qualify for bonuses.
The work commitment dates to receive tuition and fee payments are as follows:
- December 31st for Fall semester
- May 31st for Spring semester
- September 1st for Summer semester
The work commitment dates to receive bonuses are as follows:
- December 31st for Fall semester
- June 30th for Spring semester
- September 1st for Summer semester
Q. Does Metropolitan College provide career assistance?
While in the Metropolitan College program, students participate in the Career and Academic Planning Program (CAPP) where they’ll gain skills in developing a customized resume and practice interviewing skills to prepare them for job searching in their desired career field. Metropolitan College alumni are also able to take advantage of these career services.
Q. What kinds of jobs are available at UPS in the Next Day Operation?
Most of the jobs in the Next Day Operation are package handling positions. Hub Administration jobs are also available. Find out more about UPS employment at upsjobs.com/worldport.
Q. Are graduate studies included in this program?
Metropolitan College tuition benefits are limited to undergraduate level coursework at the University of Louisville and Jefferson Community and Technical College. However, students are still eligible to use Earn and Learn for graduate level coursework.
Q. What campus services are available to me as a Metropolitan College student?
As a Metropolitan College participant you are encouraged to utilize the campus resources that are offered at your particular institution. These resources can support your overall academic, social and health and wellness success while in the program.
Q. Can I take Distance Learning/Web-based classes?
Yes, distance learning/ web-based classes are often a convenience for students working nights at UPS. However, please keep in mind the Metropolitan College tuition benefit is limited to the regular KY resident undergraduate tuition rate per credit hour at the institution a student attends.
JCTC - MC will cover the rate of the tuition amount, but does not cover the "Distance Learning Course Charge", which is currently $20 per credit hour for each online class you enroll in.
UofL - MC will cover the online rate of tuition up to the current full time undergraduate Kentucky resident tuition rate at UofL, as these courses are currently billed at the same rate as regular tuition. Please Note: MC students enrolled in a UofL online degree program (100% of courses online) are assessed at online rates which may be different than standard tuition. Online degree students are responsible for tuition that exceeds the regular per credit hour undergraduate KY resident rate by UofL’s tuition deadline.
Example of Online Program Billing:
$527 (current cost per credit hour) x 12 credit hours = $6324 (this is the most MC will pay)
$527 (current cost per credit hour) x 15 credit hours = $7905 (MC will only pay $6324 and student will owe $1581 out of pocket, if not covered by financial aid)
If an online program student enrolls in more than 12 credit hours, they would be responsible to pay the difference in the cost of tuition.
Q. I’ve been at UPS for a while now and I want to be in the Metropolitan College program. What do I need to do?
Take a look at our Get Started Checklist to guide you through the process.
Q. How can I learn about other UPS Educational Programs?
Visit upsjobs.com/worldport to learn about UPS Educational Programs.
Q. Can I participate in both Metropolitan College and the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship Program at Jefferson Community and Technical College?
Yes, if eligible, you may enroll in both programs. The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship (WRKS) is a last dollar payment on your JCTC customer account. As a result, your Work Ready Scholarship could be drastically reduced or eliminated entirely when used with Metro College benefits. However, students will receive numerous additional benefits in the MC program such as academic bonus, fee payment assistance, $21/hour part-time work, healthcare benefits, possible residual funds from unused grant dollars...and much more!
MC students enrolled in a WRKS qualifying program of study may be eligible to receive up to the academic year maximum amount of $400 to cover mandatory and distance learning fees not covered by MC or any other financial aid. Book, access codes, tools, and/or digital content fees will NOT be covered. In addition, this does not include a student taking pre-requisite coursework and/or listed as “pending” or being AA/AS degree seeking. It is possible that WRKS could be used to pay for MC ineligible grades, depending on eligibility criteria determined by the JCTC Financial Aid Office.
For more information about WRKS, go to https://workreadykentucky.com/, and for a full explanation of how this scholarship may be used alongside your Metro College benefits, please contact Jade Thomas with the JCTC Financial Aid office at jf-workready@kctcs.edu.
Q. Can I participate in both Metropolitan College and the Evolve 502 program at Jefferson Community and Technical College?
Yes. JCTC MC students who are also enrolled in Evolve 502 need to be aware that Evolve 502 is a last dollar payment on your JCTC account. As a result, your Evolve 502 scholarship benefits could be drastically reduced or eliminated when used with Metro College benefits. In many cases, students might still be eligible for Evolve502 Opportunity Grants which help pay for non-tuition expenses. For a full explanation of how this scholarship may be used alongside your Metro College benefits, please contact Samantha Warren with the JCTC Financial Aid office at ashton.ballard@kctcs.edu
If a student is enrolled in both Evolve 502 and MC, and they have used all monies available on their account, JCTC MC students may be eligible for the following Evolve 502 benefits:
- JCTC fees listed as “mandatory fees” not covered by MC or any other financial aid.
- Payment of MC ineligible grades, if the student has completed all steps to be eligible for Evolve 502 benefits prior to withdrawn or failing grades posting date. Students would not be able to use this retroactively.
- MC students enrolled in Evolve 502 with a household income of $40,000 or below will receive an Opportunity Grant of $1,200 per semester (up to $2,200 per year) to assist in defraying the total cost of attendance or to help students pay for unexpected expenses which might occur while enrolled.
Some of the benefits of participating in MC are:
- Not a last dollar scholarship; keep some of grants
- No requirement for credit hours enrolled each semester
- Still eligible for MC benefits even if don’t meet satisfactory academic progress.
- Additional benefits ($21/hour; benefits package; $250 semester fee payment; Semester and graduation bonus; etc.)
- Can take a semester off with no penalty (although not encouraged)
- Tuition benefits are not capped at 60 undergraduate hours.
- Can enter program any semester, not just fall after senior year in high school.
- Gain marketable work experience
- Can continue all benefits at University of Louisville after graduation or 60 transferrable credits.
- No requirement to attend JCPS or be a recent high school graduate.
Q. Can I utilize MC benefits for JCTC's CDL or Lineman programs?
Yes. MC covers any program at JCTC that charges undergraduate tuition, including CDL and Lineman programs. The tuition benefit is limited to the in-state rate per credit hour at JCTC. JCTC's CDL and Lineman programs are priced at tuition plus a customization fee. This example illustrates the costs covered by MC (Note: These are not actual charges. This is for example purposes only):
- If JCTC is charging $833 per credit for a special program, but the regular tuition rate for one credit hour at JCTC is $179, MC would only pay $179 for each credit hour.
- To apply this to an example....if a student takes 6 college credits for a CDL program and is charged $5,000, MC will pay $179 x 6 credits = $1,074 dollars.
As you consider utilizing MC benefits for programs with special tuition charges, we encourage you to explore:
- If the course program schedule fits with third shift work. For many programs, you are required to attend courses all day -- can you do this and work at night.
- If you are willing and able to work through the MC semester commitment timeline for the semester in which you are receiving MC benefits.