New Employees

New employees are required to participate in and complete their professional development within the first six months of being hired (the probationary period). Meeting required professional development means completing the Academy (or from the University perspective, the first two courses offered-Introduction to Child Welfare Practice and Family Violence). To ensure that this happens, at the time of hiring, new employees are given description of the Credit For Learning initiative and the requirements for professional development as part of their employment contract. Each new employee signs a memorandum of understanding related to Credit For Learning and professional development requirements. At this time, new employees also complete a non-degree graduate application (as well as their undergraduate transcript) to either University of Louisville or University of Kentucky. The two universities alternate on enrolling participants into the Credit For Learning classes. By prior agreement, if the employee starts work for the Cabinet in January, March, May, July, September, or November, they complete a UofL application. If the employee starts work in February, April, June, August, October, December, they complete an UK application.

These completed applications are forwarded to EKU from supervisors and regional training coordinators (RTCs) where they are logged/registered onto the state database (TRIS) to document participant enrollment in coursework/professional development. From there, the applications are sent to each university. Once received by the universities, applications are processed and participants are admitted to the university as non-degree graduate students, and then enrolled in the courses.

Tenured Employees

Any tenured employee interested in taking courses through the Credit For Learning is instructed to contact their regional training coordinator (RTC) who determines their eligibility and facilitates their enrollment into the courses offered. Typically, courses for tenured employees are offered at the same dates/times by both UofL and UK so that employees can choose where they prefer to take the course. As with new employees, they complete either a UofL application or UK application depending on the university closest to where they work/live.