Continuing Education Grants
Sponsored by the Public Service Training Program
Program Description:
The Continuing Education Grants Program (CEG) is designed to provide funding to agencies and facilities that will supplement and enhance existing programs and expand employees’ financial support in their pursuit of college degrees, certification in a profession and continuing education related to professional licensure. The proposal can provide educational funding, support or program benefits beyond that currently offered through the PSTP Voucher and Voucher Alternative Programs. The primary objective of the CEG program is to provide additional educational opportunities that will accelerate the employees’ ability to achieve greater career mobility, certification and/or professional licensure requirements.
Continuing Education Grant proposals must be filed by May 31, 2002 to be considered for funding by the Professional Development Committee. Applicants will be notified whether or not their grant will be funded after all applications have been reviewed.
Although the CEG Program does not require the involvement of the agency Labor/Management Committee, the Professional Development Committee suggests agencies or facilities discuss the needs for customized continuing education programs for employees with their labor partners within their agency.
Potential Projects:
The CEG program funds may be used to:
· Supplement undergraduate and graduate level course work.
· Provide tuition reimbursement that supplements the PSTP Voucher and Voucher Alternative Programs and existing agency tuition reimbursement programs.
· Contract with colleges or recognized professional organizations that are accredited by the appropriate body for either off-site or on-site courses that provide college credit, certification in a specific profession, or continuing education credits (CLE’s, CEU’s, etc.) necessary to continue in the practice of a profession or for licensure.
· Contract with colleges that provide for the assessment of life experience and the awarding of college credits for such experience (such as Empire State College or Excelsior College).
Eligibility and Criteria:
A project must address the needs of either all PEF-represented employees in an agency or PEF represented employees in specific professions within an agency. Each proposal that an agency or facility submits must:
· Provide the employee with either college credit (graduate or undergraduate), certification in a specific profession, or continuing education credits (CLE’s, CEU’s, etc.) necessary to continue in the practice of a profession or for licensure.
· Address specific areas of employee education that are job or career related.
· Include a plan that identifies and guarantees the agency’s commitment to the implementation and evaluation of the program.
Proposals must be received by May 31, 2002 to be considered for funding.
CEG funding can be used to enhance, supplement, or duplicate the educational benefits of other Professional Development Committee programs such as the PSTP Voucher and Voucher Alternative Programs. CEG funding cannot be used to pay for equipment, books, software travel, food, or lodging. This program is intended to supplement an agency’s budget for educational benefits but cannot replace an existing agency budget item or an existing program funded by the agency.
How to Apply:
To apply for a Continuing Education Grant agencies must submit a typed narrative that provides the following information:
1. Project title
2. Proposed time frame for training project
3. The educational needs the grant would address
4. The proposed methods to address those needs (i.e. classroom training, exams)
5. How this program will benefit your agency
6. How you plan to implement the project
7. How you will publicize and recruit
8. How participants will be selected
9. How you will evaluate the success of the project
10. Please include any additional information you would like us to consider your proposal.
Multiple applications may be submitted to the CEG Program by the same Agency; however, a separate application is required for each project. GOER and PEF program staff are available to discuss your proposal with you prior to submission. Please call Lynda Scalzo (474-6370), Lori Zwicker (474-6370), or Cliff Merchant (785-1900) to ensure your proposal is appropriate and fundable under the program guidelines.
Please return the completed proposal to:
Lynda Scalzo, Program Manager
NYS Governor’s Office of Employee Relations
Work Force Training and Development Unit
2 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223-1250
Background Information:
The New York State Governor’s Office of Employee Relations and the Public Employees Federation, AFL-CIO share a commitment to the ongoing professional development of the work force. The Continuing Education Grants program is a new program that is being offered to continue the commitment of both organizations to provide tuition support for employees pursuing college degrees, certification in a profession, and/or continuing education to maintain professional licenses. This program is designed to supplement and enhance the Public Service Training Program (PSTP) Voucher and Voucher Alternative Programs.
State agencies and/or facilities, in their efforts to better serve the public, face challenges that require a highly trained workforce. Often, new skills are needed to address changes in an organization’s goals, mission, technologies, or work processes.
The Continuing Education Grant program is jointly funded by the Professional Development Committee through the negotiated agreement between the State of New York and the Public Employees Federation, AFL-CIO. Program administration is provided by the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations Work Force Training and Development Unit. The CEG program is funded through March 31, 2003 by the collective bargaining agreement and administered under joint labor and management agreements between GOER and PEF.