To apply for funding, please submit your Learning & Development Application.
For each learning and development opportunity, staff must complete and submit an application form. Applications are due by mid-October and end-of-January (specific dates TBA each year); however, applications may be accepted outside of these times upon request. Requests for Learning & Development assistance received after January 31 will be evaluated and considered by the FAS Human Resources Director, contingent on remaining funds available.
Submitted applications will automatically be sent to the staff member’s supervisor/manager for approval. Once approved by the manager/supervisor, the application will be reviewed by the Learning & Development Advisory Team. Employees and managers are formally notified of the Team’s decision within 3 weeks after submissions with respect to their request and may proceed to register for the Learning & Development opportunity.
Eligible Expenses
Learning & Development opportunities are normally identified in the employee’s annual performance review and dialogue plan and, in consultation with their managers, some individuals may choose to submit a funding request for activity in support of their future career goals.
Whether applying for funding in support of their current or future roles, applicants will be asked to clearly articulate how closely the proposed activity supports their department’s priorities and/or the FAS Strategic Plan when completing the funding request form. It is the department/unit/school and employee's responsibility to seek out courses and other training mediums that will enhance career development and are in line with the FAS Strategic Plan, as FAS learning and development funding is intended to support learning and development activity that adds value in the professional (not personal) context.
Learning & Development can be obtained through attendance at seminars, courses or webinars, and programs, etc., that assist the employee in performing their essential job functions and increase the employee's contribution to the Faculty and the University going forward. Work-related training/development applies to courses, programs, conferences, etc., that do not result in the awarding of an academic degree, diploma or certificate, and:
- provide skills and/or knowledge relevant to a staff member’s current or future position within the Faculty
- provide skills and/or knowledge relevant to a staff member’s current or related field of work
- provide skills and/or knowledge relevant to an employee’s contribution to a unified FAS with a strong sense of purpose, through alignment with the Guiding Principles in the FAS Strategic Plan
Staff and departments/units/schools should also review the OD&L Learning Catalogue to determine if the training/support is already offered through these mediums.
Departments/units/schools and/or staff are responsible for payment of any additional costs not covered by this procedure, i.e. ancillary fees, books, mileage, parking, transportation, accommodation, etc.
The actual amount any one individual may receive will be based on the available budget, departmental/unit/school business priorities, the principle of equitable access to available funds, and demands.
Multiple Requests
FAS staff are eligible for up to $1,000 of funding per fiscal year, regardless of the number of submissions. (Eg: If an employee successfully applied for $500 of funding in October, they would be eligible to apply for another $500 later in the fiscal year.) However, please note that the actual amount any one individual may receive will be based on available budget, departmental/unit/school business priorities, the principle of equitable access to available funds, and demands.
Timing
Employees must complete the learning and development activity in the current fiscal year. While individuals may want to apply for a program/course that begins next fiscal year, they will need to wait until that fiscal year to apply.
Ineligible Expenses
Any additional costs, such as ancillary fees, books, mileage, parking, transportation, accommodation, are not covered by the Fund and are the responsibility of departments/units/schools and/or staff.
This procedure is not intended to support personal interest courses or personal development, unless the personal development opportunity has been specifically identified/recommended as an essential step in helping the employee to succeed in their role.
Staff members are eligible for the Queen’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), which may be used to support personal interest courses and may result in the awarding of an academic degree, diploma or certificate. The TAP is comprised of two different funds:
1) The Educational Development Fund pays tuition fees for Queen's credit courses (to a maximum per academic year) taken on a part-time basis.
2) The Professional Development Fund reimburses tuition fees (to a maximum of $400 per academic year) for work-related courses taken at other recognized educational institutions.
Both funds offer an annually renewable non-taxable benefit; they support undergraduate and graduate studies at Queen’s (ED Fund) or other institutions (PD Fund).
