Education Attainment

Education Attainment 

Procedure

Durham Technical Community College (Durham Tech) champions learning and success for its students and employees. The College encourages employees to further their education through the completion of degree programs, attainment of advanced degrees and preferred professional certifications. Permanent full-time employees who complete an academic degree higher than the one held at the time of their initial offer of employment or complete a preferred professional certification are eligible to receive a salary increase according to the following guidelines: 

• During periods of limited budget availability, the Administration may declare a moratorium on implementing pay increases for earned higher degrees and certifications with the provision that employees who otherwise qualify would receive their increase at the beginning of the next fiscal year after which funds become available. In such cases, no retroactive increase will be provided to compensate for the moratorium period. 
   

• Employees must receive approval in writing (Tuition Reimbursement Application) from the appropriate Vice President before the coursework begins, which indicates that additional compensation may be forthcoming subsequent to the credential being awarded. 
   

• Degrees must be conferred by institutions of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and must be directly related to the employees’ work at the College.
   

• Acceptable degrees for salary increase consideration are associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.
   

• Preferred professional certifications for salary increase consideration include but may not be limited to Automotive Technology, HVAC, Human Resources, Information Technology, Law Enforcement, Nursing, etc.
   

• Employees must discuss their preferred credential or degree attainment with their supervisor prior to contacting Human Resources Talent Management. 
   

• Employees must submit their salary increase request to Human Resources and Talent Management within six (6) months of completing their degree program or attaining their preferred professional certification. 
   

•  Employees must provide an official transcript with evidence of coursework completion and the degree or credential awarded.
   

• No increase shall be given for the attainment of the next higher degree to employees hired with the written understanding that completion of such a degree is a condition for continued employment.
   

• Education attainment salary increases will be implemented at the beginning of the next fiscal year.  Employees who are candidates to receive an additional or advanced degree must notify the Director, Human Resources and Talent Management by June 30 to be eligible to receive the salary increase on the next effective date (July 1).
   

• All advanced degree or preferred professional certification salary increases are based on funding availability and subject to the approval of the Vice President, Chief Talent and Equity Officer and Vice President, Chief Finance Officer.
   

• Annual pay increases shall be as follows:

• Employees will not receive additional monetary compensation for multiple degrees at the same and/or lower level of attainment unless the additional degrees enhance skills necessary for their current position. 
   
• Employees who receive an education attainment salary increase will maintain their eligibility for salary increases related to state mandates.
   
• Recipients who receive an education attainment salary increase must remain employed at Durham Technical Community College for at least one year after receiving the monetary compensation.
   
• Recipients who voluntarily separate from employment or are involuntarily separated from employment at Durham Technical Community College within one year of receiving an education attainment salary increase will have the prorated amount deducted from their final paycheck.
   

Definition

Fiscal Year – A fiscal year is a twelve-month period of time that a company or government uses for accounting purposes to measure its financial performance. The College’s fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30.

Full-time Employees – College employees who work at least thirty (30) hours per week. Full-time employees who work thirty (30) to thirty-nine (39) hours per week earn leave on a prorated basis; all other benefits are the same for all full-time employees regardless of time worked each week

Preferred Professional Certification – Industry related credentials that verify someone’s knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform a specific job.