There are multiple sources of funding available for you to access if you want to learn something new, upgrade a skill or take part in a professional development activity.

1. Tuition wavers

The Tuition Fee Benefit covers tuition costs to eligible employees, up to a maximum of 12 credits of undergraduate credit courses per year; this benefit can also be transferred to the staff member’s spouse or children.

Waivers also cover the dollar equivalent in tuition for non-credit courses offered by UBC Continuing Studies and UBC Okanagan Continuing Studies. This benefit cannot be transferred to spouses or children.

Management staff, and nonunion technicians are eligible for waivers for graduate-level courses and programs. This benefit cannot be transferred to spouses or children.

Eligibility

Eligibility generally requires at least 3 months of service (12 months for hourly staff) & at least 50% FTE. However, check the specific eligibility requirements for your employment group

How to apply for a tuition waiver

Credit waivers: register for all courses, then apply for a waiver through Employee Self Service

Continuing Studies: Obtain the course number online or from the Continuing Studies catalogue, and then apply for a waiver through Employee Self Service. The waiver will be sent to Continuing Studies and used to register you. Do not register for your course before obtaining a waiver

Help and Instructions:

2. Job Skills Training Plan (JSTP) for CUPE staff

Job Skills Training Program (JSTP) funding is available to support the professional development needs of staff in the CUPE 2950 employment group.

Some changes for 2013-2014 funding year include:

  • Individual funding limit for JSTP Fund set at $1000 ($200 decrease)
  • Discontinuation of quarterly allocation of PD Funds, returning to annual system where all funds are released at once. Funds distributed to staff on a first come, first served basis until end of fund year or exhaustion of the available budgeted funds
  • Activity start date no longer defines the timing of a JSTP  submission
  • All receipts must be submitted within 60 days of the original purchase date.
  • Find out more about the JSTP professional development fund changes.
Lynda.com

CUPE staff have free access to Lynda.com, an industry leading software and technology online training service. Registration information is available on the HR online software training webpage.

Accessing JSTP funds

The current JSTP Funding Year runs from April 1, 2013 – March 31, 2014. Please read the JSTP guidelines and visit the JSTP funding page to learn what kind of activities are eligible, and how to apply.

3. M&P professional development fund

M&P funding is available to support professional development for Management and Professional staff at UBC.

Many changes to the M&P fund were made in June and include:

  • Individual funding limit for M&P PD Fund set at $550 ($200 decrease)
  • Discontinuation of quarterly allocation of PD Funds , returning to annual system where all funds are released at once. Funds distributed to staff on a first come, first served basis until end of fund year or exhaustion of the available budgeted funds.
  • PD Expense claims accepted (fund reopened) for the remainder of this funding year.
  • PD Expense claims can be submitted as soon as the payment is made. Completed claim forms with receipts attached must be submitted within 60 days of the original purchase date.
  • Find out more about the recent M&P professional development changes.
Accessing M&P funds

The current M&P PD funding year runs from April 1, 2013 – March 31, 2014 and the balance of remaining PD funds as of October 8, 2013  is $130,000 (roughly one quarter of  the annual funds). Please read the M&P PD Fund Guidelines and visit the M&P funding page to learn what kinds of activities are eligible and how to apply.