NDE supports continuing education for employees in two primary ways: 1) allowing employees to take postsecondary coursework during work time, and 2) reimbursement for job-related postsecondary coursework taken by the employee on non-work time.  Regardless of the option chosen, employees are limited to a maximum seven (7) credit hours each calendar year from postsecondary institutions that award credit on a semester basis, or nine (9) credit hours each calendar year from postsecondary institutions that award credit on a quarter basis, but no more than four (4) credit hours may be taken in any one (1) semester or quarter during work time without loss of pay. 

Approval of college coursework requests must be granted by the immediate supervisor, Office Administrator, Human Resources, and the Deputy Commissioner prior to the course start date.  Availability of office funding and workload demands are pivotal in the consideration of such requests. All payment of coursework reimbursement is the responsibility of the employee’s program, section, or office, as applicable.

NOTE: According to state law, Expense Reimbursements must be submitted within 60 days of the cost accrual (i.e., course end date). For thesis or doctoral dissertations where there is no grade until the end, the employee must wait for reimbursement and the final grade. 

Items that are generally reimbursable include library fees, registration fees, technology fees, distance education fees, or any fees required in order to take the class. Items such as convenience fees are not reimbursable since these are not mandatory, but rather an additional cost associated with the optional use of a personal credit card for tuition payment. Please note: Employees will not be reimbursed for more than the amount of payment or cost of the class (i.e., grants received by the employee are not reimbursable).

Reimbursement will be based on the postsecondary training-college and technical rates in Rule 72 that Nebraska VR uses with clients. Eligibility for reimbursement requires a course grade of "C" or better for undergraduate courses, or a pass for pass/fail courses, or a course grade of "B" or better for graduate courses.

Requests for reimbursement of college coursework expenses or requests to take college coursework on work time must be submitted via the NDE College Coursework Request form.  Specific rules apply regarding either option.  See Article 20 of the Bargaining Agreement or Chapter 15 of the NDE Personnel Rules for more information.  

Please fill out the information to initiate your request to take college coursework and send to NDE HR (NDE.HR@nebraska.gov). HR will then process the request and send through the approval process.  Coursework must be approved prior to course start date.