Description

Appointment Status describes the status the employee holds in a specific position/assignment. Therefore, if an employee has more than one position, they could possibly have a different Appointment Status for each position. For example, an employee who has "Continuing Service" status in their P&S assignment could also hold a teaching assignment with a "Temporary" status.

Definitions

Annual – An individual with an annual appointment has an appointment involving major administrative assignments, policy development, and/or other related duties and responsibilities. Annual appointments generally report to the President or Vice President. Annual Appointments are exempt from the P&S Policies & Procedures relating to service rights and privileges conferred with continuing service status.

Faculty Probationary – Also sometimes referred to as "tenure-track". An individual with a probationary appointment is entitled to renewal of their contract up until the year their application for tenure is considered. When a new hire is made the department head should communicate to the preparer whether it is a probationary appointment or a term, renewable term or temporary appointment.

After the initial probationary PAF is generated there are four possible changes in status:

1. The person is awarded tenure and a PAF is generated to change the job status. This will usually occur in the spring of the sixth year of appointment. A grant of tenure is usually also associated with a promotion in rank to associate professor. The promotion carries a salary increase, which is specified for each year in the Master Agreement. The Provost Office should send confirmation of the tenure and promotion decision by the Board of Regents to the dean and department head and the department head should notify the PAF preparer to initiate these changes.
2. The individual is in their first year of appointment and is notified by the department head by March 1 of that year that employment will be terminated at the end of the first year. The department head should notify the PAF preparer to generate a TRM PAF at the end of the spring semester.
3. The individual is in their second year of appointment and is notified by the department head by December 15 of that year that employment will be terminated at the end of the second year. The department head should notify the PAF preparer to generate a TRM PAF at the end of the spring semester.
4. The individual is in their third through sixth year of appointment and is notified by the department head prior to the end of the spring semester that their employment will be terminated at the end of the following academic year. The department head should notify the PAF preparer to generate a PAF for a one year term contract for the next academic year. At the end of the following year, a TRM PAF will be needed.

Faculty Renewable Term-Initial – This status is used for a first appointment of two years that is made after the department has conducted a full tenure track quality search. The department head should indicate this status in the letter of appointment. (See Faculty Handbook)

Faculty Renewable Term – This status is used for an individual who has completed their initial two year renewable term. The individual will need to be reappointed, using a PAF, every year for a one year term unless notified by the department head to complete a TRM PAF. (See Faculty Handbook)

Faculty Temporary – See "Temporary".

Faculty Tenured – See "Tenured".

Faculty Term – This status is used for a multiple year appointment of either two, three or four years. The letter of appointment should specify the number of years and final year of appointment. (See Faculty Handbook)

Merit Probationary – Initial work period in any position new to the employee (unless re-classed into the position). Probationary period is six (6) months in length.

Merit Permanent – Work status granted following successful completion of the six-month probationary period.

Merit Temporary – See "Temporary".

Merit Trainee – Is an employee participating in a specified training program during a fixed period of time in order to meet the minimum qualifications required for a classification.

P&S Continuing Service – Designated upon successful completion of a probationary or provisional appointment for the P&S staff member serving in a non-temporary position.

P&S Contract – Designated for athletic coaching positions. A written contract should be executed detailing the salary, benefits and other terms associated with the contract appointment along with the specific time period the contract is effective.

P&S Probationary – Designated for non-temporary position assignments during the initial period of a staff member’s University service. The probationary appointment continues for not less than three (3) nor more than five (5) fiscal years during which time the staff member's performance is evaluated to determine whether the continuing service is to be designated.

P&S Provisional – Designated at the direction of the department director for staff members holding continuing service status when a reassignment to a non-temporary position occurs with a promotion, demotion, or transfer. The provisional appointment is, at the time of position placement, designated for a period of up to two (2) fiscal years.

P&S Temporary – Designated when services are required on a temporary basis to complete a particular project or to carry out certain duties and responsibilities. Appointment may be full-time or part-time for an appointment period of up to two (2) consecutive years.

P&S Term – Designated when services are required for a specific period of time with a project, grant, contract, or in connection with a program for which a limited funding period may exist and/or renewed funding periodically may be required.

Temporary – Designated when services are required on a temporary basis to complete a particular project or to carry out certain duties and responsibilities. Appointment may be full-time or part-time.

Tenured – An individual who has completed a probationary period of appointment (usually six years) and has been awarded permanent employment, meaning their employment with UNI can only be terminated for just cause. Tenure must be approved by the Board of Regents before an individual can be moved into tenure status.

Status will change to tenure at the beginning of a new academic year only. After the Board of Regents has acted to approve tenure and promotion, confirmation will be sent from the Provost Office to the dean and department head and the department head should notify the PAF preparer. The effective date will always be the start of the academic year.