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The University encourages its employees to undertake further education and all full-time and fractional continuing employees and all full-time and fractional fixed term employees appointed on a minimum 12 month contract may apply to receive study assistance from the University when undertaking an approved program of study.
Study assistance is limited to a program of study for the award of postgraduate qualifications, degrees, diplomas, certificates (including TAFE or other Registered Training Organisation), or other approved qualifications.
The study must be related directly to the employee's current primary duties and/or likely career progression within USQ. For undergraduate study at least 50% of the program must satisfy this requirement and for postgraduate study at least 75%.
For the employee to be eligible for assistance, the study must be undertaken at USQ except where the University does not offer a comparable program. Employees undertaking study at an institution other than USQ, must submit written justification to the Executive Director (Human Resources) for approval or otherwise.
Study may be undertaken by on-campus, external or on-line mode. Decisions about enrolment will normally emerge from the setting of goals in the BUILD performance review process or other staff development discussions between the employee and supervisor.
There are two forms of study assistance:
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Time release - to the equivalent of two (2) hours per course per week with a maximum of four (4) hours per week per semester of study (except during semester breaks) regardless of the mode of study approved, up to a maximum of four (4) courses per year;
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Financial assistance - financial assistance consists of a taxable allowance paid through the University payroll upon evidence of successful completion to a maximum of four (4) courses per year regardless of the fee status or structure, payable on proof of successful completion of the course/s of study from the institution. No other financial assistance will be provided.
Employees appointed on a fractional basis will receive financial assistance and time release on a pro rata basis only, as determined by their fraction of appointment.
Where an eligible employee requests both forms of study assistance, the relevant Delegate must approve both forms of assistance, ie the employee must receive both financial assistance and time release, not one or the other. The Study Assistance Guidelines provide help for managers and supervisors in managing the time release aspect of study assistance, particularly where they may have a large number of employees studying at the same time.
Applications for study assistance are called by Human Resources on a semesterly basis and must be made on the ‘Application for Study Assistance' form in advance of the commencement of each semester, with the exception of year long courses where applications will be made at the beginning of the year. Applications must be accompanied by proof of enrolment in a course. Before commencement of study, applications will be forwarded to the relevant supervisor for recommendation to the Category 4 Delegate or above.
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