EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Administrative, Professional, and Classified Staff Members
FROM:
Alex Hernandez, Director
Human Resources Development
DATE:
January 27, 2011
SUBJECT:
Professional Development Leaves for FY 2011-2012
If you are a full time administrative, professional, or classified staff member you may be eligible
for a professional development leave. This memo contains information on Board Policy 3.22.03
which establishes such leaves. Professional development leaves provide eligible employees the
opportunity for work experience, study, research, writing, field observation, or other educational
endeavors. Such leaves are granted by the Board of Trustees upon recommendation of the
College President, Dr. Richard M. Rhodes.
Applications for professional development leaves are submitted by March and if selected, such
leave may begin the following academic/fiscal year as of September 1st, or as requested by the
employee. The Professional Development Leave Committee meets to review and consider
requests for educational leaves that are submitted by or before the deadline. Eligible candidates
who have submitted the application packet and all requested documents may be considered for
an interview. The deadline to submit all application materials is March 25, 2011.
There are different types of professional development leaves which may be granted:
1. Short-term Leave is paid leave of less than one semester during an academic or fiscal
year. Full-time regular staff members (Administrative/Professional/Classified), who have
completed a minimum of three (3) years of continuous full-time service, are eligible for
such leave.
2. Extended Leave is granted for an academic or fiscal contractual period during which time
the staff member shall receive one-half his or her regular salary or it may be granted for
one-half of the academic or fiscal year with full salary. Full-time staff members
(Administrative, Professional/Classified) who have completed a minimum of five (5) years
of continuous full-time service are eligible to apply for such leave.
3. An Externship is a paid leave for up to one semester for work experience in the
teaching/working field as a means to update one’s professional expertise. Full-time staff
members (Administrative/Professional/Classified), who have completed a minimum of
five (5) years of continuous full-time service, are eligible to apply for such leave.
4. An Employee Exchange is an exchange of and Administrative, Professional, or Classified
Staff member for a period of up to one year, between two academic institutions or
organizations designed to expand the participant’s professional knowledge. Full-time
regular staff members (Administrative/Professional/Classified) who have completed a
minimum of five (5) years of continuous full-time service are eligible for such leave.
Administrative, Professional, and Classified Staff Members
Page 2
January 26, 2011
5. An Internship Leave is an assignment for up to one year in another EPCC department
designed to increase knowledge in specific operations and enhance understanding of the
various departmental relationships to college-wide operations. Full-time regular staff
members (Administrative/Professional/Classified), who have completed a minimum of
three (3) years of continuous full-time service, are eligible to apply for such leave.
An employee, who has been awarded a professional development leave for one semester or
longer, is obligated to return to his/her assigned duties at the College for a minimum of one
contractual year. Failure to comply with this requirement will obligate the employee to return to
the College the full amount of compensation received while on professional development leave.
An employee who is granted a professional development leave may not receive compensation for
service from another institution or enterprise.
Application for professional development leaves must include a signed copy of the Application for
Staff Professional Development Leave and a Staff Professional Development Leave Plan, with
proper supervisory signatures, and all support documents which might serve to enhance the
employee’s application(e.g., letters of acceptance, academic transcripts, approved degree
programs, etc.). Please understand that simply because one is eligible to apply for leave does
NOT guarantee that leave will be granted. Many variables enter into the determination of whether
a leave is granted or not; years of service, proximity to completion of degree requirements,
potential benefit of the leave to both the employee and the institution, and the availability of
institutional funds.
Professional development leaves are a great opportunity to continue one’s education and
advance one’s professional knowledge while still under contract with the College. For additional
information, call the Human Resources Development Department at 831-6386.
AH/mr
Professional development leave memo 2011-2012