The department head is responsible for supporting and approving
employee development as stated by this policy. Employees are responsible
for their own individual career development and for communicating
interest in development to their supervisors or department heads.
C. Definitions
Professional Development Programs may be classified as:
Position-related: Directly related to the work assignments or conditions
of the employee's current position.
Career-related: Related to the development of skills, knowledge,
and abilities which prepare an employee for additional assignments or positions
which the employee can reasonably expect to attain within the University.
Employees are responsible for communicating their interest in such development
to their supervisors and/or department heads and for engaging them in consultation
on development programs for achieving those career goals.
Educational enrichment: Related to an employee's avocation or career
talents outside the University. Not related to University positions for which
an employee may, in the judgment of the department head, be an effective competitor.
For example, courses such as a music course would, with few exceptions, be
considered an educational enrichment program. A department head may approve
an employee's attendance at such a program, but the participation shall not
be counted as time worked.
D. Guidelines
Employee development programs include on-the-job training, internships,
courses, seminars, conferences, institutes, lectures, meetings, workshops,
and participation in professional and technical associations.
When determining the degree of departmental support for an employee's participation
in development programs, the department head should consider the following,
and communicate it to the employee:
Employee's need for training
Department's needs and resources
Advantages of one type of training over another type that is available
Training needs of other department employees
Effect on workload and on other employees
E. Procedures
Requests for professional development should be submitted in writing to
the employee's supervisor.
Department heads should consult with Human Resources about granting professional
development leaves.
F. Applicability
All staff members, except employees who are in a bargaining unit that has
an exclusive representative (union) and are covered by the applicable provisions
of the collective bargaining agreement.