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Training Request Guidance

Last Modified: 03/13/2009

The following information provides guidance on how to properly request training.  All employees must have an approved Individual Development Plan (IDP) in place before requesting training. IDP forms can be found at S:\Office_To_Office\NRCS\Forms\Individual Development Plan. All training must be requested through Aglearn. Aglearn is located at http://www.aglearn.usda.gov. Training requests can be made by following four easy steps:

Step 1:

Email Samone Scanlon at samone.scanlon@md.usda.gov to inquire whether or not the proposed vendor is set up in our vendor system. If a Maryland NRCS employee is sending out a training opportunity, sponsored by an outside organization, (for example, Maryland Cattlemen's Association), the employee is responsible for ensuring that the vendor is set up in our vendor system. Email the full name of the vendor and contact information. This email will need to be sent only if the requested training is outside of Aglearn. If the vendor is not in our system, Samone will forward a vendor form to the vendor for completion and once the completed form is returned, the vendor will be added. For any training that is free you, you will not need to send a vendor inquiry to Samone. Following are a sampling of vendors that are set up in our vendor system for which you will not need to send an email inquiry:

Management Concepts
USDA Graduate School
Maryland Department of Agriculture (Nutrient Management)
Maryland Department of the Environment
University of Delaware (Mid Atlantic Crop School)
University of Maryland (Nutrient Management)
Maryland Cattlemen's Association
Future Harvest
Maryland Cooperative Extension

Step 2:

Complete the online SF-182 Training Request in its entirety. Any information that is not provided will cause a delay in processing. Include applicable fund codes (supervisor may also add fund codes in the comment section of the training request document), and travel estimates so that the entire cost of the training may be reviewed by the supervisor. In Section C6 (Billing Instructions) of the training request, enter the following information:

USDA-NRCS
ATTN: FNM
339 Busch's Frontage Road, Suite 301
Annapolis, MD 21409

To request formal training classes that are offered by the National Employee Development Center (NEDC), you may request this training by following these steps:

  1. Go into AGLEARN at http://www.aglearn.usda.gov.
  2. Select “Catalog”
  3. Select “Simple catalog search”
  4. Enter course title (keywords) or number and click “Search.”
  5. Once the course appears, you will have options to look at the schedule and make a request. Select “Request Schedule” to view times and locations.
  6. Once you review the times and dates to select the closest available location select “Add to Learning Plan.”
  7. When selecting this, the request will go to your supervisor and then on to the training coordinator for their approvals. The status of the request will show as “must be registered” however once approvals are granted or denied the status will be reflected.
  8. Upon the request of the training, please send the amount of any estimated travel expenses to your supervisor for consideration.
  9. When the training has been approved and you have been registered, you will receive an email from NEDC.

Step 3:

Make travel arrangements, if applicable, through GovTrip upon receipt of emailed approval confirmations. Once you submit the training request, it will be sent for approval to the supervisor and training coordinator. When using GovTrip, you must include the purpose of the trip and benefit to the agency in the description box of the travel authorization request.

Step 4:

Payment. All payments for training will be made in financial management from invoices that are sent for payment. If you receive an invoice for your training, sign off on the invoice and send this to Marie Monn, Budget Officer, for payment. If the vendor requires payment upfront, a purchase card may be used. If you use a purchase card to procure training, notify Marie Monn via email. In the event that you do not have a purchase card and payment is due prior to the class, you may pay out of pocket using the SF-1164 for reimbursement. This form can be submitted to Marie Monn, Budget Officer, upon approval.

If you have any further questions regarding this process you may contact the Training Coordinator.

Contact

Malcolm Reeves
State Administrative Officer
Phone: 443.482.2926
Email: malcolm.reeves@md.usda.gov

Marie Monn
Budget Officer
Email: marie.monn@md.usda.gov