Frequently Asked Questions
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FAQ's are answers to Frequently Asked Questions asked about NIC's services and resources. Click on one of the titles to see the answer. We recommend using the search function to find what you're looking for and so that you're not endlessly scrolling for things that aren't relevant to your needs.
What do I need to know as a participant intending to apply for an event? - Training Participant Information
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Important Information for Participants Intending to Apply for an Event
Effective May 31, 2015, all future NIC programs and training events will be guided by the following procedures:
- Participant’s airline tickets will be paid directly by NIC; participants will not be required to pay anything out of pocket.
Instructions on how to obtain airline tickets will be provided to participants in their information packet emailed out prior to the training event. - Participants will be responsible for paying the initial costs for their hotel rooms and will be reimbursed.
The charge per night per room will be based on the federal per diem for that area plus specified taxes. Participants will be advised of the exact amount in their information packet prior to travel. Participants will be fully reimbursed for his/her lodging (room and taxes) at the hotel that has been selected by NIC. Participants will need to submit their hotel receipt to NIC for reimbursement. - Participants will be responsible for paying for their own meals and will be reimbursed.
The meal per diem will be based on the federal meal per diem for that area. On travel days, both to and from the designated hotel site, the per diem will be adjusted to 75% of the daily meal per diem rate. Participants will be advised of the exact reimbursable amount in the information packet prior to travel. Participants will not be required to keep meal receipts. S/he will be reimbursed for the allotted daily meal per diem, governed by General Services Administration (GSA) travel regulations. - Participants will be reimbursed for travel between their home and the airport closest to their home as well as for parking expenses.
All participant parking receipts must be submitted with their reimbursement claim. Participants will be reimbursed at the current Federal government personal vehicle mileage rate. If they choose to drive their personal vehicle to the training site, they will only be reimbursed up to the cost of the round trip flight at the federal government rate. We are unable to reimburse costs when an agency vehicle is driven. - Participants will be reimbursed for baggage.
Participants will be reimbursed for two (2) bags each way per trip. Participants must obtain and then submit their baggage receipt(s) with their reimbursement claim. - The new procedures will necessitate that a NIC Secondary Banking Request form be completed by anyone traveling to participate in a NIC activity.
The form establishes how funds are electronically paid and expedites the reimbursement process. After the Secondary Banking Request form has been submitted, it will authorize the travel and input the participant into the travel system. Upon return from the NIC activity, the participant will need to submit all pertinent receipts to generate the reimbursement. The reimbursement, once all receipts have been received, is scheduled to be paid in ten (10) business days.
We understand that these changes to NIC’s business practices may result in questions or concerns. Specifically, we want to know if this change will cause any insurmountable issues or challenges to your agency. Should you have a comment or concern, please feel free to contact NIC, via email (NICLearningCenter@bop.gov) or telephone (800-995-6429). We welcome your feedback regarding this important administrative change.
Thank you for your attention to this issue. We appreciate your continued collaboration with the National Institute of Corrections and look forward to seeing you at an NIC classroom event.
- Participant’s airline tickets will be paid directly by NIC; participants will not be required to pay anything out of pocket.
How Do I Receive Live Support While in the NIC Learning Center?
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1. Access the NIC Learning Center at https://nic.learn.com
2. You can access Live Help and Support at two locations on the home page of the NIC Learning Center.
3. Follow links at either location to page below. Click green Chat Now with Live Support for live help and support using a chat function. Depending on your internet connection speed this may take a few seconds to a minute.
4. If you are unable to reach the page below, please contact your local IT for assistance, as an internet pop‐up blocker setting is not allowing you to reach the NIC Live Help/Support feature
How Do I Print My NIC Training Certificate?
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1. Go to https://nic.learn.com and Log In to your user account.
2. Click My Learning tab at the top left of the screen after logging in to your user account.
3. Click and select My Transcripts and Certificates under the My Learning tab.
4. Find the training program you wish to print a certificate for under Completed Programs.
5. Your certificate icon is on the right side of the page – click to print your certificate!
How Do I Register as a New User in the NIC Learning Center?
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1. Go to https://nic.learn.com/ and click Create an Account to create a user account for the NIC Learning Center.
2. Please read this information. When you have finished, click the purple New Users button at the bottom of the screen to proceed.
3. Please complete the Registration fields page to register as a new user. Those marked with a red * are required fields.
4. Complete this form and click Next Step in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
5. To complete your New User Registration, complete the Password Recovery Question and click Save.
How Do I Take an NIC E‐Learning Course?
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1. Go to https://nic.learn.com/ and Log In to your user account.
2. Click Catalog tab at the top left of the screen after logging in to your user account.
3. Click and select E‐Courses under the Catalog tab.
4. Search for courses under All Courses or by selecting one of the Subject Categories. For example, if you are interested in a course on being an effective team leader check the Team Building category.
5. Locate the course you are interested in and click Click here to start this course. For example, this person has decided to take the Being an Effective Team leader e‐course.
An important note about NIC e‐courses:
As you progress through your e‐course, please click through each screen to ensure you get credit for completing the course. Please use the BLUE Exit button, and not the RED X to ensure that the system will record you as completing the course.
6. To start the e‐course, click Click here to launch the course.
Please Note:
As you progress through your e‐course, to ensure that the system will record you as completing the course, please use the BLUE Exit button, and not the RED X to ensure that the system will record you as completing the course.
How Do I Find What Training Is Available At NIC?
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1. Go to https://nic.learn.com.
2. You will land on the home page of NIC’s Learning Center, where you can access available classroom, blended, virtual instructor led (VILT) and e‐courses.
To register for and participate in NIC’s Learning Center and take courses, you must be a registered user.
Simply create an account or login if you already have an account.
How much will requesting (technical) assistance cost my agency?
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NIC provides all its services free of charge. However, it is expected that the requesting agency provide access to staff, data, and anything else that will help us help you.
Who has to sign the technical assistance request letter?
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The CEO of your agency. For example, the Director of Corrections, the Sheriff, or County Administrator must sign the Request Assistance request letter.
Do you give grants for equipment and training?
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NIC is not a funding agency. We do not provide you with a grant to purchase equipment or procure training. NIC does not provide funds directly to an agency. When we provide assistance, we fund the cost of consultants' travel and time.
Who receives the technical assistance report?
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Both NIC and the agency representative who requested the technical assistance will receive a copy of the technical assistance report. The agency is free to distribute the report.
Upon delivery of the final Technical Assistance report to the agency that requested the assistance, the report becomes the property of that agency. The National Institute of Corrections will not distribute the report to non-NIC entities, or consider it an agency record under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), without the express, written approval of the agency.
Learn More: For more information about the Freedom of Information Act, visit https://www.bop.gov/foia/#tabs-0
Can NIC make a staffing analysis, population projection, and/or feasibility study for our agency?
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No, NIC cannot provide such services. These studies are very lengthy and complicated, and we do not have the resources to do them.
What NIC can do is assist your agency in building the capacity to conduct these analyses, on its own, through training and materials available through the NIC Information Center. We can also help you understand how to get funding to support these initiatives.
Can NIC pay for a keynote speaker at our conference?
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No, NIC cannot provide funding for keynote speakers at a conference. However, NIC can provide training at a conference, providing it meets our initiatives.
Will NIC will certify my jail?
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No, NIC does not certify jails, even with a court order. NIC is not an investigatory or regulatory agency. NIC’s interest is in determining how best you can provide detention services in your community in a manner that is safe for inmates, staff and the public.
Does the National Institute of Corrections certify jails?
No, the National Institute of Corrections does not certify jails because it isn't a regulatory agency nor is it investigatory agency. NIC does help jails improve their training, processes, and procedures to better serve their incarcerated individuals, staff, and community.
What to wear when attending NIC training events: Dress, Personal Supplies, & Luggage
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A professional appearance is expected. Business casual attire is required. (Example: Docker-type slacks with a collared, button shirt).
Not Acceptable for the classroom: Athletic garb, cut-offs, shorts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweat pants, flip-flops, jeans, or sneakers. (Exceptions to this dress code will be made when they are appropriate for a particular event/day for a program. If this is the case, you will be given instructions in the information you receive for that program regarding exceptions to the dress code).
Since the classrooms are sometimes cool, it is advisable to bring a sweater with you. Colorado weather is quite variable, and from September through May, it is advisable to bring a winter jacket and boots. Check your weather app/channel for climate projections.
You should bring your own toiletries, athletic wear, swimming apparel, and other personal items, including alarm clocks. You will be given a 2" to 3" binder of materials to take home with you. Plan luggage space for it and possibly additional materials. We cannot mail your training materials to you.
Additional Links:
Weather in Washington DC, Additional Links:
Weather in Aurora ColoradoHow to travel to NIC Training Events
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Participants are authorized to travel by air, personal vehicle, government vehicle, or train.
Flights & Trains:
Participant’s airline/train tickets will be paid directly by NIC; participants will not be required to pay anything out of pocket. Instructions on how to obtain airline tickets will be provided to participants in their information packet emailed out prior to the training event.
Driving to Training by Personal Vehicle
Participants who wish to drive their personal vehicle to the training site must receive approval from the NIC Academy Division prior to their travel. Upon completion of the trip, they are eligible for reimbursement toward the cost of their travel. Reimbursement for travel will be the lesser of (1) the Government rate or special fare the Academy would have paid for the lowest cost common carrier (usually air travel), or (2) Privately Owned Vehicle mileage. The rate of mileage reimbursement for a personal vehicle will be set forth in the authorization form NIC will provide you if you intend to drive.
Driving to Training by Government Vehicle
NIC is not able to reimburse mileage for driving a government-owned vehicle to the training.
Local Participants
Participants from Colorado may travel by air or car to the training site. Those who live at least 50 miles from the training site will be reimbursed for mileage for one round trip between their home and the training site (regardless of the number of participants riding in the vehicle) if a personal vehicle is used and ground travel was authorized by NIC prior to the travel.
Participants living within a 50-mile radius of the training site are considered to be local and will not be reimbursed for mileage.
Are Medical Services available at NIC's Training Academy?
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No medical services are provided at the training site. The NIC staff can assist you in making arrangements for any necessary medical treatment; however, any expense incurred for medical treatment is your responsibility.
Points of Contact if someone needs to reach you at NIC's Training Center
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If you need to be reached while you are attending training, the phone number for the NIC Training Center is 800-995-6429 and dial "0" for the operator.
What should I know about Ground Transportation around the NIC Training Center?
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Participants will be reimbursed for travel between their home and the airport closest to their home as well as for parking expenses. All participant parking receipts must be submitted with their reimbursement claim. The Federal governments’ personal vehicle mileage rate is $0.65 cents per mile (2023). If they choose to drive their personal vehicle, they will only be reimbursed up to the cost of the round trip flight at the federal government rate. We are unable to reimburse costs when an agency vehicle is driven.
NIC will also provide free, round trip transportation via coach bus between the hotel and training center on each day of the training.
How are meals handled at Training Events?
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Participants will be responsible for paying for their own meals and will be reimbursed.
The meal per diem will be based on the federal meal per diem for that area. On travel days, both to and from the designated hotel site, the per diem will be adjusted to 75% of the daily meal per diem rate. Participants will be advised of the exact reimbursable amount in the information packet prior to travel. Participants will not be required to keep meal receipts. S/he will be reimbursed for the allotted daily meal per diem, governed by General Services Administration (GSA) travel regulations.
How do I find lodging near the NIC Training Center?
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Participants will be responsible for paying the initial costs for their hotel rooms and will be reimbursed.
The charge per night per room will be based on the federal per diem for that area plus specified taxes. Participants will be advised of the exact amount in their information packet prior to travel. Participants will be fully reimbursed for his/her lodging (room and taxes) at the hotel that has been selected by NIC. Participants will need to submit their hotel receipt to NIC for reimbursement.
What are the important Training Policies I should know before attending an event?
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Smoking is not permitted in the training center. Smokers may wish to step outside the building during the breaks and use one of the designated smoking areas. The use of smokeless tobacco is also prohibited in the training center.
Adverse weather hotline: NIC training center closure and class delay information is provided on a 24-hour basis by calling the Adverse Weather Hotline. If you have any concerns about the operation of the training center during adverse weather conditions, call the hotline at 303-338-6509.