A) The City will reimburse tuition costs and general fees for courses taken at an educationally accredited college or university by full-time permanent employees. Such course work must be approved prior to enrolling by submitting documentation that the course(s) is necessary toward a degree which is required for a position in the City (including electives for that degree). Thereafter, the course work must be approved by the Department Head and finally to the Director of Human Resources. The fact that a specific course is required for a degree major where the degree with such a major exists as a minimum requirement for a higher classification will be relevant.
B) The city will also reimburse for technical courses. Courses must either be directly related to the employees current job or related to another classification career path. The determination of relatedness shall be made by the Director of Human Resources. To be related to a career path the course work must be within three (3) normal promotional steps. Technical courses will be fully reimbursed for a passing grade.
C) The City will reimburse the employee the cost of tuition and general fees for ten (10) credit hours per quarter/semester at the percentage rate of 100% for a grade of "A" and 90% for a grade of "B" or "C". Reimbursement shall be limited to tuition levels and general fees charged by the University of Toledo. These costs will be reimbursed upon the documented presentation of a "C" or 2.0 grade or better.
D) If licensing or certification is a requirement of a classification held by an employee, the City shall pay the employee's licensing or certification expenses. Expenses for required training and/or educational units necessary for maintaining licenses or certifications used or mandated for any classification shall also be reimbursed by the City.
E) The City shall provide training and/or educational programs for full-time permanent employees to enhance career development under a program established jointly by the parties. (refer to Section 2106.72)
F) The City and AFSCME Local 2058 recognize the importance of maintaining and upgrading skills as changes occur in the workplace. The parties are committed to identifying resources to assist employees with upgrading their skills.
Training in these new areas may be done by City personnel. When it is beyond the scope of City personnel, training may be conducted through outside services. These costs shall be borne under the City's continuing education program.
G) Any employee participating in the tuition reimbursement program that resigns, retires (non-disability) or is terminated must repay in full the tuition reimbursement paid by the City for courses completed less than two (2) years prior to the date of resignation, retirement, or termination. If necessary, this amount shall be deducted from the employee's severance pay and/or his or her final paycheck. In the event the employee's severance pay and/or final paycheck are insufficient to cover the full tuition reimbursement owed to the City, the employee must make arrangements to repay the amount owed. The City may pursue collection of the amount owed, if necessary.
An employee who resigns or is terminated for cause or performance will lose all rights and benefits under the educational reimbursement refund policy effective on the date of his or her resignation, retirement, or termination.