UUP Discretionary Salary Increase Outline

2008 CHANGES:

The process for awarding UUP discretionary awards has been modified by mutual agreement between UUP and the College Administration. Please refer to the discretionary award process and the 2008 UUP discretionary award schedule for detailed information. The following changes will be implemented with the 2008 process:

Employees may self-nominate for a discretionary award by completing a Nomination Form and submitting it to their department chair, director, or associate vice president or other direct supervisor by September 15, 2008.
In order to be eligible to appeal the discretionary decision later in the process, the employee MUST self-nominate by the September 15 deadline. A copy of the Nomination Form should be sent to the Human Resource Management Office, CLEV 403, to register the self-nomination by the deadline date.
After the initial nomination (whether self-nomination or nomination by the department head), the recommendations will be forwarded through the appropriate approval levels. For employees who have self-nominated, each level should forward the form with a notation "recommend" or "unable to recommend" to the next level.
Employees will no longer be notified of the recommendation at each level as had been done in the past. Instead, there will be one opportunity to appeal after the President has made her decisions and sent out letters to employees informing them of their awards. Letters will be sent out on October 28, 2008. Those employees who have self-nominated at the beginning of the process may submit an appeal by November 5, 2008. Following a review by the Appeals Board, employees will receive notification of the appeals decision by letter on November 17, 2008.

I. Purpose discretionary award

II. Eligibility

All employees in the UUP bargaining unit (faculty, librarians and professional staff) on the payroll as of June 30, 2008, are eligible for discretionary salary increase consideration.
Part-time employees and temporary employees are eligible for discretionary salary increase awards and must be considered.
UUP employees on leave of absence, with or without pay, are eligible for discretionary award consideration.

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III. Award Guidelines

Discretionary salary increases are added to base salary.
Awards will be paid retroactive to July 1, 2008 for employees with a calendar or college year professional obligation (professionals and librarians).
Awards will be paid retroactive to September 1, 2008 for employees with an academic year professional obligation (teaching faculty).
The established 2008 minimum discretionary award amount at Buffalo State College is $500 for full-time employees; pro-rated for part-time faculty and staff.
Although no maximum discretionary award amount has been established at Buffalo State College, it is unusual for awards to exceed $2500 for full-time employees; pro-rated for part-time faculty and staff.
The evaluation period for 2008 discretionary awards is July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008.
The total pool of discretionary funds available is one percent (1%) of the total salaries of UUP employees as of June 30, 2008.
Discretionary salary increases are generally awarded to approximately one third (1/3) of the eligible faculty and staff. Given the scarcity of funds, it is not possible to recognize and reward all of the meritorious faculty and staff who are nominated.

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IV. Award Process

Faculty and professional staff may submit a self-nomination for a discretionary award by completing the Nomination Form (see left margin) and submitting it to their department head by September 15, 2008. A copy of the Nomination Form should be sent to Human Resource Management, CLEV 403, to register the self-nomination. Only employees who have self-nominated by the deadline may appeal later in the process.
Supporting Documentation: Employees may indicate on the nomination form that they have previously submitted an Individual Information Sheet as part of the annual report process during the Spring/Summer 2008 session. Employees who have not done so should complete and attach an Individual Information Sheet to the Nomination Form. Employees who wish to amend a previously submitted annual report may submit new information (please limit to two pages) and attach it to the Nomination Form. Discretionary award recommendations for professional staff must include a current performance evaluation. Instructional faculty are expected to provide recent student evaluations of teaching performance.
Department heads (department chairs, directors or associate vice presidents) are responsible for forwarding Nomination Forms for any of their employees who have submitted a self-nomination (indicating whether they recommend or are unable to recommend an award), and should complete a Nomination Form for any other employee they wish to nominate. All nominations should be forwarded to the next level according to the 2008 UUP discretionary award schedule.
Deans and vice presidents are responsible for reviewing self-nominations and nominations recommended by department heads according to the discretionary timetable.

Chairs and directors are encouraged to take a “special look” at those who have not been awarded a discretionary increase in any of the past five discretionary award rounds. This information will be provided as part of the discretionary award worksheet distributed to deans and vice presidents. The purpose of the “special look” is to ensure that the absence of an award reflects relative merit rather than unfair or biased consideration.

Average salary data is available on the left navigation menu and salary tables may be viewed at www.buffalostate.edu/offices/hr/manual/salaries.asp for purposes of salary equity considerations. Please note a salary level below the average is not necessarily evidence of salary inequity.

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V. Appeal Process

The preliminary list of discretionary awards will be shared with vice presidents, deans, directors and department chairs on the date discretionary award recipient letters are mailed to the employees.
Any eligible faculty or professional staff member who is not notified by the President of an award by the designated date should assume that his/her name is not on the preliminary list. Employees not scheduled for an award, and employees dissatisfied with the amount of their award, may file an appeal with the Appeals Board. Only employees who have self-nominated in the beginning of the process are eligible to appeal.
The Appeals Board includes the President, Provost, vice presidents, deans and other administrative staff selected by the President. The Board will consider written appeals of no more than 600 words. The Board meets in closed session and testimony or personal appeals will be by invitation only.
Written appeals, addressed to the President, must be postmarked or hand delivered to the President’s office by 5:00 p.m. November 5, 2008. Copies (not originals) of the appeal must also be provided to the Director of Human Resource Management (secretary to the Appeals Board) and to the appropriate vice president, dean, director and department chairperson.
Appeal candidates will be notified of the outcome of the appeal by November 17, 2008.
Discretionary awards will be reflected in the paychecks dated December 10, 2008.