PS&T education benefits rolling out

Tuition and Education Program Parameters are Set

Since the April 11, 2008, ratification of the Professional, Scientific and Technical Unit (PS&T Unit) Agreement the Professional Development Committee (PDC) has met to determine how the funds in Article 15 will be allocated for training and education programs. The PDC has established the programs described below. Program guidelines and application forms will be available in mid June.

Retroactive Programs: April 2, 2007 – March 31, 2008
These programs apply only to expenses incurred from April 2, 2007, through March 31, 2008. Applications for these programs must be postmarked July 1, 2008, or thereafter.

• College Tuition Reimbursement Program – Employees in the PS&T Unit can submit up to two claims for up to $600 each for credit-bearing courses at accredited colleges or universities. The PDC has allocated up to $1.7 million for this program and reimbursement is on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Voucher Alternative (VALT) Program – Employees in the PS&T Unit can submit one claim for up to $600 for reimbursement for workshops and conferences attended between April 2, 2007, and March 31, 2008. The PDC has allocated up to $275,000 towards this program and reimbursement is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Programs: April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009
These programs apply only to expenses incurred from April 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009. Applications for these programs must be postmarked July 1, 2008, or thereafter.

• College Tuition Reimbursement Program – Employees in the PS&T Unit can submit claims for up to two courses. The standard claim rate will be up to $600 for undergraduate courses and up to $1,200 for graduate courses. However, for a four-credit-hour undergraduate course, claims for up to $725 can be submitted.

• Voucher Alternative (VALT) Program – Employees in the PS&T Unit can submit claims for up to $600 for reimbursement for workshop and conference attendance.

• Certification and Licensure Exam Fee Reimbursement Program – Employees in the PS&T Unit can submit claims for up to $600 for initial licensure and certification exam fees.
In addition, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) and Workforce Initiative Grants will be available in fall 2008.

Please note, this is just a brief summary and eligibility will be governed by the program guidelines. Look for guidelines and application forms on the GOER and PEF websites beginning in mid June.

PEF website: www.pef.org
GOER website: www.goer.state.ny.us/train
Email address: PSTtraining@goer.state.ny.us

Also, the PDC has begun discussions on re-establishment of the tuition voucher program in April 2009. Additional details will be forthcoming this summer.

By SHERRY HALBROOK
One of the most long-sought benefits in the new PS&T contract is about to kick in: reimbursement for college courses and other training members paid for during the lag between expiration of the 2003-2007 contract and approval of the new 2007-2011 agreement.

“Retroactive tuition reimbursement is a benefit our members have needed and wanted for a long time. This year, the state agreed and we finally have achieved it with this agreement,” said PEF President Ken Brynien.

Retroactive tuition reimbursement is available for college credit courses taken from April 2, 2007, through March 31, 2008. And the Voucher Alternative program (VALT) has been established retroactively to reimburse members for the cost of professional development workshops and seminars they attended during that same period.

Clifford Merchant, PEF’s director of human resources and education, said, “We expect to post the program guidelines and application forms in mid-June on the Web sites for PEF www.pef.org and the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations www.goer.state.ny.us/train,” but it is important not to mail them before July 1. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Previous contracts provided four years of funding, but provided no retroactivity, so all four years of funding was used in the final 27 months for enhanced tuition reimbursement and voucher programs. In this contract, we are budgeting four years of funding over four years,” Merchant said.

In another first, the new contract provides funding for nine months after it expires April 1, 2011, to extend the programs through December 2011.

If you have questions, check the Web sites listed on this page, or call PEF at 1-800-342-4306, ext. 328 for more information.
The joint PEF-GOER announcement of the program is list on the next column..