Summer months can be just as rich with professional development options as the academic year if you’re looking for new learning opportunities. For benefits-eligible full time staff, the Staff Training Assistance Program (STAP) provides up to $800 per fiscal year (prorated for benefits-eligible part-time staff) for training and skills development related to your current job.

STAP funds expire each year after August 31, so avoid the STAP queue and submit your reimbursement request before August! The best way to get prompt reimbursement of expenses for non-Stanford affiliated expenditures is to register for your course, program, or conference and immediately submit your request for reimbursement.

Check your STAP balance in Axess. If you have funds left in FY15, you can always consult with your manager or local human resources professional to identify which options best support your employee experience, including:

• Career Counseling Network (CCN): Use up to $500 of your annual STAP funds (prorated for part-time staff) to obtain individual career development assistance related to managing your career at Stanford. Professionals in the CCN are familiar with the staff job description library and classification structure.
• Continuing Studies: Even if you’ve used up all your STAP funds this year, you may still be eligible for a 20% discount on dozens of courses. Many courses are held in the evenings or on weekends.
• Health Improvement Program (HIP): Exercise classes and healthy living sessions, some online, are available year-‘round at various locations on and off the main campus. And if you’re participating in the BeWell Employee Incentive Program, you know the classes are super affordable! Most classes allow use of STAP funds and are BeWell Berry-eligible.
• Professional Development from Learning & Organizational Effectiveness: Each quarter, you can hone your interpersonal and workplace-related skills to be even more effective at work with a variety of STAP-eligible training and development workshops. Learning opportunities include webinars, classes and ongoing learning programs for individuals as well as managers and leaders.
• Technology Training: Classroom and webinar training options to enhance your technical skills are STAP-eligible. STAP funds can also be used for technology training on request that provides one-on-one training instruction. Register for the annual August Techie Festival, where you can learn a ton of new approaches and skills in a two-week time period, with all classes eligible for STAP!

Here are some “freebie” professional development options you can take advantage of, too, with no need for STAP funds:

• Career Services: Two online tools are available for your career planning; one that provides career guidance tips and planning tools (click ‘Login to My Career Guidance’) and another that provides career navigation (click ‘Login to My Career Navigation’) using staff job descriptions to help you chart your career aspirations.
• Corporate Executive Board (CEB): All Stanford employees, including SLAC, may request an account to access online tools, templates, webinars and research papers on workplace topics such as organization design, strategic planning, performance management, and more. Tools are especially useful for people managers, human resources professionals and leaders. You must use your "@stanford.edu" or "@slac.stanford.edu" email address when registering. Provided by University Human Resources.
• Lynda.com: Login with your SUNet ID to access hundreds of online courses on hundreds of topics from communication skills to learning how to use Drupal to managing change. Sponsored by University Human Resources, University IT and the Provost’s Office.
• Technology Briefings: Technology Training brings monthly technology briefings to the community each month at no cost; all are welcome to attend. Sessions are held on a range of computing-related topics and always occur on Fridays, 3-4:30 pm in Turing Auditorium.

The STAP funds allocated by the university to be used toward your professional development begin anew each September 1, so keep the continuous learning going strong this summer as we head into FY16.

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