OCSEA member Charael Valentine says that the increase in the Union Education Trust’s benefits will make a big difference paying for her nursing classes. “It’s a big jump. It’s amazing,” Valentine said. “It will mean a lot.”

Charael, an employee at Northwest Ohio Developmental Center has used her UET benefits to earn her LPN and is now studying for her RN at Hondros College of Nursing. She says that the increase will mean a lot to her, especially since she still held a balance following her spring session that made preparing to go back to school in the fall a little hard.

“I was kind of short on my last semester, so I had to pay out of pocket,” Valentine said. “With UET going up, it will help me a lot.”

Eligible state bargaining unit members now have a total of $8,000 in UET benefits each year. In late 2023, the UET’s Trustees approved the $1,750 increase in the UET benefits, beginning with the new fiscal year on July 1, 2024, to offset the rising cost of education. The Trustees’ goal is to make continuing education accessible and affordable to eligible bargaining unit employees. For members like Valentine that means less debt.

“UET is an opportunity for our union members,” said OCSEA member Sherry Little, a UET Trustee. “Go to school, take courses, get credits for degrees! I really hope that our members take advantage of it.”

The new benefits are:

• Career Improvement Program (CIP) to $5,000/FY (increased from $4,000)
• Professional Enhancement (PE) to $2,000/FY (increased from $1,500)
• Computer Application Training (CAT) to $1,000/FY (increased from $750)

Visit uedtrust.org to learn more about your Union Education Trust and start your education journey today thanks to your union-negotiated education assistance.