CODAA would like to remind all Members to take advantage of a contract benefit entitled to them: Professional Development Reimbursements. Because we know many Members were denied these funds last year, the CODAA Negotiations Team worked hard during this last round of negotiations to clarify the contract language regarding this benefit. Therefore, we would would like to encourage Members to apply (or try again) for reimbursement of professional development expenses.
According to the most recent contract, eligible professional development expenses include tuition, fees,conference registrations, seminars, membership dues, appropriate academic periodicals/subscriptions or one-half the costs for professional licenses that are required in the official hiring guidelines. Individuals may not request more than $260.00 per person per academic year. For more information see page. 16 of our contract.
CODAA recommends Members take the following steps in order to obtain their reimbursements:
- Note that it is up to the discretion of each associate dean to determine if specific expenses are eligible. Therefore, if possible before you incur the expense, CODAA recommends checking with your dean to ensure your specific expenses are applicable to your teaching area and will be reimbursed. Email is best.
- After you have received agreement from your associate dean, incur the expense and submit your proof of payment receipt with the required HR form to your associate dean. The form is called “Professional Development for CODAA Prior Approval Reimbursement Form” and it is available for download with HR’s forms on the College’s portal: http://inside.cod.edu
- After your associate dean signs it, he/she will forward the form and receipt to Dr. Joe Collins’ office for his signature.
- Your form will then be forwarded to HR for processing, and then your reimbursement will come to you in the form of a check several weeks later that you will need to pick up at the cashier’s desk (unless you have reimbursements — different from payroll — set up for direct deposit).
Please note: If for some reason your expense is not approved by your associate dean, please get back in touch with us using this contact form. Please try to include what the expense is, why you think it is relevant to what you teach, and why your associate dean denied the request.
IEA has issued another call asking for members and non-members alike to contact their legislators and express opposition to Illinois SB-512. Proposed “reforms” include cutting your retirement benefits, increasing your contribution toward your retirement, and possibly changing the Cost of Living Adjustment for current and future benefits. Effected plans include TRS, SURS, and IMRF.
