ED PERSONNEL GUIDELINE #8
Page 1
SUBJECT:
Employee Performance Improvement: Procedures for Implementing Regent Policy on
Authorized Job-Related Coursework and Training
Issued: 11/08/78
Revised: 01/01/94
8.01
REGENT POLICY STATEMENT
The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System authorizes the President and the Chancellors,
or their designees, to provide fee/tuition reimbursement to unclassified faculty, academic and limited staff
members for authorized job-related coursework and training to improve employee job performance. This
policy supersedes the instruction fee waiver policy of the former WSU Board of Regents and applies only
to the specified categories of unclassified employees. Segregated fee charges for participants can be
either waived of reimbursed. Only employees with half-time or greater appointments are eligible for
consideration. The President shall issue implementation guidelines for this policy.
8.02
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AND QUALIFYING COURSEWORK OR TRAINING
(1)
This guideline applies only to the following unclassified staff employed half-time or more within
the UW System:
(a)
Faculty as defined in s. UWS 1.04, Wis. Adm. Code
(b)
Academic Staff as defined in s. UWS 1.01, Wis. Adm. Code
(c)
Limited Appointees as defined in s. UWS 15, Wis. Adm. Code and UWS Unclassified
Personnel Guideline 2.
(2)
"Qualifying coursework or training" is defined as coursework or training which provides skill or
knowledge that will improve an employee's job performance. This may include acquiring skills
and knowledge necessary for advancement to positions closely related to the current job which is
pertinent to the mission of the university.
8.03
IMPLEMENTATION
(1)
This guideline anticipates job-related education and training services being obtained from three
sources:

(a)
Intra-institutional: provided by the employing institution;

(b)
Intra-System: provided by another institution within the UW System; and
(c)
Non-UWS: provided by agencies or institutions (e.g., VTAE) outside the System.
(2)
Under procedures developed by each institution, a job-related coursework or training form must
be completed and approved in advance of the commencement of such coursework or training.
While an eligible employee may initiate such a form, it remains for appropriate officials
designated by the chancellor to certify that the proposed coursework or training will improve the
employee's job performance as defined in 8.02(2) above. This form along with evidence of
having paid the fee and other reimbursable expenses and evidence of successful completion of the 2
coursework or training must be submitted when requesting reimbursement.
(3)
Normally, no more than one course (up to five credits) or its training equivalent may be
authorized for an employee in any academic term. Ordinarily coursework will be taken on the
employee's own time. If the employer determines that the needed coursework is available only
during the employee's scheduled hours of service a program of proportional compensatory time
may be worked out provided normal services of the employing unit are not disrupted or impaired.
(4)
Where the employer has directed training deemed essential to the continued effectiveness of an
employee, that training may occur during scheduled working hours of the employee and should be
paid for by the employer.
For all other types of authorized coursework or training, institutions will reimburse the employee
for basic instructional fee/tuition charges, but not book and supply costs, upon successful
completion of the coursework/training. Segregated fees can either be waived or reimbursed
(upon successful completion of the training/coursework if still employed in state service).
(5)
This program shall not be used as a form of compensation for any employee.
(6)
This policy does not apply to attendance at periodic professional meetings and conferences where
state and UWS travel guidelines presently accommodate employee travel and registration
expenses. To qualify as reimbursable coursework or training, the activity must result in a "grade"
or other formal certification of completion or accomplishment--most professional "meetings" and
"conferences" are informational and do not lead to a grade or certification nor are they
characterized as "coursework" or "training" generally.
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