• Overview
• Who is eligible?
• For what kind of courses will grants be given?
• What expenses are covered?
• How do I apply?
• When should I apply? (Application deadline)
• Reimbursement
• What Career Planning Resources are available to me?
• Contact Information

Overview
The WINGS program provides financial assistance for the professional and career development of the School’s career staff employees. The program’s goal is to aid in developing skills, knowledge and other qualities that prepare career staff employees for career growth within the University.

The Dean provides annual funding in support of the employee development grant program. The School of Medicine endorses paid release time for courses that cannot be scheduled outside of work hours. This is ultimately left up to management’s discretion, as release time may not always be feasible due to operational necessity. The Office of Human Resources Services will administer the application, selection, and reimbursement process on a quarterly basis.

Who is eligible?
Throughout the application, review and award processes, the applicant must be an SOM career staff employee, who works 50% or more time, has completed their probationary period, has a current performance evaluation rating of satisfactory or better, and who is on pay status.

For what kind of courses will grants be given?
WINGS provides tuition assistance for “career-related programs.” Career–related programs are those that prepare an employee for additional assignments or positions within the University. Examples include:

• Degree or certificate-granting programs in such fields as management, finance or biotechnology.
• Workshops or seminars in areas such as management, human resources or organizational development.
• Conferences focusing on the latest updates or advances in technology or therapies for employees working in a related field.

Awards will be granted to all successful applicants for one course before any applicant will receive a grant for a second course. No more than 2 courses will be funded in a single quarter. Also, these funds are meant to support actual courses and cannot be used in support of thesis activities or practicums. Finally, WINGS will not provide more than one grant for the same course, and will also not provide assistance for entrance exam preparation programs such as the MCAT, GRE, etc, or professional licensure programs or costs.

What expenses are covered?
WINGS will provide grants not to exceed $2,000 per fiscal year for each employee-participant to cover tuition costs. WINGS will not provide grant money for books, lab fees, travel-related expenses or any other non-tuition related expense.

How do I apply?
This is a two-step process. Step 1: Fill out an on-line WINGS application and click “submit”; your application will be automatically forwarded to your supervisor. At this point, your application is "pending". Step 2: Once your supervisor fills out his/her portion of your application, you will receive an e-mail confirmation that your application is complete and will be forwarded to the WINGS administrator for review. For those who cannot use the preferred online application, attached is the application form.

Choose your class(es) carefully. WINGS approves grant applications based on a review of the specific class(es) for which funding has been requested. WINGS is not able to retroactively allow for course changes or substitutions.

When should I apply?/Application Deadline

The WINGS program has quarterly application deadlines which are listed below. The class(es) must commence in the quarter associated with the application deadline. Please apply as early as possible, since the 2-step process requires your supervisor to fill out his/her section of your application and submit it to us before the deadline. In no case is WINGS able to consider an application received after the deadline date.

Reimbursement
If you are awarded a WINGS grant, you must complete a WINGS Reimbursement form within 60 days of completing your course or we will assume that you are not taking the approved course and your grant will be forfeited.

Send the completed form with the following documents to the WINGS program coordinator:

• Copy of the original WINGS grant letter you received
• Proof of course enrollment and successful course completion, C or better, if applicable (grade report, certificate of completion, etc.)
• Proof that course payment was made directly by the applicant (tuition receipt, school financial statement, paid invoice showing applicant paid course fees, etc.)
• A brief statement describing what you learned from the course(s) and how you will apply what you’ve learned to your career here at the University.

NOTE: You must still be an eligible employee (defined above) at the time reimbursement is made.

What Career Planning Resources are available to me?
One source of information about advancement is Getting There From Here, a Guide to Career Mobility at UCSF.

You may also refer to the UCSF-HR training site for additional planning resources.

Contact Information

If you have other questions, please contact the WINGS program coordinator, Cera-Lyn Sera, at 415-502-2408 or e-mail her at SeraCL@medsch.ucsf.edu