Professional Development Reimbursement (UGFA Unit 2)

Note: The Professional Development Reimbursement for UGFA Unit 2 Members is being replaced with the Flexible Spending Account as of December 31, 2019. All UGFA Unit 2 PDR claims must be submitted no later than January 31, 2020.

In the interest of staff development, the University provides a Professional Development Reimbursement to all regular full-time (including reduced workload) and Temporary Full Time Members who have completed one academic year and who are actively employed on September 15 each year. The amount available is as follows:

For more information, consult Article 40.6 of the UGFA Unit 2 Collective Agreement.

Eligible Expenditures

Each eligible Member is allotted the sum for Professional Development Reimbursement per fiscal year (May 1 to April 30). Reimbursement charged to this allotment must be for actual expenses incurred and must be supported by actual receipts consistent with University reimbursement procedures. The use of these funds must relate directly to the Member's teaching, scholarship or Administration under his/her general University responsibilities. Eligible expenses are: 

1. books, manuscripts, subscriptions, equipment, software, instruments, or materials, all of which become the property of the University;
2. tuition fees for professional training courses;
3. travel and costs for meetings or professional activities such as conferences;
4. membership dues in professional associations or learned societies;
5. scholarly assistance such as computer time.

Operation

• The claim period is from May 1 to December 31.
• An employee may submit two claims per claim period, using a Personal Expense Claim form, authorized by the Director, to Revenue Control with original receipts.
• If an employee has a single purchase expense that exceeds the annual PDR, they may carry it forward for reimbursement for a maximum of two further years. Employees must maintain the associated carry forward records and receipts. Nevertheless, employees may not carry unspent PDR funds forward to future years.
• Two or more individuals may pool their PDRs for larger purchases. They may only claim for expenses in the current year.

Prorated PDR for new, retiring or reduced workload employees

For College Professors and College Research Professors who are on approved reduced workload NOT related to medical or human rights reasons, PDR shall be pro-rated in accordance with the Member's percentage workload.

For newly appointed College Professors and College Research Professors, hired after September 15th, a pro-rated amount calculated as: (Months remaining to December 31st from Date of Hire/8) x (Annual PDR Allocation) shall be made for the initial PDR fund allotted.

College Professors and College Research Professors who are retiring or resigning shall receive in their year of retirement/resignation a pro-rated amount calculated as: (Number of months worked in final PDR year) / (8 x Annual PDR allocation).