Cooperative Extension: Professional Development

HOW TO PAY FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

New! If your employer is a compact member of the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce, you may be eligible to take this program at no cost to yourself (or your employer!). Click here to learn more.

The most common way to pay for your registration is by credit card when you sign up for a program via our online store.

We also offer the following payment methods:

• Credit Card (via our online store or over the phone, 207.338.8002)
• Invoicing (please contact us for an invoice)
• IDO (please contact us if you’d like to pay by IDO)
• Need-Based Scholarships (apply for a scholarship here)

WHO PAYS?

It depends! We encourage each and every business/nonprofit/entity to invest in their employees’ professional development by setting aside earmarked funds but we recognize that it’s not always possible.

FOR EMPLOYERS

Did you know that statistically, one of the best ways to retain your employees is to provide them with professional development opportunities? Learning new skills can be invigorating and helps to prevent employee burnout—you’ve probably experienced this for yourself. If you’re an employer looking for an affordable way to offer dynamic professional development training to your staff, check out our custom programs, group discount rates (see more information below), and need-based scholarships.

FOR EMPLOYEES

If you’re an employee seeking funding for your professional development, we recommend talking with an HR representative if you have one or your manager, if you don’t. Do your research on the skills you’d like to develop, then positively present your case.

• Define how the skills you’ll learn in the program tie in with strategic, departmental or position goals.
• Describe how the program will impact your job, department, company and the value you’ll be able to add—what skills will you learn and how will that make you a more dynamic employee?
• Demonstrate how the skills you’ll learn will save the company money by increasing efficiency, productivity and concentration (not to mention job satisfaction alone!).
• Research discounts, scholarships, and grant money that can be used toward professional development (you may want to sign up for our email list, to be sure you hear about pop-up sales and special opportunities).

You never know unless you try!

DISCOUNTS

Group Discounts

We offer 15% discounts to groups of eight or more individuals from the same business, company, school, organization, etc. Use code PD15 at checkout (be sure to hit “apply”).

We offer 10% discounts to groups of four to seven individuals from the same business, company, school, organization, etc. Use code PD10 at checkout (be sure to hit “apply”).

Interested in a group discount? Contact us.

Student Discounts

All UMaine students are eligible for 20% discount. Use code STUDENT20 at checkout (be sure to hit “apply”).

Special Discounts

Sign up for our email list to be the first to find out about pop-up sales and other special offers (be sure to note your interests and sector!).

SCHOLARSHIPS

We offer need-based scholarships to people who live or work in Waldo or Knox counties. Learn more about our professional development scholarships here.

Looking for information about academic scholarships? Click here.

REFUNDS

We offer full refunds up until 10 days before a program’s start date. To request a refund, please email us at um.fhc.pd@maine.edu or call 207.338.8002.

Please contact us with any special circumstances.

CANCELLATIONS

If your program is canceled due to low enrollment, we’ll notify you at least three business days before the program is scheduled to begin. You’ll receive a full refund.