Engrossed Senate Substitute Bill (ESSB) 5640 Academic Personnel FAQs
HIRING FREEZE
The following exemption language is provided in ESSB 5460 at Section 6 (2) (n):
“In institutions of higher education, any positions directly related to academic programs, as well as positions not funded from state funds or tuition.”
1)Are academic personnel exempt from the ESSB 5460 hiring freeze?
Academic personnel, including faculty, librarians, post-docs, and medical residents, are exempt from the ESSB 5460 hiring freeze.
2)Does ESSB 5460 change the University’s hiring freeze related to academic personnel?
The Provost’s letter of January 9, 2009, outlining the status of the University’s hiring freeze, is still in force.
SALARY FREEZE
ESSB 5460 provides as follows:
“For the twelve months following the effective date of the section, a salary or wage increase shall not be granted to any position …”
The below compensation information is applicable, regardless of funding source.
E/C
Where a faculty member or academic personnel had a contractual arrangement to perform duties for excess compensation on or before February 18, 2009, excess compensation payments will be permitted. No new commitments of excess compensationduring the twelve-month period from 2/19/09–2/18/10 are permitted under ESSB 5460.
ADS
No new commitments of ADS are permitted after February 18, 2009. If an ADS approval request was submitted prior to February 18, it may be entered into OPUS even where the effective date is in the future.
TPS
No new commitments of TPS are permitted after February 18, 2009.Individuals who will continue the assigned responsibilitiesassociated with a temporary supplement will be considered for an extension. Extensions should be requested in writing to Vice Provost Cheryl Cameron.If a TPS approval request was submitted prior to February 18, it may be entered into OPUS even where the effective date is in the future.
ENS
No new commitments of ENS are permitted after February 18, 2009.
Retention Adjustments
No retention commitments, including A/B salary arrangements are permitted after February 18, 2009. Where a retention adjustment was authorized by the Office of the Provost and offered and accepted before February 19, 2009, the retention commitments will be honored, even where the effective date is in the future.
Merit Increase
There is no definitive information available at this time.Merit reviews are to be performed during spring quarter 2009, regardless of the outcome.
Promotion Adjustments
At this time, we plan to award promotion and advancement adjustments to academic personnel
(e.g., faculty, librarians, and medical residents) at the time of their appointment to a new academic rank/position.