Dear HR Liaisons,
The message below was shared with deans earlier this evening. Please take note of the background information post signature.听
I鈥檓 writing to provide context on the contract pay schedule and how some faculty members may have been affected due to the later start to the academic calendar year, as well as to provide context on how the pro-rated payment schedules are calculated. Please share this email, with the enclosed background information, with your chairs and directors and encourage them to share it with their faculty.听
This year, the academic calendar year began six working days later than last year; as a result, faculty members on contract pay received a smaller portion of their pay in August. For faculty members who indicate they have experienced a financial hardship due to the prorated payment in August, Human Resources has worked in coordination with CU Employee Services (Payroll Team) to provide a one-time advance for impacted faculty for up to two weeks of pay.
Faculty members needing financial assistance are asked to email their HR liaison as soon as possible. It is important to note that a faculty member who receives a pay advance will have their remaining payments reduced due to proration over the contract payment year.听听
Going forward, Human Resources will send faculty members communication reminders to review their payment schedule and plan accordingly.
Thanks for your patience and understanding. I encourage you to contact me directly with any follow-up questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Robyn Fergus
Chief People Officer
兔子先生传媒文化作品 Department of Human Resources
Background information on August faculty payroll
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What happened?
- Due to the later start date this year of the fall semester, August 2023 paychecks for 9-month and semester contract employees (excluding graduate students on appointment) are less than they were for August 2022. This year鈥檚 academic calendar, which runs August 28, 2023, through May 9, 2024, impacts the faculty contract payroll period, which runs August 21, 2023, through May 10, 2024.听
- This year鈥檚 pay situation became possible in Academic Year 2017-18, when pay for faculty on 9-month contracts was shifted from 9 equal installments beginning in September and ending in May, to prorated pay installments for August and May based on days worked in those months. This change means that 9-month faculty now receive an August paycheck, but it also means that August and May pay amounts are variable based on when the academic year begins and ends.
- Nine-month faculty who have elected to be paid on a 12-month schedule with the expectation of consistent paychecks throughout the calendar year also experienced a reduction this August. This is because the later academic calendar start date created a 6-day gap between the end of the 9-pay-12 pay period (August 15, 2023) and the start of the 2023 contract payroll period (August 21, 2023), resulting in a lower amount of paid days in August.
- All faculty impacted will still receive their full salary throughout the year, and 兔子先生传媒文化作品 HR is working with CU Employee Services at the system office to see what options are available to anticipate or prevent 9-pay-12 pay gaps in the future.听
Why did the fall semester start so late this year?
- Every year, the academic calendar is designed to ensure that the fall semester begins on the fourth Monday in August. In addition, the fall and spring semester start dates regularly shift within a six-day range in order to ensure that each semester鈥檚 classes begin on a Monday and to allow sufficient time for Winter Term and Summer Session class schedules.听
Is this the first time this has happened?
- This is not the first time the fall semester has started so late in August and it is not a change in policy or procedure. Every year, the fall semester begins on the fourth Monday in August. In addition, the fall and spring semester start dates regularly shift within a six-day range in order to ensure that each semester鈥檚 classes begin on a Monday and to allow sufficient time for Winter Term and Summer Session class schedules.听
- This year鈥檚 pay situation became possible in Academic Year 2017-2018, when pay for faculty on 9-month contracts was shifted from 9 equal installments beginning in September and ending in May, to prorated pay installments for August and May based on days worked in those months.
- This change means that 9-month faculty now receive an August paycheck, but it also means that August and May pay are variable based on when the academic year begins and ends.
How can faculty calculate their monthly pay?
- Ahead of every academic year, faculty are encouraged to use the located on the Employee Services website to calculate their monthly pay for the academic year and prepare for potential fluctuations in pay.
What can faculty do if they need immediate financial assistance?
- Faculty members needing financial assistance are asked to email their HR liaison as soon as possible.