CAREER LADDER 2016-17 ESSENTIALS APS/ASCA CAREER LADDER PROGRAM Revised: August, 2016 A Professional Training Program for B Schedule Employees
Table of Contents Career Ladder History... 1 CLP at a Glance ( differential paid, expense reimbursement, timeline validity... 2 Challenging a Course, How do I apply for Differential... 3 Areas of Approved Study... 4 CLP Contact Information... 5
APS/ASCA Career Ladder Program History The Career Ladder Program is open to ALL B Salary Schedule employees. The Program identifies post high school coursework approved as providing training for bargaining unit members to help these employees enhance skills, knowledge and work related abilities applicable to their occupations within APS. Encouraging employees to take on-line courses through APS LearnKey, University/College coursework, Continuing Ed. CEUs, Distance Learning, Certificates earned from APS pertaining to B Schedule work APS and ASCA Working Together The Albuquerque Public Schools and the Albuquerque Secretarial/Clerical Association Union (ASCA) have worked together over APS and ASCA working together for you the last several years to fine-tune the Career Ladder Program. The CLP Program has been offered to B Schedule employees since 1987. It has evolved from the past Level One and Level Two to the present Career Ladder Program. With the changes implemented over time from union negotiations, you can now focus on your goals. The District and ASCA shall collaborate on the planning and implementation of the Career Ladder Provision. The goal has been to implement a professional development program that would meet the needs of the B Schedule employees and the District. 1
CAREER LADDER AT A GLANCE Employees who successfully complete and/or are granted credit for required courses shall receive a differential as follows: Differential paid to B Schedule employees who successfully earn *23 credit hours is $1,245 added to the employee s hourly rate base pay. Differential paid to B Schedule employees who successfully earn half of the 23 credit hours *(12+) is $622.50 added to the employee s hourly rate base pay. *Fifteen (15) interactive hours of non-university/college hours (time spent in a class either on-line or actual seat time) equals One Credit Hour Active B Schedule employees eligible for payment shall receive compensation in equal installments beginning on the first pay period of the successive fiscal year and each year thereafter. CLP 2013 is completed through coursework taken from ANY ACCREDITIED HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION, APS LearnKey, University/College, Continuing Ed, or Certificates issued from APS for classes pertaining to your work. If you have taken a class that you feel will count towards your credit hours and a certificate is not issued, you will be able to download a Proof of Attendance Record form on-line. Have the teacher sign it and turn this in with your other Differential Submission documents. Timeline Validity for Courses Taken: Technology coursework not older than two years. CLP Class Expenses are Reimbursed Not only do you learn a valuable skill or enhance the skills you have, as you are completing coursework for the Career Ladder, you are reimbursed for your expenses for courses successfully completed with a C or better. As part of the negotiated agreement between APS and ASCA, employees who satisfactorily complete approved courses as designated in the CLP Program will be reimbursed for tuition, books and fees, for each course successfully completed ( not to exceed a total of $200.00. To receive reimbursement, employees must submit receipts for all costs and an official school record/transcript showing successful completion of the course by submitting the CLP Course Reimbursement Form to the Human Resources Dept. (available from APS Human Resources Compensation Department website). Attach original receipts for the expenses to the form along with transcripts, certificates of completion and any other proof of course completion. To submit for a reimbursement, the employee must be working within the B Salary Schedule and also must be participating and earning credits towards completion of the Career Ladder Program. 2
Getting Credit by Challenging a Course Some learning institutions allow a student to challenge out of a class if you feel you have the knowledge that the course teaches. You may be able to take a test that measures that knowledge. Check with the school to see if they allow a challenge. Attach proof of a successful challenge when you are ready to submit for your CLP differential payment. How do I get my Pay Differential what is the deadline for submission? In order to receive your salary differential for CLP, please verify that you have completed either the full 23 credit hours or half of the credit hours (12+). To verify that you have completed the course credit hours required for the pay differential, you must request official copies of College/University transcripts, earn certificates from completed APS LearnKey coursework, receive certificates from APS training you completed related to your job, receive proof of CEU credit from Continuing Education Programs, submit a successful Proof of a Challenged Course, and other Proof of Attendance Record documentation. Make sure that College/University transcripts are in a sealed envelope from the school attended. Unofficial College/University transcripts will not be accepted You will also write a letter indicating that you are requesting a Pay Differential that indicates that you have successfully passed or challenged the number of courses (12+ or 23+ credit hours) to qualify for the Pay Differential. Your letter and all transcripts and other proof of attendance certificates must be received by September 15 th in order for you to qualify for the Pay Differential on the first pay period of the successive fiscal year and each year thereafter. Use the Tally Sheet located on the APS Web site to document your completed course hours and submit the Tally sheet with your letter. Include the following in your letter for the Pay Differential: Name, employee number, location and job title Indicate that you are requesting a Pay Differential as part of the CLP 2013 Program Indicate whether you have completed 23+ or 12+ credit hours Indicate the courses you successfully completed or challenged and the dates Indicate if you are now receiving compensation for the Old Level One or Level Two Career Ladder Program. Note: You can be reimbursed for CLP 2000+ course expenses, but you cannot receive additional differential payments beyond a total of $1,245. If you completed the Old Level One, your Pay Differential will be calculated accordingly with any new hours you submit. What Happens After I Submit my Request for the Pay Differential? After September 15 th of each year, a Joint APS/ASCA Committee will review all CLP submissions of completion and applicants will be notified of approval or denial of their applications. 3
AREAS OF APPROVED STUDY What to focus on for completion of the CLP Coursework Pertaining to your Job- Technical/Business Procedures APS Learnkey Coursework Interpersonal Skills Continuing Education Distance Learning Writing/Communication B Schedule Core Competencies Certificates Issued from APS Related to your Job 4
Career Ladder Program A Partnership with Albuquerque SECRETARIAL/CLERICAL Association AND 4 CONTACT INFORMATION: ASCA Carla Montano, ASCA President (montano_car@aps.edu) Yvonne Rodriquez, ASCA Member Service Specialist (rdrgz6yvnn@yahoo.com) APS Human Resources Compensation Dept. Phone: 889-4861 Fax: 889-4884 5