Training Handbook

Section 2.C.
College Training
Stipend Program

College Training

Section II.   C    Stipend Program

HEAD START of Greater Dallas, Inc. (HSGD) will provide financial assistance to employees, who are attending college, when approved by the CEO and when:
                                             

A. Funds are available, and
B. Such educational activities are presently beneficial to HEAD START or with reasonable certainty will be in the foreseeable future.
OBJECTIVE:
When appropriate funds are available, HEAD START will award a sum of money to employees enrolled in accredited college courses.  The sum is presently $250/semester.  The Chief Executive Officer may discontinue the Stipend program or change the amount at any time without prior notice. 
 
PROCESS:

Application Requirements for the College Stipend
A. The employee must have at least one year of employment with this agency and no major disciplinary actions taken against the employee within the year prior to applying for a stipend award.
B. The employee must submit the following documents to the Training Component
 

1.

 A LETTER REQUESTING STIPEND assistance from the employee and initialed by his/her supervisor.   The letter must:
    a. certify one or more years of employment at HSGD,
    b. name the Degree being pursued,
    c. specify an estimated graduation date and,
    d. state the name(s) of the  present course(s), if not shown on the receipt.
  2.

A TRANSCRIPT copy showing a minimum of twelve hours and a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.8 or better.
  3.

An ENROLLMENT RECEIPT showing current enrollment in classes.
  4.

A copy of the GRADE REPORT at the end of the semester.  The Stipend will be awarded after the end of the semester after the class is completed with a �C� or better.
C. Submit all this information (except the Final Grade Report) after registration and before the end of the semester to the Training team.  Submit the Grade Report after the end of the semester.  If any awards are granted, it will occur after the end of the semester.
D. Dates for submission of Stipend requests and Dates Stipends will be awarded:  
     Fall Semester . . . . . . . . . Requests should be submitted by September 15th. 
     Spring Semester . . . . . . . Requests should be submitted by March 1st.   
Check will be awarded within (60) days after Training receives the Final Grade.
E. Employees will provide the agency with copies s of grade reports after each semester he/she is involved with the Stipend Program.
F. Employees will forfeit any future stipend awards if her/his GPA falls below 2.5.

GUIDELINES:
A. At least one of these stipends must be reserved for any Teacher who applies.  Any time stipends are limited by budget, Teachers� requests will be honored first.
B. The total amount any employee may receive while employed by HSGD may not exceed $600 or three years of education for any degree.
C. The stipend is restricted to the employee taking an accredited college course and being enrolled in a degree program in a local college.
D. The stipend money will be awarded to the employee within sixty days of grade submittal to the Training component.  It is intended to defray the cost of tuition and books.  The agency is not responsible for contacting the college or making payments to the college.
E.

THIS PROGRAM MAY BE SUSPENDED AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, when funds are not available or when it is no longer mutually beneficial to the company and the employee.

F. When funds are limited, teachers will receive awards first based on the following criteria:
  1.

Longevity  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1 point per year  
     (Length of present employment)
  2.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) . . . . 1 point per .5   
     (GPA in Degree Plan)
  3.

Percent of Degree Completion . . . . . . . . . . .  3/4 point per 10%
  4.

Average Hours per semester taken . . . . . . . . .1 point per Hour    
     (Average - enrolled semesters - not counting full-time enrollment when not employed Full-time)
  After the first teacher has been accepted for a stipend, then all applicants (teachers and non-teachers) will compete, based upon the criteria shown above.
G. Applications will be screened by the Training component to ensure compliance with required criteria.  Applications meeting the basic requirements will be submitted to a �Stipend Committee� for approval.
H. Stipend Committee
  1.

a representative from the Training component
  2. at least one Director or Associate Director
  3. a Manager, Supervisor, or Senior Accountant from Finance
  4. a representative from Staff Development or Human Resources
I. It shall be the responsibility of the Stipend Committee to determine stipend recipients when their criteria (shown in Item F above) are equal.  Such awards will be in the best interest of the agency.

                                                          

�Let no one be deluded that knowledge of the path can substitute
for putting one foot in front of the other.�
 M. C. Richards

Return to Training Page      Training Handbook