65 Workforce Education Program

Purpose

Section 840-3.1A of Title 74 authorizes agencies to establish education and training programs for positions critical to the mission of their agencies.  The administrative rules implementing Section 840-3.1A (OAC 260:25-17-140 et seq.) apply to both Merit System and non-Merit System agencies, and to both classified and unclassified executive branch state employees, including employees of Murray State College.  The Workforce Education Program Promissory Note Agreement can be found on MSC COMMONS.

Eligibility

A Murray State College employee shall be eligible for the Workforce Education Program if the employee meets the following eligibility criteria:

1.  Must be a current, full-time state employee with at least 12 months’ continuous employment with the College;
2. If the employee has received a performance evaluation, he or she must have achieved an overall rating of “meets” or “exceeds” standards on his or her most recent performance evaluation; however, if the employee has not received an employee evaluation the employee may become eligible with a letter of recommendation from their current supervisor;
3. Meets the standards of the program as defined within this section;
4. Have no pending or formal disciplinary actions in his or her permanent personnel file within the last year from date of application to the program; and
5. Have been accepted to an educational or certification program that directly benefits the College, its mission, or directives set forth by the College.

Qualification and application procedures

Applicants qualifying under the Workforce Education Program shall provide the following information to the College for review and determination of eligibility:

1. A completed application form as prescribed by the College;
2. The application must be received and approved prior to the start of the program; and
3. The employee must provide documentation from the educational or certifying institution for the course(s) or program in which the employee is enrolled.

Benefits

1. Funds of the College may be used to pay salaries, tuition, subsistence and fees for qualified employees accepted in the program.
2. Employees may be in a work status while attending these training and education programs.

Conditions for receipt of benefits

1. The employee receiving benefits shall execute a promissory note with the College (who completes the promissory note and tracks it) to repay the amount of tuition and/or fees paid by the College.
2. If the employee participated in the education and training program during working hours, the cost of any compensation paid to the employee while attending the course will be included in the total amount of the promissory note.
3. The amount of the promissory note with the College shall be reduced at a rate of $13.00 per calendar day beginning the first day following completion or graduation from the education or training program.
4. Should the employee leave the agency for any reason, except for employees who have volunteered or have been drafted into active military service, the obligation to the College becomes due and payable immediately.
5. Any violation of the terms of the promissory note shall give rise to a cause of action and suit may be commenced by the College for and on behalf of the State of Oklahoma for restitution of any and all sums plus interest at the statutory rate, costs, and reasonable attorney fees.

Standards

The College shall verify the employee:

1. Makes satisfactory progress towards the program completion; and
2. Completes the program successfully as defined by the institution providing the education or training.
3. The requirement to execute a promissory note results in a taxable event as the debt is forgiven.  Any forgiveness of the promissory note must be reported to the College’s payroll department so that the amount forgiven can be included on payroll as taxable wages and reported on the employee’s W-2.  This should be reported to payroll on a regular monthly basis.

Eligible Institutions

1. The College will only contract with institutions located in Oklahoma that are accredited by a national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
2. The College may pay licensure and certification fees, regardless of the licensing or certifying entities location, for those employees whose current or future positions with the College require such a license or certification