Section 93-15-006 - Employee Education Opportunities006.01Postsecondary 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.006.02Reimbursement 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, or006.02C A course grade of "B" or better for graduate courses; and006.02D 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.006.03Employees Directed to take Postsecondary Coursework. If an employee is directed by the Department to take a job-related course at a postsecondary institution, the Department will pay for all costs of said course including tuition, books, other required instructional materials, mandatory fees, and associated travel costs. Job relatedness will be determined by the Deputy Commissioner whose decision will be final. The employee so directed will be considered to be working for the Department during classroom time, and any travel incurred to attend such courses will be treated as travel for the Department. The Department will require written documentation to verify the employee's enrollment, course completion, and the grade earned. 006.03A Employees may use Department computers, Internet access, printers, and office supplies for online courses and related homework if the employee has been directed to take a job-related course for professional development per Section 006.02 of this Chapter, or if an employee elects and receives supervisory approval to take an online course available through the State's Employee Development Center -Learning. If employees voluntarily take an online postsecondary or other educational or vocational course, the Department's computers, Internet access, printers, and office supplies may not be used.006.04Online Coursework. Online postsecondary coursework may be taken, and reimbursement for any portion of the tuition cost, required course fees, and books may be allowed, if the course is job-related and prior approval to take the course is granted by the immediate supervisor, Office Administrator, and the Deputy Commissioner. Online courses may not be taken on work time unless dedicated online sessions with the instructor, or related to the class, are required as specified by a course catalog and only occur during the employee's regular work time. Employees may use Department computers, Internet access, printers, and office supplies for online courses and related homework if the employee has been directed to take a job-related course for professional development per Section 006.03 of this Chapter, or if an employee elects and receives supervisory approval to take an online course available through the State's learning management system. If employees voluntarily take an online postsecondary or other educational or vocational course, the Department's computers, Internet access, printers, and office supplies may not be used. 006.05Conference or Meeting Participation. In addition to the assigned activities of each employee, the appropriate Office Administrator will maintain and carry out a policy of approving a reasonable request of each employee to participate in meetings, conferences, or in-service activities related to the employee's job. Determination of reasonable requests and job relatedness will rest with the appropriate Office Administrator. Upon approval of such a request, the employee may attend such meeting, conference, or in-service activity without loss of pay and at the expense of the Department. Additionally, an employee may be permitted to participate in at least one (1) meeting, conference, or in-service activity per year relating to the employee's job consisting of a total of not more than five (5) workdays at the expense of said employee without loss of pay.006.06 All decisions made by management pursuant to the application of this Chapter are final.93 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 15, § 006
Amended effective 12/1/2018Amended effective 12/2/2018Amended effective 6/2/2024