2.12 Relocation Expenses Policy

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to define and standardize Berklee’s payment of relocation stipend amounts to new eligible employees and to assist with the cost of relocation of their personal residence. This policy is also intended to ensure that Berklee funds allocated toward relocation are appropriately approved by the hiring manager and Human Resources, consistently applied, and processed in compliance with Berklee policy and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirements. 

Policy: A stipend will only be provided for a relocation of 50 miles or more from a permanent home address to the Boston area. The relocation amount, as indicated below, will be determined by the hiring manager and Human Resources. This amount will be clearly stipulated in the initial offer letter of employment. Once approved, stipends will be provided to the employee on the first regularly scheduled payroll date following the start of employment. Advance stipends will not be provided prior to the start of employment. 

Berklee will provide a total of $5,000 for a permanent relocation for an eligible full-time faculty/staff member who is transitioning from a home address that is more than 1,500 miles from the Boston area. Berklee will provide a total of $3,500 for relocations that are less than 1,500 miles from the Boston area. Any request to provide an amount in excess of these amounts must be approved by the controller and the vice president of Human Resources.

The employee is not required to account to Berklee as to how the money is spent, and the stipend amount is to be included in W-2 Box 1: Wages, Salary, and Other Pay, and is subject to federal, state, FICA, and Medicare withholdings.

Voluntary resignations of employment within one year of the initial date of hire require repayment of the relocation stipend. 

Eligibility: Full-time faculty members, chairs, and exempt level staff at the director level and above may receive a negotiated stipend to assist with the cost of relocation of their personal residence. In rare instances, relocation expenses for other levels of staff may be provided based on availability of funds.

Berklee reserves the right to amend, suspend, or cancel this policy at any time, with or without notice.

Revised April 2025