Permanent ODFW employees with regular status with good standing. Educational reimbursement will only be made for courses offered through an independent bona fide institution of learning such as community colleges or universities. Management approval to provide financial assistance for a specific course is based on the principle that the education is beneficial to both the agency and the employee' s knowledge, skills and ability to do the job. Decisions to approve educational assistance or leave will be based on the Training Priorities set forth in PER 50.30 Employee Training and Development . Assistance will be granted only in cases where management has determined that the course, and the degree pursued, is of sufficient benefit to the agency.
Approvals are only valid for the specific course and semester.
Courses that are directly related to the employee's job will be counted as work time, whether or not they are taken during regular work hours. Courses that an employee attends voluntarily and that are not directly related to the employee's job should be taken on the employee's own time. A course is not directly related to an employee's job if it is designed to prepare the employee for another job or to teach the employee a new non-required skill for the same job. If a course taken voluntarily is offered only during working hours, subject to program operation needs and prior supervisory approval, an employee may request a flexible or irregular work schedule or take vacation leave or compensatory time to attend classes. Reasonable travel time as determined by the supervisor may be permitted to attend approved courses.