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41 <br />Section 3.16 Tuition Reimbursement <br /> <br />The City encourages its employees to improve job performance in their present position <br />and to prepare for advancement with the City through self-development. The City may <br />share the cost of education which directly relates to the performance of the employee in <br />the employee’s present assignment or which prepares the employee for advancement <br />with the City in the foreseeable future. The City may reimburse eligible regular full-time <br />employees upon presentation of their final grades. In order for a class to qualify for <br />reimbursement, the following conditions must be met: <br /> A. The class must be job related. An employee may be reimbursed for 50% <br />of the costs, for courses which are directly relevant, 25% if somewhat <br />relevant and 0% if not relevant. The determination of relevancy shall be <br />made by the Department Head and City Administrator. <br />B. The class must be taken from accredited institutions of higher learning or <br />vocational-technical schools. <br />C. The employee must receive a passing grade of C or equivalent in order to <br />qualify for reimbursement. <br />D. The employee must complete a Tuition Reimbursement Form prior to class <br />registration. The maximum amount the City will reimburse is 50% of the <br />total cost of tuition for the course or courses being requested with a <br />maximum amount of $1200 annually, if sufficient funds are available. The <br />City Council may grant an exception on the $1200 limit on a case by case <br />basis. <br />E. The Department Head is responsible for reviewing the request and making <br />a recommendation to the City Administrator with an explanation of approval <br />or denial. The City Administrator has the final authority in approving or <br />denying the request. An explanation of approval or denial shall be provided. <br />F. After the class has been completed, the employee must provide a <br />photocopy of the grade sheet and the original receipt for tuition. <br />G. Participation in the program shall be on a voluntary basis, outside normal <br />working hours. However, in certain circumstances, a Department Head <br />may allow an employee to attend class during normal working hours. In <br />order to do so, the employee is to use personal or vacation leave or flex or <br />compensatory time. <br />H. If the employee wishes to not use personal or vacation time or flex or <br />compensatory time, unpaid leaves may be granted to attend class. The <br />tuition reimbursement program may not reimburse the employee for those <br />hours of the normal working day during which he/she is in class. However, <br />all Department Heads are encouraged to schedule work time to assist <br />employees with a flexible work schedule. <br /> An employee may not receive assistance from other sources and receive tuition aid <br />reimbursement from the City for the same courses taken. The City may reimburse <br />individuals for selected job-related non-accredited courses at its sole discretion. This <br />program does not apply to seminars, mini-courses or other training authorized through <br />the normal training budget.