Lifelong Learning and Educational Access Program (LLEAP)

Policy Number: HR-4106-002

Policy Title:  Lifelong Learning and Educational Access Program (LLEAP)

Vice Chancellor/Associate Chancellor:  Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services

Unit Responsible for Policy: UIC Human Resources

Effective Date: November 10, 2016

Contact:  Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources

Policy Statement: The University of Illinois at Chicago will offer all eligible employees access to the Lifelong Learning and Educational Access Program (LLEAP). LLEAP will allow employees the freedom to participate in approved educational Development Activities of their choice with their manager’s approval. Mandatory training needs or requirements are not eligible Development Activities under the LLEAP program. To incentivize participation, eligible employees who participate in the LLEAP program can choose to receive one of the following benefits each year that they participate: partial reimbursement for Development Activities or coursework, Flex Time, or Release Time. Employees will be provided with more detail about their benefit options through guidance provided by UIC Human Resources and/or their department/unit. Departments/units must provide the benefits that eligible employees choose if those requests were approved. If for budgetary reasons the benefits cannot be provided, the unit’s supervising vice chancellor’s office should be contacted by the requesting department/unit.

The professional development activity must be approved at the managerial level. Managers and/or supervisors can choose to deny requests due to timing of work schedules, budgetary constraints, or staff shortages.

Reason for Policy:  To incentivize UIC employees to engage in the Lifelong Learning and Educational Access Program (LLEAP). LLEAP provides employees with opportunities to participate in educational development and skill enhancement activities which go beyond the mandatory training needed to perform their current job duties. The program’s goal is to provide general professional development and career advancement for employees.

Minority Impact Statement: The policy does not have a disproportionate or unique effect on UIC’s minority students, faculty, or staff.

Who Should Read the Policy:  Permanent, non-faculty academic and open-range Civil Service employees who have worked at UIC for at least one year. Employees with less than a 100% appointment are also eligible to participate on a prorated basis.

Definitions:  

• Release time: Paid time away from work. Employees who utilize release time are not required to “make up” hours or use vacation time.

• Flex time: Adjustments to employee’s daily work hours. The same number of hours must be worked within the workday, but the start and end time may be earlier or later than the normally scheduled time.

• Development activities: Courses, seminars, or conferences that have a clear educational development purpose. Examples include courses offered at UIC, courses offered at other colleges or universities, online courses, seminars, and workshops. Recreational activities are not considered to be development activities.

Procedures:  View UIC Human Resources procedures.

Forms: View UIC Human Resources forms.

Document History: Updated version of UIC HR #603, effective 1/14/2018; revised 9/1/2013

Approved by: Committee on Policy
Approval date: November 10, 2016
Approved as: Updated Policy (supersedes Policy UIC #603)