Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF › Title 93 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PERSONNEL RULES › Chapter 15 - MISCELLANEOUS › Section 93-15-006 - Employee Education Opportunities

Current through June 17, 2024
006.01
Postsecondary Coursework During Work Time
. Employees
				may request approval to use work time to take up to seven (7) credit hours each
				calendar year from postsecondary institutions that award credit on the semester
				schedule or up to nine (9) credit hours each calendar year from postsecondary
				institutions that award credit on the quarter schedule. However, no more than
				four (4) credit hours may be taken in any one (1) semester, or no more than
				four and one-half (4.5) credit hours in any one (1) quarter, during work time
				without loss of pay. All summer sessions combined will be considered equivalent
				to one (1) semester period. If a class crosses calendar years, eligibility to
				take a course will be determined based on the start date of the class. Approval
				under this section is intended to allow employees to use work time to attend
				courses that have a regular meeting schedule as opposed to self-paced, online
				courses or credits for activities such as thesis or doctoral work. Depending on
				the distance and location, travel time may also be considered regular work
				time. Prior approval of course work and/or related travel time during work
				hours must be obtained from the immediate supervisor, Office Administrator, and
				the Deputy Commissioner. Management may limit the amount of work release time
				granted. Requests and subsequent documentation must be submitted on a form
				provided by the Department. Requests will be directed through the employee's
				immediate supervisor to the Human Resources Office. Any additional credit hours
				may be scheduled outside the normal workday. Approval under this Section will
				not be unreasonably denied; however, approval is discretionary and may be made
				on bases such as, but not limited to, fiscal considerations, workload, and
				documented evidence of employee performance concerns in the prior two-year
				period. For purposes of this Chapter, the term "postsecondary institution"
				means an institution of higher learning accredited by an accrediting body that
				is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education and is authorized to
				grant associate, baccalaureate, or postbaccalaureate degrees.
006.02
Reimbursement for
				Postsecondary Coursework Expenses
. As an alternative to the above,
				employees maybe eligible to receive not more than seven (7) credit hours each
				calendar year of tuition reimbursement for courses from postsecondary
				institutions that award credit on the semester schedule or not more than nine
				(9) credit hours each calendar year of tuition reimbursement for courses from
				postsecondary institutions that award credit on the quarter schedule for
				job-related courses. If a class crosses calendar years, eligibility to take a
				course will be determined based on the start date of the class. Job relatedness
				will be determined by the Deputy Commissioner, whose decision will be final.
				Reimbursement may be for any portion of the tuition cost, required course fees,
				and books, with the employee being notified of the amount of reimbursement
				prior to the beginning of the course.
Reimbursement for course-related expenses will be prorated
				  based on the number of credit hours reimbursed. Approval for reimbursement will
				  not be unreasonably denied; however, approval is discretionary and may be made
				  on bases such as, but not limited to, fiscal considerations, workload, and
				  documented evidence of employee performance concerns in the prior two-year
				  period. Eligibility for reimbursement requires:
006.02A A course grade of "C" or better for
				undergraduate courses,
006.02B A
				"pass" for pass/fail courses, or
006.02C A course grade of "B" or better for
				graduate courses; and
006.02D Proof
				of payment or a deferred payment agreement with the postsecondary institution
				and/or federal student aid loan servicing entity.
006.02E Requests for reimbursement and
				substantiating documentation must be made in writing prior to the beginning of
				the course on a form provided by the Department. Requests will be directed
				through the employee's immediate supervisor to the Human Resources Office.
				Employees who receive tuition reimbursement will be required to reimburse the
				Department if they voluntarily leave their employment with the Department
				within one (1) year of the course completion date. The Department requires
				written documentation to verify enrollment including course dates and times,
				course completion and the grade earned.