Recent and future high school graduates from Graham and Greenlee counties who join Phelps Dodge mines in Morenci or Safford can earn one year of college tuition for every year of employment up to four years under the new Tuition Assurance Plan.

Called TAP, the plan is exclusively for residents of Graham or Greenlee county who have earned a high school or general education diploma since 2005, met all of Phelps Dodge employment requirements and are at least 18 years old.

Current Phelps Dodge employees meeting those requirements may also participate in the program. “We want to encourage young people to go to college,” said Kimball Hansen, Phelps Dodge spokesman. “They don’t have to choose something that relates to Phelps Dodge. They don’t have to come back to Phelps Dodge (after college).”

He placed the value of TAP at nearly $20,000 for a four-year degree, based on the tuition for state universities for the 2007-08 school year.

Under the terms of the plan, up to four years of tuition can be accumulated and applied to the Arizona state-supported community college or university of the employee’s choice.

“This is in addition to their normal salary and benefits,” Hansen said.

Students/employees do not have to work four years to earn the college tuition. One year of continuous employment will earn the student one year of college tuition.

The tuition credit is paid directly to the state-supported college or university of the student’s choice. The student/employee must submit proof of enrollment, and Phelps Dodge will pay the tuition on a semester by semester basis.

If an employee delays enrolling in a college or university after the four-year maximum the tuition credit will decline at the same rate it was accumulated. For example, if a student works for Phelps Dodge for six continuous years before using the tuition credit, only two years of tuition will be credited.

Employees may also use the tuition credit at more than one institution. For instance, an employee may choose to go to a community college for two years and complete a four-year-degree at a state university.

While attending college, the student may work during the summer at Phelps Dodge, depending on the availability of work.

“In all likelihood, there will be summer opportunities,” Hansen said. “There are a variety of jobs that they could do.”