4.75 Staff Training Grant Program
Purpose:
The purpose of the Staff Training Grant Program is to encourage continual learning and educational development by providing tuition assistance to eligible Merit and Professional & Scientific staff for course work taken from an accredited post-secondary institution.
Policy Statement:
Training Grants may be made available for courses offered by the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) or other accredited post-secondary institutions. The program is available to Merit and Professional & Scientific staff members holding a non-temporary position appointment of at least 50% time and having at least one year of active University service. The qualified Training Grant provides up to one hundred percent (100%) of the tuition-only cost for the course without exceeding UNI’s resident tuition rate, provided sufficient University funding is available. A staff member may qualify for up to twelve (12) semester credit hours of approved study per year, yet may not exceed six (6) credit hours in a single academic term under the Training Grant Program. The staff member need not be a candidate for a degree or certificate, and regular academic and admission requirements must be met in order to qualify for a Training Grant.
A staff member’s application may be considered only if the staff member has not been awarded any type of financial aid (other than loans) which would exceed the cost of tuition.
Procedure:
The Training Grant Program is administered by the Human Resource Services (HRS) Director, or designee (hereinafter referred to as Director). The policy statement and following conditions will serve to guide the administration of the program:
- The Training Grant Program will be administered within budgeted funds. Program funding will be reviewed and a revised allocation will be requested by the HRS Director for consideration by the Vice President for Administration & Finance during a fiscal year in which it appears program funds will be depleted.
- Applicants must have at least one year of continuous service and at least 50% time in a non-temporary capacity by the course start date in order for their application to be considered.
- Training Grants may be awarded only if class attendance can be arranged in a manner that will not interfere with the staff member’s ability to carry out regular position responsibilities or assignments.
- Training Grants may be awarded for University and other approved correspondence or guided independent study. The course work must be completed within one year from the date on which reimbursement was approved.
- Reimbursement for short courses, workshops, conferences, course audits, etc is not authorized unless such work carries credit applicable toward a degree or certification program.
- Initial determination for approval of a course is made by the staff member’s department head, with final approval given by the HRS Director.
- Priority for awards from available funds will be as follows:
1st priority – Regents Institutions
2nd priority – Institutions of higher education with a partnership agreement with Regents Institutions
3rd priority – External accredited institutions
- Staff must be continuously employed at UNI during the duration of the course in order to be eligible for tuition assistance through this program. Termination of University employment prior to completion of an approved course will result in disqualification and any reimbursement awarded for that course will be rescinded.
- Satisfactory completion of approved course work consists of a grade point of no less than 2.0 for undergraduate credit and 3.0 for graduate credit on a 4.0 grading system or equivalent grade under a different grading system.
- Reimbursement for course work taken through UNI will be applied directly to the student U-Bill. The HRS office will obtain grades directly from the UNI Registrar’s Office.
- Reimbursement for classes taken through an external accredited institution will be provided following the submission of evidence of satisfactory completion of study and a receipt indicating tuition-only cost for the course to the HRS office.
- Neither added compensation nor compensatory time is allowed with class attendance or related activities occurring outside regularly scheduled hours of service.
Application, Award, & Payment Procedure:
Staff members should utilize the following procedures when applying for a Staff Training Grant:
- Discuss your interest and reasons for course study with your supervisor or department head.
- Register for course work (regular academic and admission regulations must be met).
- Complete a Staff Training Grant Application (available in the Forms Repository) and submit application to department head for approval.
- Submit application to HRS Director prior to course start date.
- Grant applicants will be advised of approval status and award amount from HRS Director.
- For UNI course work, awards will be applied directly to the student U-bill. Grades will be obtained from the UNI Registrar’s Office at the conclusion of the course. Failure to achieve satisfactory completion will result in a debit applied to the student U-bill.
- For external course work, provide HRS evidence of satisfactory completion of study and a receipt indicating tuition-only cost within thirty (30) days following completion of the course. An Accounts Payable check will be mailed to the staff member’s campus address.
- Staff members receiving more than the exemption amount allowed by tax law for educational assistance during the year must generally pay tax on the excess amount. UNI will include this excess amount in wages reported on the Form W-2 (box 1).
Human Resource Services approved, July 2007
President’s Cabinet approved, January 29, 2008
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