MLA Professional Development Scholarship Fund
King County
Auburn, WA
Full-time
Business Development
Posted on July 8, 2019
- Summary
- As a part of the Master Labor Agreement (MLA) and Investing in You, applications are now being accepted for Professional Development Scholarship Awards for training opportunities that BEGIN on or after September 6, 2019 and BEFORE December 31, 2019.
Each quarter, $37,500 of the $150,000 total 2019 budget is allocated for scholarship awards. Should there be more qualified applicants than budget available, a lottery process will be used to make awards. The MAXIMUM amount an employee can be awarded is $2,500.
The Scholarship Fund is intended to support employees in growing their career at King County. This could include enhancing your knowledge and skills for your current job field; obtaining a professional certificate, license, or pursuing a degree that is related to paid work performed at King County; or preparing you for a career change in job fields performed at King County.
Please note that this is the final application process during the term of the one-year professional development fund pilot authorized by Article 12 of the Master Labor Agreement (MLA). The County will be evaluating the success of the pilot and a decision to continue the pilot will likely be negotiated in 2020 during bargaining for a successor MLA. - Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
- ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The Professional Development Scholarship Program is available only to King County employees who are represented by a union in the Coalition of Unions and who:
- Are career service, civil service, regular or appointed employees who have completed their initial probationary period, if applicable; AND
- Have completed at least one year of full or part time King County employment in a position eligible for comprehensive leave benefits (this includes any time spent in a Term Limited Temporary position); AND
- Have had no documented performance or discipline issues for at least one year prior to the date of submitting an application form for the Scholarship Fund.
If you are unsure if you meet these requirements, please check with your department HR Manager. - Supplemental Information
Department training funds must be requested first. Therefore, you must submit a written request to your supervisor asking if department funds are available for your training. Your written request (letter or email) must include:
- your supervisor's name
- title of the training,
- name of the training organization,
- date/s of the training,
- what you will learn,
- how this training will be of benefit to you
- a request if department training funds are available and if so, how much
A copy of your written request, ALONG with your SUPERVISOR'S RESPONSE whether there are funds available, if any, AND the amount the department will pay, will be required with your application.
If your department is NOT able to pay for the training OR can only pay a portion of it, then you may apply for a scholarship.
Applications without this written documentation will be considered incomplete.
AWARD CRITERIA
Scholarship applications from eligible employees will be evaluated based upon the criteria below. Employees must meet each criteria listed to be considered for a scholarship award.- The employee's request meets scholarship fund policy guidelines.
- The training that is being requested relates to the paid work performed by the County; it does not need to relate to the employee's current position or department.
- The employee provides a thoughtful description of their SPECIFIC career goals at King County and makes a clear case of how the training will support the employee in meeting their specific career goals or enhances their work-related skills. (Examples can be found at Professional Development Scholarship Fund.)
- The employee provides a clear description of each specific training, course, workshop, etc. that the employee intends to take that BEGINS ON or AFTER September 6 and PRIOR to December 31, 2019.
- The training is being provided by an organization that is acceptable to the awards committee.
- The application is complete - there is enough information in the application for the Application Review Committee to make an award recommendation.
DEPARTMENT ATTENDANCE APPROVAL. Employees must obtain department approval for attendance only if the training/course/class/etc. occurs during, or will impact your normally, scheduled work hours.
Career Support Services staff are available to assist employees with identifying and explaining their specific King County career goals. They can be reached at
careersupportservices@kingcounty.gov or at 206-477-3271.
APPLICATION REVIEW AND AWARD PROCESS:- Applications will be reviewed by the Scholarship Program Manager to ensure they are complete.
- Complete applications will be screened by the employees department HR to ensure the employee meets the "Eligibility Criteria" described above.
- Those applications meeting the "Eligibility Criteria" will be forwarded to the Scholarship Review Committee. The Committee will review each application using the "Award Criteria" listed above and recommend whether the employee be considered for a scholarship award.
- If there are more employees recommended for scholarship awards than budget available, a lottery process will be used to make awards. Previous award recipients applying for another award will be excluded from the lottery.
- All scholarship applicants will be notified no later than August 30, 2019 of scholarship decisions.
- Scholarship Award recipients must complete and submit the "Award Terms of Agreement," which can be found on the Professional Development Scholarships website.
- Scholarship recipients will be emailed an "Award Letter" outlining the details and process for accessing their award.
- Award recipients will have the choice of pre-paying approved costs and requesting reimbursement or having the County direct pay the training organization.
TAX IMPLICATIONS
Should the training being requested NOT be directly related to the employee maintaining or improving his or her job skills or meet requirements for the employee to remain in his or her current position, then the scholarship award MAY be considered income and the employee MAY need to pay taxes on the award. Employees will need to consult with their personal tax expert based on their unique situation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Please see the Professional Development Scholarship Fund website for additional information to include future application periods.
QUESTIONS: For questions about the program, or to request a paper application please contact:
Susan Navetski
Scholarship Fund Program Manager
206-477-3271
email: ScholarshipFund@kingcounty.gov
Note: Online applications are preferred. However, if you cannot apply online, email ScholarshipFund@kingcounty.gov for other options.
This position is not eligible for leave, holiday, insured, or other benefits.
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01What is your current job title with the County?02In which King County department/division do you currently work? (Employees on special duty, please select your home department.)
- Assessments
- Council
- DAJD
- DCHS
- DES/BRC/Other
- DES/FBOD
- DES/FMD
- DES/RALS
- DHR
- District Court
- DJA
- DLS/Permitting
- DLS/Roads
- DNRP/DO
- DNRP/Parks
- DNRP/SWD
- DNRP/WLRD
- DNRP/WTD
- DPD
- DPH
- Elections
- Executive Office
- KCIT
- METRO Transit
- PAO
- Sherriff's Office
- Superior Court
- Not Listed
03Please provide your PeopleSoft ID number (drop the beginning zeros). (If you do not know this number, please contact your supervisor or HR person for assistance).04Please indicate your King County employment status below:- Career Service employee
- Regular or Appointed employee
- Civil Service employee
- None of the above
05If you are a career service, regular or civil service employee, have you successfully completed your initial probationary period? (Must be complete by application date. If you are unsure, please ask your HR person for assistance).- Yes
- No
- N/A
06Have you completed at least one year of full- or part-time King County employment in a benefits eligible position? (Must be complete by application date. If you are unsure, please ask your HR person for assistance).- Yes
- No
- Unsure
07Are you represented by a bargaining unit that is a part of the Coalition of Unions? (Go to www.kingcounty.gov/ScholarshipFund for a list of unions in the Coalition who are eligible for the Professional Development Scholarship Fund. You may also ask your HR person).- Yes
- No
- Unsure
08What union are you currently represented by? (If none, enter "N/A").09Is your King County employment currently in good standing? (No documented performance or disciplinary issues within one year from the date of application. If you are unsure, please see your department HR person.)- Yes
- No
- Unsure
10Is this training to help you maintain an existing professional certification or license?- Yes
- No
11If yes to the above, is this certification or license required by your current position?- Yes
- No
- N/A
12Name of Organization providing training:13Type of Organization (select all that apply):- College
- Vocational, Technical, or Trade School
- Conference Sponsor
- Other
14Training organization's website:15List the title of the SPECIFIC training, class or you are seeking scholarship fund for AND which BEGINS on or after September 6, 2019 and BEFORE December 31, 2019. (i.e. Psych 201, Fundamentals of Economics, Intro to Welding: Oxy/SMAW).16Please indicate the START DATE and END DATE for EACH training you have listed. (NOTE: Training MUST START on or after September 6, 2019 and PRIOR to DECEMBER 31, 2019..)17Provide an overview of what you will learn for each SPECIFIC training, class, or workshop listed above. This description should come from the training organization's website, or an excerpt from a course catalog or brochure. DO NOT attach the description.18Please describe your SPECIFIC career goals at King County AND explain how you believe this training will either enhance your work skills and/or support you in meeting your career goals at King County. A thoughtful and complete response is strongly recommended. Examples can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/Scholarshipfund.19The questions below relate to the administration of this program and will not be considered during the application review process.- I understand
20Is the training you have listed in question #16 to assist you in OBTAINING A:- two year college or vocational/technical degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Master's degree
- Doctorate degree
- Professional license
- Professional certification
- none of the above
21What is the ESTIMATED TOTAL COST of the training (ALLOWABLE COSTS include tuition, fees, textbooks, publications and other fees required for class enrollment. Travel, food and accommodation costs are NOT ALLOWED.)22What financial amount has your department agreed to pay towards this training, if any?23List any non-King County sources of financial assistance for this training. Write N/A if you are not receiving any other financial assistance24List the TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT you are requesting from the Professional Development Scholarship Fund up to a maximum of $2,500 AND include an itemized breakdown of the specific costs that the scholarship award funds will be used to cover. (Award request must not exceed the total cost of training less any funding you are receiving from your department or other sources.)25Please do NOT attach a course description, your resume, DD 214, statement of support or a cover letter. Please confirm that you understand.- I have NOT attached any of these documents
26Please ATTACH a copy of your written request to your supervisor asking if department funds are available for your training AND your supervisor/s response including the amount of funds available if any. (The written request must include the name of your supervisor, the title of the training, the name of the training organization, date/s of the training, what you will learn, how this training will be of benefit to you, AND your supervisor's response including the amount of funds available, if any.) NOTE: Applications without this written documentation will be disqualified from further review.- I HAVE ATTACHED a copy of the training request to my supervisor AND his/her response.
27Have you previously received one of the Professional Development Scholarship Awards?- Yes
- No
28Have you created a written career development plan with your supervisor?- Yes
- No
- Unsure
Required Question