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Professional Growth Program

 
Purpose
The Professional Growth Program is intended to provide an incentive to employees to improve the quality of their job performance and for unit members to pursue professional growth and development.  This is a reimbursement program subject to committee approval. 
 
Professional Growth Committee
The Professional Growth Committee is comprised of four (4) members, including two (2) selected by Teamsters Local 911 and two (2) by the District. The committee shall verify that the proposed courses are aligned with professional growth and development.  Accepted applications for reimbursement shall state and show progress towards an educational goal such as a degree, certification, or credential.
 
Procedure

  1. Submit Application (Declaration of Intent).  Any unit member who wishes to participate in the Professional Growth Program should complete a Program Application within six (6) months of starting the course(s).

    1. To be considered for reimbursement, the application should state and demonstrate progress towards an educational goal such as a degree, certification, or credential.

    2. Attach the Professional Growth Course List Form  (Sections I and II must be completed).

  2. Committee Verification/Approval.  The committee will review all submissions received on or before the scheduled quarterly meeting. Submissions under quarterly committee review include program applications (Declaration of Intent) and requests for reimbursement (Verification of Course Completion). The committee reviews applications to determine if they will meet the program's goals by verifying that the proposed courses are aligned with professional growth and development.  The committee meets and reviews applications quarterly as follows:

    2023/2024 2024/2025
    July 12, 2023 July 17, 2024
    September 20, 2023  
    January 24, 2024  
    April 17, 2024
    		  

  3. Submit Request for Reimbursement. Once the participating employee has completed the approved course or activity, they should complete a Request for Reimbursement (Verification of Course Completion) with the following documents:

    1. Attach the Professional Growth Course List Form (Sections I, II, and III must be completed). This form should be submitted as an Excel Spreadsheet. Please do not convert to PDF before you submit this document.

    2. Proof of Completion: Official, unopened transcript or copy of the original certificate issued by the accredited university.  Must pass with a C or better.

    3. Proof of Payment: Redacted credit card or bank statement and original receipt from an accredited university.

 
Required Program Forms
To participate in the program, classified employees must utilize the required online forms to submit their application, course list, and request for reimbursement.
 
Reimbursement Structure
 
 TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
The District will budget and reimburse up to $150,000 annually for this program. Once this amount is reached, the committee will no longer approve reimbursements.
 
The District will reimburse the cost of tuition that a unit member incurs for courses taken at a regionally accredited university or college.  Only the cost of tuition will be reimbursed. Unit members will be eligible for reimbursement of tuition costs in the following manner:
 
Units Completed Per Semester/Quarter Maximum Reimbursable Tuition
1-6 Units Up to $1,800.00
7-15 Units Up to $3,800.00
One (1) semester unit equals one and a half (1.5) quarter units.
 
There is no limit on how many times a classified employee can be reimbursed for tuition expenses as long as the request is reviewed and approved by the committee and the employee is making progress toward their stated educational goal.  
 
 MATERIALS REIMBURSEMENT
The Professional Growth Committee will approve up to an additional $1,000 reimbursement annually for textbooks, computer, software, or other approved required related materials in lieu of tuition reimbursement. The same procedures and forms must be submitted to seek materials reimbursement including proof of payment.
 
Frequently Asked Questions
The Program Application must be submitted within six (6) months of starting the program. However, if you wish to know if you will be eligible for reimbursement through the program, you should apply as soon as practicable to allow ample time for the committee to complete the coursework review process.  
Three (3) to Four (4) weeks after the quarterly committee meeting for which your reimbursement request is scheduled to be reviewed.

There is no limit as to how many instances a unit member can be reimbursed for tuition expenses as long as the request is reviewed and approved by the committee and the applicant is making progress towards their stated educational goal.

 

The district will budget and reimburse up to $150,000 for this program on an annual basis. Once this amount is reached, the committee will no longer approve reimbursements.

No. Any classified, confidential, or classified management employee can participate in the program.
Official, unopened transcript or copy of the original certificate issued by the accredited university. The preferred delivery method is an unopened hard copy of transcripts delivered to the Human Resources Division. Must pass with a C or better.
Redacted credit card statement and original receipt from an accredited university.