New Option For Funding I.C.d. Classes

Effective June 2005, Governing Board action presented a third option for funding individual Steelworkers' educational paths (by combining TA and CC funds). Now, the three available options are as follows:

I. Tuition Assistance (TA): A total of $1,800 per year per eligible worker for credit or non-credit courses provided by schools listed in the current "Accredited Institutions of Post-Secondary Education" or by private occupational/vocational schools recognized by State boards of vocational education.
II. Customized Courses (CC): Each participant is limited to $2,000 worth of customized courses per year.
III. Combining TA and CC: Given extenuating circumstances, an LJC may elect to allow up to $3,800 of combined tuition assistance and customized course funds for an individual whose course of study adheres to guideline #1 below. The LJC is responsible for fulfilling all of the following five exception guidelines:

1. In some instances it maybe appropriate for a participating Steelworker to petition the Local Joint Committee (LJC) to spend over the limits of his/her TA and CC yearly allotment in order to complete a specified course of study leading to certification or a degree which is recognized by an accredited national body.

2. The LJC will maintain spending limits in compliance with established Governing Board policy and will consider extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis when reviewing a Steelworker's petition to exceed his/her TA/CC yearly allotment.

3. The LJC will regularly monitor the expenditure of funds from the TA and CC categories to insure that any Steelworker's account does not exceed the limits as established by the ICD Governing Board Policy and as enforced by the LJC and the ICD National Office in Merrillville, IN.

4. If a Steelworker seeks to combine his/her TA and CC funds in accordance with this program issuance, LJCs would be required to (a) secure written approval from the ICD National Office on a case-by-case basis and (b) Maintain an Educational Development Plan (EDP) on file at the site.