memo

 

TO:                 Executive Board

                        Council Leaders          

 

DATE:            October 4, 2004

 

SUBJ:             Tuition Reimbursement – Fiscal Year 2004-2005

 

I am pleased to announce that tuition assistance funded through Article 15 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between New York State and PEF will be available to PEF represented employees in the PS&T bargaining unit which includes Roswell Park Cancer Institute under the contract ratified on September 14, 2004.

 

The traditional college tuition voucher program is being developed and will begin April 1, 2005.   In order to provide tuition support for the balance of this fiscal year, the Professional Development Committee has developed an interim college tuition reimbursement program.   Courses underway at accredited colleges or universities on September 14, and for those courses beginning September 15 through March 31, 2005, qualify for tuition reimbursement under this interim reimbursement program.

 

Guidelines, including the maximum amount of reimbursement available per college course, and applications for the college tuition reimbursement program will be posted on the PEF and GOER websites by mid-October. Copies of these materials will also be available through PEF, as well as through agency human resources offices and agency training offices, by the beginning of November.

 

Since the voucher program with participating colleges is not in effect for this fiscal year, a modified VALT program will be available for courses underway on September 14, 2004 and for those beginning September 15 through March 31, 2005.    The modified VALT program reimburses registration fees for educational opportunities other than college course work, such as professional development workshops, seminars, continuing education programs and computer application software training for users.