REACH Program (Education Assistance)
The personal and professional growth of our colleagues is vital to HSHS reaching our goals as a ministry. That’s why we’ve simplified education assistance under the REACH umbrella and expanded the benefit to the maximum allowed by the IRS!
The REACH Program offers three pathways (REACH Partnership, REACH Prepaid, REACH Reimbursement) for colleague to embark on or continue their education journey. Learn more about each REACH pathway below to help you determine which path best aligns with your educational needs.
Program Basics
Eligibility
- Colleagues who are actively employed and budgeted at least 32 hours per pay period are eligible on their first day of employment. Full-time is considered being budgeted at least 72 hours per pay period.
- Colleagues must be in good standing and have not had a verbal or written warning within the previous six months or a final written warning within the previous 12 months.
Benefit Amount Available
- Full-time colleagues can receive up to $5,250 (IRS maximum for tax-free benefit) under any of the three paths.
- Part-time colleagues can receive up to $5,250 for partnership/St. John’s College
- of Nursing or prepaid/Instride paths, but only $3,000 for the reimbursement path.
- Participation in multiple REACH paths at the same time is discouraged. Colleagues are responsible for ensuring their overall education benefits for the year do not exceed the combined limits. Any benefit received over $5,250 will be taxable or may be recouped, if necessary.
- The maximum annual benefit under this policy is based on payments made in the calendar year, which may or may not be in the same calendar year in which coursework is completed.
- If the max annual allowance is met, the colleague will be responsible for any additional tuition and fees for the remainder of the plan year.
Available REACH Paths
The REACH Partnership Path has developed partnerships with St. John’s College of Nursing and Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville to offer specialized, clinically focused education programs for colleagues. One major advantage is there are no upfront costs. HSHS will cover tuition and fees up to $5,250 directly to the college each year.
St. John’s College of Nursing
Through the HSHS REACH program, eligible full-time and part-time colleagues receive 100% tuition and fee coverage. No upfront costs. No debt. Just a clear, supported path to your BSN, making St. John’s College the most attainable and desirable choice for career advancement.What sets St. John’s School apart:
- Career integrated: Advance within HSHS while earning your BSN. Your education is directly tied to real career opportunities.
- Fastest Path: Finish in just 10 months with every credit applied. No delays.
- No wasted effort.
- Focused on nursing: As a fully accredited nursing-only college, our faculty, resources
- and mission are dedicated entirely to your success.
- Future ready: Gain the skills and academic foundation for leadership, graduate education and lifelong professional growth.
- Flexible: 100% online, designed for working nurses and their demanding schedules.
- Fully funded: Tuition and fees are covered in full for eligible HSHS colleagues. Work with an admission counselor to create a plan to utilize the REACH annual benefit max with no out-of-pocket cost.
- Focused: Every credit transfers, your success is our mission.
Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville
Offers registered nurses an accelerated BSN program. Visit program website for more information.How to get started
St. John’s School of Nursing: hshs.org/StJohnsCollege
Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville: siue.edu/corporate/hshs/index.shtml
Acknowledgement form
Degree and Certification Programs
The REACH Prepaid path provides access to more than 1,000 programs at various education levels and across 20 different fields of study. The best part is that HSHS covers the cost upfront for you, up to $5,250 each year for tuition, allowing you to concentrate on your studies without financial stress.
Featured paths include medical assistant, med lab tech, sterile processing tech, phlebotomist and pharmacy tech. Additional programs including surgical tech are coming soon! All classes are offered online through selected universities, and with flexible start dates, you can begin your studies when it’s most convenient for you.
Key Benefits
Direct tuition coverage up to $5,250 per year
Access to a wide range of educational programs (high school through doctorate and certification)
Flexibility
How to get started
Partners with InStride: REACH Prepaid Path
The REACH Prepaid path provides access to more than 1,000 programs at various education levels and across 20 different fields of study. The best part is that HSHS covers the cost upfront for you, up to $5,250 each year for tuition, allowing you to concentrate on your studies without financial stress.
Featured paths include medical assistant, med lab tech, sterile processing tech, phlebotomist and pharmacy tech. Additional programs including surgical tech are coming soon! All classes are offered online through selected universities, and with flexible start dates, you can begin your studies when it’s most convenient for you.
Key Benefits
Direct tuition coverage up to $5,250 per year
Access to a wide range of educational programs (high school through doctorate and certification)
Flexibility
How to get started
Partners with InStride: REACH Prepaid Path
Traditional Tuition Reimbursement
The REACH Reimbursement path is designed for colleagues currently enrolled in school or anticipating an upcoming start or return to a local school.
With this path colleagues are responsible for paying their tuition up front and need to submit an application prior to the start of course(s) for approval.
Partners with Tuition IO: REACH Reimbursement Path
The REACH Reimbursement path is designed for colleagues currently enrolled in school or anticipating an upcoming start or return to a local school.
With this path colleagues are responsible for paying their tuition up front and need to submit an application prior to the start of course(s) for approval.
- Courses must be taken for credit through an accredited school or institution and must relate to the completion of a degree program not covered through the REACH Prepaid Path in a discipline that supports the operations of the system, such as health care, business or management to allow for succession planning, talent management and growth strategies.
- The program will offer reimbursement for colleague expenses relative to books, fees and tuition less any grants/scholarships.
- Meals, lodging or transportation.
- Tools or Supplies (other than textbooks) you can keep after completing the course of instruction.
- Courses involving sports, games or hobbies unless they have a reasonable relationship to the business of your employer or are required as part of a degree program.
Partners with Tuition IO: REACH Reimbursement Path