• Educational Leave
    With Pay Policy
• Educational Leave
    Without Pay Policy
• Educational Leave
    Agreement
• Individual
    Professional
    Development
    Growth Plan

                     

CCSNH Policies & Procedures - Educational Leave With Pay

Section: 300 – Human Resources Subject: Professional Development & Training Policy: Educational Leave With Pay Policy Date Approved: July 24, 2008 Policy #: CCS 372.1.04 Date of Last Amendment: July 23, 2008   Effective Date: August 1, 2008 Approved: Richard A. Gustafson, Chancellor

• I. Policy:
  
  The Board of Trustees believes that it is vital to the functioning of any organization that long-term employees be given an opportunity for professional improvement. As a means of encouraging staff members to continue their education for the mutual benefit of themselves and the Community College System, educational leave with pay may be granted, at the discretion of the CCSNH, for the purpose of allowing employees time to further their education through a course of study related to their work or that of system. Such leave shall be available as a matter of privilege rather than a right and shall be granted only in those cases where the criteria as set forth below are met.
• II. Eligibility:


• A. Any employee who shall have completed six (6) or more years of full-time employment with the State of New Hampshire, four (4) of which must be with the Community College System, will be eligible to apply for educational leave with pay. Their approved Individual Professional Development Growth Plan must be on file with the System or institution President showing the individual's ultimate objective and previous progress made toward the indicated goal.
• B. The employee must have a consistent record of satisfactory job performance in their current position.
• C. The employee shall be engaging in an educational endeavor directly related to his/her approved Individual Professional Development Growth Plan, which will provide long range benefit to the Community College System as well as the individual.
• III. Length of Educational Leave and Salary:


• A. An employee may be granted full-time leave not to exceed six (6) months at half pay after six (6) years of service. Employees with ten (10) years or more service, eight (8) years of which must have been with the System, may be granted full-time leave not to exceed one (1) academic year (10 months) at half pay.
• B. An educational leave for an academic-year employee shall be timed so that it starts and ends on dates established in the academic calendar for the beginnings and endings of semesters. The beginning and ending of an educational leave without pay for a twelve month employee shall be scheduled at times reasonable and convenient to the employee’s department or work unit.
• IV. Benefits:


• A. The individual will earn his/her increment and longevity benefits, but is not entitled to accumulate annual or sick leave;
• B. Health Care and Life Insurance benefits will be continued in the normal manner;
• C. Retirement deductions will be continued at the individual's normal percentage rate on the salary being paid during the leave time.
• V. Application Process:


• A. The employee shall file a written application at least six months prior to the commencement of the proposed educational leave with pay. The application must include the purpose for the requested leave, the dates of the requested leave, the expected results, and the benefits of the leave to the employee’s professional development and the institution. Applications for educational leave with pay shall be routed through the employee’s supervisor and College President for college personnel and to the Director of Human Resources and Chancellor for system office professional staff and college presidents.
• VI. Supervisor Assurances:


• A. The immediate supervisor and the President will make recommendations regarding the requested leave and provide assurance that the essential services related to the individual's position will be maintained during the individual's absence; and there will be no increased cost to the System as a direct result of the leave being granted.
• VII. Approval:


• A. Approved applications for educational leave with pay must be submitted to the CCSNH Human Resources Office for submission to the Chancellor for final review and approval by the Chancellor.
• B. Upon receipt of final approval, the employee shall complete and submit the CCSNH Educational Leave Agreement. This agreement sets forth the obligations of the recipient of an educational leave with pay.
• VIII. Individual “RIGHT” to Leave Approval:


• A. Adoption of these criteria provide only for the possible granting of an educational leave with pay in those circumstances where it is both practical and possible within the Community College System's operational structure. Nothing herein is to imply or signify the right of any employee to demand or expect educational leave as a benefit to be provided by the Community College System.

These policies may be amended at any time, do not constitute an employment contract, and are provided here only for ease of reference and without any warranty of accuracy.