New Employee Orientation

More Specific Information About the Extended Campus Staff, Special Activities, and Policies

New Employee Orientation Home
EC Card and Flower Policy
Special Events: The EC Fall Luncheon and Our Holiday Party
Emergency Contact Information
Staff Participation in University Courses (Credit and Noncredit)
Use of EC Rooms and Equipment for Meals, Breaks, Etc.

Staff Participation in University Courses (Credit and Noncredit)

One of the many advantages of working at Missouri State University is that there are numerous opportunities to expand your skills and to continue your education by participating in University-sponsored courses and training programs. For detailed information, you are encouraged to review sec. 8.4. of the Missouri State University Employee Handbook. Here, we will call your attention to just a few specific details that relate to EC Staff.

Noncredit and Professional Development "Short Courses": A variety of noncredit courses are available through the Center for Continuing and Professional Education (at the Morris Center), the Management Development Institute (Glass Hall), and Computer Services (Cheek Hall). Other than the short classes through Computer Services, a fee is normally charged for these courses although regular full-time employees may receive financial assistance from the University for one-half the basic course fees (see the Employee Handbook for details and limitations). In the case of courses that are job-related, and with the approval of your EC director, the Extended Campus staff members may also receive permission to have the other half of the noncredit course fee paid by your department’s budget. This must be approved by your director in advance, especially if the activity is scheduled during your normal work hours where arrangements must be made to cover your duties during your absence. Also, if the educational program is scheduled during your normal work hours and your director agrees that this is directly related to your job duties, your time in class will be considered work time which, for classified staff, means circling "w" on your time sheet. If the noncredit
activity is not clearly job-related and is primarily taken for your personal interest, then any time away from your work must be approved by your director and a Leave Form completed (either Vacation Leave or Time Off Without Pay). Even if the noncredit class is taken for your personal interest, however, regular full-time employees are eligible to have one-half of the basic course fees paid by the University up to a maximum of $150 per fiscal year.

Credit Classes: For full-time regular employees, the University will pay the required fees for a total of 12 credit hours per academic year for college-level courses taken at Missouri State University. (Employees are responsible for books, lab fees, etc.) In addition, eligible employees may assign part or all of the 12-hour benefit to their spouse and/or their eligible dependent child(ren).

Each EC employee who wishes to enroll in a credit class during his/her normal work schedule must receive approval from his/her director in advance after discussing the plan and making sure that it does not interfere with the normal operations of the department. Time away from the normal 8-hour day must be made up by working out an adjustment which has the director’s approval, for example, by working through lunch hours, taking accumulated vacation leave, taking leave without pay, etc.