Policy: 5.4 Additional Education and Certification

Policy: 5.4 Additional Education and Certification

Adoption Date: February 26, 2007  Revised

REQUIRED ADDITIONAL EDUCATION FOR FACULTY

Faculty are hired with the appropriate credentials for teaching in a discipline. However, changes in regulations or technology sometimes makes it necessary for a faculty member to return to school for additional credentials. If the college requires a faculty member to return for additional course work that was not a condition of initial employment, the college may pay the tuition, fees, and travel to an area university or for distance learning if grant funds are available. These hours may be applied to placement on the faculty salary schedule.

REQUIRED ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION

When persons are required by the college to attain state or national certifications (EPA certification, HAZMAT certification, DACUM Facilitator, etc.) that are not currently required by the position, the college will pay the costs associated with attaining the certification. Persons who earn these required certifications will receive a one-time monetary allocation upon completion of certification requirements. The Administrative Cabinet will determine the need for special certifications and the allocation amount.

A non-exempt or exempt position is not usually rebanded when an employee receives professional development that upgrades existing skills. If the skill base is considerably broadened, rebanding will be considered.

ELECTED ADDITIONAL EDUCATION FOR FACULTY

Course approval for salary increments: The college wants to encourage each faculty member to seek additional graduate credit in areas that will enhance the instructional expertise.  These guidelines are not intended to inhibit graduate enrollments. 

To be certain the courses taken can be used to earn incentive pay, please follow these guidelines:

1. Instructors working on advanced degrees in their teaching fields at regionally accredited universities shall have all courses on their official degree plans approved, except courses taken to meet language requirements.
2. Courses, which are not part of a degree plan, need to be approved on a course‑by‑course basis.  Random graduate courses and graduate education courses will be approved only if a clear relationship exists between the course’s content and the instructor’s assignment.
3. As a general policy, eighteen hours is the maximum number of hours to be earned in any one year.  Three hours will be approved during each long semester and twelve hours each summer.
4. As a courtesy to the college, an employee should inform the appropriate administrator if the employee plans to accumulate enough hours to move over on the salary schedule before the next contract/letter is issued.  To be included on the contract/letter, the courses must be completed, and a grade received prior to the beginning of the fall term.  Official transcripts must be provided to the Human Resources office.

Exceptions to these guidelines, either in hours or course subjects approved, shall be made in writing to the president for approval.

COLLEGE AND CERTIFICATE ALLOWANCES

The following guidelines should be followed when taking classes (at Howard College/SWCD or at another institution):

1. An employee planning to enroll in college courses during required work hours or courses that could impact the employee’s required responsibilities must receive approval from their supervisor prior to enrollment.
2. As a general policy, an employee may take six hours in a long semester and three hours per summer session for courses taken during the required work hours. 
3. As a courtesy to the college, an employee should inform the appropriate administrator, prior to enrollment, if the employee plans to enroll in courses outside of the required work hours.
4. If an employee takes a course during regular work hours, the time away from work should be made up in the same week.
5. Employees taking classes should not work on assignments during regular work hours except during breaks.
6. Employees should avoid using college supplies/equipment to complete an assignment, i.e. copy machine, paper, etc.
7. The copy machine may be used if the employee wishes to pay the required copying charge. Copies made on district equipment must be paid for at current public rate (see appendix).
8. If the additional education results in changes to the employee points, the courses must be completed, and a grade received prior to the beginning of the fall term to be effective on the next year’s letter/contract.