Career Development Option

Classes required for credit toward the attainment of an identified academic goal. To be eligible for the Career Development Option, employees first need to apply through Cal State Apply, be accepted and become a student working toward a degree, credential, or certificate. Employees must also meet with an Academic Advisor to complete a Career Development Plan. Depending on operational needs and the CBA, the supervisor may approve one (1) class to be taken on State time.

First-time Career Development Employee

0. Prepare

• Optional: meet with the fee waiver program coordinator to understand your options and fees
• Explore CSU Campuses(opens in new window) and CSU Degress(opens in new window)
• Investigate Majors/Careers(opens in new window), take a Career Assessment(opens in new window) and talk to an academic advisor

1. Apply for Admission

• Apply to be admitted through Cal State Apply(opens in new window). (Please note that the CSU deadlines(opens in new window) apply to employees, and that you will need to pay a $70 application fee.) To request reimbursement, view the One-Time CSU Application Fee Refund Process(opens in new window).
  • Second Bachelor degree seeking employees that wish to submit a CSU application for Chico admissions, should contact Melanie Manes first.
  • Graduate Students follow the Graduate Studies Admissions Process by the posted application deadline. Even as an employee, you will need to meet Graduate Studies requirements.

2. Submit Employee Fee Waiver Forms

• Submit a Faculty and Staff Career Development Plan(opens in new window) (PDF) to Human Resources (zip 0010).
  
  • This form has sections to be completed by the employee and the employee's academic program advisor.
• Submit a Fee Waiver Application for Employees Form(opens in new window) (PDF) to Human Resources (zip 0010).
  
  • This form has sections to be completed by the employee and the employee's supervisor.
  • Human Resources will send a copy to Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions.
  • Undergraduate Admissions or Graduate Admissions will contact the employee. The employee will receive standard admission communications regarding their application status. If admitted, the employee will receive additional communications regarding important dates and deadlines, along with any steps to follow.
• Submit fee waiver forms PRIOR to the fee waiver deadline(opens in new window).

3. Pay Fees

• Pre-pay estimated fees at Student Financial Services Center (SSC), room 230. Tell them you are pre-paying estimated fees for the employee fee Waiver program so they can code the payment properly.
• You must pre-pay fees prior to the payment due date(opens in new window). 

4. Register for classes

• Watch for an "Invitation to Register" in your student wildcat (@mail.csuchico.edu) email account. You may choose to forward your Wildcat email account(opens in new window) to your work (MS Exchange) email account.
• Review information about registering for classes and fee payment deadlines. 

5. Be timely and review your Portal

• Please do all of the above before the fee waiver deadlines(opens in new window) and financial deadlines(opens in new window). Classes may be dropped and/or an overdue payment fee (non-refundable) may be assessed if your fees and forms are not received by the deadlines.
• Check the Portal online to review courses and your student financial aid record. Pay any remaining fees prior to the fee payment deadline.

Graduate

(Has degree and taking grad courses = grad admit)

• If you have had a break in enrollment: Students pursing a master's degree through the Career Development Fee Waiver Program are not required to maintain continuous enrollment for each semester of their program. Instead, they may submit an application, through Cal State Apply by the posted application deadline, to reactivate their student status if they have a break in their coursework enrollment. Contact Fee Waiver Coordinator for process.

Returning Career Development Employees

Each term, submit a Fee Waiver Application for Employees Form (PDF) to Human Resources (zip 0010). Human Resources will send a copy to Undergraduate Admissions or Graduate Studies.

• If you have had a break in enrollment:
  • For undergraduate coursework, contact Admissions for re-submission to the University
  • Students pursuing a master's degree through the Career Development Fee Waiver Program are not required to maintain continuous enrollment for each semester of their program. Instead, they may submit an application, via www.calstate.edu/apply(opens in new window) by the posted application deadline, to reactivate their student status if they have a break in their coursework enrollment. If you are re-applying to re-activate your enrollment contact Graduate Admission Coordinator for assistance.

Each Term, Pre-pay estimated fees at Student Financial Services (SSC), room 230. Tell them you are pre-paying estimated fees for the Employee Fee Waiver program so they can code the payment properly.

Employees Changing, Adding or Deleting Courses

• Re-submit a Fee Waiver Application for Employees(opens in new window) (PDF). In the “Request for Waived Fees” section, check (X) the box indicating, “This is a request to change courses already submitted.
• If courses are being added or deleted to the program, the employee must re-submit a Faculty and Staff Career Development Plan(opens in new window) (PDF) to Human Resources (zip 0010). This form has sections to be completed by the employee and the employee's academic program advisor.