1. Second Language Training (SLT) at DND
Presentation to UMCC
December 6, 2007
Stéphanie Poliquin
Director General, Learning and Professional Development
ADM (HR-Civ)

2. Outline DND Second Language Training Program
- Role of Director General, Learning and Professional Development
- Target audience
- Types of training
- Process and suppliers
Second Language Training Requirements for
- Accomplishments
- Factors determining who will receive non-statutory training
- Next steps
Public Service Official Languages Exclusion Approval Order

3. DND Second Language Training Program
DGLPD is the functional authority for SLT:
Provides centralized funding and coordination
Provides access to SLT via DND Standing Offer, CSPS interim Standing Offers and NMSO
Registers, administers, monitors employees receiving training through CSPS or NMSO
Provides advice and guidance to organizations and access points for training within and outside of the Corporate SLT Program
Monitors and controls standards of quality, performance measures, and funding

4. Target Audience Employees with statutory needs (stat. SLT)
Mandatory training as a result of non-imperative staffing
Employee has two years from the date of appointment to meet linguistic requirements of position
Employees with non-statutory needs (non-stat. SLT)
Developmental training for employees who do not presently have to meet specific linguistic requirements
Employees who wish to meet future linguistic requirements

5. Types of training Full-time training 35 hours per week
6-8 participants for approx weeks
From no profile to BBB, BBB to CBC
Part-time training
6 hours of training per week, twice a week
6-10 participants for 10 weeks (60 hours)
offered three semesters (winter, spring, fall)

6. Process for accessing SLT
Employees with statutory needs:
Human Resources Officers (HROs) sends DGLPD, ADM (HR-Civ) names of individuals hired on non-imperative basis and accompanying documents
SLT team activates file and begins process to integrate them into full-time training
Learning plan and start date provided by Canada School of Public Service
Start date of training must be within reasonable timeframe to assist employee in meeting linguistic profile two years from the date of a non-imperative appointment

7. Process for accessing SLT (cont’d)
Employees with non-statutory needs:
Call Letter is sent from ADM (HR-Civ) to Level 1s in Spring
Designates representing Level 1s sends Call Letter down chain of command
Manager and employees discuss needs
Designates coordinates prioritized nominations and sends to Level 1 for approval
Designate sends SLT team name of candidates
DGLPD consolidates information, contacts individuals for placement tests, forms homogeneous groups
DGLPD sends out invitations to candidates for training

8. Contracting vehicles DND’s Standing Offer (SO)
Used primarily for part-time non-statutory training
L’Estrie is the primary language school
Use of SO must be monitored closely to ensure contracting vehicle is available until 2009
Canada School of Public Service (CSPS)
Used primarily for full-time statutory training through their interim standing offers and upcoming National Master Standing Offer (NMSO)
Delay of projected implementation date of July 2007
Initial phase of implementation targeted for January 2008; full-time training (statutory and non-statutory) offered in NCR
Targeted to be fully implemented in (will include part-time training on a national basis)
May become the mandatory procurement vehicle
PWGSC will not support departmental SO

9. SLT Requirements for FY 2007-2008
Budget: 2.3M Statutory / 1.05M Non-Statutory
Delays in NMSO resulted in inability to use full budget
Costs approx. $15 per hour; $20,000 per participant for full-time training
Statutory: 110 employees require full time training in the NCR
Non-Statutory: 1791 revalidations and new nominations
Training
Revalidations
Nominations
Total
Full-time 46
120
166
Part-time (NCR)
357
469
826
Part-time (Regions)
485
314
799
888
903
1791

10. Accomplishments to date
54 employees with statutory requirements are either registered or are presently attending full time training
Issued annual Call Letter in July soliciting nominations of candidates for SLT FY 07-08
Transitioning from using current DND SLT Standing Offer to using CSPS Standing Offers and upcoming National Master Standing Offer
90 non-statutory employees participated in full-time training since April 2007
582 non-statutory employees participated in part-time training (spring 2007 and fall semester 2007)

11. Factors determining who will receive non-statutory training
Number of nominations received
Prioritization of candidates
Budget allocation
Minimum number of participants at same learning level to form groups
Availability of participants
Manager’s acceptance or refusal
Factors determining who will receive non-statutory training
This year, DGLPD received over 1500 nominations. Our capacity was below this number (approx. 110 statutory employees, 20 non-statutory full-time participants, and 350 non-statutory part-time participants). DGLPD must balance high numbers with capacity and budget. Therefore, systems or prioritization are used to help screen candidates.
Candidates are prioritized as 1, 2, 3 (Priority 1: executive development; Priority 2: career development; Priority 3: personal interest)
Budget allocation will determine the amount of people that can be trained in a fiscal year
A minimal amount of participants are required in order to form homogenous groups in order for maximum learning to occur and to maximize on our investment
Availability of participants will determine who receives training. Sometimes participants cannot attend for operation or personal reasons.
Managers’ sometimes do not allow participants to attend training due to operational reasons, especially in the regions

12. Next steps for
Enroll statutory employees at designated times of year as identified by CSPS
Enroll non-statutory employees in full-time training throughout the fiscal year
Enroll non-statutory employees in part-time training sessions (winter semester in January)
Educate employees/managers on roles, responsibilities, commitments and benefits of SLT
Monitor statutory SLT compliance with Public Service Official Language Exclusion Approval Order (PSOLEAO)
Provide advice on alternative options for SLT including tutoring, on-line products available on Campus Direct, etc. to employees who have not been integrated into groups
Provide SLT guidance to Level 1s and organizations with SLT needs

13. Public Service Official Languages Exclusion Approval Order (PSOLEAO)
OLD PSOLEAO
(1982)
NEW PSOLEAO
(Dec. 31, 2005)
MAJOR CHANGES
IMPACT OF CHANGE
2 yrs to become bilingual as of appointment date
*positive diagnostic
*No diagnostic
Employees eligible for SLT even if no potential of reaching linguistic proficiency in 2 yrs
Increase of participants with special learning needs = high SLT costs
Possible extensions with no time limits
Possible extension to max. of 2 yrs in only 4 exceptional circumstances unforeseen at time of appointment
Loss of DM’s flexibility for granting extensions = fewer extensions
Greater requirement for prompt access to SLT to ensure compliance
Minimal requirement for monitoring of progress
Departments must monitor progress
New responsibility for Department
Greater accountability
Old PSOLEAO
Appointments made before December 31, 2005 will continue to be subject to the 1982 PSOLEAO
 Grounds for exempting an employee from the obligation to meet the language requirements of a position lenient (e.g. 55 years of age or over, compassionate grounds, acting circumstances, 10 years of continuous service prior to April 1996, etc., leave of absence priorities, etc.)
Opportunity to extend period of exemption
New PSOLEAO
Appointments made as of December 31, 2005 is subject to the new PSOLEAO
 The new PSOLEAO lists only three grounds for exempting an employee from the obligation to meet the language requirements of a position staffed on a non-imperative basis (ie eligibility for immediate annuity, medical grounds, acting circumstances)
Less flexibility for extensions
Closely monitored by PSC
DND will be closely monitoring these situations and continuing to provide prompt access to SLT
1.     

14. Questions?