Q1. Who is eligible for this program?
Q2. What is the application deadline date?
Q3. What period of time is covered by this application?
Q4. What are the criteria for a successful application?
Q5. Why is the statement of professional benefit required?
Q6. What kinds of development opportunities are covered by this program?
Q7. I'm applying for support to attend a conference that is less expensive if I pay for a membership to a professional organization. Are these membership fees covered?
Q8. Are my spouse and children covered by this program?
Q9. What is the maximum dollar amount in support I may receive in one year?
Q10. Are travel and subsistence expenses covered?
Q11. What if my development program requires release time?
Q12. Is the benefit I receive through this program taxable?
Q13. How long after I submit my proposal will I get a response?
Q14. What if my development program costs more than this benefit will cover?
Q15. How is reimbursement/tuition waiver received?
Q16. I applied for funding and was approved, but circumstances now prevent
me from attending. What shall I do now?
Q17. I need a copy of the application form.
Q18. Additional questions?
Q1. Who is eligible for this program?
Any academic specialist who has at least 24 full-time equivalent service months at the time of application submission and is currently employed with a 50% time or greater appointment can apply for support. This includes fixed-term, probationary, and continuing appointment academic specialists. For part-time academic specialists (those with less than 100% time appointments), support is provided on a basis proportional to their appointment percentage. For example, if a full-time academic specialist is eligible for a maximum of 12 credits per academic year, a 50% time specialist is eligible for a maximum of 6 credits per academic year.
Note: FTE service months are available on your Personal Statement of Benefits at http: //www.hr.msu.edu/hrsite/ then click on eHR.
Q2. What is the application deadline date?
Applications are accepted on a continuous basis as long as funds are available. They will be reviewed in the order received. Applications should be forwarded by campus mail or fax to Donna Zischke, Office of the Provost, 424 Administration Building; fax 355-9601.
Q3. What period of time is covered by this application?
Applications may be submitted for support of courses or training that takes place during the period August 16, 2008 through August 15, 2009.
Q4. What are the criteria for a successful application?
A successful application from an eligible academic specialist must include a statement indicating the benefit of the professional development to the academic specialist and the unit, including arrangements for release time if applicable, and signatures of the specialist and unit administrator.
Q5. Why is the statement of professional benefit required?
The statement of professional benefit will be used as the primary means for evaluating applications.
Q6. What kinds of development opportunities are covered by this program?
The proposal for professional development must be job-related, and may include courses at MSU or other accredited educational institutions (whether taken for credit, non-credit, degree- or non-degree related), seminars, workshops, short courses, other short-term training programs, or conferences. MSU credit course tuition and MSU's matriculation fee are eligible; non-MSU credit course tuition, but only to a maximum equivalent to MSU rates, is also eligible.
Q7. I'm applying for support to attend a conference that is less expensive if I pay for a membership to a professional organization. Are these membership fees covered?
No. Only the conference fee may be reimbursed under this program.
Q8. Are my spouse and children covered by this program?
No. This program is available only to the academic specialist employee. Spouses and children may be eligible for MSU's Course Fee Courtesy program (note that the Course Fee Courtesy program does not apply to the Specialist employee.)
Note: See /HRsite/Documents/Faculty/Handbooks/Specialist (section 7.7) for more information.
Q9. What is the maximum dollar amount in support I may receive in one year?
Credit and non-credit benefits are coordinated; the total combined support may not exceed a maximum equivalent to the current fee for twelve (12) credits per academic year at the MSU resident Lifelong Education rate (maximum of four credits per academic semester). Reimbursement for non-credit courses is not to exceed $1,000 per academic year.
Q10. Are travel and subsistence expenses covered?
No.
Q11. What if my development program requires release time?
This is between the academic specialist and their Unit Supervisor, and is one of the considerations necessitating Unit support and approval of your application (see Section 7.6.1 at /HRsite/Documents/Faculty/Handbooks/Specialist.)
Q12. Is the benefit I receive through this program taxable?
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 127 allows tax-exemption for graduate-level, degree related courses reimbursed/waived through employer education assistance programs. Undergraduate courses are also tax-exempt. There is a $5,250 maximum limit for the tax exemption; any amount that exceeds the limit is taxable as income.
Q13. How long after I submit my proposal will I get a response?
It is anticipated that a response will be received within three weeks of receipt of a completed application. Applicants will receive notification of approval/disapproval from the Office of the Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Human Resources.
Q14. What if my development program costs more than this benefit will cover?
If your application is approved, this program will cover only up to the maximum benefit allowed. Any difference must be paid by other means, which may include unit funding or by your personal funds.
Q15. How is reimbursement/tuition waiver received?
Credit Courses
MSU credit courses approved for support from this program are eligible for waiver of tuition and applicable matriculation fees at the time of billing. If an approved application is processed after the billing, a credit/reimbursement for the MSU tuition and matriculation fee will be made to the student account.
If a class is dropped after enrollment, the waiver account is credited and the student is billed for any balance due. This program will not pay fees assessed as a result of dropping a course.
For non-MSU credit courses, proof of successful course completion (a copy of a 2.0 or better grade) and proof of course cost (a receipt) must be forwarded to Donna Zischke, Academic Human Resources, 424 Administration Building, within 15 working days of course completion or receipt of grades. Tuition reimbursement will be mailed to the specialist's campus address.
For both MSU and non-MSU credit courses, successful completion of the course (a grade of 2.0 or better) is required. If a lower grade is received for a course taken through tuition waiver, the specialist must reimburse the University for the original waiver amount (normally through payroll deduction). For a non-MSU credit course, no payment will be made.
If an "Incomplete" is received for a MSU course taken through tuition waiver, the academic specialist must provide proof of successful course completion within 90 days of receipt of the Incomplete or the University must be reimbursed for the original waiver amount (normally through payroll deduction).
If a non-dissertation MSU credit course is deferred, the academic specialist must provide proof of successful course completion within two (2) years or the University must be reimbursed for the original waiver amount (normally through payroll deduction).
Non-Credit Courses
For non-credit courses, the specialist must forward a statement indicating that the course, workshop, etc. was completed and proof of course cost (a receipt) to Donna Zischke, Academic Human Resources, 424 Administration Building, within 15 working days of course completion. Reimbursement will be mailed to the academic specialist's campus address.
Q16. I applied for funding and was approved, but circumstances now prevent me from attending. What shall I do now?
You must notify Donna Zischke, Academic Human Resources, Office of the Provost (353-4851 or zischke@msu.edu) as soon as you are aware of the changed circumstances, so that another academic specialist might be able to utilize the resources. This will not prevent you from applying in the future. (Refer to question #15 regarding dropping an MSU credit course taken through tuition waiver.)
Q17. I need a copy of the application form.
Program information, FAQs, and the application form are available on the Human Resources website at /HRsite/forms/FacultyForms/forms#SpecProgDesc (see Academic Specialist Professional Development Support Program)
Q18. Additional questions?
Contact Donna Zischke, Academic Human Resources, Office of the Provost, 424 Administration Building, 353-4851, or zischke@msu.edu.