The purpose of the Paid Educational Leave is to provide employees an opportunity to further their careers and employment opportunities through the completion of a Bachelor, Master, or Doctoral Degree.
The Committee will be responsible for establishing administration, application procedures and screening criteria for granting of Paid Educational Leave 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 ChancellorÕs Executive Council. The Paid Educational Leave 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 paid educational leave may be granted to an employee subject to the following guidelines:
B.3.1. The applicant must be a regular full-time employee with a minimum of six (6) years or 12,500 hours of consecutive service with the district as a regular Governing Board approved employee at the time the leave would begin.
B.3.2. An educational leave may be granted for up to, but will not exceed one (1) fiscal year. The leave may be granted for any combination of months during the fiscal same.
B.3.3. The employee will be required to provide evidence that he/she has accumulated sufficient college credits to complete a BachelorÕs, MasterÕs, or Doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education while on educational leave. All evidence of said credit will be submitted to the appropriate College President/Provost/Vice Chancellor.
B.3.4. Degrees pursued while on educational leave must be career oriented or job related.
B.3.5. Any employee granted educational leave will be required to sign a bond with the District agreeing to work twice the amount of leave time granted.
B.3.6. An employee on educational leave as outlined above will receive full (100%) salary from the District.
B.3.7. The District will continue to pay for the Flexible Benefits program selected by the employee.
B.3.8. Vacation and sick leave benefits will not accrue during the educational leave.
B.3.9. Time for leave will not be deducted from the original date of hire in determination of vacation entitlement, ten (10) year anniversary, service date, etc.
B.3.10. Normal progression will continue on the salary scale.
B.3.11. Upon returning from an educational leave, an employee will be assigned to his/her previous position, or to one of equal grade and step, or to a position agreed to prior to the leave.
B.3.12. There will be no limit to the number of times an employee may receive a Paid Educational Leave. However, an employee cannot be granted a subsequent Paid Educational Leave until the financial obligation/promissory note from the previous Paid Educational Leave has expired. First-time applicants for Paid Educational Leave will be given priority consideration during the selection process.
Each applicant will be required to submit the following:
B.4.1. A completed Paid Educational Leave Application form.
B.4.2. A letter, addressed to the committee, stating:
B.4.2.1. His/her degree objective.
B.4.2.2. Justifications for granting him/her the Paid Educational Leave.
B.4.2.10. Supporting statements that the degree is career oriented or job related.
B.4.3. A letter of acceptance from the university/institution he/she will be attending which indicates acceptance into the college/program of his/her degree objective.
B.4.4. A written copy of his/her degree program advisement sheet completed by his/her university/institution advisor, which shows the course work completed and the remaining course work to be completed in order to obtain the degree being sought.
B.4.5. One (1) copy of unofficial transcripts from each regionally accredited college, university/institution at which the applicant has completed course work applicable to the degree program being sought.
B.4.6. Two (2) letters of reference from persons who can attest to the applicantÕs professional qualifications and/or academic abilities.
B.4.7. Applications may be obtained in March of each year, with a mid-April deadline.
B.5. Compensation, Restrictions, and Return to Work
B.5.1. Compensation for an employee granted a Paid Educational Leave will be as follows:
B.5.1.1. The rate of pay for an employee while on Paid Educational Leave will be full (100%) pay and shall be paid in accordance with the normal pay periods and procedures for all professional staff employees.
B.5.1.2. The District will provide full Flex Benefits credits for an employee on Paid Educational Leave.
B.5.1.3. An employee on Paid Educational Leave will follow the normal progression on the salary scale.
B.5.1.4. Vacation and sick leave benefits will not accrue during a Paid Educational Leave. All vacation and sick leave benefits accrued by the employee at the beginning date of his/her leave will be held in suspense.
B.5.1.5. The time granted an employee for Paid Educational Leave will not be deducted from the original date of hire in determination of vacation entitlement, ten (10) year anniversary, service date, etc.
B.5.1.6. the Paid Educational Leave Committee will pay replacement salary at step one (1) of the employeeÕs grade.
B.5.2. An employee on Paid Educational Leave may not participate in voluntary service to the District or to College/District Professional Staff Association governance and/or committees.
B.5.3. The following guidelines and requirements shall be followed upon an employeeÕs return to work after being granted a Paid Educational Leave:
B.5.3.1. The employee will be assigned to his/her previous position, or to a position of equal grade and step, or to a position agreed to prior to the leave. The determination of this provision shall be the responsibility of the appropriate College President/Provost/Vice Chancellor in consultation with the employee.
B.5.3.2. Upon returning from leave the employee will, within sixty (60) days, submit (in writing), to the appropriate College President/Provost/Vice Chancellor, the Professional Staff Association President, and the Chairperson of the Paid Educational Leave Committee, evidence that he/she has completed his/her degree program.
B.5.3.3. The interpretation of the requirement that an employee returns to work for the District at twice the amount of leave time granted shall not be construed to prevent the employee from applying for transfers, promotions, or other employment opportunities within the District.
B.6.1. In 1999-2000, the District will provide funding to a maximum of one hundred forty thousand six hundred fifty dollars ($140,650) for replacement personnel.
B.6.2. Funds may be transferred between PSD, PEL, and Internship with the approval of the Professional Staff Association Executive Board and the Vice Chancellor Quality and Employee Development.