CPDOnline Training Policy Points To Consider

Listed below are some items you may want to consider before implementing online training at your credit union. Please feel free to add or take away substance, as you deem appropriate.

Registration

Do students self register or does the manager register staff?

While most students register themselves - there are some instances where it is more advantageous for the manager to register their staff. For example, if the training manager is using a protocol for passwords - they would retain the next sequence of numbers/letters to use.

Requirements

How many exams may staff take monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, etc?

It is important to determine up front the amount of exams allowed during an established time frame. As a reminder - please use your Student Administrator button as a monitoring tool to generate reports on a weekly/monthly/etc basis. Avoid this issue and keep your training budget on target iwth a CPDOnline Unlimited Membership.

Training Schedules

Do you have designated training times - or can students train online during non-busy business hours?

We hear from many credit unions that they have designated training schedules posted. Some training managers establish online training using a classroom format while others allow staff to train during specified scheduled hours or non-busy periods.

Training At Home

Can staff perform training at home or do you prefer it occur during working business hours?

The rules vary on this topic. Staff should adhere to the guidelines established by the training manager.

Proctor/non-proctored Exams

Are your exams open or closed book?

If the training manager allows open book exams - we advise students to print off test questions - then they can jot down answers as they proceed through the chapters of the online or paper-based courses.

Manager Approval

Do staff need their manager's (or your) sign off prior to taking a course or exam online?

Remind staff to go through the proper channels for training. Some credits unions have consequences established for staff that do not follow the procedures determined by training personnel.

Grade Results

Who all needs a copy of grade results?

Remind your students to do one of the following after they get their grade screen:

1. File/Print (as many copies as necessary)
2. File/Save (can be opened in Word at later date)
3. File/Send (email a copy of grade results to manager if your Internet Explorer configuration is set up to do so - if your IE is not set up correctly - contact your IT/IS department to make the necessary adjustments)

Retakes

How do you want to handle re-takes?

You may want to determine a set amount of time before a student is allowed to retake a test so that they have ample time to study and pass the next time around.

Termination of Employment

You will need to determine a communications method to tie up all lose training ends when staff leave employment at your credit union. Personnel may be enrolled in courses/exams. If so - please notify us - and we will un-enroll them and ensure all credits due are applied. We will also inactivate staff upon notification - thus blocking access to CPDOnline. You may also want to advise them they are not to login after termination.

The Bottom Line of Online

Develop an online training policy that fits the culture of your credit union. You may want to blast email this information to all staff - new hires - the management team - or anyone it applies to. Consider posting your policy on your Intranet - and incorporating it in your new-hire orientation.

Online training is efficient and effective. As we work together - it's a win-win for all!