Date:

March 24, 2011

To:

PDAD&C; All Professional / Managerial Staff; All Confidential Staff

From:

Angela Hildyard, Vice-President, Human Resources and Equity

Re:

Program Enhancements for Professional / Managerial and Confidential Staff

I am pleased to announce several program enhancements for Professional/Managerial and Confidential staff related to professional development and retirement planning. These program enhancements are funded through reallocation of existing benefit funds and will be in place until April 2012 at which time the University will re-evaluate their continuation.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The following summary outlines all of the professional development programs available to Professional/Managerial and Confidential staff, highlighting the recently approved program enhancements.

Tuition Waiver/ Educational Assistance

1. Credit Courses:

a) Taken at U of T

Currently, 100% of tuition fees are waived for a qualifying staff member who takes a part-time University of Toronto or OISE degree/credit course, up to and including Master’s level courses, to a maximum amount of the part-time Master’s fee for Arts and Science; and, for a diploma or certificate program offered through Woodsworth College.

Effective January 1, 2011, in addition to the current provisions, the University also will provide tuition waiver for qualifying Professional/Managerial and Confidential staff that are enrolled in flex-time/part-time Doctoral programs.

The maximum coverage for all degree/credit courses taken is $3,000 per academic year.

Application Form: https://people.utoronto.ca/forms.htm

Inquiries: Keithann Newton, Benefits Specialist at keithann.newton@utoronto.ca

b) Taken External to U of T at a Recognized Post-Secondary Institution

Currently, the University provides 50% tuition reimbursement to a qualifying staff member who shows successful completion of courses, taken on a part-time basis, leading to an undergraduate degree, diploma or certificate program.

Effective January 1, 2011, in addition to the current provisions, the University also will provide 50% tuition reimbursement to qualifying Professional/Managerial and Confidential staff that show successful completion of courses, taken on a part-time basis and pre-approved by ODLC, leading towards a Master’s degree. Such courses must be either an asset to the staff member in the performance of his/her current position or directly related to his/her potential career. If you enrolled in a Master’s course between January 1, 2011 and March 24, 2011, and did not receive pre-approval, please contact Chris Berriault at ODLC.

The maximum coverage for all degree/credit courses taken at a recognized post-secondary institution external to U of T is $1,500 per academic year.

Application Form: https://people.utoronto.ca/forms.htm

Inquiries: Chris Berriault, Information Officer and Office Assistant, ODLC at chris.berriault@utoronto.ca.

2. Non Degree/ Non Credit Courses:

a) Taken at U of T

The University will continue to waive 100% of tuition fees for qualifying Professional/Managerial and Confidential staff who take courses offered by the School of Continuing Studies, to a maximum of $500 per course and up to six (6) courses per academic year.

Application Form: https://people.utoronto.ca/forms.htm

Inquiries: benefits.help@utoronto.ca.

b) Taken External to U of T

i) At a Recognized Post-Secondary Institution External to U of T

The University will continue to reimburse 50% of tuition fees to qualifying Professional/Managerial and Confidential staff who show successful completion of a pre-approved work related course which is related to the staff member’s present position.

Application Form: https://people.utoronto.ca/forms.htm

Inquiries: Chris Berriault, Information Officer and Office Assistant, ODLC at chris.berriault@utoronto.ca.

ii) At Other (Non Post-Secondary) Institutions External to U of T

This is a new provision.

Effective January 1, 2011, the University will reimburse qualifying Professional/Managerial and Confidential staff for up to two (2) pre-approved work-related non degree/non credit courses per academic year that show successful completion of the course, to a maximum of $500 per course. If you enrolled in a course between January 1, 2011 and March 24, 2011, and did not receive pre-approval, please contact Chris Berriault at ODLC.

Application Form: https://people.utoronto.ca/forms.htm

Inquiries: Chris Berriault, Information Officer and Office Assistant, ODLC at chris.berriault@utoronto.ca.

Professional Development Fund

Currently, departments may apply to the Professional Development Fund for funding assistance to support administrative staff members’ professional development activities including attendance at workshops, conferences and seminars outside of the University. Funding is available to the extent of 60% of the registration fee to a maximum of $300.

Effective March 1, 2011, department reimbursement to support Professional/Managerial and Confidential staff attending workshops, conferences, webinars and seminars outside of the University will now be 60% of the registration fee to a maximum of $500. In accordance with current practice, departments will be required to apply for funding, which is intended to augment departmental funds that are directed toward supporting professional development activities.

Application Form: https://people.utoronto.ca/forms.htm

Inquiries: Chris Berriault, Information Officer and Office Assistant, ODLC at chris.berriault@utoronto.ca.

FINANCIAL COUNSELLING FOR RETIREMENT PLANNING

In addition to the professional development program enhancements, effective immediately, the University will provide Professional/Managerial and Confidential staff with up to three (3) hours of financial counselling related to retirement planning during their career at the University, at no cost to the staff member.

Staff may choose from several providers who have been pre-selected to provide this service. Additional information, including a list of eligible providers, is available on the HR & Equity website as follows:

• Professional/Managerial staff:
  https://people.utoronto.ca/retirement/For_Professional___Managerial_Staff.htm#financial
• Confidential staff: https://people.utoronto.ca/retirement/For_Confidentials.htm

Inquiries: Richard Ashmore, Pensions Specialist at richard.ashmore@utoronto.ca.