Common use of PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM Clause in Contracts

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. Section 1. The Employer and the Association recognize the need for a Professional Education Program that can be made available on an equitable basis to all permanent employees in the unit. Section 2. After completion of the probationary period, any full-time permanent employee in this bargaining unit may apply for up to three (3) professional business/education days as defined in Section 3 below. Permanent part-time employees who are scheduled to work at least 50% time shall be eligible to apply for professional business/education days as defined in Section 3 below on a pro- rata basis. The granting of a professional business/education day shall be at the sole discretion of the Employer. Section 3. Professional business/education days shall be used for the purpose of: (a) Visitations to view other instructional techniques or programs. (b) Conventions, conferences, workshops, seminars and/or courses conducted by colleges, universities, or professional associations or to visit other schools. (c) Self-initiated conferences. Attendance at the following will not be considered professional business/education days as defined in this Section and will not require the use of self-initiated funds referenced in Section 6 of this Article: (1) Bureau of Correction Education sponsored training. (2) Regional Assessment Support Team (RAST) training specifically approved by the Bureau of Correction Education. (3) Department of Corrections training approved by the Bureau of Correction Education. (4) Training required by any federal or state grant or contract and approved by the Bureau of Correction Education. Section 4. Professional business/education days are not applicable to organization or preparation for collective bargaining or any business of the Association that deals with collective bargaining. Section 5. It is understood that the granting of professional business/education days does not include approval of payment of associated fees, expenses and/or travel expenses. Section 6. After completion of the probationary period, each employee in this bargaining unit may apply for reimbursement up to a maximum of $300 per fiscal year for professional business/education days. The $300 may be used for excess tuition, if the excess tuition exceeds the published state university cost per graduate credit, but may not be used to pay any fees, books or mileage related to participation in college or university courses. Section 7. The Employer agrees to establish a $171,000 per fiscal year tuition reimbursement fund to reimburse permanent employees in this bargaining unit who work in the Department of Corrections institutions and are involved in programs for the successful completion of accredited academic or vocational courses which would enable professional employees to maintain or improve skills required in performing their current job duties. This fund also reimburses vocational instructors moving to vocational 1 level. Section 8. Tuition reimbursement requests will be approved in the following manner: a. The reimbursement rate will be the prevailing per credit rate charged by the Graduate Schools in the State System of Higher Education. b. Reimbursement will be made for courses which are approved in advance by the Employer and will be in accordance with procedures established through the Directives Management System. The Employer will respond to requests for approval of courses at the local level within 30 working days. c. Reimbursement will be contingent upon successful completion of the course (attainment of the grade of “B” or better). Employees who terminate employment before the end of a course will not be eligible for reimbursement. d. The Employer shall accept applications for tuition reimbursement based on the criteria set forth above until such time as the fund set aside for this purpose is depleted. In the event the entire amount budgeted for tuition reimbursement is not used for this purpose in any contract year, re-allocation of these funds shall be at the sole discretion of the Employer. e. Professional business/education days as outlined above may be used by an employee in hourly increments (to a total of 22.5 hours) each year to allow an employee's attendance at a college course for which tuition reimbursement has been approved. The use of professional business/education days for this purpose is subject to prior approval and management's ability to maintain efficient operations and provided that an alternate work schedule could not be arranged. f. Such employee shall, in the first instance, be reimbursed for no more than six credits per fiscal year. If any tuition reimbursement funds are still available in either fund after January 15, the Employer may make additional reimbursements to employees covered by either fund up to a total of twelve credits per employee, provided that credits were pre-approved in accordance with a., b., c., and d. above. Section 9. Employees in this bargaining unit are covered by the provisions of Management Directive 535.3, Out-Service Training in accordance with the side letter between the parties dated April 7, 2005 (updated March 20, 2009) (Appendix O). Section 10. The Employer will provide appropriate training and notification about the application process and forms used for the Professional Education Program. Before changing or amending the application process and/or the forms associated with the process; the Employer will provide two weeks’ notice regarding the changes and the timeframe for implementation.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. Section 1. The Employer and the Association recognize the need for a Professional Education Program that can be made available on an equitable basis to all permanent employees in the unit. Section 2. After completion of the probationary period, any full-time permanent employee in this bargaining unit may apply for up to three (3) professional business/education days as defined in Section 3 below. Permanent part-time employees who are scheduled to work at least 50% time shall be eligible to apply for professional business/education days as defined in Section 3 below on a pro- pro-rata basis. The granting of a professional business/education day shall be at the sole discretion of the Employer. Section 3. Professional business/education days shall be used for the purpose of: (a) Visitations to view other instructional techniques or programs. (b) Conventions, conferences, workshops, seminars and/or courses conducted by colleges, universities, or professional associations or to visit other schools. (c) Self-initiated conferences. Attendance at the following will not be considered professional business/education days as defined in this Section and will not require the use of self-initiated funds referenced in Section 6 of this Article: (1) Bureau Division of Correction Education sponsored training. (2) Regional Assessment Support Team (RAST) training specifically approved by the Bureau Division of Correction Education. (3) Department of Corrections training approved by the Bureau Division of Correction Education. (4) Training required by any federal or state grant or contract and approved by the Bureau Division of Correction Education. Section 4. Professional business/education days are not applicable to organization or preparation for collective bargaining or any business of the Association that deals with collective bargaining. Section 5. It is understood that the granting of professional business/education days does not include approval of payment of associated fees, expenses and/or travel expenses. Section 6. After completion of the probationary period, each employee in this bargaining unit may apply for reimbursement up to a maximum of $300 500 per fiscal year for professional business/education days. The $300 500 may be used for excess tuition, if the excess tuition exceeds the published state university cost per graduate credit, but may not be used to pay any fees, books or mileage related to participation in college or university courses. Section 7. The Employer agrees to establish a $171,000 per fiscal year tuition reimbursement fund to reimburse permanent employees in this bargaining unit who work in the Department of Corrections institutions and are involved in programs for the successful completion of accredited academic or vocational courses which would enable professional employees to maintain or improve skills required in performing their current job duties. This fund also reimburses vocational instructors moving to vocational 1 level. Section 8. Tuition reimbursement requests will be approved in the following manner: a. The reimbursement rate will be the prevailing per credit rate charged by the Graduate Schools in the State System of Higher Education. b. Reimbursement will be made for courses which are approved in advance by the Employer and will be in accordance with procedures established through the Directives Management System. The Employer will respond to requests for approval of courses at the local level within 30 working days. c. Reimbursement will be contingent upon successful completion of the course (attainment of the grade of “B” or better). Employees who terminate employment before the end of a course will not be eligible for reimbursement. d. The Employer shall accept applications for tuition reimbursement based on the criteria set forth above until such time as the fund set aside for this purpose is depleted. In the event the entire amount budgeted for tuition reimbursement is not used for this purpose in any contract year, re-allocation of these funds shall be at the sole discretion of the Employer. e. Professional business/education days as outlined above may be used by an employee in hourly increments (to a total of 22.5 hours) each year to allow an employee's attendance at a college course for which tuition reimbursement has been approved. The use of professional business/education days for this purpose is subject to prior approval and management's ability to maintain efficient operations and provided that an alternate work schedule could not be arranged. f. Such employee shall, in the first instance, be reimbursed for no more than six credits per fiscal year. If any tuition reimbursement funds are still available in either fund after January 15, the Employer may make additional reimbursements to employees covered by either fund up to a total of twelve credits per employee, provided that credits were pre-approved in accordance with a., b., c., and d. above. Section 9. Employees in this bargaining unit are covered by the provisions of Management Directive 535.3, Out-Service Training in accordance with the side letter between the parties dated April 7, 2005 (updated March 20, 2009) (Appendix OM). Section 10. The Employer will provide appropriate training and notification about the application process and forms used for the Professional Education Program. Before changing or amending the application process and/or the forms associated with the process; the Employer will provide two weeks’ notice regarding the changes and the timeframe for implementation.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. Section 1. The Employer and the Association recognize the need for a Professional Education Program that can be made available on an equitable basis to all permanent employees in the unit. Section 2. After completion of the probationary period, any full-time permanent employee in this bargaining unit may apply for up to three (3) professional business/education days as defined in Section 3 below. Permanent part-time employees who are scheduled to work at least 50% time shall be eligible to apply for professional business/education days as defined in Section 3 below on a pro- pro-rata basis. The granting of a professional business/education day shall be at the sole discretion of the Employer. Section 3. Professional business/education days shall be used for the purpose of: (a) Visitations to view other instructional techniques or programs. (b) Conventions, conferences, workshops, seminars and/or courses conducted by colleges, universities, or professional associations or to visit other schools. (c) Self-initiated conferences. Attendance at the following will not be considered professional business/education days as defined in this Section and will not require the use of self-initiated funds referenced in Section 6 of this ArticleSection: (1) Bureau of Correction Education sponsored training. (2) Regional Assessment Support Team (RAST) training specifically approved by the Bureau of Correction Education. (3) Department of Corrections training approved by the Bureau of Correction Education. (4) Training required by any federal or state grant or contract and approved by the Bureau of Correction Education. Section 4. Professional business/education days are not applicable to organization or preparation for collective bargaining or any business of the Association that deals with collective bargaining. Section 5. It is understood that the granting of professional business/education days does not include approval of payment of associated fees, expenses and/or travel expenses. Section 6. After completion of the probationary period, each employee in this bargaining unit may apply for reimbursement up to a maximum of $300 per fiscal year for professional business/education days. The $300 may be used for excess tuition, if the excess tuition exceeds the published state university cost per graduate credit, but may not be used to pay any fees, books or mileage related to participation in college or university courses. Section 7. The Employer agrees to establish a $171,000 per fiscal year tuition reimbursement fund to reimburse permanent employees in this bargaining unit who work in the Department of Corrections institutions and are involved in programs for the successful completion of accredited academic or vocational courses which would enable professional employees to maintain or improve skills required in performing their current job duties. This fund also reimburses vocational instructors moving to vocational 1 level. Section 8. Tuition reimbursement requests will be approved in the following manner: a. The reimbursement rate will be the prevailing per credit rate charged by the Graduate Schools in the State System of Higher Education. b. Reimbursement will be made for courses which are approved in advance by the Employer and will be in accordance with procedures established through the Directives Management System. The Employer will respond to requests for approval of courses at the local level within 30 working days. c. Reimbursement will be contingent upon successful completion of the course (attainment of the grade of “B” or better). Employees who terminate employment before the end of a course will not be eligible for reimbursement. d. The Employer shall accept applications for tuition reimbursement based on the criteria set forth above until such time as the fund set aside for this purpose is depleted. In the event the entire amount budgeted for tuition reimbursement is not used for this purpose in any contract year, re-allocation of these funds shall be at the sole discretion of the Employer. e. Professional business/education days as outlined above may be used by an employee in hourly increments (to a total of 22.5 hours) each year to allow an employee's attendance at a college course for which tuition reimbursement has been approved. The use of professional business/education days for this purpose is subject to prior approval and management's ability to maintain efficient operations and provided that an alternate work schedule could not be arranged. f. Such employee shall, in the first instance, be reimbursed for no more than six credits per fiscal year. If any tuition reimbursement funds are still available in either fund after January 15, the Employer may make additional reimbursements to employees covered by either fund up to a total of twelve credits per employee, provided that credits were pre-approved in accordance with a., b., c., and d. above. Section 9. Employees in this bargaining unit are covered by the provisions of Management Directive 535.3, Out-Service Training in accordance with the side letter between the parties dated April 7, 2005 (updated March 20, 2009) (Appendix ON). Section 10. The Employer will provide appropriate training and notification about the application process and forms used for the Professional Education Program. Before changing or amending the application process and/or the forms associated with the process; the Employer will provide two weeks’ notice regarding the changes and the timeframe for implementation.