Development Opportunities

• In-Service Training
• Out-Service Training
• Tuition Reimbursement program for job-related courses
• Fee Waiver program for state institution courses
• Certification reimbursement
• Finance and Administration Required Curriculum
• Professional memberships
• Developmental Resources

Training Representatives
Each division has identified one or more individuals to serve as the division training representative. The training representatives’ role is to assist the department in reaching its strategic goal of developing all Finance and Administration employees to their full potential both professionally and personally. They serve as resources to assist management in the development and implementation of divisional training plans. The training representatives also are a reliable resource when assistance is needed in creating employee development plans.

The divisional training representatives are responsible for:

• Keeping the training system flexible.
• Communicating information about available training to their divisions.
• Enrolling participants into Department of Personnel, OIR, or Finance and Administration in-house courses.
• Being knowledgeable of the out-service training and travel request process and reviewing paperwork to insure that it is complete.

In-Service Training
The Department of Personnel Training and Development Division offers a wide selection of courses that focus on the development of skills and knowledge base to both supervisory and non-supervisory staff. These courses vary in length from one half-day to several days. The dates and times the courses are available are published in a monthly course announcement distributed by the training representatives. For more information on the Department of Personnel Training Programs, visit the Department of Personnel Home Page.

The Finance and Administration Office for Information Resources/Training Section offers classes on how to use various types of computer software. Course announcements are distributed monthly.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded upon satisfactory completion of both DOP and OIR courses. In the interest of maximizing the availability of training opportunities, most training activities are scheduled during regular working hours.

Out-Service Training
Out-service training occurs when employees in state service attend educational, vocational, and professional institutions and facilities and receive training which meets specific departmental needs for scientific, technical, professional and administrative skills.

Out-service training for the purpose of reviewing for professional licensing or certification is considered only for those licenses or certificates determined to be applicable by the Personnel Commissioner.

An employee may be authorized for full-time training to fulfill a specialized need identified as one which affects the on-going operation of the department. Full-time training is defined as a training program that lasts for a period of more than eighty work days; may require residency at a training institution; and may require that the employee be relieved of his/her regular job responsibilities while attending the full-time training. The state would be responsible for travel costs and tuition and the employee may receive a maximum of 75% of his/her salary during the period of full-time training; however, the employee must agree to reimburse the state for training expenses, including salaries and wages if, after completion of the training, the employee does not continue employment with the state for a period of twelve months or twice the training time, whichever is greater.

Tuition Reimbursement
On occasion, technology or an employee’s job responsibilities may change enough to require additional education at a college or university in order to maintain a level of competence. When this happens, the supervisor should be open to the possible need for an employee’s additional education. If the education needed is available at a higher education institution, Finance and Administration may choose to support the additional education and reimburse all expenses. Tuition reimbursement is available only for full-time employees with six consecutive months of state service.

Fee Waiver
Full-time state employees with at least six months of full time state service may take any one class they choose per semester at any state-supported institution without a course fee/tuition charge. Application for a course with fees waived can only be made during the institution’s “late registration” period. The employee is responsible for additional charges for books, lab fees.

Employees should apply only for courses that are scheduled outside of their normal work hours; however; supervisors are authorized at their discretion to work with employees in adjusting work schedules.

Certification Reimbursement
Employees who must maintain professional certifications/licenses are eligible to be reimbursed for courses taken to accumulate Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Department of Personnel provided courses are accepted by nationally recognized professional organizations and/or state regulatory agencies. Employees seeking to accumulate CEUs should:

1. Check to see if Department of Personnel courses will apply. Official transcripts verifying Continuing Education Units awarded are available upon request through the Department of Personnel.

                   

2. If Department of Personnel courses will not apply toward CEUs, training activities sponsored by another state agency for CEU credit should be investigated.

                   

3. In situations where no continuing education opportunities are available through state sources, reimbursement for out-service training will be considered on a case by case basis.

Reimbursement for Certification Review Courses
Employees who wish to take review courses in preparation for nationally recognized professional examinations are eligible for partial reimbursement provided the Department of Personnel deems them eligible. The reimbursement may not exceed 75% of the tuition fee. In no event may the reimbursement exceed $450.00. The examination fee is not reimbursable.

Finance and Administration Required Curriculum
In addition to these training opportunities, Finance and Administration has established a required curriculum for all employees, both supervisory and non-supervisory, to maintain a standard knowledge base in certain areas.

New Employees
All new employees (both new hires and transfers) are required to participate in the following courses:

• Introduction to Continuous Improvement
  This seminar introduces the new employee to the culture and management Philosophy of Finance and Administration and helps the employee gain a Thorough understanding of the seven guiding principles of Continuous Improvement. The course is offered on the last working Thursday and Friday of each month and runs from 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon each day. New Finance and Administration employees are expected to attend this course within sixty days of their hire date. Human Resources enrolls employees for this class during their initial orientation session.

                  

• Performance Management
  This course gives the employee an understanding of the performance evaluation tool and process used by Finance and Administration. The day long course is offered every February to all employees hired in the previous twelve months. An overview of the Performance Management evaluation tool is provided during the employee’s initial orientation session.

                  

• Sexual Harassment Prevention
  This course helps the employee gain an awareness of Finance and Administration’s position and policy on sexual harassment based on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and State of Tennessee guidelines.
  This class is offered quarterly. Newly hired department employees should attend the next available class after their hire date. A training schedule is available from the division training representative.

Supervisory Level and Above
All Finance and Administration supervisory personnel are required to complete, in addition to the required courses listed above, the following courses, which focus on improving leadership and management skills.

• Performance Management
  It is the responsibility of management to make sure that the staff level employees have a good understanding of the Finance and Administration performance evaluation process. Management also participates in the performance evaluation process as a subordinate. Newly hired supervisors will receive instruction in the performance management process from Human Resource staff as soon as possible after their hire date. Newly hired supervisors must also participate in the yearly Performance Management class, which is offered to all new employees every February.

                  

• Sexual Harassment Prevention
  Supervisory staff and management staff have a responsibility for sexual harassment prevention and therefore receive a specialized management level sexual harassment prevention class. New supervisors should take the next available management level sexual harassment class after their hire date. Training schedules are available from the division training representative.

                  

• Employee Assistance Program Supervisor Training
  This program gives the supervisor an understanding of how the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can assist when dealing with an employee having personal or performance related problems. The EAP office issues a schedule for this class in July of each year. New supervisors are required to take the next available class after their hire date. Class schedules are available from the division training representative.

Developmental Resources
The following developmental resources are available to all employees for personal, professional, and technical development. Most of these resources are self-study in format.

Finance and Administration Library
The Finance and Administration library is located in the Human Resources Office. The library contains books, periodicals, audio tapes, and video tapes for use by all employees. There is also a variety of audio/visual equipment available for employee use in presentations, including television/video cassette recorders, overhead projectors, screens, and flip chart stands. Contact the Human Resource Office (741-3478) to reserve or check out library materials.