67-300-1 BOT 06-29-2006, 04-29-2010 PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT (PROCEDURE) A. Definition Staff development is prescribed training involving Oglala Lakota College staff during the course of their employment at the college. The training may take a variety of forms and is grouped into three broad categories. 1. Tuition Waivers All employees will be granted tuition cost waivers when no other financial aid is available or when sufficient financial aid is not available. Full-time faculty and staff will also be granted reasonable leave time and travel time to attend courses offered by Oglala Lakota College leading to the next highest college degree at one of the satellite centers (i.e. 30 miles of travel = 45 minutes time/weather is a considerable factor). Only one course may be taken during working hours with sufficient travel time granted to drive to and from the center of attendance. If additional course work is requested, leave time will be arranged between the supervisor and employee (i.e. comp. time, annual leave, etc.). Tuition waivers will also be granted to adjunct faculty and part time employees, but no leave time will be granted by OLC. If any other financial aid is awarded to the student for the semester, including scholarships, it will first be applied to non-tuition costs (other fees). Any remaining financial aid will be applied to tuition cost with the balance being waived. (BOT 6- 26-03) If Pell is awarded during the same Pell year that the staff tuition waiver is granted, it will be applied to prior semester cost as long as the employee has set up a payroll deduction to cover their school bill of not less than $12.50 per pay period. If a payroll deduction has not been set up, Pell allows for the Pell to be applied to any time during the school year and it will be applied to prior semesters of the current Pell year. 2. In-Service Taken while the staff member in on the job and is normally scheduled into the individual’s work schedule. This type of training may take the form of workshops, seminars, mini-courses, research projects or a limited number of academic courses which may or may not be for credit (related policies: 62-001, Comp Time; 44-006, Travel; 53-000, Transportation). 3. Individuals attending courses at institution other than Oglala Lakota College and who continue to work full time at the College will be granted tuition and one-half their mileage costs from the Oglala Lakota College center or extension nearest to their home to the campus. Upon the availability of funds mileage will be paid. 4. Educational Leave Training which cannot otherwise be pursued while working at OLC. Staff is granted leave from the college for a prescribed extended period of time usually to pursue a degree, (BA, MA, Ph. D., etc.). Research projects as part of an individual’s training may also necessitate leave. B. Purpose The purpose of staff development is threefold: 1. Pursuant to Lakota self- determination, the college places heavy emphasis upon qualified Oglala Sioux Tribal member to be involved as personnel in college programs. Staff development allows for tribal members employed at the college to upgrade themselves into other positions within the college. 2. The college is a growing institution that is constantly striving to provide quality higher education to its students. The development of new programs and educational requirements will result in a need to provide ongoing training to faculty and staff. In some cases, training will need to begin at the outset of employment. The efficient functioning of each department will mandate the needs for training. 3. Since Lakota Studies lies at the heart of the college mission and purposes, all staff are encouraged to increase their knowledge in this area and, where feasible, to contribute through research and development. C. Priorities 1. The following priorities will apply to all decisions concerning staff development. The staff development screening committee will develop a priority checklist based upon the following objectives to screen all applicants. 2. The Staff Development Screening Committee will meet in the spring of each year to determine the overall educational needs of the college for the following year. Areas of need will be prioritized. 3. Staff development at college expense must have direct bearing to the college and the fulfillment of its missions and purposes. Staff development will depend upon the availability of funds. The college will set aside a portion of its annual budget for staff development. 4. Preference for staff development will be given to Oglala Sioux Tribal members, other American Indians, and non-Indians in that order in relation to institutional program and activity priorities as part of short range and long range plans. 5. In the event that the above priorities result in equal applicants, a successful work record, and length of time employed by the college should be used as criteria for selection. D. Eligibility During the first year of employment, training and development must be directly related to the employee’s job requirements. After the first year of employment, staff development requests will be determined by both personal and institutional goals. No educational leave will be granted until the employee has been with the college for one year. Staff development is open to all full time college employees. E. Contractual Agreements All staff development will occur through an appropriately negotiated agreement stipulating: 1. Budget 2. Length of time on leave 3. Place of training 4. Training progress reports and other necessary documentation of satisfactory progress. 5. Remuneration and obligations to college and individual. 6. Mileage will not be paid to Oglala Lakota College classes. F. Authority and Responsibility All educational leave recommendations will originate with appropriate staff and supervisors. A staff development screening committee comprised of the Director of Institutional Development and two members from the Institutional Development Committee, will review the applications in light of overall college goals and objectives. The committee will prioritized the applications and will submit them to the President’s Council for approval. Educational leave must also go to the Board of Trustees for approval. Applicants will receive notification of approval or disapproval 6 weeks prior to the new semester. G. Remuneration The College will set aside a portion of its annual budget for all staff development activities, if funds are available. Individuals on an approved staff development plan will be required first to apply to other sources of financial aid for which they may be eligible. Only when an individual documents that all sources have been exhausted and the individual has been found ineligible for financial aid, will the college bear total negotiated expenses. Remuneration for extended training periods will be according to a fixed budget formula that will provide in addition to normal training costs, reasonable allowance for living expenses.