ARTICLE 4.    BENEFIT AND LEAVE PROGRAMS            EFFECTIVE DATE:  05/04/98
RULE 412.       EDUCATION ASSISTANCE                            REVISED DATE:  08/14/02

A.    GENERAL: The Superior Court recognizes that the skills and knowledge of its employees are
        important to the organization's success. The education assistance program encourages professional 
        development through formal education so that employees can maintain and improve job-related skills 
        or enhance their ability to compete for reasonably attainable jobs within the Superior Court.

B.    EMPLOYEE ELIGIBILITY: Full and part-time employees in regular positions may apply for 
        educational assistance upon successful completion of the probationary period.

C.    COURSE ELIGIBILITY: In order for an employee to receive educational reimbursement, all of 
        the following must apply:

        1.    Courses for which educational assistance is sought must be required for completion of a degree, 
               licensing or certification program which is related to the employee's current position or a reasonably 
               foreseeable future position in the Superior Court. When doubt exists, the Division Head shall make 
               the determination of applicability of the involved coursework.

        2.    Requests for educational reimbursement must be submitted to the Division Head for approval 
                at least two (2) weeks prior to the beginning of the class. 

        3.    The employee must complete the course, with a "C" or better for graded courses or a "Pass" for 
                "Pass/Fail" courses prior to submitting for reimbursement.

        4.    The employee must remain on the active payroll for the duration of the course in order to maintain 
                eligibility.

D.    REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES:

        1.    Up to fifty percent (50%) of tuition, required texts, workbooks or required materials and activity expenses 
                may be reimbursed.

E.    LIMITATIONS:

        1.    Employees who do not remain on the active payroll for the duration of the course, who receive 
               less than a "C" in a graded course or a "Fail" for a "Pass/ Fail" class shall be ineligible for 
               reimbursement.

        2.    Employees who receive education assistance, and who fail for any reason to remain in Judicial or 
               Mohave County employment for one (1) year following completion of the class, shall reimburse the 
               Court for the full amount of education assistance provided to them.

        3.    Granting of educational assistance in no way implies eligibility for advancement, alternative job 
               assignments, classification or pay increase.

        4.    The Court reserves the right to limit payment amounts and eligible reimbursable expenses to any 
               individual employee.

        5.    Education assistance is further subject to availability of sufficient funds as determined by the 
               Division Head or Presiding Judge.