Staff: Submit your Professional Development Fund claims by March 1

A reminder to staff and research associates to use available professional development (PD) funding.  

For the current PD funding year (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024), staff and research associates are welcome to submit claims on a first-come, first-served basis until the annual funding pools are exhausted or by March 1, whichever comes first.  

This year we anticipate that the PD funding pools, with the exception of the PD Fund for Non-union Technicians and Research Assistants employee group, will accommodate eligible claim submissions up to the March 1 year-end deadline.  

Please note that as of November 9, 2023, the PD Fund for Non-union Technicians and Research Assistants exhausted and was closed to claim submissions for the current funding year. 

Deadline for submitting your PD Fund claims in Workday: March 1 

Professional Development Fund claims are entered, reviewed, and approved directly in Workday. To meet UBC Finance fiscal year-end deadlines: 

• If you are staff or a Research Associate, please submit your reimbursement claim in Workday by Friday, March 1. 
• If you are a manager or supervisor, please review and approve all claims in Workday no later than Friday, March 15. 

PD Funds are intended to support learning activities that will enhance your workplace knowledge or skills and support your career growth at the university. Prior to making purchase or submitting a claim for reimbursement, check the Professional Development Funding page for fund guidelines as well as any updates on remaining funding pool balances.  

PD Fund claims will not be accepted in Workday from March 2 to March 31. Claim submissions will commence again on April 1, 2024, at the start of the new funding year.  

Resources

Guides on how to use your PD funds are available in the Workday Knowledge Base (CWL required): 

• View My Professional Development Funds 
• Claim Expenses Against My PD Funds 
• Transfer PD Funds Reimbursement to my Department 

For additional Workday resources and help, see Get Workday Support in the UBC Self Service Portal. 

Notes:

• Please confirm that your PD Fund Reimbursable Allowance Plan is assigned in Workday. (See View My Professional Development Funds) If you plan to make a claim and your PD Fund plan is not currently assigned, submit a Workday support request as soon as possible to have this issue resolved. On Workday your support request, please select the category HCM/HR and then Professional Development Fund as the subcategory. 
• BCGEU Okanagan Support Staff: Please refer to the BCGEU Okanagan PD Fund webpage for application process prior to submitting a claim. In Workday, Manager approval of claim step does not apply.
• Faculty: The funding timelines, deadlines and budgetary considerations noted above do not apply to faculty, apart from Research Associates. Visit the Faculty Professional Development Funding page for information.