Welcome to the 2001 HORIZONS Training & Retraining program, a joint effort with CWA - District 9, AT&T West (Pacific and Nevada Bell.) Important information is contained in this package that will assist you in understanding the guidelines of the program and help you to select appropriate training or retraining. The HORIZONS staff looks forward to working with you and this valuable resource.

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Mission Statement

The Mission of the Pacific Bell, Nevada Bell and CWA HORIZONS Program, bargained again in the 2001 contract, is to empower CWA-represented, regular full and part time employees, with at least one year of service and employees who leave the Company under Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.07 and Article 8, to supplement their existing occupational skills and knowledge so they will be more competitive for different jobs within Pacific/Nevada Bell or change occupational direction through a new job outside of AT&T West (Pacific and Nevada Bell.)

Plan

As a result of 2001 bargaining between Pacific Bell, Nevada Bell, and CWA, it was agreed that the companies and CWA would continue the HORIZONS Program. It was also agreed that the Program would be jointly revised and administered by the Training / Retraining Working Committee. HORIZONS is in addition to any other training opportunities provided by the companies, e.g., job related training, Tuition Aid, etc.

 

Participant Criteria

To participate in the HORIZONS Program, you must be a:

• CWA-represented regular full or regular part time non-salaried employee with at least one year of service;
• CWA-represented full or part time non-salaried employee who has left or will leave Pacific or Nevada Bell under Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.07 or Article 8 of the CWA Contract, between April 1, 2001 and March 31, 2004.  
• CWA-represented full or part time non-salaried employee with less than one (1) year of service, who is in a surplus work group as defined in Section 2.06B1a.

Memorandum of Agreement

"The Companies and the Union agree to the following regarding Horizons eligibility for regular employees in surplus work groups who have less than one (1) year of service:

"Regular employees in surplus work groups as defined in Section 2.06B1a who have less than one (1) year of service will be treated the same as employees with one (1) or more years of service for the purposes of administering the Horizons program. Such treatment will begin for employees with less than one (1) year of service when their surplus work group is notified of the surplus condition as described in Section 2.06B1.

"This Memorandum of Agreement will be subject to termination in accordance with the Conclusion Article of the 2001 collective bargaining agreement. Either party may cancel this Memorandum of Agreement with 30 days written notice.

Date: 2-5-01"

You are not eligible to participate if you are on Disability, Leave of Absence, Worker's Compensation, or a temporary promotion.

Program Criteria

The following criteria will help you to understand the changes to the revised HORIZONS Program. Please review this information carefully. Additional details are listed in the Question and Answer portion of this package.

• All Training will be completed on the participants' own time.
• The start date of the HORIZONS Program is April 1, 2001.
• Participants may spend up to $1,200.00 for the calendar year of 2003, on a first-come, first-served basis, or until such time as the funds are exhausted.
• Funding will cover Tuition, required books, and fees only at accredited schools or schools that are licensed and approved to operate in the State of California.
• Participants will be approved for only one course at a time.
• All courses must be pre-approved by HORIZONS.
• Participants must apply a minimum of 15 business days prior to the course start date. You must receive an Authorization to Spend form prior to attending any course or purchase of any required book(s).
• All participants must complete the Career Objective section on the HORIZONS application form. Employees are encouraged to seek career guidance before selecting courses, as all training must be related to the Career Objective.
• Funding will not be allowed by physical education, recreational or hobby courses. See Program Exclusion List below.
• Former employees must submit an application to the HORIZONS office within 120 days of leaving the payroll (Separation must be during the life of this contract).
• Proof of completing the course must be on file with HORIZONS before the participant may apply for additional classes. Submitting proof of completion is the responsibility of the employee.

 

Career Exploration

Career Exploration of an individual's skills, knowledge, interests and aptitudes is strongly encouraged prior to using HORIZONS. Such exploration could include self-administered assessments, participation in career exploration workshops or individual career counseling. The AT&T Career Center may be contacted on 888-355-2227 for help in this area.
Participants also have the option of obtaining this assistance externally from an Accredited, Licensed Career Counselor or Institution. Participants electing to use external career guidance services will need to fill out an application and receive an Authorization To Spend before obtaining these services.

Training Criteria

Employees may participate in any approved occupational course or program to enhance their skills and knowledge for a job within or outside of AT&T West (Pacific and Nevada Bell.) HORIZONS is not intended to replace training which is normally provided on the job for your current assignment.

All participants must begin training in their approved course within 90 calendar days of the Authorization To Spend (ATS) date. At the end of 90 days, the ATS will expire and the participant will need to repeat the application and approval process.

Loss of Eligibility

Participants may lose eligibility in the program for the life of the existing contract if they are disqualified from attendance at any school or program due to poor performance or unsuccessful completion of courses. For former employees, this loss of eligibility would be permanent.

 

HORIZONS Program Exclusions

The following items are not normally covered under the HORIZONS Program. The Working Committee reserves the right to modify this list as necessary.

• Hobbies/Recreation, e.g., private pilot training, including ground school, sailing, horseback riding, scuba diving, etc.,
• Any non-occupational training, e.g., music lessons, voice lessons, dance lessons, etc.,
• Testing or Certification expenses, e.g., finger printing, real estate exams, CBEST test, LSAT test, etc.,
• Test Preparation classes,
• Personal enrichment courses, e.g., memory, yoga, sewing, art, single cooking classes, photography, woodworking, stress management.

The following are not covered under the HORIZONS Program. The Working Committee reserves the right to modify this list as necessary.

• Tuition Aid eligible education, e.g., first undergraduate programs that meet the criteria of the Tuition Aid plan, general education requirements, etc. See Tuition Aid Web Site for more details.
• Transportation, lodging, meals, parking,
• Self-defense training, e.g., pepper spray training, mace training, karate,
• Tours, excursions, cruises,
• First Aid/CPR,
• Defensive Driving,
• Purchase or rental of any equipment, vehicle, uniform, kit, tools, gasoline, computers, lockboxes, etc.,
• Optional books and/or supplies, e.g., dictionaries, disks, other school supplies,
• Medical exams,
• Reimbursements at any institution, book store, etc. All expenses incurred must be through direct billing with an Approval on file.
• Authorizations over 90 days,
• Separated employees not covered by Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.07 or Article 8 of the contract,
• Insurance Bonding,
• Any school not authorized in advance by HORIZONS.

 

Special Information for Participants Attending a College or University

HORIZONS understands that it may sometimes be difficult to obtain the original classes you desired due to full classrooms or cancellations at colleges or universities. If upon enrollment you find your class is not available, you may enroll in a different class as long as it is in alignment with your Career Objective. If your class changes from the original one that was approved by HORIZONS, you must contact the HORIZONS staff at 1-800-901-6135 and obtain a Change Approval form. Upon receipt, complete the form and return it to the HORIZONS office. If HORIZONS does not receive the Change Approval form, there is no guarantee that the class will be approved.

If you are unsure if a class is in alignment with your Career Objective or if a class meets HORIZONS qualifications, you should call the HORIZONS office before enrolling and talk with an Administrator.

HORIZONS does not replace Tuition Aid. If you are applying for courses normally covered by Tuition Aid, your application will be returned so that you may submit for normal Tuition Aid processing.

Questions and Answers

How do I get started? Complete Sections I and II of the HORIZONS Application. Make sure all sections are complete and accurate. Read Section III carefully and sign. You may then fax or mail your application to the HORIZONS office at (fax) 925-277-1811, 2600 Camino Ramon, 2N200EE, San Ramon, CA 94583.

When can I enroll in a class? You must submit your application a minimum of 15 business days prior to the start date of the class. Once your class is approved, you will receive an Authorization To Spend (ATS) notice from the HORIZONS office. This document will be required by the provider of training in order to enroll and/or to purchase required books.

What do I do with my Authorization To Spend form when I receive it? Submit your Authorization To Spend form to the training institution when you enroll. To obtain books, you must make a copy of the form and submit it to the bookstore.

Does an ATS form have an expiration date? Yes. The ATS is good for 90 calendar days. If you do not begin training in the approved course within that time frame, your authorization will be cancelled. If you still wish to take the course, you must repeat the application process. If you enroll in training after your ATS form expires, you will be responsible for payment to the vendor.

 

Does this program replace other Company training programs? No. This program is in addition to existing training opportunities such as tuition aid or job-related training. If you have been denied tuition aid and are applying for HORIZONS funding, you will be asked to submit a copy of the denied request (Form SW1087) and it will be confirmed.

How do I obtain an application form? Application forms are available through Fax-On-Demand at 1-888-354-6547. After connection, press #2, #1, then #4 and follow the prompts to request Item Code #137 to obtain a CWA HORIZONS application. Within 5 minutes, you will receive an application via your fax machine. Applications are also available at CWA local offices, the AT&T Career Center, and the HORIZONS office at 2600 Camino Ramon, 2N200EE, San Ramon, CA.

The course I'm interest in offers equipment such as a computer to the student. Will HORIZONS pay for the equipment? No. Tax regulations prohibit HORIZONS from funding equipment which may be retained by the employee after course completion. This includes hardware, software, calculators, tools, etc. See attached list of Exclusions for more details.

I enrolled in a course without an ATS form after the previous HORIZONS program closed. Can I be reimbursed for my expenses? No. There are no reimbursements under the HORIZONS program. All approved schools and vendors have direct billing agreements with Pacific Bell so that a participant will not have to pay for tuition or required books in advance. Do NOT attend any class until you have received an ATS form from HORIZONS.

What if I fail or drop a class? Unsuccessful completion of a course will not result in the necessity for you to repay the tuition, books or fees to the Plan, however, it may exclude you from further participation in the HORIZONS Program. Each individual case must be reviewed by the HORIZONS Working Committee for final disposition.

 

The course I want to take costs more than the allotment. Will HORIZONS defer the excess amount of my bill until next year? No. You are allowed up to $1,200.00 per calendar year (unless the funds are exhausted). The Governance Board determines what amount will be allotted for the following year. If a course exceeds the allotment, you will be responsible for the additional amount over and above the allotment.

What exactly will HORIZONS pay for? HORIZONS will only pay for tuition, required books, and required fees.

Why was I requested to write a letter to the Working Committee for a course that I want to take? This situation occurs most frequently when you request funds for courses unrelated to the telecommunications industry. Corporate training programs must meet government tax guidelines. Any course that could be interpreted as a hobby is subject to scrutiny, even though it is a legitimate profession. The HORIZONS Working Committee may request additional information from you to substantiate your request for funds. The Working Committee will review your information and make a decision based on your previous experience in the field and your career goals. The more information you can provide, the better. Your information is kept on file in the event of an audit.

 

I'm taking courses through Tuition Aid. Tuition Aid will not pay for my books. Can I use my HORIZONS fund to pay for my books? No. HORIZONS may not support Tuition Aid. HORIZONS was negotiated as a separate program and cannot fund books for courses paid by Tuition Aid. HORIZONS will only pay for required books associated with approved HORIZONS classes.

On the application, it asks for my career objective. How should I complete this section? The HORIZONS Program was created to help employees supplement their existing occupational skills and knowledge or change occupational direction through a new job outside of AT&T West (Pacific and Nevada Bell.) So that the HORIZONS Staff can process your request appropriately, you will need to indicate what you hope to accomplish upon completion of your training. The Career Objective should be specific and relate to the class you are taking. For example: After you complete your class, will you have a specific skill to apply towards a new position? If yes, then your Career Objective might be "To obtain Digital Technology skills to obtain Comm Tech position." Remember, this is only an example. You will need to think about your own career goals and select your personal Career Objective.

What if I don't know my career objective? All applications must have a career objective. You may obtain assistance in this area from internal AT&T Career Center or externally from an accredited, licensed career counselor or institution. To speak to a counselor at the internal AT&T Career Center, call 1-888-355-2227.