September 30, 2008    

INDIANA BULLETIN NO. 360-9-1

SUBJECT:  PER – Individual Development Plans

Action Required by: November 30, 2008

Purpose:  This bulletin issues instructions to implement the use of a newly developed electronic Individual Development Plan (IDP) for Soil Conservationists and District Conservationists (SC&DC), Civil Engineering Technicians, Engineers, SCEP, and all new employees. 

Expiration Date:  September 30, 2009

This database format will be used for all IDP’s for employees in these positions until further notice. (See attached Power Point for instructions on how to use the database.)  Documentation of formal training other than NEDC courses that employees want to become a part of permanent training records will still need to be documented in AgLearn as currently done.

During the first and second quarters of FY 2009 (October 1, 2008 thru March 31, 2009) employees in the above disciplines with the assistance of their supervisors, will complete the task of entering information into the databases and begin to utilize the databases for documenting training needs and accomplishments on identified training items.  The databases reside on the NRCS State Office Shared Drive. 

It is our goal to develop IDP’s for other disciplines (RC&D Coordinator, RC&D Assistant, FOA, SOA, and various area staff members) and issue them during FY 2009 for implementation.

Supervisors and employees must agree on current levels of abilities, skills, and knowledge and plan for acquiring/developing required skills where the employee has not yet achieved the required levels for the training items identified in the database.

Currently, the databases are single user databases.  There is one database for each employee instead of one database for all within the same GS series.  As future improvements are made and additional functionality is added, those improvements will be implemented.  Instructions on how to locate your database are found in the attached Power Point.  Additionally, a demonstration of how to use the databases and a brief question and answer period will be presented at the October or November area meetings.

As you complete the data entry into the database, make note of other training items not identified in the database.  These items can be added later.  Instructions will be provided at a later date on how to have those additional items added to the database. This database replaces the use of all existing paper or electronic copies for future training and employee development needs. 

If you do not find a database with your name as part of the file name, if it needs to be moved to a different area folder, or if you have questions, contact Gary Maners, ASTC-QA&E at 317-290-3200 ext. 352.

/s/

JANE E. HARDISTY
State Conservationist

Attachment

cc:  Gary Maners, ASTC-QA&E, NRCS, Indianapolis, IN

DIST: O 

Helping People Help the Land

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer