FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Who Can Take Human Resource Development Center Programs?
- Why Should I Choose Programs and Services from the Human Resource Development Center?
- What Other Options Are There for Professional Development Besides the Programs in this Catalog?
- How Do I Pay for a Program?
- How Can I Receive a Confirmation of a Direct Bill?
- How Can I Get in Touch with the Human Resource Development Center?
- What Should I Do If I'm Registered for a Program, but I Can't Attend Due to Illness?
- What Happens if I Get to a Program and Find Out That I'm Not Registered?
- Is There a Record of the ProgramsI've Attended?
- What Happens if a Program is Cancelled?
- Transfers
Who Can Take Human Resource Development Center Programs?
Human Resource Development Center (HRDC) programs are offered for all Penn State employees. Penn State provides release time for faculty and staff to attend Human Resource Development Center programs for the purpose of improving job performance or increasing promotional opportunities. During release time, faculty and staff are released from normal duties and responsibilities and are compensated at regular pay.
Why Should I Choose Programs and Services from Human Resource Development Center?
HRDC programs and services are specifically designed for Penn State employees and units. Program content and HRDC presenters are consistently rated highly by participants. We take your feedback seriously and continuously improve what we do to meet your needs. The bottom line: Human Resource Development Center gives you the best programs for a reasonable cost. Over 12,000 people participate in Human Resource Development Center programs each year. We encourage you to ask one of them!
What Other Options Are There for Professional Development Besides the Programs in this Catalog?
Check out Human Resource Development Center brochures that come to you in the mail. Throughout the year, we offer additional opportunities to connect you with special events such as national conferences and new programs we develop with University partners.
Books, videos, and audiotapes give you the option of learning at your own pace and place. The Human Resource Development Center library has a wide variety of materials available to you at no charge (see Lending Services on the Services web page).
How Do I Pay for a Program?
You may register for Human Resource Development Center programs either on our web site Programs page or with a printed form, such as the one in the back of the Human Resource Development Center Programs Catalog entitled Professional Development Opportunities For Faculty And Staff Programs and Services For You. Please follow the registration and payment instructions provided with each option. Regardless of how you register, you may use either of two payment options:
- Personal check [payable to Penn State]
- Direct bill to department
In choosing a payment option you are agreeing to adhere to Human Resource Development Center registration policies. If you choose the direct bill option, the payment approval process varies somewhat depending on how you register:
- Printed registration form: Complete the printed form and obtain signatures from your budget administer/executive and financial officer.
- On-line registration: Since signatures by your budget administer/executive and financial officer are not required by the on-line form, a copy of your registration will be sent to your finance office. However, prior to your registration, you are responsible for obtaining any approvals required in your unit. Please be sure that you are authorized and that you understand your unit's policy for the direct bill payment option. If your unit refuses to pay for this transaction, your registration will be cancelled. If you have any questions, please contact your Human ResourcesRepresentative.
How Can I Receive a Confirmation of a Direct Bill?
If you register on-line, a copy of your registration will be sent to your unit's finance office. This copy may be used to confirm the direct bill for your registration. When registering with a printed form, your finance office may use a copy of your completed registration form for its records, or call (814) 865-7922 to request a direct bill confirmation for your registration fee.
How Can I Get in Touch with the Human Resource Development Center?
Human Resource Development Center
The Pennsylvania State University
Box 20 James M. Elliott Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 865-8216
Fax: (814) 865-3522
Email: HRDC@psu.edu
What Should I Do If I'm Registered for a Program, but I Can't Attend Due to Illness?
If you are unable to attend a program for which you are registered, you may:
- Send a substitute. (Substitutions cannot be made for Administrative Computing Programs.)
- Call (814) 865-8216 so the Human Resource Development Center can accommodate others on the waiting list.
Unless otherwise noted, refunds will be given for cancellations made at least two weeks before the start of the program. If an emergency prevents you from attending a program, try to find someone else in your unit who can attend in your place and then inform the Human Resource Development Center. If you can't locate a substitute, call the Human Resource Development Center right away at (814) 865-8216 to discuss alternate arrangements.
What Happens if I Get to a Program and Find Out That I'm Not Registered?
Inform the presenter, remain for the program, and print your full name and work unit on the sign-in sheet during the class. Your unit will be direct billed after the program.
Is There a Record of the ProgramsI've Attended?
Your own personal transcript can be viewed and printed from our web site. From our home page just choose the "Review Your Transcript" link and log-in with your Penn State Access Account (UserID and password).
What Happens if a Program is Cancelled?
Every attempt will be made to conduct all programs, although the Human Resource Development Center reserves the right to cancel when necessary. If this happens, you will be contacted via email or phone, and your department will not be billed. You will be refunded if you have paid for a cancelled program with a personal check.
Transfers
Sometimes it is possible to transfer from one program section to another. In cases where the transfer request is made more than two weeks before the program, please contact Human Resource Development Center to transfer to another program. In cases where the request is made less than two weeks before the program, please contact Human Resource Development Center to discuss options.
Transfers are only applicable within the same fiscal year. Due to work areas' financial approval policies, we are unable to honor transfers between fiscal years. Please check the date before requesting the transfer.