U Perks for Faculty and Staff

Expand your education. The Regents Tuition Benefit Program helps pay employee tuition when they take University courses. Between 75% to 100% percent of tuition costs are covered for undergraduate, graduate school, or post baccalaureate professional course credits. 

M Tech in the Bookstore offers special savings to University employees on computers, laptops, and tablets. Take advantage of interest-free financing for select technology purchases to qualified staff and faculty with repayment through payroll deduction.

• Carlson Executive Education offers a 75% discount to University of Minnesota staff and faculty on its executive programs as space allows and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. To express interest in a course, complete this interest form and select the program you wish to participate in.
• College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS) offers staff and faculty members a 50% discount on professional development courses, which cover a range of topics.

Boynton Pharmacy offers University employees a 10% discount on over-the-counter products. Shop in person and show your employee ID, browse products online, or easily transfer prescriptions. Twin Cities employees can call ahead to request curbside service. Boynton Pharmacy can also mail most products and prescriptions within Minnesota and Wisconsin. Exclusions and mailing charges may apply.

The Food Science and Nutrition Department's Dairy Food Products salesroom is open to the public.

Seasonal offerings from the CFANS Market include organic produce from a student-run farm, honey, and Christmas trees. (Twin Cities Campus)

Explore University museums and galleries, including:

• University of Minnesota Duluth
  • Tweed Museum of Art
• University of Minnesota Morris
  •  Edward J. & Helen Jane Morrison Gallery
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities
  • Bell Museum of Natural History
  • Goldstein Museum of Design 
  • Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
  • The Raptor Center
  • Weisman Art Museum

Watch student-athletes compete in over a dozen sports. Look for emails on ticket discounts from the Athletics Department. 

All faculty and staff can use the campus libraries to get answers to questions, use online databases and streaming services, or check out materials and have them delivered to your workplace. 

New staff and faculty are eligible for a free ticket during their first year. Choose any performance in the Northrop Season and reserve by contacting the Box Office at 612-624-2345 with your U Card number to reserve your First Year Free Ticket. Limited to one event.

Staff and Faculty are also eligible for these discounts at Northrop:

• $20 Rush tickets on the day of a Northrop Season performance.
• $5 off per ticket for Northrop Season events
• U of M faculty and staff are invited to experience in-person/online Northrop Season* performances with their students, incorporating the work performed on stage with their classroom curriculum—at no charge, through the Northrop Across Campus program.

Outdoor equipment rentals are available for faculty and staff through the University Recreation and Wellness. You can find what you need to enjoy the Minnesota outdoors throughout the year, including tents, bikes, canoes, paddleboards, snowshoes, and cross-country skis. 

Available on the Crookston, Duluth, Morris, and Twin Cities campuses. 

Entertainment, Services, and Travel Discounts through Minnesota Employee Recreation & Services Council (MERSC). University employees can get discounts on event tickets, home and professional services, and more through the Minnesota Employee Recreation & Services Council (MERSC). 

For information on how to get your discounts, the proof of employment you'll need, and other restrictions, see the MERSC site. As of January 1, 2024, MERSC is a secure site and requires employee to create an employee membership account. Once an account is created, you will be able to log-in to access the MERSC discounts. 

All discounts offered through UPerks, whether they are listed here or with MERSC, are given without any endorsement or guarantee from the University of Minnesota. The University is not liable for businesses not honoring discounts.

Coursera for Minnesota gives University of Minnesota employees free access to more than 2,000 Coursera courses. Take any course you want, whenever you want. Learn new skills, explore a new subject, or advance your career goals. Note: Coursera courses do not provide U of M academic credit unless used as part of a regular class.

For information about accessing the Coursera for Minnesota catalog and frequently asked questions, visit the Coursera for Minnesota site.