Don’t miss out on professional development programs for 2002–’03
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Because PEF and the state of New
York share a commitment to the continuing professional
development of PEF-represented state employees, funds are
set aside in the PS&T contract to provide employees
educational opportunities to maintain and enhance their
skills.The contract assigns responsibility for allocating those funds to the Joint Professional Development Committee (PDC) which meets monthly. The PDC members are: PEF Executive Board Members Carlos Garcia and Dick Collins; and Rebecca Caudle and Onnolee Smith of the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER).
NYS Fiscal Year 2002-’03 is the final year of the current contract, and the PDC has enhanced funding for the programs accordingly.
PSTP Vouchers
The Public Service Training Program (PSTP) Voucher Program provides tuition support to PS&T employees pursuing a job or career-related credit-bearing college courses.
A voucher may also be used at an accredited institution providing computer technical education courses that lead to certification by such organizations as Microsoft.
More than 200 educational institutions participate in this program. Employees working less than half time and those on full-time non-disciplinary leave receive 50 percent of the benefit.
For the Summer 2002, Fall 2002 and Spring 2003 semesters, PS&T employees can receive two vouchers for tuition costs up to a maximum of $600 each in every semester. Undergraduate students may use the two vouchers to take two courses per semester. Graduate students may use the two vouchers to pay for one graduate-level course, or partially pay for two graduate-level courses, or a combination of the two.
The deadlines to apply for vouchers are: Summer ’02 semester — May 1, ’02; Fall ’02 semester — July 15, ’02; Spring ’03 semester — December 16, ’02.
You can’t appeal a denial due to missed deadlines.
This program is administered by MDI Associates. For more information, call MDI at (518) 463-9970 or toll-free at 1-877-778-7697.
Voucher Alternative
The Voucher Alternative Program (VALT) is a tuition-reimbursement program for PS&T employees administered by MDI.
Reimbursement for attendance fees for work commenced during the fiscal year has been increased from 50 percent to 100 percent, up to a maximum of $600 per year, for FY 2002-’03.
Reimbursement is for college courses taken at an educational institution that does not participate in the PSTP Voucher Program, and for Continuing Education Unit and Continuing Legal Education courses, proficiency exams, non-credit-bearing course work, CPA review courses, etc.
The cost of examinations that lead to college credits through either the College-Level Examination Program or DANTES Subject Standardized Tests are also reimbursable.
VALT applications must be submitted within 60 days of commencing the course or workshop. Proof of payment and proof of completion must be submitted within 60 days of completing the course or workshop. You can’t appeal a denial due to late submission.
Public Service Workshops
The Public Service Workshop Program (PSWP) was created to provide workshops to help PS&T employees maintain and advance their professional skills and enhance their chance for promotions. It is administered by Rockefeller College.
The workshop program depends on a working partnership among labor, management and the higher education community. The workshops are tailored to meet the needs of PEF members. PSWP staff are available to come to your worksite or PEF meeting to discuss these needs with members and their managers.
A four-month catalog of workshops free to PS&T employees is distributed to agency training offices and PEF’s stewards and offices.
Release time is provided.
For FY 2002-’03, the PDC has increased the budget to provide hundreds of additional workshops, the development of credit-bearing workshops and the development of the PSWP Learning Center.
The credit-bearing workshops are aimed at addressing specific needs to maintain professional credentials.
The PSWP Learning Center will host workshops that are especially popular and redesigned for delivery over the internet using the PSWP Website and online registration.
For more information, call (518) 442-2652 or 1-800-877-7797.
Work Force Initiatives
The Work Force Initiatives Program (WFI) allows labor and management the flexibility to establish customized training programs for PS&T employees.
Each project application must include labor-management involvement in the development and support of the project and address specific areas of employees’ educational needs due to new initiatives, agency reorganization or technological advances.
And the applicants must guarantee agency commitment to the implementation and evaluation of the project. Applications are available from the PEF Mobilization and Education Department.
Work Force Development
The Work Force Development Opportunities Program provides a variety of workshops for state employees represented by PEF and some others to improve job skills.
Workshops are offered in three continuous cycles each year.
For more information, call GOER at (518) 474-6772, or contact your agency training offices.
For current information on GOER
programs, visit our website at www.goer.state.ny.us/Train
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WORKFORCE INITIATIVES PROGRAMS FOR 2002 - '03
PEF, CSEA & NYS Governor's Office of Employee Relations
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
New York State agencies, in their efforts to better serve
the public, face challenges that require a highly trained
work force.Often , new skill are needed to address
changes in an organization's goals, mission,
technologies, or work processes. The Work Force
Initiatives Program (WFI) is designed to assist agencies
in developing such needed skills within their current
work force. GOER, CSEA, and PEF work with State agencies
and their employees, supporting a variety of training
efforts to build the skills of an agency's work force. In
most cases, training providers under contract with GOER
are available to provide services. Training providers
will work closely with GOER and agency staff to identify,
design, develop and deliver services best suited to meet
the agency's needs.
The WFI program is funded by the collective bargaining
agreements and administered under joint labor/management
agreements between GOER, CSEA, and PEF. All projects
funded by the WFI program require the involvement of
agency union and management representatives throughout
the planning, implementation and evaluation process. The
WFI program allows labor and management the flexibility
to establish customized training programs for the State
work force. Work Force Initiatives proposals are
considered monthly by staff from GOER, CSEA, and PEF on a
first-come, first-served basis. All applicants will be
notified after their application has been reviewed.
ELIGIBILITY
Agency staff or labor
representatives may request a WFI application and confer
with GOER, CSEA, or PEF staff to develop their
application. Multiple applications may be submitted to
the WFI Program by the same agency, however, a separate
application is required for each project.
The application process has been designed to foster
active labor/management collaboration. Signatures and
telephone numbers of the appropriate management and labor
representatives are required on the application form.
Missing information will delay review of an application
PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY
FUNDED
• Development of
Customer Service Programs
• Statewide Video Conferences
• Community Skills for Psychologists
• Critical Incident Training
• Communication Skills
We encourage multi-agency or statewide projects. A
project may apply to either CSEA or PEF-represented
employees, or it may be a collaborative effort by both
unions to address the needs of both groups
within an agency.
The Work Force Initiatives Program is jointly funded
through the negotiated agreements between the State of
New York and the Civil Service Employees Association,
Inc. and the negotiated agreements between the State of
New York and the Public Employees Federation, AFL-CIO.
Program administration and additional funding are
provided by the Governor's Office of Employee Relations
Division for Development Services.
For current information on GOER programs, visit our
website at www.goer.state.ny.us/Train
CRITERIA
Each application that
is submitted should indicate how the proposed training
will:
• Include labor/management involvement in the
development and support of the program.
• Address specific areas of employee education needs
due to:
- new organizational objectives;
- impact of agency reorganization on employees; or
- changes brought on by technological advances.
• Guarantee agency commitment to the implementation
and evaluation of the program.
Preference will be given to projects that have a life
beyond the initial proposal or teach skills that are
transferable to other State agencies or departments.
WFI funding can be used to proportionally enhance, but
not duplicate, other labor/management training programs.
WFI funding can not be used to pay for equipment, travel,
food, or lodging. This program is also not intended to
supplement an agency's budget for routine training.
The NYS Governor's Office of Employee Relations Work Force Training & Development Unit does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, or sexual orientation in the admission to, or employment in its programs or activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.