APPENDIX A PROFESSIONAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT POLICY
A.1.1. The purpose of the Professional Staff Development Policy is to assist employees of the District in self-development. It is important that present skills be constantly refined in order to analyze, evaluate, reason, and make sound decisions. It is also important that employees have the opportunity to enhance achievement of long-range goals.
A.1.2. The goal of the Professional Staff Development Committee is to provide an incentive which will encourage the employee to maximize his/her scope of knowledge. Individual financial assistance may be given to eligible employees taking upper-division courses at accredited colleges or universities. Employees may also have costs reimbursed for attending job-related or career-oriented seminars, workshops, or other activities as approved by the supervisor and the Professional Staff Development Committee following the determined guidelines. The Professional Staff Development Committee promotes Districtwide employee development by sponsoring group seminars, workshops, and other activities.
A.1.3. If an employee is directed by his/her College President/Provost/Vice Chancellor to take courses and/or training, said courses and/or training shall be considered reassigned time.
The Committee will be responsible for establishing administration, application procedures and screening criteria for granting of Staff Development funding. Said committee will be comprised of one (1) professional staff employee from each college and the District Office, and at least one (1) advisor from the ChancellorŐs Executive Council. The Professional Staff Development Committee shall review and approve requests for assistance from eligible employees. Employees wishing to appeal the decision of the Committee shall appeal to the PSA Executive Council for a final determination. The Committee Chair will sit as a member of the Executive Council to hear such request.
A.3.1. Eligibility
A.3.1.1. The employee must be employed by the District within grades one (1) through ten (10) for six (6) full months prior to the starting date of the semester or program.
A.3.1.2. The employee must have an Associate of Arts Degree or equivalent hours.
A.3.1.3. The course must be (a) career oriented, or (b) required as part of a degree program, and must not be offered within the Maricopa County Community College District. (Exception will be made only if credit hours are nontransferable.)
A.3.1.4. An individual career development program must be filed with the Professional Staff Development Committee.
A.3.1.5. Employees receiving funding to be applied to tuition fees from any source other than Professional Staff Development funds (excluding loans) must submit a verifiable account of such funds, and in no case may the total of the combined funding exceed the total amount of tuition fees.
A.3.2. Application forms
A.3.2.1. Application forms are available from the Unit Representative. Completed applications and appropriate documentation must be submitted to the Unit Representative. When received, applications will be reviewed and approved/disapproved by the Professional Staff Development Committee. Meetings will be scheduled monthly at the discretion of the chairperson.
A.3.2.2. All applications must include a copy of degree program, course descriptions, and/or any additional information (e.g., drop/add receipt) requested by the committee to help determine the qualifications of the applicant.
A.3.3. Application procedure
A.3.3.1. The application must be submitted to the Unit Representative.
Fall Semester - Beginning July 15 Spring Semester - Beginning November 15 First Summer Session - Beginning April 15 Second Summer Session - Beginning May 15 A.3.3.2. Fee receipts must be received by the Unit Representative within three (3) calendar days of the beginning of the
class. A.3.3.3. Upon receipt of the application, the date and time will be recorded by the Unit Representative. A.3.3.4. The Unit Representative will validate transcripts and degree(s) or equivalents through the Human Resources
Department and/or the Admissions and Records Department on campus. A.3.3.5. The Committee will meet to consider applications. A.3.3.6. The Unit Representative will notify the applicant as to the approval or disapproval within five (5) working days of
Committee action. A.3.3.7. An applicant may dispute a disapproved application for tuition or seminar/workshop registration by appealing
directly to the Professional Staff Development Committee. If dissatisfied with the CommitteeŐs final determination, the applicant may appeal to the Professional Staff
Association Executive Board.
A.3.4. The Professional Staff Development Committee will reimburse one hundred percent (100%) of the tuition for approved course(s) up to six (6) credit hours, and eighty percent (80%) of tuition thereafter, not to exceed a total of eight hundred dollars ($800.00) per semester. Pro rata payments will be made to part-time employees. Reimbursement percentage will be calculated upon tuition costs at major in-state universities (ASU, U of A, and NAU).
A.3.5. Correspondence school courses, at regionally accredited institutions, may also be reimbursed at one hundred percent (100%) of the tuition for approved course(s) up to six (6) credit hours, and eighty percent (80%) of tuition thereafter, not to exceed a total of eight hundred dollars ($800.00) per semester. Most correspondence courses offered at universities allow the student up to one (1) year to complete. Correspondence courses must be completed between July 1 and June 15 of the same fiscal year for the funds to be approved.
A.3.6. No reimbursement will be made for other fees, including lab fees, parking fees, books, school supplies, etc.
A.3.7. Tuition reimbursement will be awarded only when an OFFICIAL final grade report of "C" or better has been received. This report must be received by the Professional Staff Development Committee within six (6) weeks of completion of the course.
A.3.7.1. The only exception to this policy shall be a letter of grade verification which states the final grade for an employee attending a first summer school session. The grade verification letter must be on official university letterhead stationary and submitted no later than June 15 from the individual instructor. It shall be accepted, temporarily, in lieu of the official grade report in order to facilitate reimbursement of tuition fees prior to the end of fiscal year closing of accounts.
A.3.7.2. Any grade report submitted beyond six (6) weeks of completion of the course will automatically be denied.